Ha Long Bay day trip · Tuan Chau island
A day on the classic Ha Long Bay route with a Vietnamese seafood lunch on board: Sung Sot Cave, Luon Cave by kayak or bamboo boat, then the climb to the viewpoint on Ti Top island. Pick it for the seafood and a sunset party with red wine on the way back.
The route is Ha Long Bay, boarding at Tuan Chau, and the from-price is $40, with the Hanoi bus as an option. On the bus option you are collected at your hotel in the Hanoi Old Quarter between 8am and 8.45am (outside the Old Quarter, the meeting point is 131 Hang Bong Street), with a break halfway, and you board around 12pm. On the harbor option the guide picks you up on Tuan Chau island at 11.45am and drops you there at 6pm. That is why the listing gives the length as 6 to 12 hours: about 6 on the water, 12 with the bus. Bus guests reach the Old Quarter at about 9pm.
Lunch is traditional Vietnamese seafood, eaten on deck among the islands. At 1.30pm it is Sung Sot Cave, the Surprise Cave, with its stalagmites and stalactites; Vietnam News puts the entrance about 25 m above sea level. At 2.45pm you choose a kayak or a bamboo boat at Luon Cave. At 3.45pm the boat ties up at Ti Top island. Climb to the top for the panoramic view, or stay on the beach and swim. The name has a story: the Ha Long Bay Management Board says President Ho Chi Minh visited the island in 1962 with the Soviet cosmonaut Gherman Titov and proposed calling it Ti Top in his honor; a statue of Titov went up in 2015. At 5pm the sunset party begins as the boat heads back, with red wine, fresh fruit and local cakes.
Included: an English-speaking guide, the boat, all entry fees, lunch, the kayak or bamboo boat, the sunset party with fruit, tea and cake, and 2 bottles of water on the bus (one each way). Not included: the optional speedboat and tips for the guide and driver, which the listing marks as not required. The trip is not suitable for people with high blood pressure, per the listing. A friendly tip: climb Ti Top first and swim after. The beach is right at the foot of the steps, and you will want it once you are down.
Hotel pickup in the Old Quarter, or 131 Hang Bong Street, then the road to Tuan Chau with a break halfway.
Harbor guests are picked up on Tuan Chau island at 11.45am. Lunch is served on the water.
A walk through the Surprise Cave, high in the rock, among its stalagmites and stalactites.
Your choice: paddle a kayak or ride a bamboo boat on the clear water by the cave.
Hike to the top for the view over Ha Long Bay, or relax and swim at the beach.
Red wine, fruit and cakes on deck, Tuan Chau at 6pm, and the Old Quarter at about 9pm.
★★★★★We were taken care of from start to finish, our guide Ken handled everything perfectly - with a great sense of humor and professionalism, the food was so plentiful that we couldn't finish it, I recommend choosing the speedboat option, it was great!
★★★★★Lovely activity. Apperently we saw everything on this tour that some tours do on 2 days and I thought this was great!
★★★★★Ken was brilliant and we had a great time. Thoughtfully organised and on time!
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From $40 per person on GetYourGuide, with the Hanoi Old Quarter bus as an option. Lunch, all entry fees and the kayak or bamboo boat are included, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
The bus leaves Tuan Chau at 6pm and reaches the Old Quarter at about 9pm, per the listing. On the harbor option you are dropped on Tuan Chau island at 6pm.
The Ha Long Bay Management Board says President Ho Chi Minh visited in 1962 with the Soviet cosmonaut Gherman Titov and proposed the name Ti Top to honor him.
The listing says it is not suitable for people with high blood pressure. The day includes a cave walk and the climb on Ti Top island.
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The classic day route with a seafood lunch, Ti Top island and a Hanoi bus option.
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