The 15 Ninh Binh Bay Cruises That Earn the Fare

1.3 Day Halong Bay 5 Star Cruise – Ninh Binh Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 18 reviews · from $276Our pick

Travel from Hanoi by limousine bus for one night on a 5-star Halong Bay cruise and one night in Ninh Binh. Expect caves, kayaking, swimming, Tai Chi, cycling, temple visits, a Trang An or Tam Coc boat ride, and Mua Cave. Guides such as Victor and Quy have earned special praise.

“This tour was great, I particularly liked the cycling through the village and climbing up the mountain. The guide was kind and entertaining.”

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2.Ninh Binh: Lan Ha, Halong bay luxury cruises with balcony

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · from $114Top rated

From Ninh Binh, travel to Cat Ba for a two-day, one-night cruise through Lan Ha and Ha Long bays. Expect a 20-person boat, private balcony cabins, kayaking, swimming, a Viet Hai village bike ride, cooking, squid fishing, and a friendly English-speaking crew.

“The activities we did were super fun Kayaking in the bay is awesome”

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3.Ninh Binh: Luxury Day Cruise to Stunning Ha Long Bay + Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 12 reviews · from $67

From Ninh Binh, an English-speaking guide leads you by bus to Tuan Chau Harbor for a six-hour Ha Long Bay cruise. You get a buffet lunch, Sung Sot Cave, Ti Top Island, kayaking at Luon Cave, and a sunset party with wine, tea, cakes, and fruit before returning to Hanoi.

“In one day we were able to see the main points of interest of Halong Bay. It was very good.”

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4.From Ninh Binh: Ha Long – Lan Ha Bay 2D1N on 5-star Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 11 reviews · from $213

Travel from Ninh Binh to a 5-star Ha Long and Lan Ha Bay cruise, with limestone karsts, kayaking, Dark and Bright Cave, Vietnamese meals, a cooking class, Tai Chi, and a private cabin with bathtub. Tina is especially attentive to special dietary needs.

“From start to finish, this 2-day, 1-night cruise was pure perfection. The entire journey was flawlessly organized — from the comfortable transfer from Ninh Binh to the breathtaking sail through Ha Long and Lan Ha Bay. The views of the limestone karsts, hidden caves, and emerald waters were simply unforgettable. The itinerary was perfectly paced — kayaking, swimming, cooking classes, sunset parties, and even squid fishing! The cabin was luxurious with a private bathtub, and the meals were a culinary highlight. Special thanks to Tina, who went above and beyond to make the trip extra special. She ensured every guest felt cared for — and made sure my wife, who…”

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5.3-Day: Ha Long–Lan Ha Bay & Ninh Binh 5 Stars Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · from $266

Travel from Hanoi to Lan Ha and Ha Long bays, then Ninh Binh, on a 3-day small-group tour. You get a private-balcony cabin, kayaking or caves, Tai Chi, cooking, Trang An by boat, Hoa Lu, and Mua Cave. Guides may include Ken, Viet, Ryan, or others, with hotel pickup included.

“Very well-organized trip that takes you to must-seen places. It was pretty comfortable and you can go with the flow, I would recommend it!”

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6.From Ha Noi : 3-Days Lan Ha Bay, Ninh Binh Small Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 6 reviews · from $185

Spend one night on a small cruise in Lan Ha Bay, kayaking to Dark and Bright Cave, swimming, fishing for squid, then visit Viet Hai Village and Ninh Binh’s Hoa Lu, Trang An, Mua Cave, and Bich Dong Pagoda. The group is limited to 14, with English and Vietnamese guides.

“We had to ask a lot to finally get a pick-up time from the hotel. The food on the ship was delicious and the crew were super nice. When we arrived in Ninh Binh there was no one there who could tell us where we were staying. During the excursion in Ninh Binh we had lunch that gave us severe food poisoning.”

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7.From Ninh Binh: Ha Long Bay 1-Day Trip Ending in Hanoi

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 6 reviews · from $56Best value

Travel from Tam Coc to Ha Long Bay by bus, cruise among limestone islands, visit Surprising Cave and Titop Island, kayak at Luon Cave, then continue to Hanoi. An English-speaking guide, lunch, entrance fees, and one bottle of water are included, but expect a long day and a crowded boat.

“Everything went smoothly and as described. Although, the lunch and "sunset party" were disappointing: very basic food, not much options and not very tasty. The time for reaching the top of Tip Top island was very short, you have to rush to reach the top and go back to the boat.”

