A Smooth, On-Time & Unforgettable Experience for Cruise Travelers
When your cruise ship approaches Halong Bay at sunrise, the emerald waters shimmer beneath thousands of limestone pillars rising from the mist. Time slows… but your schedule doesn’t. Most passengers have only a few hours — just enough to capture a glimpse of Vietnam’s most legendary landscape.
That’s why Halong bay shore excursions from Halong International Cruise Port are designed around one promise:
✨ A seamless, on-time, and beautiful journey — perfectly synced with your cruise schedule.
Whether you want cave exploration, kayaking, a luxury steel yacht, or a scenic flight above the bay, this guide gives you the clearest, most practical options for your limited time in port.
👉 Not joining from a cruise ship? Explore our Halong Bay Day Trips from Hanoi for regular travelers and hotel guests.
What is a Halong Bay Shore Excursion?
A shore excursion is a cruise-synced tour starting directly at Ha Long International Cruise Port, offering:
- Pick-up inside the port terminal
- Itineraries tailored to your ship’s arrival & departure
- Guaranteed on-time return
- English-speaking guides
- Licensed boats approved by Halong Bay Authority.
✅ Perfect for passengers of Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Oceania, Viking, Seabourn, Holland America, and more.
Why Choose a Shore Excursion from Halong International Cruise Port?
Pick-up right at the terminal
- No taxis, no waiting, no confusion — your guide stands with a welcome sign as soon as you exit the ship.
Cruise-synced timing
- Every itinerary returns 60–90 minutes before your ship departs.
Flexible choices for every schedule
- 4h • 6h • 7h • 8h • Cultural • Scenic flight • City tours
Private, luxury & small-group options
- Ideal for seniors, couples, families, and VIP guests.
Comfort-first experience
- Modern boats • Safe transfer • Air-conditioned cabins • Professional guides
Have a look at:
- Ninh Binh Day Trip from Halong Bay – Is It Really Worth It?
- Halong Cruise Port Transportation Guide: How to get anywhere from the Port?
Halong bay international cruise port guide
A quick port overview to make your day smooth:
Location
- Right in the center of Ha Long City — the newest and most modern cruise terminal in Vietnam.
👉 Check in on Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/aHN81BWgtznTLegU6
Facilities
- Spacious arrival hall
- Money exchange & ATMs
- Clean restrooms
- Wi-Fi
- Souvenir shops & cafés
Distance to key areas
- Halong Bay boat piers: 3–7 minutes
- Tuan Chau Marina: 10 km
- Quang Ninh Museum: 3 km
- Bai Chay Beach: 5 minutes
How your excursion starts
- Your guide greets you inside the terminal → short walk to the vehicle → direct transfer to your day cruise or attraction.
Important travel note
- You will always return with a minimum 1-hour safety buffer before your ship departs.
👉 If you’re traveling independently before meeting your cruise, here’s a clear guide on how to get from Hanoi to Halong Bay.
👉 Hanoi Shore Excursions from Halong Cruise Port
Top Halong Bay Shore Excursions from Halong Cruise Port
These are the best-rated options for cruise travelers, based on time, comfort, and experience.
4-Hour Express Shore Excursion (Best for Tight Schedules)
✅ Perfect when your cruise stay is short but you still want to experience the magic of Halong Bay.
Highlights
- Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Cave)
- Kayaking in sheltered lagoons
- Light refreshments onboard
Sample Itinerary
- 10:00 – Pick-up at port
- 10:30 – Board day cruise
- 11:00 – Sung Sot Cave
- 12:00 – Kayaking
- 13:00 – Return to port
✅ Ideal for cruise passengers with just 4–5 hours in Halong.
6-Hour Classic Shore Excursion (Most Popular)
✅ Balanced. Beautiful. A perfect introduction to Halong Bay.
Highlights
- Sung Sot Cave
- Ti Top Island (swim or climb viewpoint)
- Kayaking or bamboo boat in Luon Cave
- Seafood or buffet lunch
Sample Itinerary
10:30 – Pick-up
11:00 – Sung Sot Cave
12:00 – Seafood lunch
13:00 – Ti Top Island
14:30 – Kayaking
17:00 – Return to port
✅ This is the #1 choice among cruise passengers worldwide.
