Last updated 10 October 2026 by the Ava Travel team in Hanoi. Prices come from the 88 boats we sell with a 3 day 2 night trip, and the day 2 programmes from the 51 of them that publish a full 3 day timetable, all checked on 10 October 2026.
The short answer: a 3 day 2 night Halong Bay cruise is worth it if the bay is a highlight of your trip and you choose the boat by its middle day, because that day is the only thing the second night buys. It costs about 1.9 times the 2 day price on the same boat: the middle is $315 per person against $165, so the second night adds about $150 each. It is not worth it if you mainly want the sunset, a night at anchor and a morning on the water. A 2 day cruise already gives you all three.
What the second night costs
| Bay | Boats with a 3 day trip | Middle price, 2 days | Middle price, 3 days | The second night adds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halong Bay | 33 of 37 | $165 | $325 | $150 |
| Lan Ha Bay | 45 of 49 | $165 | $315 | $155 |
| Bai Tu Long Bay | 10 of 10 | $158 | $298 | $142 |
| All three bays | 88 of 96 | $165 | $315 | $151 |
Per person, two adults sharing the cheapest cabin on each boat, October to April, all meals on board included. The 2 day prices are for the same boats. From May to September the middle 3 day price falls to about $300, and 20 of the 88 boats charge the same all year. The cheapest 3 day cruise is Annam Junk at $202, and 8 boats cost under $250, all of them on Halong Bay.
For two people with the shared shuttle from Hanoi ($35 per person return), a typical 3 day cruise comes to about $698, against about $400 for 2 days. Drinks from the bar and spa treatments are extra on every ship.
What day 2 really is, bay by bay
Day 1 and day 3 of a 3 day cruise are almost the same as a 2 day trip: you board at about noon on day 1 and are back at the harbour at about 11:00 on day 3. The difference is the middle day, and it is not the same in each bay. We read the day 2 programme of all 51 boats with a published timetable. Across the three bays, 41 include kayaking and 41 a beach or swim stop.
- Halong Bay (20 boats): a day of smaller caves and a beach. 18 visit a cave such as Trinh Nu, Me Cung or Tien Ong, 17 include kayaking, 16 a beach or swim stop (often Ba Trai Dao), and 12 a pearl farm.
- Lan Ha Bay (25 boats): a day on Cat Ba Island. 23 go to Viet Hai village, by bicycle through Cat Ba National Park (12 also offer an electric car), then 20 stop at a beach or for a swim and 19 go kayaking. Details in Lan Ha Bay: 1 night or 2 nights.
- Bai Tu Long Bay (6 boats): the quietest day. 5 include kayaking, 5 a beach or swim stop and 5 a cave such as Thien Canh Son or Thay Cave. 3 boats serve a barbecue lunch on the beach when the weather allows, and Vung Vieng fishing village is on day 2 or day 3.
Three real day 2 programmes
| Bay | Boat | Day 2, from the boat’s own timetable | 3 days from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halong | Amanda Premier | 08:45 day boat to Trinh Nu Cave for kayaking or a swim. 10:30 Ba Trai Dao beach. 12:00 lunch on the day boat. 14:00 pearl farm. Back on the ship for the sunset party and dinner. | $252 |
| Lan Ha | Kairos | Morning day boat to Cat Ba Island for Viet Hai village, by bicycle or electric car. Lunch on the day boat. Afternoon kayaking between the islands and a swim at Ba Trai Dao beach. Back on the ship at 16:30 to 17:00. | $295 |
| Bai Tu Long | Dragon Legend | Thien Canh Son Cave, then kayaking around Hon Co Island. The ship moves to Cong Dam for a barbecue lunch on the beach, weather permitting. Back on board at 14:30 for the seawater pool or a cooking class. | $377 |
The catch: most boats take you off the ship for the day
- The middle day is usually on a smaller boat. 39 of the 51 boats use a separate day boat on day 2, and 4 more a speedboat. You leave at about 08:00 to 08:45 and return in the late afternoon, so your cabin, balcony and the ship’s pool are empty for most of that day, and lunch is on the day boat. If you want the day on your own ship, look at Dragon Legend on Bai Tu Long, which sails to the day 2 stops itself.
