Ha Long Bay & Thien Cung Cave Day Tour

This was our 1st trip to Hanoi! We booked the tour because of its reviews and we are so glad we did. our tour guide, Mr. Ben, was phenomenal! Our driver, Mr. Nguyen, was amazing as well since he had to drive long distances back and forth. Mr. Ben was not only knowledgeable but also very caring, humorous and approachable. His English was perfect and helped everyone learn a lot on this tour. We originally booked the Route 1 package but due to low participants, we were switched to Route 2 but it all worked out in the end for us. **A quick summary of this tour in a nutshell: (1) we were contacted by our tour operator, Mr. Harry and then Mr. Ben the night before so we had all the info we needed (2) we were picked up at our hotel & drove about 2 hrs to the harbor. we stayed in the Old Quarter so pick up was super convenient! Bus was comfortable and ride was smooth (3) we stopped at a local Pearl farm to learn about the process firsthand (4) once at the harbor, we boarded our ship and enjoyed a nice lunch spread and they do have vegetarian options if you require it (the tour guide will ask in advance, prepare and communicate accordingly). Please note that drinks are not included on this tour but you can order off their beverage menu anytime on board (5) at Ti Top Island, you can either go swimming or hiking up the short mountain, about 15 minutes each way at steady pace. (6) we made our way to the next location and you can either choose kayaking, bamboo boat or speedboat (additional cost). we did kayaking and it’s highly recommended you wear your swim suit when doing this 2nd activity since you may potentially get wet (7) we then made our way to “surprise cave” and explored the cave. the queue to get up and inside was a bit long due to it being late in the day but once inside, the pace was good. it was cooler inside and the views were spectacular! Please note it’s a combination of easy flat walking and slight stair hiking and where you are dropped off is the entrance and then the boat will pick you up at the exit which is another entrance so you can either stay on board if you don’t want to do it or if you do it, there’s no going back and you’ll need to finish it all the way from start to finish. (8) we had some small cake and tea to enjoy on our way back and got to see the beautiful sunset (9) once back in the harbor, it was another 2-hr drive back to the city. **Each way we stopped once for restroom and snack break and I think that was enough since 2 breaks might have delayed us. We were picked up around 8am and were dropped off around 20:30pm. Tipping the crew, driver and tour guide is at your discretion but I think they all did an amazing job from start to finish and we had a great time at Ha Long Bay all day so we tipped everyone. If you’re ever in Hanoi and have one full day to spare, I definitely recommend this tour. From communication to professionalism to activities, this tour was worth every penny and we hope that we can have the same tour guide, Mr. Ben, in our future tours in Hanoi! Thank you for the wonderful service and experience!

The tour I was planning to take didn't have enough people, so I went to Titop Island with a 1-hour extension and another cave. As a result, I enjoyed it because there were more activities (participating in a speedboat, bamboo boat, or kayak for an additional fee). The lunch, which I didn't expect much from, was more voluminous than I expected, and I was full and enjoyed it. I participated with a friend who came to visit from Japan, and I was glad that my friend was very satisfied and said it was a good memory. By the way, I am an aunt who is not confident in my physical strength, but I climbed the 400 steps of Titop Island and went to the top. The stairs were quite steep, and I barely managed. (If it's too difficult, you can see a beautiful view from the middle and turn back.)

What an amazing trip from beginning to end. The tour company called the day before to confirm all was set to go and they would pick you up at the meet up point.. Our tour guide Minh was fantastic. He updated us about the schedule. While enroute he gave us a History lesson about Vietnam. My favorite part about this trip was the paddle boat.

Had a wonderful time! We were worried about the weather because the typhoon Yagi passed by North Vietnam and caused a lot of destruction but it was not noticeable at all in Halong Bay. The weather also cleared up and we were lucky to have such a good experience. The tour operator, Harry, was very accomodating and kept checking on us. My trip was also moved from Route 1 to Route 2 because there were not enough participants for Route 1 and the process of moving my trip was very smooth. He even included the bamboo boat trip/kayaking in the tour for me for no additional cost. But I opted for the speed boat which had additional cost but very worth it! The tour guide was also great although there were some hickups during the pickup but very minor compared to the overall experience.

This tour was awesome! Tour operator Harry sent us detailed instructions and offer for any assistance right after booking. Both guide and operator sent us a message the night before for time of pickup, etc. Transfer and whole day was smooth, with stops to and from Halong Bay. Food was delicious! Our guide, Victor, was very engaging and funny. He was really knowledgeable and takes time to talk to every guest. Overall a very good experience! Highly recommend!

the best tour experience I ever had. The guide his name is Tiger (Tinh) he is jolly, he make sure the tourist is okay, and satisfied with the service. he is knowledgeable about Halong Bay. I love the cruise good foods (especially the seafood)🤤🤤🤤 My tummy and eyes are full.

the tour was very well planned. our guide visitor was very accommodative and fun. he speaks really good English and also some mandarin. a very knowledgable guide. the transfer was smooth. food was plenty on board and while travelling in the bus there were plenty of good and proper rest stops with clean and free washroom. highly recommended for anyone who wants a hassle free day trip to Halong bay.

Great arrangement, operator contacted early on to arrange any changes. Last minute accomodation also for change of participation details due to flights. Food was great, activities were well timed, bus was comfortable, and the guide is amazing and kept everyone updated. No "forced" market stop overs, even the toilet break was relaxed. Weather was cold, and there was less queue. Pick-up and drop off were also hassle free.

The trip operator gave us detailed and useful information of the trip via WhatsApp a day before the trip. We were alsa given a free upgrade to Route 2. Transfers to and from Halong Bay are fuss free. The bus was able to pick us up from our hotel. Our tour guide Luca is knowledgeable, friendly, funny, and fluent in English. Although Halong Bay is located a few hours away from Hanoi city, it is worth a visit because of the nice view and cruise experience. The tour price included bus transfer, cruise transfer, lunch and tour guide, which is really affordable and worth it.

Decent food and guide. Beverages at the island and boat are priced much higher than stores, but that’s understandable, you might want to carry your own cans if you’re on a budget. We did the bamboo boat ride and it was fun. DEFINITELY GO TO THE CAVES. it’s the highlight of the tour, quite amazing!