Bai Tu Long Bay Cruises

Bai Tu Long Bay cruises mainly use small and medium-sized ships launched between 2010 and 2020. The service includes a variety of cruise types with different itineraries, from day cruises to 2-day-1-night and 3-day-2-night options, providing a wide range of standards from luxury to budget, shared to private charter. At BestPrice, tourists will find many Bai Tu Long Bay tours suitable for all types of customers, from groups of friends and families to solo travelers and couples.

These cruises combine affordable prices with unique experiences, making them a great choice to enjoy the beauty of Bai Tu Long Bay inexpensively. In our selection, over 80% of the boats are offering 3-star to 4-star services. Therefore the amenities may be a bit limited; however, this weakness is compensated by authentic experiences that take tourists close to nature and local culture.

Cruise through Bai Tu Long Islands is a serene getaway for nature lovers.

About Bai Tu Long Bay

• Along with Ha Long, Bai Tu Long Bay was voted as one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Southeast Asia by Ecotourism company Gecko Travel (UK) in 2006.
• Located in the Gulf of Tonkin, in the Northeast region of Vietnam, covering the sea area of ​​Ha Long City, Cam Pha City, and Van Don district.
• Bai Tu Long Bay has an area of ​​about 157.8 km², with more than 600 large and small islands. Meanwhile, Halong Bay is larger, with an area of ​​about 1,553 km² and more than 1,600 islands.
• Must-visit destinations: Thien Canh Son Cave, Cong Dam Area, Vung Vieng Village.

Exclusive and personalized experiences

At BestPrice Travel, we provide cruising service with off-the-beaten-path itineraries, offering travelers a less crowded exploration of Bai Tu Long Bay with more privacy. Especially, tourists can personalize their travel experience and personal needs with boat charter.

Because of the small area and unspoiled landscapes, travel routes in this area often include less-visited caves, secluded beaches, and pristine stops, which makes cruises in Bai Tu Long different.

Enjoy an outdoor dining experience on the Bai Tu Long private boat tour

Open to all travel styles

Many travelers believe that cruising in a less touristy area like Bai Tu Long Bay is only suitable for adventure seekers because of its wild beauty and secluded attractions. However, in fact, this experience is for everyone, from single tourists to families with kids.

Many solo travelers choose the affordable Bai Tu Long cruise because of the budget service price when compared to the two brother bays: Halong and Lan Ha. Additionally, Bai Tu Long cruises have become more and more popular for families thanks to the tranquility and kid-friendly tour activities such as cave visiting, bamboo boating, or squid fishing.

Scenic boat ride suitable for all age groups to enjoy the calmness of Bai Tu Long Bay

Unique experience with Vietnamese junks

In the Gulf of Tonkin, most of the tourist boats have been converted to modern metal ones. Meanwhile, Bai Tu Long Bay remains an authentic cruise destination where tourists can find a range of traditional wooden boats. After many years of operation, these junks are still well maintained to preserve the traditional culture of the place, bringing tourists journeys with unique experiences.

One-of-a-kind cruise adventure on Bai Tu Long Bay junk boat

Sustainable and eco-friendly tourism

As a move to support sustainable tourism, boats here are all making efforts to become Bai Tu Long eco-friendly cruises to support the local community and protect the environment.

Some cruise lines such as Dragon Legend, Dragon’s Pearl Junk, La Muse, and Prince Private Cruise are implementing green tourism programs with a commitment to minimizing waste discharge to the environment, trying to reduce the amount of tourism waste to zero, and organizing volunteer trips to clean up the bay.

In addition, for local communities, to preserve traditional cultural values ​​as well as contribute to the local economy, many cruises have designed programs that include cultural experiences such as tours to Yen Duc Village and experiencing traditional water puppet shows or increasing local interactions by taking tourists to visit local fishing villages such as Vung Vieng or Cap La.

Great way to behold the water puppet show at Yen Duc village with Indochina Junk cruises

Usually, journeys to experience the charm of Bai Tu Long Bay through enchanting cruises last from 1 to 3 days.

Places to visit on different Bai Tu Long cruise itineraries

Whether you embark on a Bai Tu Long Bay day trip or an overnight cruise, you can visit all the highlight spots. Here are the destinations you will have a chance to explore.

Thien Canh Son Cave

Despite its small entrance, Thien Canh Son Cave reveals a mesmerizing system of wavy domes adorned with thousands of twinkling stalactites, creating a breathtaking glow throughout the entire area. Also, walking through the cave passages is an interesting experience, helping you enjoy the magic of nature and feel the mysterious beauty of the cave.

Explore the natural beauty and geological value of limestone cave

Cong Dam Area

On the 3-day itinerary, the Cong Dam area is renowned for its majestic and poetic natural beauty, resembling an open-air geological museum. While kayaking through this place, tourists will have a chance to access the caves and be overwhelmed by the rocky mountains formed by rocks stacked in straight lines, and the peaceful space of the water and mountains on the bay.

