Things to do in Halong City for shore excursion travelers

This article showcases the best things to do in Halong City and its surrounding area and serves as a travel guide for Halong Shore excursion travellers in 2026, written by the Hanoi Eco Tour team. It will show you everything you need for a perfect trip in Halong city. 

After researching online, I haven’t found any article with down-to-earth information about things to do in Halong for a shore excursion. Nowadays, thousands of cruise ship visitors pay a visit to Halong City on a day trip. Even having spare time at night, they are looking for a recommendation from local experts, and I am here to help

Things to do in Halong city – Halong city map

Target audience for this article

• Backpackers who are staying in a hostel in Hanoi Bay
• Shore excursion traveller who doesn’t go on a guided tour
• Travellers who are able to stay overnight on a Halong Bay cruise because of bad weather conditions
• Travellers have already checked out the hotel room and are free until the pick up to Cat Bi airport (Haiphong) for flights to Danang, Nha Trang or Ho Chi Minh city 
• The businessman has finished their work in Halong city but wants to see the highlights of the city

Suggested itinerary for Halong city tour – Things to do in Halong city

Bai Tho mountain peak in Halong city

Morning: Check out Halong market with tons of fresh seafood, fruits, and vegetables and shop for some souvenirs. The one near Long Tien pagoda, where you can also check out afterwards. This is a must for those who like to see local life in Halong City. You may consider taking a Halong food tour that takes you to try out the signature dishes of Halong or fresh seafood dishes 

Check out the Quang Ninh Museum and Bai Tho Mountain (no longer allows tourists to hike up) in the afternoon for an overview of Halong City. If you want to go shopping, see Vincom Halong

Optional: If you like something cool and fun, then take a queen cable car to see a panoramic view of the Halong Bay area.

Up

Note : Bai Tho peak is now closed for construction. It is properly open this year. We will update the latest news. 

Things to do near Halong city for a day trip

Take 4 or 6 hours cruise on Halong Bay

Fighting cock islet – The most famous islets in Halong Bay

If you ask me what to do in Halong City, I suggest cruising on a traditional junk. A must for visitors to Halong Bay. Please note that the trip to the cave is very busy because thousands of tourists are on a cruise tour. If you want to avoid a big crowd, then this tour isn’t for you, nor is taking a Cruise tour on Bai Tu Long bay

A 4-hour trip itinerary includes a visit to Thien Cung (Heavenly Palace Cave) and a bamboo boat ride in Ba Hang floating area (Optional). This is a good option for those who just want to see highlights of Halong. This route is usually less touristy than the 6-hour route

6-hour boat ride includes a visit to Surprising Cave and Titov Island for swimming, or a 30-minute bamboo boat ride in Luon Cave. Consider taking a private Halong cruise that lets you depart earlier than others, such as 8 am or 9 am, to beat the crowd. Most of the bus tours that arrive in Halong around noon, which makes it quite touristy 

Take a five-and-a-half-hour boat tour in Bai Tu Long bay – less touristy than Halong

This Bai Tu Long private day boat trip is suitable for those who would love a longer sightseeing trips that take you to Bai Tu Long bay with similar landscape of limestone karst mountains but way less touristy than Halong, even during the national holiday of Vietnam, like the 30th of April or the Independence day of Vietnam, the 2nd of September. 

Our visit includes Thien Canh Son cave (a limestone cave) and a couple of viewpoints from the top of the mountain, plus either kayaking or a ride on a bamboo boat like a king or queen to explore Vung Vieng floating village. You also could see pearl farms in Bai Tu Long bay 

Is that worth taking the Halong Bay day trip? 

For those who have limited time, it is worth doing to see its highlights, but to be honest, an overnight cruise is always better

Yen Duc village tour

Yen Duc village tour – One of the rural tour near Halong bay

Within 1.5 hour drive from Halong: Check out Canh Huong pagoda, a bike ride around the village, lunch with authentic local food and see a water puppet show

This option is good for cruise passengers who want to see first hand or the rural Vietnam. We also offer day trips to rural Dong Trieu area to see a REAL rural Vietnam 

Yen Tu mountain complex

Lost in Yen Tu Mountain complex with amazing beauty

with a stunning view and learn about the history of Vietnamese Buddhism. This is a hidden gem of the Halong area. 

Hai Phong city tour from Halong 

Hai Phong Opera house – Important landmarks of the city

Du Hang pagoda, Hai Phong Opera house, flower market, zero pillar where Vietnamese has transferred weapons from the North to the South to support VC (Viet Cong) during Vietnam War

Bai Tu Long cruise day trip 

Bai Tu Long cruise – an ideal place for off the beaten track

This is an off the tourist trail cruise in an untouched remote Bai Tu Long area for its hidden gems. Several companies offer this trip. It is a perfect choice if you are not a big fan of mass tourism or touristy area. 

