Discover Ha Long Bay with a guided tour and boat cruise. If you’re short on time, consider a day trip from Hanoi. These usually include a cruise through Ha Long Bay, visits to islands and caves, options for swimming or kayaking, and a seafood lunch.
For a deeper exploration, choose a multi-day or overnight cruise. Spend at least one night on a traditional junk boat or a luxurious cruise ship, engaging in activities like cooking classes or squid fishing.
How to get there
Ha Long Bay is 103 miles (165 kilometers) east of Hanoi, near Ha Long city in Quang Ninh province. The easiest way to visit is on a tour with transportation included. Otherwise, you can go by car, bus, motorbike, or ferry. For a faster but costlier option, you can take a helicopter or seaplane.
Things to know before you go
- Ha Long Bay is great for nature lovers, outdoor fans, and adventure seekers.
- Remember your camera for amazing photo ops.
- If you want to swim, bring your swim gear and sunblock.
- Wear sturdy shoes for hiking and climbing to get the best views.
- Day trips from Hanoi typically go on for around 12 hours.
Speak to someone who's been there
Recommended Things to Do in Vietnam
Ride a Vespa for a guided tour in Ho Chi Minh City, try Hanoi’s street food with a local guide, or cruise the Mekong on a wooden boat. Our experts can suggest activities to make your Vietnam trip special, just the way you like it.
Choose your style of travel & Tours
No matter what you like or how you want to travel, planning a special trip just for you means it’ll be exactly what you want. The ideas here are just the beginning of what’s possible. Whether you love animals or exploring different cultures, prefer cycling or riding a motorbike, or want to travel by boat or train, or even if you’re planning a romantic honeymoon or a fun family trip, it all starts here.
Our expert guides to choosing your Amazing Landscape
We inspire you with holiday destination suggestions, offering tips on experiences and accommodations. Explore our ideas for the best Amazing Landscape destinations to consider.
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What our clients say about us
Eriberto P
16 March 2024 ★★★★★We had an amazing time with Flipside! The easy riders were fantastic and made us feel so safe over the 3 days. The food and home stays were lovely over the trip and there were plenty of stops along the way. The evenings were so much fun with the group and easy riders! Everyone was so accommodating and friendly and made the experience unforgettable. We cannot wait to come again and highly recommend Flipside
Jeremy
28 April 2024 ★★★★★Flip side honestly exceeded my expectations! Of course the views of Ha Giang were amazing but the staff were absolutely incredible and the easy riders were amazing! I felt so safe on the back of Truong’s bike the whole time. We had a small group of 6 people, 4 of us with easy riders and my boyfriend and our friend drove themselves. The drivers were steady and kept a good, safe pace for the guys riding (we saw and heard how fast the other tour’s went and how many injuries they have). Every night was super fun and our riders had such a laugh with us. Flip side take you off the beaten track and we saw some amazing views and swam in some gorgeous waterfalls that we hiked down too, it was so special. The main highlight was day 4, where we met Thiên and Truong’s families. We had the best day wild swimming with them, swimming inside a hidden cave, and drinking too much happy water while teaching everyone Scottish country dancing. Special thanks to Duc Anh, Thiên and especially Truong. Amazing people that made the four days so special!!! Flip side really feels like a family and social enterprise and really supports the staff & the villages in the mountains, it was amazing to see and hear about from a tour company! 10/10
Steven
23 April 2024 ★★★★★I had a good time and I am Glad, that I decided me to book this tour I can recommed it, it was nice and uncomplicated to book We had a really good time
Naad
16 April 2024 ★★★★★We just returned from a 14 day trip to Vietnam with FLIPSIDE. The trip was perfect, thanks to Mr. Kevin and his team, who took care of every detail of the organization and were attentive throughout, ensuring that our experience was excellent. They even provided us with tips on some great hotels in Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City. During our trip, we visited Hanoi, Halong Bay (two night by boat, highly recommended for a full experience), did the Ha Giang Loop for 4 days, explored Hoi An and went on a 3-day bike tour in the Mekong Delta. The guides spoke good English and took excellent care of us in each city: Tony in Hanoi and Halong Bay, Nghia in Ha Giang and Tom in the Mekong Delta, all of whom helped us enjoy the journey more. Vietnam is a wonderful country with delicious food and the people are charming. I absolutely recommend it. Many thanks to Mr. Kevin and Flipside Adventure Travel for their excellent work.