Discover Bai Tu Long’s hidden gem on a kayak

Vung Vieng Village

While smaller in size compared to Cua Van Village in Halong, Vung Vieng Village still holds its own as a charming and intimate fishing community. This is a tiny and rustic floating village, surrounded by mountains, with fish farms and floating buoys lined up in straight rows.

Come to Vung Vieng, tourists will have the opportunity to chat with residents, learn about traditional fishing and community customs, and get an insight into the daily lives of the locals, helping you feel the peace and simple beauty of life on the water.

Get closer to local life in the fishing village

To access this lovely fishing village, cruises in Bai Tu Long Bay usually arrange trips by kayak or bamboo boat, which can accommodate about 6-8 people, to explore the wild beauty and immerse in peaceful nature.

Hon Co Island

Hon Co is a rare island in Bai Tu Long that allows visitors to swim and relax on the beach. It is famous for its smooth white sand beach and crystal clear blue seawater. As a little-known destination even for domestic tourists, this island still retains its pristine natural landscape and has not been affected by tourism business activities.

As a hidden gem, Hon Co Island offers the most authentic cruising experience.

Cap La

This area is one of the most beautiful areas of Bai Tu Long Bay with majestic natural scenery, surrounded by the Gulf of Tonkin’s typical steep cliffs. This place has a diverse ecosystem with many precious marine plants and animals. 

Apart from enjoying the magnificent landscape of this area, visitors also have the opportunity to visit and learn about the cultural life of local fishermen at the fishing village and explore Cap La Cave, a small but beautiful cave recently discovered on Cong Do Island.

It’s also a perfect spot to paddle the calm waters on an enjoyable kayak.

Most cruises to Bai Tu Long Bay depart from Halong International Cruise Port, No 9 Halong Road, Bai Chay Ward, Halong City. 

From Hanoi

For BestPrice Travel customers, the company provides pick-up and drop-off service by luxury shuttle bus or private car from hotels in Hanoi Old Quarter to the port with the following costs:

From Halong City

In addition, for tourists currently in Halong City, local taxis are suggested to transfer from the city center to the cruise port (only a 5 - 10-minute drive) at the price of around US $4 - $4.5 for a one-way trip.

The best way to get from Halong Center to the international cruise port is by taxi.

Over the years, Bai Tu Long has become an authentic cruising destination for traditional junk boats in Vietnam. Here are BestPrice Travel’s top-rated Bai Tu Long cruises for 2024/2025 based on customer feedback and expert choices.

If the list above is still a little confusing, below are some simple instructions for choosing the most appropriate cruise according to your needs.

For families

With family tourists, the most suitable choice is any cruise boat with spacious cabins and if possible, a connecting room is perfect. Especially for travelers with children, a large pool or jacuzzi is also an important highlight. The top-rated family cruises in this area include:

• Swan Cruise 3.5*
• Signature Cruise 4*
• Signature Royal 5*

Also, there is a special option for a big family group - the Bai Tu Long private boat tour, which is provided by the Prince Cruise - a small junk with 4 cabins and available only for charter trips.

The deluxe cabin on Swan Cruise is ideal for a group or family with kids.

For couples

Small but luxurious cruises, with beautiful, quiet, and private cabins, are always the best choice for couples when coming to Bai Tu Long Bay. Options with the above advantages are quite popular because this is also the characteristic of most cruise boats in this area, the best suggestions for couples at present include:

• La Regina Classic Cruise 3* 
• Treasure Junk 4*
• Dragon Legend Cruise 5* 

Dragon Legend Cruise offers a wide range of activities for couples.

For adventure seekers

Most travelers interested in adventure travel are fond of off-the-beaten-track itineraries. At the same time, many people choose to travel alone, so cost is also an issue that needs to be considered. Some cruises in Bai Tu Long Bay can satisfy these requirements such as:

• Garden Bay Legend 3.5* 
• Dragon Pearl Junk 4*
• Prince Private Cruise 4*

Bai Tu Long Bay offers great opportunities to uncover hidden treasures.

According to BestPrice Travel’s annual inspection, Bai Tu Long Bay is still a well-preserved and interesting cruising route, suitable for many types of tourists thanks to the following advantages:

• Wild and beautiful landscapes
• High-quality services
• Diverse sightseeing and cultural activities
• Less touristy destinations
• Reasonable prices (US $121 - $155/ pax/ night), cheaper than Halong and Lan Ha cruises

The only drawbacks of this area are limited ship facilities and far locations, which means the Bai Tu Long day trip includes only 1 attraction to visit. 

Overall, the Bai Tu Long Cruise is an attractive option for those who love the wild nature and deluxe experience on an overnight tour from 2 to 3 days. Although the service price has increased over time, it is still very reasonable compared to other bays.