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8.2-Day Tour to Ninh Binh & Halong Bay With Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · from $181

Travel from Hanoi to Ninh Binh and Halong Bay in two busy days. Visit Bai Dinh, row through Trang An grottoes, climb Mua Cave, sleep at a Ninh Binh homestay, then cruise Halong Bay with Sung Sot Cave, Luon Cave, Titop Island, kayaking, and a sunset party.

“Sunny was an amazing tour guide full of energy and was very knowledgeable about all the sites we visited. He did a great job keeping our group together and engaged. We had a great time, made new friends and highly recommend this sour. Ask for Sunny!”

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9.3-Day – Ninh Binh – Lan Ha Bay 5-Star Cruise & Balcony

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $284

You’ll visit Hoa Lu, cycle through limestone country, row through Trang An’s caves, climb Mua Cave, then spend a night on a 5-star Lan Ha Bay cruise with a private balcony, kayaking, cooking, Tai Chi, and squid fishing.

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10.From Ninh Binh : 2 Days Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba Island Overnight

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 4 reviews · from $100

Travel from Ninh Binh to Cat Ba, explore Trung Trang Cave by motorbike, sleep near the beach, then cruise Lan Ha Bay and Ha Long Bay with kayaking, swimming, lunch, and a Hanoi drop-off. English and Vietnamese guides are provided, though transport changes can be confusing.

“the accommodation with bathroom and breakfast terrible, do not expect a comfortable accommodation because you have to make do a lot. on the island of cat ba the cave is beautiful but all the other excursions insignificant. the day along the bay of ha long really mediocre, just a trip in the sea with the backdrop of the islets of the bay. TERRIBLE transport, at a certain point they even made us jump, literally, from one boat to another in the middle of the sea with all the backpacks. we changed an unspeakable amount of vehicles, like 8 vehicles! absolutely not recommendedRead more”

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11.3-Day Ninh Binh to Bai Tu Long Bay Tour and Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 4 reviews · from $284

You’ll travel from Hanoi to Bai Dinh, Trang An, and Mua Cave, sleep at a Ninh Binh homestay, then cruise Bai Tu Long Bay. Expect an English-speaking guide, buffet meals, kayaking, Thien Canh Son Cave, Tai Chi, cooking, squid fishing, and a deluxe ocean-view cabin.

“it was really well organized and the bus and the boat was really very good. the food was beautifully presented and we had a lot of fun with the nice owner of the homestay. but the best was the amazing communication with the tour organizer. she asked (via WhatsApp) every step of the trip if everything was ok. that kind of service is rare and we appreciated it a lot.”

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12.Ha Long Bay: Luxury Cruise 2-Day With All Activities & Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 3 reviews · from $169

Spend two days on Ha Long Bay in a junior suite with a private ocean-view balcony, English-speaking guide, and meals included. You will kayak at Luon Cave, swim near Titop Island, visit Surprising Cave, join a cooking class, and try night squid fishing.

“The accommodation is very nice, the food is excellent and everything is well organized.”

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13.From Ha Noi: 3-Day Lan Ha Bay and Ninh Binh Trip Small Group

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · from $185

Spend one night on a boutique cruise in Lan Ha Bay and one night at a Ninh Binh homestay. Kayak, swim, fish for squid, cycle through Viet Hai Village, then visit Hoa Lu, Trang An, Mua Cave, and Bich Dong Pagoda with an English or Vietnamese guide.

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14.From Ninh Binh:Day Ha Long Bay Premium Cruise-Buffet&Jacuzzi

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2 reviews · from $76

Travel by limousine from Ninh Binh to Ha Long Bay, then spend six hours on a premium boat with a Vietnamese buffet, jacuzzi, Sung Sot Cave, Luon Cave kayaking or bamboo boats, and Ti Top Island. English guiding, towels, snacks, and onward drop-off options are included.

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15.Ha Noi, Cat Ba, HaLong Bay Cruise, Ninh Binh Day Tour 4D/3N

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · from $359

Travel from Hanoi to Cat Ba, Ha Long Bay, and Ninh Binh in a small English-speaking group of up to 16. You’ll hike Cat Ba National Park, cruise overnight on Ha Long Bay, kayak near Luon Cave, visit Bai Dinh and Trang An, and return to Hanoi.

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