A 3-Day Lan Ha Bay Cruise from Hanoi
3 day Lan Ha Bay cruise from Hanoi: about 148 km by road to Tuan Chau, pickup and return times for four cruises, what the bus costs, and the Ninh Binh route.
From Hanoi, the three-day Lan Ha Bay cruises start at Tuan Chau in Ha Long, about 148 km by road from Hoan Kiem Lake in the Old Quarter. The cruise buses leave the Old Quarter at about 7:30 to 8:30, reach Tuan Chau by about 11:30 to 12:00, and on day three are back in Hanoi between about 14:00 and 16:00. Carnival’s three days charge US$25 a person for the round trip; two of the four cruises here include it.
The calendar above is Carnival’s three days from Tuan Chau, from $266 a person (checked November 2026); add the shuttle when you book.
The road
By road, Tuan Chau International Marina is 148 km from Hoan Kiem Lake, about an hour and three-quarters in free-flowing traffic; the cruise buses allow about two and a half hours with a stop.
Pickup and return, cruise by cruise
| Cruise | Pickup in Hanoi | At Tuan Chau | Back in Hanoi, day 3 | The bus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival, 3 days | 07:30 to 08:00, Old Quarter | 11:30 to 12:00 | About 15:30 | US$25 a person, round trip |
| Marvel Travel | 08:00 to 08:30, Old Quarter or Ninh Binh | About 12:00 | About 14:00 to 14:30 | US$25 a person, both ways |
| Vega Legend | 08:00 to 08:30, hotel in the Old Quarter | 11:45 to 12:00 | 15:30 to 16:00 | Included |
| Carnival + Ninh Binh | 07:10 to 07:40, to Ninh Binh | Day 2, from Ninh Binh | After landing about 11:00 | Included |
From each listing, November 2026 (GetYourGuide checked November 2026; Viator checked November 2026).
Check dates for Carnival's three days
Making your own way
Carnival’s and Marvel Travel’s three days let you skip the bus and meet the ship at Tuan Chau; Carnival’s listing names Tuan Chau Marina at 11:30 as the meeting point and confirms the exact place the day before. If you are already in Ha Long, that saves the US$25. The other way in is via Cat Ba: the island has no road bridge, the car ferry runs from Dong Bai on Cat Hai to Cai Vieng, and the small boats leave Ben Beo near Cat Ba town; but none of the three-day cruises here starts there.
Via Ninh Binh
Carnival’s Ninh Binh combination turns the trip into a triangle. Day one is about 100 km south by road from Hoan Kiem Lake to Trang An, with Hoa Lu, the Trang An boat and the Mua Cave viewpoint, and a night in a Ninh Binh hotel. Day two is about 170 km by road from Trang An to Tuan Chau, around two hours in free-flowing traffic, then the ship. From $220 (checked November 2026), with every transfer in the price. Marvel Travel’s bus will also start or finish in Ninh Binh on request.
Bring your passport
Marvel Travel’s listing requires a valid passport on the day of travel. Ha Long’s heritage board has required an ID when its bay tickets are bought at Tuan Chau and Ha Long International Port since 10 December 2025, foreigners show their passport and give their nationality, as the provincial newspaper reported. Carnival asks for full passenger details in advance.
Pick your start
Three Days, Two Nights on Board: Viet Hai by Bicycle
Carnival: pickup 07:30 to 08:00, two nights on board, taxes and fees included.
Check dates →Vega Legend: Three Days with a Cat Ba Trek and Kayaks
Vega Legend: pickup in the Old Quarter, two nights, a trek on Cat Ba.
See Vega Legend →Three Days: Ninh Binh, Then One Night on the Bay
Carnival: Ninh Binh first, every transfer included, one night on board.
See the Ninh Binh combo →Prices, ratings and review counts from the listings (GetYourGuide checked November 2026; Viator checked November 2026). Operators price by date and season, so treat the figures as the shape of the market, not a quote.
Other Dates, Other Ships
Overnight Cruises into Lan Ha Bay with Open Dates
Overnight cruises into Lan Ha Bay, with live availability. Times and cancellation terms are on each listing.
Pickup at 7:30, on Board by Lunch
Carnival's shuttle leaves Hanoi's Old Quarter at about 7:30 to 8:00 and reaches Tuan Chau before lunch on board.
Check dates