Sures M
3 April 2024 ★★★★★The flipside Ha Giang loop tour was a absolutely incredible experience which left us both completely speechless until now! Diving into the heart of the loop and being given a real experience of the life in which the local people live here was truly amazing. The company puts real emphasis into helping local communities within the loop. You are able to make donations, if you wish, to local families in need and the experience visiting the family really does change your perspective on things. Furthermore, you are taken off the main tracks and see parts of the loop no one else does. However, you still see the incredible scenery and pass through the loops most popular tracks so don’t miss out in incredible views. The easy riders ensure you make plenty of stops for delicious coffee/drinks and have the chance to take plenty of photos and videos to capture the moment! Me & my girlfriend had Ǎn and Dukang (I hope I’ve spelt that correctly) as our easy riders and they were genuinely amazing people. You connect with them over the three/four days and make a real friendship with them! They’re fantastic drivers and go above & beyond to make sure you have a brilliant time. Food was delicious and we never felt hungry as there was so much! The homestays were great too, couples on our tour were given private rooms when possible (which was both nights for us). The flipside team do an amazing job and deserve the most recognition possible! I hope one day to return & do the loop again. It was truly amazing. Thank you to everyone at Flipside, with particular thanks to Ǎn & Dukang! Legends!!
Stolecki G
10 April 2024 ★★★★★We just completed a 26 day tour of Vietnam: Hanoi, Ha Giang Loop Tour by motorbike, Halong Bay cruise, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh, Cu Chi tunnels, Mekong cycle tour. We arrived by boat in the Cambodian capital and from there, we went to Siem Reap to visit the temples of Angkor. Finally, we traveled to Bangkok, visiting the city's temples, floating markets and parks. We were met for all the transfers, including 4 internal flights, a boat transfer and the cruise. Everything was perfectly organized by Kevin. All tour guides were excellent and very attentive, and the drivers and vehicles were also great. Despite choosing budget hotels, they were good quality. We felt safe and secure throughout the trip. The only accommodation that felt a bit out of place was the one in Bangkok. Flipside Adventure Travel is an agency we highly recommend as they organize tailored tours with half board, diverse activities and at a reasonable price. This experience was particularly special as it was our first trip to Asia.
Armer S
12 June 2024 ★★★★★Flipside Adventure Travel organized a fabulous 3-week trip for us to Vietnam and Cambodia. We visited Angkor Wat, Phnom Penh, traveled by boat on the Mekong River with a bike tour and explored Saigon, Hoi An, Halong Bay and the Ha Giang Loop. A choice was perfectly offered in different hotels and accommodations, allowing everyone to manage their desires and budget. Our travel consultant, Stephen was always ready to answer us on WhatsApp when we needed it. We were really taken care of! Also, when bad weather made us cancel our scuba diving, Stephen quickly found us another plan. The guides were nice and spoke English well; the drivers were good and we loved our trip. Highly recommend Flipside Adventure Travel!
Vernola S
18 January 2024 ★★★★★Our trip to Vietnam was fantastic, one of the best I've ever had. Flipside Adventure Travel was very well organized throughout. We were fortunate to have a wonderful guide, Tony, who was incredibly helpful, kind and patient. The group of fellow travelers were also great. They ranged in age from about 30 to 50 years old and were easy to get along with and friendly. We always made stops at clean restrooms, dined at wonderful restaurants, and stayed in excellent hotels. The itinerary struck a good balance between sightseeing, shopping, downtime, group activities, communal meals, and individual dining choices. I particularly enjoyed visiting Halong Bay, Ha Giang Loop, Saigon, Mekong Delta, Hoi An, trying Vietnamese cuisine, watching water puppetry and more. I would definitely travel with them again and highly recommend this company.