Booking choice: The Ha Long Bay day cruise, from $40 per person. Check dates Tour details
You'll hike up to a viewpoint, walk through a cave, paddle a kayak, maybe swim, and eat lunch on deck. All in one day, often in the same clothes. That's the packing brief.
The lists here come from the GetYourGuide listings for the tours on this site, with the seasons from Quang Ninh province and Wikipedia's climate pages.
The quick answer
Wear light, quick-drying clothes with swimwear underneath, and comfortable shoes for the Ti Top climb and Sung Sot Cave. The listings ask you to bring sunglasses, a sun hat, sunscreen and swimwear, a towel on the day cruises and a passport or ID for the overnight cruises. Several boats don't allow plastic bottles, so bring a reusable one. From November to March, add a warm layer and a light rain jacket.
What should I wear on a Ha Long Bay cruise?
Light, casual clothes that dry fast, with swimwear underneath and a hat. The day cruise listing asks for comfortable clothes and quick-dry clothing, and no listing here sets a dress code.
Dress for a day outdoors, on and off a boat. By season:
- May to September: shorts or light trousers, a breathable shirt, swimwear, a sun hat and sunglasses. The hottest month averages about 28°C on the north-east coast, per Wikipedia, and it's humid.
- November to March: long trousers, a long-sleeved top and a fleece or light jacket for the top deck. The coldest month averages about 16°C, and Wikipedia describes winters here as cloudy with drizzle.
- April and October: the in-between months. Pack for both and wear layers.
Women often ask about this. None of the listings sets any rule on clothing. Swimwear for the beach and the swim stops, with a T-shirt or a light cover-up over it on deck and on the bus, works well.
More on the seasons in the best time guide.
Light clothes, swimwear underneath and a hat are all the day cruise needs: caves, kayaking and Ti Top, back by evening.
Check dates for the Ha Long Bay day cruiseWhat should I bring on a Ha Long Bay cruise?
Sunglasses, a sun hat, sunscreen and swimwear, a towel for the day cruises, comfortable shoes and a passport or ID. Those are the items the listings name.
From the what-to-bring lists on the tours here:
- Passport or ID: on most lists. The 2-day Ha Long and Lan Ha cruise requires a current valid passport on the day of travel; the Lan Ha day cruise asks for a copy at least 24 hours before check-in, for advance registration; the luxury day cruise accepts a copy.
- A towel: on the day cruise and the Ti Top day trip lists.
- Sun protection: sunglasses, a sun hat and sunscreen appear on nearly every list.
- Comfortable shoes: on the 2-day Ha Long and Lan Ha cruise and the Lan Ha day cruise lists.
- A camera: on the Lan Ha day cruise list.
And what to leave behind: plastic bottles are not allowed on the day cruise, the luxury day cruise, the Bai Tu Long Bay cruise, the Elite cruise, the 3-day Bai Tu Long cruise and the Ninh Binh tour. The Elite cruise also bans plastic bags, the luxury day cruise bans drones, and the Lan Ha day cruise doesn't allow pets or smoking.
The classic day route on a luxury boat, with a buffet lunch, a jacuzzi on deck and kayaking at Luon Cave.
Explore the luxury day cruise Tour detailsCan you swim in Ha Long Bay?
Yes. The day cruises swim at the beach on Ti Top island, the Lan Ha day cruise swims at Ao Ech, and the overnight cruises swim off the boat. Every swim is optional.
- Ti Top beach: the day cruise, the luxury day cruise and the Ti Top day trip all stop here, with a swim or the climb to the viewpoint. In June 2026 the Ha Long Bay Management Board inspected the lifesaving equipment and lifeguard services at Ti Top beach before the summer peak.
- Ao Ech, Lan Ha Bay: kayaking and swimming on the Lan Ha day cruise.
- Off the boat: the 6-star cruise lists a swim in the open sea or its floating pool, "with life vests always available". The 2-day Ha Long and Lan Ha cruise and the 3-day Bai Tu Long cruise list swimming too.
Wear swimwear under your clothes, and pack a towel and a dry top for the ride back. The warm months for a swim are May to September.
Helen, on the Lan Ha day cruise (October 2026): "Lovely boat, friendly staff, [...] loads of time for relaxing & always somewhere comfy to sit, cave trip serene, kayaking if you want (we had the pool to ourselves instead), even have showers."
Kayak and swim at Ao Ech in Lan Ha Bay, then the jacuzzi and a cooking class on board.
Explore the Lan Ha day cruise Tour detailsWhat should you wear for kayaking in Ha Long Bay?
Swimwear or quick-dry clothes and shoes you can get wet. On the day cruise you share a kayak, 2 people per kayak, and the bamboo boat is there if you'd rather stay dry.
The kayak leg on the classic day route goes to Luon Cave, which Wikipedia describes as a low cave at water level. On the Lan Ha cruises you paddle at Ao Ech. What helps:
- Expect splashes. Swimwear or quick-dry shorts. Cotton stays wet for hours.
- Footwear. Strap sandals or water shoes beat flip-flops on a floating pontoon.
- Your phone. A small dry bag or a waterproof pouch, or leave it with your things on the boat.
- The sun. There's no shade on the water. Hat on, sunscreen before you get in.
Not keen to paddle? The day cruise, the luxury day cruise and the Ti Top day trip all offer a bamboo boat at Luon Cave instead, in the same price.
Kayak or bamboo boat at Luon Cave, your choice: the Ti Top day trip includes both, with a seafood lunch.
Check dates for the Ti Top day tripWhat shoes do you need for the caves and Ti Top island?
Comfortable shoes with grip. Ti Top's viewpoint is a hike up from the beach, and Sung Sot Cave opens high on a cliff, per Wikipedia, with a passage leading down inside.