Dragon park and Queen cable car 

Queen cable car in Halong

This day trip is perfect for family with kids or group travel who like to have fun and see great view from above. With 30 attractions to satisfy adventure travelers. 

Tips : Please note that the cable car only runs at 2.00pm during the weekdays. You may have to wait from 15 to 20 minutes for a ride. Remember to take a front seat for the best panoramic view of the bay. 

Lan Ha Bay – A great alternative to Halong bay

The landscape of Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay is similar. Why don’t you take a Lan Ha Bay cruise tour, way less touristy than Halong Bay. It is just 45-minute on a ferry ride and another 45-minute drive to the town and Cat Ba to take a boat tour.

This tour suits active travellers; activities include kayaking and swimming in secluded beaches and hidden spots. I’m sure that you will have an enjoyable tour compared to the Halong Bay tours which is overcrowded every time the shore excursion guests arrive 

Advice, tips and guides for shore excursion travellers in Halong 

Guided tour or travel on your own?

Due to the limited time for the Halong shore excursion trip, you’d better arrange at least a private transfer or book a guided tour. The tour guide will arrange the itinerary to help you see the trip’s highlights at their best and return to the cruise on time. 

 If you are travelling in a group of 10 or more, the tour rate is really good. 

Some travellers want to save money and travel on their own, but they find it hard to take a taxi, show the driver where to go, call a taxi again, and wait for another one. When they showed up at the spots, they were either closed or unavailable. 

Why is a shore excursion trip is higher than a regular tour

With the following reasons, the guided tour is more expensive than a regular one

+ Passengers need to pay a port fee of around $20 to $25 per person.

+ Most of the tour guides and transfers are from Hanoi. The company need to arrange accommodation for tour guide and driver. On the other hand, the tour guide requires a higher fee than a regular tour because most finish their job from 5.00pm to 7.00pm, with a 3.5-hour transfer back to Hanoi. It is a hard-working day with 12 hours on tour, so they deserve to get a higher salary.

+ Boat cruise for shore excursions is private, so it is a bit more than a seat in a coach tour

+ If you miss the cruise ship in some cases, let’s book flights from Halong to the next cruise destination in Vietnam; Danang is the most common second stop. There are two nearby airports for flights: Van Don airport (60 kilometres from Halong) and Cat Bi airport in Hai Phong (50 kilometres from Halong). Consider to book a private transfer to Cat Bi airport from Halong to save your time 

Frequently asked questions for Halong 

Which cruise is best for Halong Bay?

Depends on your budget, activities and duration of stay to choose the best suitable one. There are tons of choices. Please see this article for further information 

How to choose a right cruise for your Halong Bay Tour 

How much is Halong Bay overnight cruise?

Standard cruise ranges from $120 to $150 

Deluxe cruise ranges from $160 to $240

Luxury cruise ranges from $270 to $350 

All rate above is per person for 2 days 1 night trip

How long should I stay in Halong Bay? 

2 days 1 night for short stay 

3 days 2 nights for relaxing trip

Where do Halong Bay cruises leave from?

There are two ports is Tuan Chau Marina offers Halong Bay tour and Vinashin in Halong city, offer tours to Bai Tu Long bay

Scuba diving in Halong Bay

No, you are not allowed to do scuba diving because it is a UNESCO site. Phu Quoc island, Cham island near Hoi An, Nha Trang seems to be these best spots for scuba diving

Hiking up Bai Tho mountain

According to government law, you are not allowed to climb because there has been an accident there. But there is a hidden trail from a local family to reach its top, where you must climb on rocks and follow the trails too.

Halong Bay Cruise to quieter areas?

There is no quieter areas in Halong since it has become a mass tourism destination. Lan Ha Bay and Bai Tu Long bay is less touristy 

Which transfer services from Halong city to Cai Bi airport in Hai Phong?

Using grab or taxi for a ride from Halong to Hai Phong which costs around $32 includes toll fee or ask the hotel where you are staying to arrange it for you.

Halong Shore Excursion day trips from Halong

As cruise passengers, we offer tons of day trip options to choose from

• Halong city tour
• Hanoi city tour
• Hanoi country and city tour
• Hai Phong city tour
• Quang Ninh Countryside tour
• Halong bay boat cruise tour
• Bai Tu Long bay day cruise tour 
• Private Lan Ha bay cruise from Halong

If you need to book a Halong shore Excursion trip, please get in touch with us via email at info@hanoiecotour.com  or

WhatsApp: 

Please click on the link above for contact us via Whatsapp 

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Hanoi Eco Tour’s team hope this article about things to do in Halong city for Halong Shore excursion travellers helps you some way to plan a trip in Halong City and its surrounding.

Lastest update : 1st of August, 2026