The 15 Best Boat Trips in Vietnam

1.Ha Long Bay Day Cruise – Swimming, Meal, Kayaking

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 7,415 reviews · from $41Our pick

Escape Hanoi for a full day in Ha Long Bay, traveling by modern bus and deluxe boat. You’ll visit Sung Sot Cave, kayak or ride a bamboo boat at Luon Cave, swim or hike on Titop Island, and enjoy a Vietnamese lunch plus a sunset snack service. Guides such as Sunny, Alex, Ken, and Henry are frequently assigned.

“Sunny really showed all the places very well and his humorous is very funny and keep us very lively. Thank you Sunny.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Basket Boat Ride in the Coconut Forest

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 4,956 reviews · 50 minutes - 3 hours · from $3Best value

Spend about 50 minutes in a round Vietnamese basket boat on Bay Mau Coconut Forest. Your local guide may be named Ding, Hung, Kim, or An, and will show you crab fishing, net casting, paddling, photos, and optional boat spinning. Early morning brings cooler weather and quieter water. Hotel pickup is available with selected options.

“The tour was amazing! So well organised and all staff were so friendly and helpful. Would definitely recommend.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Ninh Binh Full-Day Tour from Hanoi to Hoa Lu, Tam Coc & Mua Cave Via Boat & Bike

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4,384 reviews · from $33Top rated

Escape Hanoi for a 12 to 13-hour trip through Ninh Binh with an English-speaking guide. Visit Hoa Lu, cycle briefly through rural villages, eat a local buffet lunch, float through Tam Coc by bamboo boat, and climb nearly 500 steps at Mua Cave. Sunny, Linh, Viet, and other guides have earned praise for clear stories and good humor.

“Great day trip to see the sights. Did make us wish we had stayed a few days there as it is a very beautiful area.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Amanda Cruise – Ha Long, Lan Ha Bay – All Inclusive 2D1N & 3D2N

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4,358 reviews · from $56

Spend two days and one night aboard Amanda Cruise from Hanoi, with meals, a private sea-view cabin, Tai Chi, cooking, kayaking, swimming, and cave visits. The standard Ha Long route includes Ti Top Island, Hang Luon, and Sung Sot Cave. A 3D2N Lan Ha Bay option is also available, with possible upgrades or boat changes.

“One day before the tour booked for Amanda Criuse we were informed about an issue with water leak on the booked boat and re-booked to the Hera Grand Cruise to the same level cabin. To be honest, I didn't belive this reason (iit repeats in many reviews on Tripadvisor) with water leak and more, it was overbooking or something like that but it doesn't matter because the Gera Grand Cruise was really very good for us. Minh and his staff have made a great job to make our 2 Days Cruise comfortable and interesting. The boat is not made yesterday but still comfortable and nice to be there. Staff is…”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Cooking Class Hoi An:Local Market, Basket Boat, Fishing & Cooking

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,660 reviews · from $28

Spend about 4.5 hours combining Hoi An food culture with a Cam Thanh basket-boat ride, simple fishing, a market visit, and a hands-on lesson in four Vietnamese dishes. Guides such as Hai, LyLy, Lily, and Hy Hy explain ingredients and cooking methods. Pickup from central Hoi An, drinks, recipes, and a meal are included.

“This was a must try cooking experience!Our guide hai hei was funny, witty, knowledgeable and a patience chef! The tour was a favourite tour for my husband who loves cooking, I’m not a massive cooking fan but I enjoyed the pace of the cooRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Cozy Bay Halong 5-Star Day Cruise, Buffet, Cave, Kayak, Swimming

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,512 reviews · from $48

Spend about 11 to 12 hours traveling from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay by comfortable shuttle, then cruise among limestone islands aboard Cozy Bay Premium Cruise. Your day includes Sung Sot Cave, Ti Top Island, kayaking or a bamboo boat, buffet lunch, and a sunset snack party. Guides such as Minh, Tim, Duc, and Binh are often praised for clear English and careful timing.

“Had a great day out our guide Tony was very fantastic made the experience so much better with his knowledge and sense of humour. Stunning scenery but very busy place.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.2-Day Halong & Lan Ha Bay 5-Star Cruise with Balcony

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 3,300 reviews · from $188

Cruise from Hanoi to Ha Long and Lan Ha Bay in a private balcony cabin on a 5-star boat. You’ll kayak, swim, visit caves by bamboo boat, learn spring-roll making, join tai chi, and try squid fishing. English-speaking guides such as Jackie, Mike, Tom, and Hao lead the trip, while the exact cave and beach stops can change.