👉 If you’re staying overnight in the city before or after your cruise, a full Halong bay cruises or Best Halong bay day cruise from Halong cruise port is another memorable option.
7-Hour Luxury Symphony Cruise (Premium Option)
✅ For guests who want a comfortable, elegant escape.
Includes
- Welcome drink
- Luxury 5-star steel yacht
- Gourmet buffet
- Sung Sot Cave
- Luon Cave
- Ti Top Island
- Kayaking / bamboo boat
✅ Perfect for seniors, couples, honeymooners, and luxury travelers.
👉 Ask us about private upgrades or exclusive dining options via WhatsApp: +84 974 805 797 | +84 914 815 535.
Lan Ha Bay Shore Excursion (Peaceful & Less Crowded)
✅ Lan Ha Bay — Halong’s serene and quieter twin — feels calmer, greener, and more exclusive.
Why choose Lan Ha Bay
- Fewer boats
- Pristine jade waters
- Floating villages (Cai Beo, Viet Hai)
- Gentle lagoons perfect for kayaking
- Loved by high-end cruise guests (Oceania, Regent, Seabourn)
Highlights
- Dark & Bright Cave
- Cai Beo Floating Village
- Swimming in quiet lagoons
- Seafood lunch onboard
✅ A peaceful alternative to the central Halong route.
Bai Tu Long Bay Shore Excursion (Hidden Gem)
✅ Bai Tu Long offers wide-open spaces and untouched scenery — ideal for photography and VIP travelers.
Why it stands out
- Very few boats
- More pristine karst formations
- Calm waters
- Private & premium feel
✅ Recommended for guests seeking exclusivity.
👉 For more activities before or after your cruise experience, discover the top things to do in Halong Bay.
Scenic Flight Over Halong Bay – Seaplane Experience
✅ See Halong Bay from a breathtaking aerial view — one of the most unforgettable ways to experience the bay.
Highlights
- 25-minute scenic flight
- View 1,900 limestone islands from above
- Stunning photos and videos
- Perfect as an add-on to a short shore excursion
Schedule
- 09:00 | 10:50 | 11:45 | 12:30 | 13:50 | 14:50 | 15:50 | 16:50
- Departure: Tuan Chau Island (10 km from port)
✅ Ideal for couples, photographers, and luxury travelers.
Why choose it:
- Far fewer boats
- Pristine scenery
- Excellent for photography
- Best for private, VIP experiences
✅ Favored by passengers of Silversea, Seabourn, Regent, and Oceania.
👉 Want to upgrade your shore excursion with a scenic flight over Halong Bay? Message us now on WhatsApp: +84 974 805 797 | +84 914 815 535 to reserve your seat.
Halong City & Cultural Discovery (Non-Boat Excursion)
✅ A comfortable land-based tour — great for bad weather days or guests with mobility concerns.
Highlights
- Quang Ninh Museum: award-winning architecture
- Bai Chay Market: seafood & crafts
- Long Tien Pagoda: peaceful spiritual stop
- Halong Night Market: street food & souvenirs
Optional
- Bai Tho Mountain viewpoint
- Combine with a luxury day cruise
A relaxing cultural immersion inside Halong City.
Spiritual & Heritage Excursions: Yen Tu & Yen Duc Village
✅ For travelers wanting a deeper cultural experience.
- Yen Tu Mountain & Pagoda
- Scenic cable-car ride
- Ancient Buddhist heritage
- Panoramic summit views
- Yen Duc Village
- Cycling through rice fields
- Water puppet show
- Local home visit
- Cooking activity
Recommended Itinerary
- Morning → Yen Tu Pagoda
- Afternoon → Yen Duc cultural activities
- Evening → Return on time to the ship
✅ Ideal for cultural explorers and spiritual travelers.
Private & Luxury Shore Excursions
- For those who prefer exclusivity, we offer private and luxury Halong Bay shore excursions — designed for couples, families, or VIP guests.
- Enjoy a private boat, your own guide, and a personalized itinerary with spa treatments, champagne service, and drone photography.
