Last updated 6 October 2026 by the Ava Travel team in Hanoi. Numbers come from the 96 cruises Ava Travel sells, checked on 4 October 2026.
The short answer, using Ava Travel’s own prices: choose the bay before the boat, budget $35 per person for the return shuttle on top of the cruise, bring your passport, book an evening flight if you fly the day you come back, and keep a spare day in your plan from July to September in case a storm closes the bay. Here are the 12 things we tell every guest.
Before you book
- Pick the bay first. Halong Bay for the famous caves, Lan Ha Bay for kayaking, swimming and balconies, Bai Tu Long Bay for the fewest boats. The boat decides the route. See Halong Bay vs Lan Ha Bay.
- Stay at least one night. A day trip spends about 5 hours on the road. The sunset, evening and sunrise are the best part, and overnight cruises start at $102 with all meals.
- Know what the price includes. On every boat Ava Travel sells: cabin and all meals on board, plus the excursions on the programme. Extra: the Hanoi transfer, drinks and spa. See what an overnight cruise includes.
- Do not overpay for the season. Low season (May to September) is only about $11 per person cheaper on a typical boat, and 20 boats charge one price all year. Choose the month for the weather. See the best time to visit.
- Book small boats early. Boats with 12 cabins or fewer fill weeks ahead from December to April.
Getting there
- Add the transfer when you book. Shuttle $20 one way or $35 return per person; private car $165 return for up to 3 or $180 for up to 6. Pickup is at about 08:00 in the Old Quarter. See Hanoi to Halong Bay transfers.
- Fly in the evening. Boats are back at the pier around 11:00 and Noi Bai airport is about 3 hours away, so aim for a flight at 19:00 or later.
- Leave big luggage in Hanoi. You often board by a small tender; take an overnight bag.
On the boat
- Bring your passport. Every guest is registered with the port authority before departure. Pack list: what to bring.
- Get up for sunrise. Tai chi on deck is at about 06:00 on most boats, and the bay is at its calmest.
Families, solo travellers and weather
- Use the child and solo rules. Under 4 free, 4 to 11 pay the extra bed rate, and one adult alone in a double cabin pays 85% of the cabin price. 32 of our boats have family cabins. See Halong Bay with kids.
- Keep a spare day in storm season. From about July to September the port authority sometimes closes the bay for a day or two. With us, if that happens we move your date free of charge, or refund you in full if we cannot reschedule.
Are drinks included on Halong Bay cruises?
The short answer, from Ava Travel’s contracts with the cruise lines: partly. In the contracts Ava Travel holds with Celina, Capella, Lyra Grandeur, Grand Pioneers, Diana, Orchid, Indochina Sails, Halora, Elite of the Seas, Nostalgia and Bai Tho Junks (Victory, Aimee), the price includes a welcome drink, drinking water and tea or coffee; other drinks are extra and paid on board. A few lines give more: Elite of the Seas includes unlimited drinks from its complimentary drinks menu with meals, Orchid Premium puts two cans of cola and two of Sprite in the minibar, Diana includes a bottle of water per person per day, and Capella and Lyra Grandeur run a buy two, get one free happy hour at sunset.
How much should I tip on a Halong Bay cruise?
Tipping is your choice. Tips are not included in the cabin price in any of the cruise line contracts Ava Travel holds, and none of them sets an amount, so there is no fixed rate. If you want to thank the crew, give it at the end of the cruise; your guide on the shuttle is separate from the ship’s crew.
Is a Halong Bay cruise worth the money?
For most visitors, yes. The median 2 day 1 night cruise Ava Travel sells costs $165 per person (October to April), and that includes your cabin, all meals on board, entrance fees for the scheduled stops and activities such as kayaking (in the programme of 71 of the 96 cruises). A day trip costs less ($45) but spends about five hours on the road for a few hours on the busiest part of the bay. See every ship’s price and whether 3 days is worth it.
Frequently asked questions
Are drinks included on a Halong Bay cruise?
A welcome drink, water and tea or coffee are; other drinks are extra on almost every ship, according to Ava Travel’s contracts with the cruise lines. Elite of the Seas is the main exception, with free drinks from its menu at meals.
How much should I tip on a Halong Bay cruise?
There is no set amount: tips are not included and none of the cruise lines Ava Travel works with sets a rate. Tip if you want to, at the end of the cruise.
Is a Halong Bay cruise worth the money?
Yes for most people: the median cruise Ava Travel sells is $165 per person with cabin, meals, entrance fees and activities included.
How many days do you need for Halong Bay?
One night on a boat (2 days) is enough for most travellers. Two nights (3 days) if you want Cat Ba Island or the Bai Tu Long villages. See 2-day vs 3-day cruises.
Is Halong Bay too touristy?
The famous stops on Halong Bay itself can be busy, because almost every boat visits Sung Sot Cave around the same time. For a quieter trip choose Lan Ha Bay, or Bai Tu Long Bay where Ava Travel sells only 10 boats. Our honest take is in is a Halong Bay cruise worth it.
How much money should I bring on a Halong Bay cruise?
Meals are included, so only drinks, tips and any spa treatments. Ask us whether your boat takes cards, and carry some cash in dong for small purchases at stops.
Plan your cruise
Start with the 10 best Halong Bay cruises for 2026, pick your date, add the transfer and pay securely online. We confirm your cabin and pickup within one hour. Questions? WhatsApp +84 904 251 545.
