Traditional junk boat cruising between limestone karsts on emerald water in Ha Long Bay at sunset

Trip Board Template

Plan 3 days in Ha Long Bay with a board you can actually edit

Start with the real Ha Long Bay board in Instaboard - mapped stops, day-by-day structure, and live sharing - then tailor the pacing, bookings, and notes to your trip.

Quảng Ninh, Vietnam

3-Day template

City Break

Best best April-October

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About This Template

Why this Ha Long Bay board feels complete

Build a 3-day Ha Long Bay trip around an overnight cruise through the karst maze, the quiet lagoons of Lan Ha Bay, and the jungle ridge of Cat Ba Island. This itinerary clusters Day 1 around boarding the junk at Tuan Chau, the vast chambers of Sung Sot Cave, the viewpoint on Ti Top Island, and sunset on deck past Hon Trong Mai, Day 2 around the floating houses of Cua Van, a bike ride through Viet Hai Valley, and kayaking the southern islands of Lan Ha Bay, and Day 3 around the Ngu Lam lookout in Cat Ba National Park, golden hour at Cannon Fort, and a dockside seafood send-off in Hon Gai. Autumn (September through November) brings comfortable days of 22 to 28C, clear skies over the karsts, and calm seas for cruising, kayaking, and swim stops, while crowds thin after the October domestic holidays.

Built itinerary

The itinerary is already built for you, and you can edit, customize, and rearrange it however you want.

Interactive map view

Drag places onto the canvas to plan visually, then see everything you added mapped out in one place.

Phone-ready itinerary

You get a cleaner version of the itinerary on your phone that is easy to use and easy to share.

Real-time collaboration

Everyone sees updates instantly and can make changes together without losing track of the latest version.

Actual board preview

See The Board Before You Open It

Preview the Ha Long Bay layout in full.

This is the actual board structure you get when you open the template, not a generic mockup.

Open instantly

Jump into the board with the structure already laid out so you can start editing immediately.

Adjust to your pace

Swap stops, reorder days, and reshape the plan without rebuilding the trip from scratch.

Share with companions

Keep everyone on the same itinerary instead of scattered screenshots and text threads.

Must-Visit Attractions

The key stops are already surfaced for you.

Fresh highlights pulled from the template so you can browse the shape of the trip before opening it.

Stalactite chambers under colored lights inside Sung Sot Cave in Ha Long Bay

Must visit

Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Cave)

The bay's largest cave opens into cathedral-sized chambers of stalactites under colored light. Tenders dock on a fixed schedule, so follow your guide's timing and wear grippy shoes for the slick steps at the entry gate.

Must visit

Ti Top Island

Climb roughly 400 stone steps to a panoramic deck over the karst maze, then swim off the crescent beach below. The viewpoint queue is shortest while most tour groups are at lunch.

Must visit

Cua Van Floating Village

Glide past floating houses and pearl farms in a plank boat rowed by village students, in one of the bay's last fishing villages. Bring small bills for pearl trinkets, and keep hands inside the boat near the oyster lines.

Must visit

Viet Hai Village

Pedal a flat lane past stilt houses and rice paddies in this car-free valley inside Cat Ba National Park. The e-bike transfer is usually bundled with the cruise, but confirm the return boat time so you never miss the last tender.

Must visit

Cat Ba National Park

Steep jungle steps climb to the Ngu Lam lookout over the island's green ridge, home to the endangered Cat Ba langur. Start early, buy your ticket at the park gate, and carry a liter of water per person.

Golden hour panorama over Lan Ha Bay from the WWII-era bunkers at Cannon Fort on Cat Ba

Must visit

Cannon Fort (Fort of the Cannon)

Two WWII-era tunnels and gun platforms ring a 360-degree panorama of Lan Ha Bay. Arrive between 4 and 5pm for the best light, and bring cash for the small entry booth.

Budgeting At A Glance

Plan the trip cost with less guesswork.

Typical daily costs in VND.

Budget

Accommodation: 250,000 - 600,000 VND (hostels or budget guesthouses in Bai Chay or Cat Ba town)

Food: 100,000 - 250,000 VND (street pho, banh mi, dockside seafood stalls in Hon Gai)

Transportation: 50,000 - 150,000 VND (public buses, short Grab Bike rides around Ha Long)

Activities: 600,000 - 1,200,000 VND (group day cruise with cave and island stops, kayak rental)

Mid-range

Accommodation: 1,200,000 - 2,500,000 VND (mid-range Bai Chay or Cat Ba town hotels on nights off the boat)

Food: 400,000 - 800,000 VND (dockside seafood restaurants in Hon Gai, island cafes)

Transportation: 150,000 - 350,000 VND (Grab Car rides, Hanoi transfer bus, ferry to Cat Ba)

Activities: 2,000,000 - 3,500,000 VND (overnight cruise cabin with kayaking, park and cave entry fees)

Luxury

Accommodation: 4,000,000 - 9,000,000 VND (upscale Bai Chay resorts or Cat Ba beachfront hotels)

Food: 1,500,000 - 3,500,000 VND (premium cruise seafood dinners, fine dining, rooftop nights)

Transportation: 700,000 - 1,500,000 VND (private car with driver from Hanoi, speedboat transfers)

Activities: 2,500,000 - 6,000,000 VND (luxury overnight cruise cabins with balconies, private kayaking and guided treks)

Money-saving tips

Book a 3-day 2-night cruise instead of two separate day trips. The per-night rate drops, and you wake up inside the bay for sunrise over the karsts.
Compare cruise routes before booking. Boats that route through Lan Ha Bay and Viet Hai share the water with far fewer junks than the Sung Sot and Ti Top circuit.
Eat seafood at the dockside stalls in Hon Gai rather than the Bai Chay tourist strip. Order by pointing at the ice trays, and pay with cash for the local price.

Ready to make this Ha Long Bay plan your own?

Open the template, personalize each day, and share the live itinerary with your travel group.