“From the moment we first got picked up all the team made us feel so special and I would recommend this trip and company 100% . 5 stars I would give this trip 11/10👍”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.CuChi Tunnels&Mekong Delta-Boat,TukTuk,Coconut Village SmallGroup

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,113 reviews · from $32

Spend about 11 hours visiting the Củ Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta from Ho Chi Minh City. Enter a tunnel, see wartime traps, ride motorboats, rowing boats, and a tuk tuk, taste tropical fruit and coconut candy, and enjoy lunch and traditional music with an English-speaking guide such as Xem, Jackie, or Lockie.

“Cheesy old school sightseeing trip Does give you the chance to fire off a machine gun with live rounds though Host Tom was great”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Mon Chéri Cruise 5 star: Unique 2 Days Tuan Chau – Halong bay – Lan Ha Bay

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,422 reviews · from $195

Spend two days aboard Mon Chéri Cruises between Lan Ha Bay and Halong Bay, with an overnight suite, Vietnamese meals, kayaking, swimming, a bamboo boat ride, cooking, and squid fishing. Pickup from Hanoi is available for an extra $20 each way. Expect a small group of up to 35 people and a polished cruise with time to slow down.

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Mekong Delta Boat,Khotcake cooking Coconut Village,SmallGroup

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,374 reviews · from $16

Travel from Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho and Ben Tre for motorboat and rowing-boat rides, a coconut candy workshop, honey and wine tastings, cycling, Khot cake cooking, fruit, music, lunch, and Vinh Trang Pagoda. Guides such as Phong, Tim, Tam, Lu, and Niem are known for lively commentary, though the day includes several sales stops.

“A range of activities including bus tour, boat along the Mekong river, rowing, snake and crocodile farm. Really good value”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Doris Cruise 5 star cruise 2 days visiting Halong Bay Lan Ha Bay private balcony

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,338 reviews · from $235

Spend two days aboard Doris Cruise exploring Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay from Hanoi. You can kayak or swim at Tra Bau, row through Dark and Bright Cave, join tai chi and a cooking class, and relax on a private balcony. Staff members including Emily, Mona, and Jessica have been praised for attentive service and help with special food requests.

“Mona was really helpful and sweet with us and food was excellent in quality. We like our guide mona the most ❤️. View was excellent. Rooms were great and luxurious. We felt best here . And our guide Mona was really cooperative and sweet . Management was really great .”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Mekong Delta Islands Boat & Tuk-Tuk Tour with Tastings

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,285 reviews · 9 hours · from $14

Spend nine hours traveling from Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho and Ben Tre by minivan, motorboat, rowboat, tuk-tuk, and bicycle. Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda, meet honey and coconut producers, taste tropical fruit and bánh khọt, and hear southern Vietnamese folk music. Guides such as Steve, Phong, Lam, and Little Trung are known for lively English commentary.

“it was wonderful. Our guide was a very successeful, likeable and good guide. Thanks for everything to Little Trung”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Market Tour, Basket Boat Ride and Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,208 reviews · from $17

Start at the Ivegan shop, visit a Hoi An market with an English-speaking guide, then ride a bamboo basket boat through the water coconut palms. Finish in a rural kitchen preparing dishes such as bánh xèo, phở, steamed rice rolls, and chè. Guides including Anna, Thao, Linh, and Thuy are praised for patient instruction, generous portions, and recipes to take home.

“Perfect activity made loads of food and was in a lovely location”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.CozyBay Cruise-The Best Small Group 2D/1N inHalong-All inclusive

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,199 reviews · from $122

Spend two days and one night aboard Cozy Bay Cruise, traveling from Hanoi with an English-speaking guide such as Tam, Michael, James, or Charlie. You’ll visit Sung Sot Cave and Titop Island, kayak, join a cooking class, watch sunset, and sleep in a private air-conditioned cabin. Expect generous meals, a social small-group setting, and a boat that is comfortable but not luxurious.

“Definitely the highlight of our time in Vietnam. The cruise was gorgeous. Caves were super cool. Loved making spring rolls on the boat. Highly recommend this tour!”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Hoai River Boat Trip by Night and Floating Lantern

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,988 reviews · 20 min · from $8

Meet an English-speaking guide at the Kazimierz Kwiatkowski bust on Tran Phu Street. You’ll walk five minutes to the Thu Bon River, board a private wooden boat for up to five people, and release a paper lantern with help from the rower. The short ride is scenic and simple, with no onboard commentary.

“Really enjoyed the River Boat Trip. Was very busy waiting to get on boat but once on was lovely. Would recommend”

Check availability →Read our full review