Two walks on the classic day route:
- Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Cave): its entrance chambers sit on a ledge high on the cliff of Bo Hon island, and a passage more than 10 m high and wide descends inside, per Wikipedia. The day cruise listing times the visit at 1.30pm.
- Ti Top island: trek to the summit for the panoramic view of the bay, or stay on the beach and swim. The listings offer both.
Sport sandals with a heel strap or light trainers both work. Flip-flops are fine on the beach and not much else. The Ti Top day trip is not suitable for people with high blood pressure, per its listing, so take the climb at your own pace, or swim instead.
Both stops receive visitors from 7.30am to 5.30pm in summer and to 5pm in winter, per the Ha Long Bay Management Board.
Can you bring water and drinks on a Ha Long Bay cruise?
Water, yes, in a reusable bottle; other drinks on board are extra on every tour here. Several boats ban plastic bottles, and the luxury day cruise says there is no water refill on board.
What the listings include:
- Day cruises: mineral water on the bus on the day cruise; 2 bottles per person on the bus on the Ti Top day trip and the Lan Ha day cruise; 1 bottle on the bus from Hanoi on the luxury day cruise.
- Overnight cruises: 2 bottles of water in each cabin daily on the 2-day Ha Long and Lan Ha cruise; a bottle per person in each room on the Elite cruise; 1 bottle per person on the Bai Tu Long Bay cruise; 2 bottles in each cabin on the 6-star cruise.
The luxury day cruise puts it plainly: if you'd rather not buy drinks, bring your own drinking water in a reusable bottle, because there is no refill facility on board. A 1-litre bottle is about right for a hot day.
On the overnight cruises, drinks beyond the welcome drink are paid on board. The 6-star cruise runs a happy hour at sunset: buy 2 drinks, get 1 free.
What is Ha Long Bay famous for?
Its limestone islands. UNESCO calls the property the most extensive and best-known example of marine-invaded tower karst in the world, with 1,133 islands and islets in the Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago.
- A World Heritage Site since 1994. UNESCO first inscribed Ha Long Bay in 1994, extended it in 2000 and in 2023 added the Cat Ba Archipelago. The property covers 65,650 ha in Quang Ninh province and Hai Phong city, in the Gulf of Tonkin.
- A dragon legend. Ha Long means "descending dragon". In the legend a family of dragons spat out jewels that became the islands, a wall against invaders.
- A New 7 Wonders of Nature. The New7Wonders Foundation named the bay one of them in 2012.
- The films. Kong: Skull Island (2017) was filmed partly in Ha Long Bay, as well as in Ninh Binh and Quang Binh, and Indochine (1992) was shot partly here too, per Wikipedia.
And the Bond question: Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) was not filmed in Vietnam. Wikipedia says its permit was withdrawn and the bay scenes were shot at Phang Nga Bay in Thailand.
See the karsts at sunrise: a night in a balcony cabin, tai chi on deck and kayaking in Lan Ha Bay.
Explore the 2-day Ha Long and Lan Ha cruise Tour detailsWhat should you pack for each type of Ha Long Bay cruise?
A day cruise needs a small bag. An overnight cruise adds a passport, a change of clothes and an evening layer. The table sorts it by cruise.
A packing list by cruise type, from the listings:
| Cruise | Wear | Bring | Not allowed | Water included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day cruises | Light quick-dry clothes, swimwear, a sun hat | Towel, sunglasses, sunscreen, ID or a passport copy | Plastic bottles; drones on the luxury day cruise | Bottled water on the bus |
| 2-day cruises | Swimwear, comfortable shoes, an evening layer | Passport, sunglasses, sun hat, sunscreen | Plastic bottles on some boats; plastic bags on the Elite cruise | Bottled water in the cabin |
| 3-day cruises | As for 2 days, plus a second change of clothes | Passport or ID, copy accepted | Plastic bottles | 2 bottles of mineral water |
| Any cruise, November to March | Long trousers, a fleece, a light rain jacket | A reusable bottle | As above | As above |
Every tour here cancels free up to 24 hours before. Still planning the trip? The Hanoi transfer guide covers the bus, and our cruise comparison helps you pick the boat.
Frequently asked questions
Can I wear jeans to dinner on a Ha Long Bay cruise?
Yes. None of the listings on this site sets a dress code for meals on board, so jeans or casual clothes are fine. In winter, bring a warmer layer for the deck after dark.
Do I need my passport for a Ha Long Bay cruise?
For the overnight cruises, yes: the 2-day Ha Long and Lan Ha cruise requires a current valid passport on the day of travel. Some day cruises ask for a copy, and the Lan Ha day cruise needs it 24 hours before for advance registration.
Was James Bond filmed in Ha Long Bay?
No. Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) lost its permit to film in Vietnam, and its bay scenes were shot at Phang Nga Bay in Thailand, per Wikipedia. Kong: Skull Island and Indochine were filmed partly in Ha Long Bay.
Which sea is Ha Long Bay in?
The Gulf of Tonkin, off the north-east coast of Vietnam, per UNESCO. The bay lies in Quang Ninh province.
Ready to book
Choose your cruise
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Ha Long Bay Day Cruise with Kayaking and Lunch
- Day cruise with set-menu lunch
- Sung Sot, Luon Cave and Ti Top
- Entrance fees
Ha Long Bay Luxury Day Cruise with Buffet Lunch
- Luxury or Standard cruise
- Buffet or set-menu lunch
- Entrance fees
Ha Long and Lan Ha Bay Luxury Day Cruise
Lan Ha Bay in a day: kayak and swim at Ao Ech, then a jacuzzi
