2 days 1 night tour in the bay, where every angle is a natural picture

Ha Long Bay, a world natural heritage site in Quang Ninh, is a must-see destination with majestic limestone mountains, emerald green waters, and mysterious caves.

Only about 170km from Hanoi, Ha Long is an ideal choice for a short trip. With a 2-day-1-night self-guided itinerary, you will explore Ha Long Bay, Sung Sot Cave, Ti Top Island, and experience the fishing village culture.

This article provides detailed itineraries, practical experiences, and cost-saving tips for 2025, suitable for beginners, professional travelers, and businesses organizing team building.

Why choose a 2-day, 1-night self-guided tour to Ha Long?

Ha Long is not only famous for its natural beauty but also offers a variety of experiences: from cruising on the bay, exploring caves, kayaking, to enjoying fresh seafood.

With 2 days and 1 night, you have enough time to enjoy the highlights, relax comfortably, and experience the local culture. Independent travel allows you to flexibly arrange your schedule, save costs compared to package tours, and explore Ha Long in your own way.

In 2025, with increasingly improved transportation and tourism services, Ha Long promises to bring memorable experiences.

Frequently Asked Questions:Is 2 days and 1 night enough to explore Ha Long? With a reasonable plan, you will fully experience the highlights of Ha Long Bay and more. Let's explore the detailed itinerary below!

Prepare before your 2025 self-guided tour to Ha Long

To make your trip smooth and economical, you need to prepare carefully. Here are the specific steps:

• Ideal timing:March-May (spring) and September-November (autumn) are the best times, with cool weather (18-25°C) and little rain. Avoid June-August (typhoon season) and December-February (cold, foggy). Book early to avoid high prices during peak season.
• Transportation:From Hanoi, you can take a bus (120,000-200,000 VND/way), limousine (250,000-350,000 VND/way), or motorbike/private car via Hanoi - Hai Phong - Ha Long highway (about 2.5-3 hours). Renting a motorbike in Ha Long costs 150,000-200,000 VND/day.
• Finance:Estimated self-sufficient expenses are about 2,500,000-4,000,000 VND/person (transportation, food, accommodation, entrance tickets, cruise). Bring 500,000-1,000,000 VND in cash/person and a bank card (ATMs are popular in Ha Long).
• Accommodation:Book a 2-3 star hotel (500,000-1,500,000 VND/room/night) or homestay (300,000-600,000 VND/night) in Bai Chay, Hon Gai area via Booking, Agoda. Hotels such as Halong Plaza, Muong Thanh Luxury are conveniently located.
• Luggage:Bring light clothes, non-slip sneakers, swimsuit, SPF50+ sunscreen, wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, raincoat, first aid kit, personal medication. Prepare a small backpack with drinking water (2 bottles of 500ml), snacks (bread, sticky rice, 50,000 VND).
• Supported applications:Google Maps, Vietmap for location; Traveloka, Klook for booking bus and cruise tickets; Foody for finding restaurants. Download offline map of Ha Long for use when offline.

Detailed 2-day, 1-night Ha Long travel itinerary 2025

The 2 days 1 night itinerary is designed to explore Ha Long Bay, caves, Ti Top Island, and experience local culture, using yachts and motorbikes to optimize time. Below is the detailed plan:

Day 1: Hanoi – Ha Long – Ha Long Bay Cruise – Sung Sot Cave

6:00: Depart from Hanoi

Take a bus from My Dinh station or a limousine from the Old Quarter (Hoan Kiem) to Ha Long (120,000-350,000 VND/way). Stop in Hai Duong (20 minutes) for breakfast with vermicelli soup and rice rolls (30,000-50,000 VND/person). Arrive at Bai Chay, Ha Long around 9:00-9:30. Check-in at the hotel or leave your luggage at the reception.

10:00: Rent a yacht to explore Ha Long Bay

Book a cruise ticket at Tuan Chau port (VND 350,000-500,000/person for a 4-6 hour tour, book via Klook or at the port). The cruise takes you through famous islands such as Dinh Huong islet, Ga Choi islet, and Cho Da islet. Enjoy the limestone mountains and emerald green waters. Ha Long Bay tour ticket VND 290,000/person (route 2, including Sung Sot cave).

12:00: Lunch on the cruise

Buffet lunch on the cruise with seafood dishes such as shrimp, squid, grilled fish (150,000-250,000 VND/person, usually included in the boat ticket). Relax and take photos on the deck.

13:30: Visit Sung Sot Cave

The cruise takes you toSung Sot Cave, one of the most beautiful caves in Ha Long Bay. With its majestic stalactites and vast spaces, the cave is awe-inspiring. The tour lasts about 45 minutes, with a guide explaining the history and geology. Wear non-slip sneakers as the cave floor can be wet.

