At 8:30 – 11:30 am: If you book a cruise for 2 days, you’ll be picked up from your hotel to get to the ferry terminal via the new Hanoi – Hai Phong Expressway. All Halong cruises from Hanoi depart at around 8:30 am and arrive at the port at 11:30 am.
At 12:00 – 12:30 pm: Arriving at Halong Bay, you’ll be welcomed to embark on the cruise. It’s time to learn about the cruise briefing and safety instructions while sipping a welcome drink. After check-in, you can take a short rest after an excursion.
At 1:15 – 2:00 pm: While cruising through the karst rock formations into the world of natural heritage, you will have lunch at the luxury restaurant on the cruise. Fill your stomach with a great diversity of deluxe Vietnamese set menu and fresh seafood dishes. After lunch, there are exhilarating massage and spa services for you to let your hair down. Let’s book with your cruise manager to ensure there is room for you since the massage and spa on board are small enough to do private therapy.
At 4:00 – 5:30 pm: The Halong Bay 2 days 1-night itinerary begins with a visit to Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Cave), one of the most magnificent and largest caves in Halong. To reach the mouth of Surprise Cave, you have to climb more than 50 steps and feast your eye on the mysterious natural vegetation of Ha Long Bay. Discovered in 1901 by the French, its original name is “Grotte Des Surprises” due to the amazing variability in the cave. Sung Sot Cave occupies an area of approximately 10,000m2, divided into two large chambers. Each has its own typical scientific value which features million-year-old stone stalactites and columns formed throughout millions of years. After the cave sightseeing, the cruise departs and sails for about 30 minutes to anchor overnight.
At 6:30 – 7:00 pm: At twilight, almost all Halong Bay 1 night cruises offer a cooking class or fruit and vegetable carving lesson. The head chef will show you how to make and decorate some traditional Vietnamese dishes. Here you can get a deep insight into Vietnamese cuisine.
At 8:45 – 11:00 pm: After dinner, you should not miss out on some nightlife activities such as board games, cards, Parcheesi, bars, Happy Hour – buy one drink, get one free, and night squid fishing. End of the first day of Halong Bay 2 days 1-night itinerary, you will spend a night sleeping on board.

At 6:30 - 7:00 am: Enjoy coffee, tea, and breakfast served in the dining room. You can wake up earlier to catch the sunset moment from the cruise which gives more stunning views than on land. After breakfast, join the Tai Chi lessons, the traditional Chinese material art, to refresh your second day on Halong Bay cruise 2d1n. This exercise is not only good for fitness and flexibility but also beneficial for the relief of pain and anxiety.
At 7:45 – 9:00 am: The next destination of Halong Bay 2 day tour classic route is Titov Island, a crescent-moon-shaped island known for its calmness and crystal clear water. Spending around 1 – 2 hours on the island, you can climb to the peak of an expansive viewing deck to catch an awe-inspiring 360-degree view of Ha Long Bay. Then, take your time to have a swim and enjoy the beach relaxation.
At 9:30 am: It’s time to have a full breakfast on the cruise. After that, you will have time to pack your luggage or chill out on the sundeck while the boat is heading for the pier.
At 11:30 am: The cruise itinerary ends at Tuan Chau Port, where you sit back and relax in the waiting room for return transportation.
At 12:00 – 4:00 pm: Time for transfer from Halong to Hanoi. You will be dropped off at your hotel or meeting point. This classic route of the Halong Bay 1 night cruise includes popular and touristy attractions in Halong. If you want something more authentic, move on to our two other recommendations of the best Halong Bay cruise 2 days 1-night itinerary.