Cruises / Day Cruise
Lan Ha Bay · Day cruise
Seven and a half hours from Ha Long into Lan Ha Bay
Day Cruise
Lan Ha Bay
Day Cruise aboard the Jade Sails Cruise.
Jade Sails runs a seven-and-a-half-hour day from Ha Long across into Lan Ha Bay, which keeps the boat away from the busiest water for most of the afternoon. The day takes in kayaking, a local bamboo rowing boat, a swimming stop, a cooking demonstration and a sunset party on the sun deck.
How your day cruise unfolds.
What makes it special.
The day
A long day on the water rather than a few hours, which is what lets the boat reach Lan Ha Bay.
The route
The route starts in Ha Long and crosses into Lan Ha Bay, in the Cat Ba archipelago, away from the main traffic.
On the water
Kayaking in calm water, a local bamboo rowing boat and a swimming stop are all part of the afternoon.
In the kitchen
A cooking demonstration on board covers Vietnamese dishes, spring rolls among them, before the sunset party on deck.
What is on board, and what the day includes
Drinks beyond the welcome drink, and anything else not listed, are paid on board.
A day on the water, or a night aboard.
Day trip
A long day out from Hanoi with a few hours of cruising, a cave and a kayak. It works when time is tight, but you miss the sunset, the quiet and the sunrise.
This is the itinerary on this page
2 days, 1 night
An afternoon and evening on the water, a night at anchor and a morning sail out. The length most travellers choose.
3 days, 2 nights
Day two is when the fleets disperse and you reach the further coves - the bay at its most peaceful.
Other boats on the same water, same length of trip.
See every boat on our Ha Long Bay cruises, or narrow by length: day cruises, 2 days, 1 night and 3 days, 2 nights.
About this boat, and about cruising the bay.
Jade Sails Cruise sails Lan Ha Bay. If you are still deciding between the bays, our comparison of Ha Long, Lan Ha and Bai Tu Long sets out how they differ in traffic, scenery and how far you travel to reach them.
The operator's own material does not name the harbour, so ask us and we will confirm it in writing with your booking. Pick-up from Hanoi is around 08:00-08:30; the hour-by-hour itinerary above gives the timings for the day.
The cruise itself is seven and a half hours; with the road transfer each way the day runs from early morning to early evening. A day cruise is a long day out of Hanoi either way, which is why we fit it around the rest of your trip rather than sell it on its own.
Road transfer from Hanoi takes roughly two and a half to three hours each way, which is why a day cruise starts early and finishes late. We arrange the transfer with the cruise as one booking, so the pick-up matches the boarding window rather than leaving you to work the timings out.
A Ha Long day cruise normally includes lunch on board, the guided activities in the itinerary above and the bay entrance and sightseeing fees. Drinks, the kayak on some boats and the road transfer from Hanoi are the items that vary most. We confirm exactly what is and is not included for this boat in writing before you pay, because it differs by operator and by season.
Ha Long Bay closes to cruise traffic when the harbour authority says so, usually for storms. If that happens we move the date or refund the cruise - you are never held to a sailing that cannot run. Our refund policy sets out the detail.
Yes. Day boats take children of any age and price them in bands rather than as adults. Tell us the ages when you enquire and we will say which boats suit and what each one charges.
Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and allergy requirements are all workable, but they need to be given at booking rather than on the day - the boat provisions before it leaves harbour and cannot restock at sea.
October to April is the settled season, with clear air and cool mornings. May to September is warmer and better for swimming, with a higher chance of a storm closing the bay. Our guide to Ha Long Bay goes into the months in more detail.
We'll build the Jade Sails Cruise into a complete, private Northern Vietnam itinerary, planned and run for you, with every transfer handled.
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