Bai Tu Long bay with kids : The Ultimate family friendly guide 2024

Are you considering Bai Tu Long Bay for your family vacation in Vietnam? Good choice, Bai Tu Long Bay is a great place to travel with kids in Northern Vietnam, wondering about any kids-friendly activities in Bai Tu Long. Read this Bai Tu Long with kids ultimate guide with everything you need to know when travelling with kids in Bai Tu Long bay. 

I have researched the internet well to find a good article about travelling with kids in Bai Tu Long but ZERO. So I decided to use my personal experience working as an English-speaking guide for 12+ years and a father of 2-year-old to write this Bai Tu Long with Kids complete guide to help you plan a perfect adventure trip in Bai Tu Long Bay. 

Top tips when travelling to Bai Tu Long bay with kids

• Book the overnight cruise ahead of time, maybe 2 weeks to 1 month before your departure date. Since there aren’t many cruise options for the Bai Tu Long overnight tour, book them in advance
• If you want to head more amenities, book a bigger cruise (over 20 cabins), if you like fewer people on the boat, book the boutique private cruise.
• Getting some filled water bottle (plastic bottles aren’t allowed)
• Prepare cash to pay onboard for drinks since not every cruise that is allowed to pay with credit card.

Best time to visit Bai Tu Long with kids

Middle to late April, and middle August to early January, are periods when is not too much rain and hot in Vietnam.

I also think summertime from May to early August is a good time to go but choose a day which is not so hot. You need to check the weather forecast in advance. May and June are usually quiet tourist seasons.  

How to visit Bai Tu Long bay with kids

If you have smaller kids, take them on an overnight trip from 2 days to 3 days trip. The most recommended itinerary is to take 3 days 2 nights Bai Tu Long cruise for a relaxing, slower pace of travel. As I said above, the cabins on the overnight cruises will be booked shortly during the high season: Christmas and New Year period, March, April

Indochina Junk, Reana Cruise, Swan Cruise, Athena Cruise, Lily Cruise are cruise companies that offer overnight trip to Bai Tu Long Bay. We, Hanoi Eco Tour, can help you to give advice and book overnight cruises. 

You should no that swimming is not allowed for overnight cruise in Bai Tu Long bay. Sightseeing, kayaking, caving, relaxing on the beach, and onboard activities are all YES, apart from swimming.

Alternatively, a Bai Tu Long bay tour from Van Don (Van Don Bay) with both water activities and nonwater activities (kayaking, swimming, easy rider, hiking, walking, sightseeing) are all great fun for kids. The reason I suggest from Halong since it’s only 1-hour drive from Halong only.

From Hanoi, it takes 3 hours to get to Van Don to start the Bai Tu Long day trip. You can choose to start in Halong and finish the tour in Hanoi is also a great choice. Your kids can take a nap on the way back. 

Bai Tu Long overnight cruise itinerary

Local fisher man in Vung Vieng fishing village – Bai TU Long bay

Most of the Bai Tu Long cruises which offer pretty much the same itinerary. It’s a bit packed schedule from 6am to 8pm (After dinner), so you can choose to start the day at 7am for breakfast. The second day, the breakfast, can be a little bit later, since you will be transferred to another day boat to spend your day with activities, then heading back the big cruises around 3.30pm 

Day 1 : Hanoi – Bai Tu Long Vung Vieng village

12:00 – 12:30: We checked in at the cruise either in Halong Internation port or a private port which belongs the cruise. Welcome by the team, briefing about the itinerary and safety instructions whist welcome drink will be servied, the crew members help with bring our luggage to the cabins.

12:45: The ship set sail and we are invited to enjoy a set-menu lunch with 7-8 courses in the restaurant

14:00: We arrived at Vung Vieng fishing village and were transported to the village o a tender (small boat) You’ll explore the village either by bamboo boat (6 people in one boat) or on a kayak (Your kids can sit with you on a kayak) 

16:00: We returned to the  and get on the top deck to enjoy sunset whist cruising to the overnight stop for archoring

7pm : Dinner at the restaurant with set menu

After dinner, everyone gets together at the bar area for get more drinks, chit chat or try your luck at squid fishing. You may want to put your kids in bed and enjoy your own time of adults alone.

Day 2 : Further discoveries of Bai Tu Long bay

8am : Breakfast. After that, transfer to another day boat for joining activities on the second day.

8.45am to 10.30am : Explore Cap La by kayaking among towering limestone karst

10.30am : Back to the day boat. Cruise to Cong Dam.

12.30Pm : BBQ Lunch will be served. Beach activities after lunch

14:30: Returned the cruise. Sit back and relax

17:15: Vietnamese cooking demonstration

7:00: Rest and dinner

Freetime

Day 3 : Bai Tu Long bay – Hanoi

06:00: Wake up early to watch the sunrise to watch the sunrise and join the Tai Chi class

07:30: We were taken by a tender to the entrance of Thien Canh Son cave. A guided tour with some key information 
09:00: Back to the ship. Checking out

you enjoy a buffet lunch in the restaurant, whistling the ship cruising back the shore

11:00: Back at Halong port. , It’s time to disembark and say goodbye to the cruise.

Highlights of the overnight cruise

• Sailing through towering limestone karst mountain
• Relaxing in your cabin with a balcony
• Enjoy sunrise and sunset
• Relaxing and chill out on the beach
• Kayaking amongst limestone mountains
• Exploring the floating village by bamboo boat

Bai Tu Long day cruise from Van Don itinerary

I have written a detailed itinerary for a private Bai Tu Long bay day trip in the link below. So the activities included : kayaking, swimming, easier rider on the island, hiking, sightseeing and visiting a floating fish farm.

Read more : Van Don bay day tour itinerary

A packing list for Bai Tu Long bay with kids

• Sun cream
• Sung glasses
• Hats
• Buck spray
• Swimsuits
• Towels
• Baby monitor
• Portable high chair
• Baby car seat for roller (If the cruise company use a limousine car, you don’t need it)
• Motion sickness tablet
• Spoons and cups
• Toys
• Motion sickness tablets
• Warm jackets for winter

Over to you

I hope you like visiting Bai Tu Long bay with your kids! Hanoi Eco Tour is here to help  you a family-friendly holidays in Bai Tu Long Bay, for both day trips and overnight cruise, please contact us via Whatsapp at +849741313104

Bai Tu Long bay is an amazing place – I am sure that you’ll have an awesome trip. If you have any further questions about visiting Bai Tu Long bay with your kids, just send us an email or a message via WhatsApp, we are happy to help