3 days in Ha Long Bay

Day by day

1. Day 1: Sung Sot Cave and Luon Cave kayaking

   Sung Sot Cave, Luon Cave kayaking and Ti Top Island, then Overnight bay cruise in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Sung Sot Cave

      Sung Sot, or Surprise Cave, is one of the largest caves in the bay, reached by steps up the side of Bo Hon Island.

   2. Late morning

      Luon Cave kayaking

      Choose a kayak if the tide allows; the bamboo boats are better for young children and nervous paddlers.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Ha Long squid cake

      Seafood restaurants in Bai Chay and Hon Gai, and vacuum-packed at Ha Long market to take home.

   4. Afternoon

      Ti Top Island

      Named after the Soviet cosmonaut Gherman Titov, who visited in 1962, Ti Top has a small crescent beach and a stairway of around 400 steps to a summit pavilion.

   5. Evening

      Overnight bay cruise

      Ask which route the boat takes and how many hours are spent cruising rather than at stops; quieter routes through Bai Tu Long or Lan Ha are worth a slightly longer transfer.

2. Day 2: Fighting Cocks Islet and Cua Van fishing village

   Fighting Cocks Islet, Cua Van fishing village and Thien Cung Cave, then Sun World Ha Long in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Fighting Cocks Islet

      Stand on the side of the boat facing the islet before it comes into view; the best angle lasts only a few minutes.

   2. Late morning

      Cua Van fishing village

      Cua Van was one of the largest floating villages in the bay, with houses on rafts between the islands.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Rice rolls with squid cake

      Breakfast shops in Hon Gai and around Ha Long market from early morning.

   4. Afternoon

      Thien Cung Cave

      If your cruise visits Sung Sot, you do not need both; pick whichever is on the quieter route that day.

   5. Evening

      Sun World Ha Long

      Ride the cable car late in the afternoon to see the bay at sunset from the Sun Wheel, then eat in Bai Chay.

3. Day 3: Lan Ha Bay by kayak and boat and Cat Ba National Park

   Lan Ha Bay by kayak and boat, Cat Ba National Park and Cannon Fort, then Balcony cabin cruise in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Lan Ha Bay by kayak and boat

      Day boats from Cat Ba harbour take you into Lan Ha Bay to kayak between karsts, through low caves and into lagoons, with stops at small beaches only reachable by sea.

   2. Late morning

      Cat Ba National Park

      Wear proper shoes; the path to Ngu Lam is rocky and steep near the top. Bring water, as there are few stalls on the trail.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Mantis shrimp

      Seafood restaurants in Bai Chay, Hon Gai and Cat Ba Town, where you choose live seafood from tanks and pay by weight.

   4. Afternoon

      Cannon Fort

      A hilltop fortification above Cat Ba Town with gun emplacements and tunnels used by French and later Vietnamese forces.

   5. Evening

      Balcony cabin cruise

      Book a cabin with a private balcony on an overnight cruise and watch the islands turn gold at sunset.

Before you go

• Overnight bay cruise: Book a few weeks ahead for weekends, Vietnamese holidays and July–August; check the cancellation policy for weather.

If it rains

• Swap in Hospital Cave (Cat Ba Island): Combine it with the national park on the same morning; a local guide at the entrance explains how the rooms were used.
• Swap in Quang Ninh Museum (Hon Gai): The marine floor with skeletons and models is the part children enjoy most.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Bai Chay keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Hon Gai ($) suits budget, food lovers and culture. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 18–24 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.9 hours in December to 13.4 hours in June.

More or fewer days

• One day in Ha Long Bay
• 2 days in Ha Long Bay

Questions travellers ask