Halong Bay day cruise or overnight cruise: which one is the best option?

Highlights of Halong Bay day cruise

A typical day tour on Halong Bay lasts between four and six hours. You can select tours to watch the beautiful sunset, enjoy delectable cuisine, or explore famous places in the bay. The time is short but still enough for visitors to experience one of the world's seven natural beauty wonders.

Day tour on Sea Octopus cruise

Visiting Halong Bay’s famous caves

As one of the must-do activities on the Halong itinerary, cave visiting will treat your eyes to magnificent grottos and hidden lagoons endowed by Mother Nature. Picturesque caves hidden in thousands of limestone mountains on Halong Bay are interesting destinations for all visitors. Some famous Halong Bay day cruise caves are Sung Sot cave, Trung Trang cave, Thien Cung cave, etc.

Sung Sot cave

Kayaking on the bay

Kayaking on the emerald waters and exploring the majestic limestone mountains will become unforgettable experiences for every tourist. The most common places for kayaking are Dark and Bright cave, Monkey island, Peaches islets, Tra Bau area. Try kayaking in the heritage bay takes about 30 minutes or an hour, but it makes your trip more memorable and exciting.

Kayaking on Halong Bay

Watching stunning sunset over the bay

When sunset falls, Halong Bay is extraordinarily fanciful and has an enchanting beauty. You can relax on the sundeck, sip a tasty cocktail and enjoy the moment of transition between day and night. 

A beautiful sunset at Halong Bay

Pros 

• Day cruises are experts at planning itineraries that take you to the most worthy places.
• Suitable for visitors who have little time and a tight budget or want to spend time in Ha Long City exploring other things.
• Those who have seasickness should choose this kind of cruising.

Cons

• You won't have enough time to discover the local culture and visit all the tourist attractions with only 4 or 6 hours onboard.
• The opportunity to participate in beach activities and nighttime entertainment onboard is unavailable on day tours.

Highlights of Halong Bay overnight cruise

Usually, you have the choice of two itineraries: 2 days/1 night and 3 days/2 nights tour. There are many options for choosing a cruise, ranging from low cost to high quality. In addition to activities like the day tour, the overnight cruise also offers many other fascinating experiences.

Sealife Legend - an overnight cruise at Lan Ha Bay

Watching the sunrise over the limestone mountains

One of the most beautiful sceneries you shouldn't miss in Halong Bay is watching the sunrise at dawn. The sun rises up over the sea and limestone karsts, making a stunning natural scene that you will never forget. Catching the sight of beautiful sunshine shimmering in crystal clear water is a gift for all early birds on an overnight cruise.

Stunning Halong Bay in the early morning 

Taking Tai Chi session on the sundeck

You can participate in another highlight on board at dawn - Tai Chi exercises. The fresh air in the morning creates the perfect retreat for your physical and mental health. A cruise on Halong Bay in the early morning is a great time to experience the Tai Chi session.

A Tai Chi class on the sundeck

Taking a Vietnamese cooking class

Visitors who enjoy Vietnam cuisine would participate in this kind of activity on an overnight tour. The chef will guide you step-by-step about the ingredients and techniques to cook traditional Vietnamese dishes, commonly spring rolls. You can enjoy the delectable dish cooked by yourself after cooking.

Spring rolls cooking class

Visiting floating villages

Some famous fishing villages visitors could visit in Ha Long Bay, such as Vung Vieng, Cua Van, Ba Hang, etc. When visiting fishing villages, tourists not only enjoy the peaceful beauty of the places but also learn about cultural life and glimpse into the daily life of fishermen.

A view from Vung Vieng fishing village

Trying night squid fishing

Squid fishing at night is a fascinating activity that can create a refreshing trip experience after a long cruise day, swimming, kayaking, etc. At night time, you can follow the locals' instructions to go squid fishing on board and then cook these catching squid into yummy night foods.

Squid fishing in Sealife Legend cruise

Pros

• Overnight cruises on Halong Bay provide a variety of exciting activities that allow you to appreciate the heritage's natural beauty fully.
• Discovering hidden gems in Halong Bay that not many people know.

Cons

• The price for an overnight cruise may be out of your budget.
• You need to arrange more time for an overnight cruise on the bay, participating in many experiences that can make you tired.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, taking on a Halong Bay day cruise or overnight cruise both help you have great experiences in this heritage bay. Depending on your budget, you have many options in choosing a cruising tour to immerse yourself in Halong Bay's beauty. Sealife Group is the pioneer in providing sustainable cruises to visit Halong Bay with different cruise lines.

Check out Sealife’s day cruise and overnight itinerary, and choose the most suitable tour for yourself.