Last updated 10 October 2026 by the Ava Travel team in Hanoi. Figures come from the 96 overnight cruises we sell, checked on our booking pages on 4 and 10 October 2026.
The short answer: an overnight (2 day 1 night) Halong Bay cruise costs $102 to $430 per person, two sharing a cabin, with all meals on board: lunch and dinner on day one, breakfast and brunch on day two. Most good mid-range boats cost $150 to $165. You board around noon, kayak or visit a cave in the afternoon, sleep anchored in the bay, and are back at the pier around 11:00 the next day. The transfer from Hanoi is extra: $35 per person return by shuttle.
How much does an overnight cruise cost?
| Class | Boats we sell | Price range | Middle price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard and boutique | 72 | $102 – $224 | $155 |
| Luxury | 18 | $190 – $255 | $218 |
| Ultra-luxury | 6 | $240 – $430 | $330 |
Lowest price per person for two adults sharing a cabin, October to April. From May to September most boats are a little cheaper; the middle saving is about $11 per person. Full breakdown in how much a Halong Bay cruise costs.
What is included, and what is extra
- Included: your cabin, all meals (lunch and dinner on day one, breakfast and brunch or lunch on day two), entrance fees for the stops on the programme, kayaking or a bamboo boat where it is on the itinerary, the cooking class, tai chi at sunrise, and squid fishing in the evening.
- Extra: the transfer from Hanoi ($35 per person return by shuttle, $165 by private car), drinks from the bar, spa treatments, and on some ships a sky bar or jacuzzi.
The real schedule
We read the timetable of every boat we sell. The times below are the most common ones; almost every boat is within 30 minutes of them.
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 08:00 | Pickup at your Hanoi hotel (with the transfer) |
| 12:00 – 12:30 | Board, welcome drink, safety briefing |
| 13:00 | Lunch as the boat sails into the bay |
| 15:00 | Kayaking, a cave or a swim, depending on the boat |
| 17:30 | Sunset on deck and a cooking class |
| 19:00 | Dinner, then squid fishing or a quiet evening |
| 06:00 | Tai chi at sunrise |
| 06:30 – 07:00 | Breakfast, then a morning excursion |
| 09:30 | Check out and brunch |
| 11:00 | Back at the pier; Hanoi by about 15:00 |
What you see in between depends on the bay: Sung Sot Cave and Titop Island on Halong Bay, Dark and Bright Cave and Cat Ba on Lan Ha Bay, Thien Canh Son Cave and a floating village on Bai Tu Long. Hour by hour in our 2-day Halong Bay itinerary.
Is an overnight cruise worth it, or is a day trip enough?
Yes, if you can spare one night. A day trip costs from $45 per person but spends about 5 hours on the road for a few hours on the busiest part of the bay. An overnight cruise from $102 gives you about 23 hours on the water, with the sunset, the quiet evening and the early morning, which are the best hours on the bay. If you only have one free day, a day trip to Ninh Binh is the better choice.
| Day trip from Hanoi | Overnight cruise | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | $45 in a group, transfer and lunch included | From $102, about $165 on a typical ship, plus $35 for the return shuttle |
| Hours on the water | A few, around midday | About 23, from noon to about 11:00 next day |
| Hours on the road | About 5, on the same day | About 3 each way, on two different days |
| Meals on board | 1 | 4 |
| Activities | A cave and the islands nearest the harbour | Kayaking on 71 of our 96 boats, a swim stop on 57, plus a cave or a village depending on the bay |
| Sunset and sunrise on the bay | No | Yes |
| Other boats around you | Many: day boats stay in the busiest part of the bay | Fewer once the day boats go back in the late afternoon |
For the honest list of when a cruise disappoints (winter mist, summer storms, crowds on the classic route), read is a Halong Bay cruise worth it.
Children and solo travellers
- Infants 0 to 3: free.
- Children 4 to 11: pay the extra bed rate, already included in the price shown when you enter their ages.
- 12 and over: adult fare.
- One adult alone in a double cabin: pays 85% of the cabin price.
32 of our boats have family cabins for 3 or 4. See Halong Bay with kids.
How to choose your boat
- Pick the bay first: famous sights on Halong, kayaking and balconies on Lan Ha, fewest boats on Bai Tu Long. See Halong Bay vs Lan Ha Bay.
- Then the cabin: 51 of the 78 modern ships we sell have a balcony in every cabin.
- Then the size: most boats have 13 to 40 cabins; 11 have 12 or fewer.
Frequently asked questions
Is one night in Halong Bay enough?
For most people, yes. One night gives you an afternoon excursion, the sunset, the evening and one morning activity. Choose two nights if you want the extra day on Cat Ba Island or in the Bai Tu Long villages. Compare in 2-day vs 3-day cruises.
Is an overnight Halong Bay cruise worth it?
Yes for most people. The cheapest overnight cruise with the return shuttle costs $137 per person, against $45 for a day trip. For that $92 you get about 23 hours on the water in place of a few, four meals, and the sunset and early morning that a day boat never reaches.
Should I stay 1 night or 2 nights?
One night for most trips. A second night costs about 1.9 times the 1 night price on the same boat and adds a full middle day, usually ashore on Cat Ba Island. See the numbers in Lan Ha Bay: 1 night or 2 nights.
Will I get seasick?
Rarely. The boats stay inside the bay, which is sheltered by thousands of islands, and they anchor in calm water for the night. If a storm is coming the port authority keeps every boat in port.
Book an overnight cruise with Ava Travel
Compare boats on the 10 best Halong Bay cruises for 2026 or all cruises with 2026 prices, pick your date, add the Hanoi transfer at checkout and pay securely online. We confirm your cabin and pickup within one hour. WhatsApp +84 904 251 545.