- Day 3 is short. You get one morning stop (a cave on 32 of the 51 boats, kayaking on 20) and most boats are back at the harbour between 10:30 and 11:30.
- The second night is rarely discounted. On most boats it costs almost as much as the first.
- Winter takes away half the day. From December to February it is about 15 to 20°C, too cold for most people to swim, and the beach stop becomes a short walk.
- Not every boat sells it. 8 of our 96 boats are 2 days only, including Heritage Line Ginger, Bhaya Soul and Venezia.
When 3 days is worth it, and when it is not
- Worth it if Halong is the main reason for your time in the north, if you have 10 days or more in Vietnam, if you travel from April to October when the swim stops are warm, or if you want one full day with no packing and no road.
- Worth it for a specific day 2: cycling to Viet Hai on Lan Ha Bay, or a beach barbecue and Vung Vieng village on Bai Tu Long.
- Not worth it if you have a week or less in Vietnam, if you travel in December to February mainly for the views, if you would rather rest on the ship than join a full day out, or if the $150 difference would do more for you as a better cabin. That amount moves you from a typical boat to one of the luxury ships for 2 days.
Where the second night costs least
- Annam Junk (Halong Bay): $102 for 2 days, $202 for 3. The second night adds $100.
- Emeraude (Halong Bay): $127 for 2 days, $230 for 3. Adds $103.
- Syrena (Halong Bay): $115 for 2 days, $222 for 3. Adds $107.
- Dragon Legend (Bai Tu Long): $220 for 2 days, $377 for 3, about 1.7 times the 2 day price where most boats are close to double.
- Prince (Bai Tu Long): $220 for 2 days, $382 for 3, also about 1.7 times.
Ten boats are ranked, with the downside of each, in the best 3 day 2 night Halong Bay cruises. For a straight price comparison of the two lengths see 2 day vs 3 day cruises.
How to choose a 3 day cruise
- Pick the bay by the day 2 you want: caves and a beach on Halong, Cat Ba Island and cycling on Lan Ha, the fewest boats on Bai Tu Long. Compare in Halong Bay vs Lan Ha Bay and Halong Bay vs Bai Tu Long Bay.
- Read day 2 on the boat’s page before you book. It says whether you go by day boat and what time you are back on your ship.
- Check the season. October to November and late March to April are the most reliable months. See the best time to visit Halong Bay.
- Book the 3 day trip from the start. On each boat page choose “3 days 2 nights” to see the price for your date.
Frequently asked questions
Is 3 days on Halong Bay too long?
Not if you like an active day: day 2 is a full programme, with kayaking on 41 of 51 boats and a beach or swim stop on 41. It can feel long if you mainly want to rest on the ship, because on 39 of the 51 boats you spend that day on a separate day boat.
How much does a 3 day Halong Bay cruise cost?
From $202 per person on Annam Junk. The middle price of the 88 boats we sell is $315 per person from October to April and about $300 from May to September, two sharing a cabin, with all meals. For two people with the shuttle from Hanoi, about $698.
Do you stay on the same boat for both nights?
Yes, you keep the same cabin for both nights. On most boats only the day 2 excursion is on a smaller day boat or a speedboat, and you are back on your ship for sunset and dinner.
What month is best for a 3 day Halong Bay cruise?
October to November and late March to April for the most reliable weather, and May to September for swimming, when the middle price is also about $20 lower. From July to September a storm can stop every boat for a day or two; with us you then get a new date free of charge or a full refund.
Can you extend a 2 day cruise to 3 days?
Book the 3 day trip from the start. The same boats sell both lengths (88 of the 96 boats we sell), but the second night is a separate cabin booking, so adding it later depends on the cabin still being free. Message us and we will check your dates.
Book a 3 day cruise with Ava Travel
Compare every 3 day 2 night cruise with its price, pick your date, add the shuttle at checkout and pay securely online; we confirm your cabin and pickup within one hour. Not sure whether 2 or 3 days suits your route? Message us on WhatsApp (+84 904 251 545) with your dates.