15:00: Kayaking at Cua Van fishing village

Continue the journey toCua Van fishing village, where you kayak (150,000 VND/hour) to explore the life of fishermen on the bay. If you don't kayak, you can take a bamboo boat (100,000 VND/boat/2 people) rowed by the locals. Take pictures with the floating houses and surrounding rocky mountains.

17:00: Return to Bai Chay and have dinner

Cruise ship arrives at Tuan Chau port. Check-in hotel in Bai Chay (500,000-1,500,000 VND/room). Dinner at Hong Hanh 3 restaurant or Cua Vang restaurant with Ha Long squid rolls, grilled oysters, seafood hotpot (150,000-250,000 VND/person). Stroll Bai Chay night market, buy specialties such as dried squid (300,000 VND/kg), squid rolls (400,000 VND/kg). Overnight in Ha Long.

Day 2: Ha Long – Ti Top Island – Sun World – Return to Hanoi

7:00: Breakfast and visit Ti Top Island

Have breakfast at the hotel or local restaurant with rice rolls with squid sausage, seafood noodles (VND 30,000-50,000/person). Rent a small boat (VND 200,000/person, route 1) at Tuan Chau port to go toTi Top Island. Climb 400 steps to the top of the island to see the panorama of Ha Long Bay, or swim and take photos on the white sand beach. Visit time is about 1.5 hours.

10:30: Visit Sun World Ha Long

Return to Bai Chay, sightseeingSun World Ha Long(ticket 350,000 VND/person, including Queen cable car, amusement park). Take the cable car to see the whole bay from above, visit the Japanese garden on Ba Deo hill, and experience the games at Dragon Park (roller coaster, Ferris wheel, 50,000-100,000 VND/game). Visiting time is about 2 hours.

13:00: Lunch and shopping for specialties

Lunch at Linh Dan restaurant with claypot rice and seafood (120,000-200,000 VND/person). Visit Ha Long market or VinMart supermarket to buy specialties such as Cat Hai fish sauce (100,000 VND/liter), green bean cake (50,000 VND/box). Check out of the hotel before 12:00.

14:30: Depart for Hanoi

Take a bus/limousine to Hanoi (120,000-350,000 VND/way). Stop in Hai Duong (20 minutes) for drinks or snacks (20,000 VND/person). Arrive in Hanoi around 5:30-6:00 pm, end of trip.

Compare independent travel and package tours

To choose the right form, below is a comparison table between independent travel and package tours:

Tips for choosing:Independent travel is suitable for those who want flexibility and cost savings. Package tours are ideal for beginners or businesses organizing team building, with prices starting from 3,500,000 VND/person (e.g. Vietnam Booking, Halong Bay Tours). Book tours through reputable companies to ensure quality.

Tips to save money when traveling to Ha Long on your own in 2025

To optimize costs, apply the following tips:

• Book early:Book bus tickets, cruises, hotels 7-14 days in advance through Traveloka, Klook to save 10-20% on costs.
• Choose the right yacht:Choose a 4-6 hour boat tour (VND 350,000-500,000) instead of an overnight cruise (VND 2,000,000) to save money.
• Eat economically:Choose a budget restaurant like Linh Dan, Hong Hanh (120,000-200,000 VND/meal) instead of a high-end restaurant. Bring snacks (bread, sticky rice) to save money at the tourist destination.
• Go in groups:Share the cost of cruises, hotels, motorbikes to reduce 20-30% of personal expenses.
• Smart shopping:Negotiate prices for specialties at Ha Long market, buy early in the morning to get fresh products and good prices (10-15% discount).

Frequently asked questions when traveling to Ha Long

1. What is special about Ha Long?

Ha Long is famous for Ha Long Bay - UNESCO heritage, majestic caves, Ti Top island, fishing village, and unique seafood cuisine.

2. Is 2 days 1 night enough to explore?

Enough to visit main spots like Sung Sot cave, Ti Top island, Cua Van fishing village with a reasonable schedule.

3. How much does the trip cost?

Self-sufficient about 2,500,000-4,000,000 VND/person, package tour from 3,500,000-5,000,000 VND/person.

4. Are there any special preparations required?

Bring non-slip shoes, swimsuit, sunscreen, and raincoat. Book your cruise early to avoid disappointment.

5. What to do if the weather is bad?

Check the weather forecast 7 days in advance. If there is a storm, adjust your schedule to visit Sun World, Quang Ninh indoor museum.

A 2-day, 1-night self-guided tour of Ha Long is a great opportunity to explore the natural beauty, culture, and cuisine of the heritage land. With a detailed itinerary, practical experience, and cost-saving tips for 2025, you are ready to start this adventure.

Pack your bags, book your bus or cruise tickets, and set off to experience Ha Long Bay today!