Recommended luxury boats:
- La Casta Daily Cruise
- Sonata Luxury Day Cruise
- The Halong Catamaran Premium Cruise
- Jade Sails – A luxury Halong Bay & Lan Ha Bay Day Cruise (departing Tuan Chau International Marina)
- Luxury Symphony Halong Bay Day Cruise (departing Halong International Cruise Port)
Shore Excursions to Hanoi from Halong International Cruise Port
For some cruise itineraries — especially Oceania, Holland America, Celebrity, Viking — ships stay in port for 10–12 hours, allowing enough time to visit the capital city: Hanoi.
It’s a long day, but an unforgettable one.
⭐ Recommended Hanoi Highlights:
- Temple of Literature – Vietnam’s first university
- Hoan Kiem Lake – the heart of the Old Quarter
- Train Street – iconic photography spot
- Old Quarter walking tour – hidden alleys, local shops
- Water puppet show – traditional Vietnamese theatre
- Egg coffee or local lunch
⭐ Sample Itinerary (Cruise-Synced)
- 08:00 – Pick-up at Ha Long Cruise Port
- 10:30 – Arrive Hanoi
- 11:00 – Temple of Literature
- 12:30 – Lunch
- 14:00 – Old Quarter & Train Street
- 15:30 – Water Puppet Show
- 17:30 – Return to Ha Long
- 19:30 – Arrive back at port (60–90 mins buffer)
✅ Suitable for guests with long port times & good mobility.
Pricing Overview (2025 Updated)
(Prices vary by boat, season & group size)
Halong Bay Day Cruises
- 4-hour tour: $45–$54 per person
- 6-hour tour: $56–$66 per person
- 7-hour luxury cruise: $69–$98 per person
Lan Ha Bay / Bai Tu Long Bay
- $75–$110 per person
Private Boat Options
- From $320–$650 per private group
Seaplane Scenic Flight
- $95–$120 per person
All options include English-speaking guide and guaranteed on-time return.
How Halong bay shore excursions work from the cruise port
Pick-up at Halong International Cruise Port
- Your guide waits at the terminal exit with a welcome sign.
- For guests docking at Tuan Chau Marina, a quick transfer brings you to the boat.
Cruise-synced itinerary
- Always planned to return 60–90 minutes before your ship’s departure.
Fully licensed boats & guides
- All vessels are approved by the Halong Bay Authority.
24/7 WhatsApp support
- 📱 +84 974 805 797 | +84 914 815 535
How to Book Your Shore Excursion
You can book:
- Directly through the website
- Via inquiry form
- Or the fastest: Whats App number: +84 974 805 797 |+84 914 815 535 – 24/7 quick replies, on-time return guaranteed.
✅ Responds within minutes — ideal for cruise passengers.
FAQs for cruise passengers to do shoes excursion
Can I book directly from the port?
- Yes, but advance booking ensures availability and guide confirmation.
What if my cruise arrives late?
- We adjust departure times based on your actual docking schedule.
Do you offer English-speaking guides?
- Yes — all tours include certified English-speaking guides.
Is lunch included?
- All tours include a freshly prepared seafood or buffet lunch onboard.
When Is the Best Time for a Shore Excursion?
- The best months to visit Halong Bay are March–May and September–November, when skies are clear and seas calm.
- Summer is perfect for swimming and kayaking, while winter offers stunning sunsets and fewer crowds.
☀️ Learn more about the Best Time to Visit Ha Long Bay
Final Call to Explore Halong bay
Your time in Vietnam may be limited, but the beauty of Halong Bay doesn’t have to be.
If you want a seamless, time-safe, and truly memorable Halong Bay shore excursion from Halong International Cruise Port, this is your moment to make it happen.
From the first step off your cruise ship to the final return to the terminal, everything is designed to be smooth, punctual, and effortless — so you can focus on what matters: experiencing one of the world’s most iconic seascapes.
Your ship won’t wait.
But unforgettable memories will.
👉 Message us now on WhatsApp for instant assistance: +84 974 805 797 | +84 914 815 535
Let us turn your short stop in Halong Bay into the highlight of your entire cruise.
