Boat Tours in Vietnam

Best time by region

Each cell counts the places in this list marked as worth visiting in that month (the best months on each location page). Darker means more of the region's places agree.

Boat Tours by region42 places

North Vietnam (12)

Destination guides Cao Bang, Cat Ba, Ha Giang, Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh · North Vietnam guide →

Lake

Ba Be Lake

Bac Kan

Ba Be Lake is Vietnam's largest natural freshwater lake - three connected bodies of water (Pé Lèng, Pé Lù, Pé Lầm) stretching 8km through karst mountains in Bắc Kạn. Ramsar Wetland site, Tày homestays, boat through Puong Cave, and some of the most intact lowland forest in the northern highlands.

Mar - May, Sep - Nov→

Bay

Bai Tu Long Bay

Quang Ninh

Bái Tử Long Bay - Ha Long's quieter neighbour to the northeast - shares the same UNESCO karst landscape with 600+ islands but far fewer cruise boats. Named for the legend of dragon children landing to protect Vietnam. Ha Long Bay the way it was before mass tourism.

Mar - May, Sep - Oct→

Waterfall

Ban Gioc Waterfall

Cao Bằng

Bản Giốc is the largest waterfall on any national border in Southeast Asia - a 300-metre-wide curtain of water crashing across three tiers on the Vietnam-China border in Cao Bằng, surrounded by karst mountains and emerald pools.

Sep - Oct→

Island

Cô Tô Island

Quang Ninh

Cô Tô Island in Quảng Ninh province is one of northern Vietnam's most pristine island destinations - an archipelago of nearly 50 islands in the Gulf of Tonkin with white sand beaches, clear turquoise water, coral snorkeling, and an unhurried fishing village atmosphere far removed from the crowds of Hạ Long Bay. Accessible by fast catamaran ferry from Ao Tiên port in around 60-90 minutes.

Apr - Oct→

Bay

Ha Long Bay

Quang Ninh

Ha Long Bay - Vietnam's most iconic landscape and a UNESCO World Heritage Site - is 1,553 square kilometres of emerald water, nearly 2,000 limestone karst islands, sea caves, and floating villages in the Gulf of Tonkin.

Mar - Apr, Sep - Nov→

Bay

Lan Hạ Bay

Hải Phòng

Lan Hạ Bay is the southern section of the Ha Long karst system - 400 limestone islands, hidden beaches, floating fishing villages, and some of the clearest water in the Gulf of Tonkin, with a fraction of Ha Long's boat traffic and far better kayaking conditions. The bioluminescence night kayaking tour is an experience Ha Long Bay doesn't offer.

Apr - Jun, Sep - Nov→

River

Nho Quế River

Hà Giang

Nho Quế River - a ribbon of impossible turquoise threading through Tu Sản Canyon, one of the deepest and most dramatic gorges in Southeast Asia - seen from above at Mã Pí Lèng Pass and explored by boat from one of two piers near Đồng Văn and Mèo Vạc.

Sep - Apr→

River

Tam Cốc

Ninh Bình

Tam Cốc - three river caves carved through limestone karst in Ninh Bình, rowed by local women through flooded rice paddies that turn gold in harvest season. Part of the Tràng An UNESCO dual heritage site. Best mid-May to mid-June for golden rice.

Mar - Jul→

Valley

Thung Nham Bird Park

Ninh Bình

Thung Nham Bird Park is a flooded karst valley and wetland in Ninh Bình home to one of northern Vietnam's largest egret and heron colonies - over 40,000 birds nesting in the bamboo forest during breeding season, explored by rowing boat through the flooded valley.

Apr - Aug, Oct - Nov→

River

Trang An

Ninh Bình

Trang An is Vietnam's only UNESCO dual World Heritage Site (natural and cultural, 2014) - a labyrinth of karst peaks, jade rivers, and ancient caves navigated by wooden rowboat. Known as 'Ha Long Bay on land' and a filming location for Kong: Skull Island (2017).

Jan - Jun, Sep - Nov→

Nature Reserve

Vân Long Nature Reserve

Ninh Bình

Vân Long Nature Reserve, nicknamed 'the waveless bay,' is Vietnam's largest inland wetland - a flooded valley of karst peaks, submerged rice fields, and clear shallow water navigated by rowing boat, home to Vietnam's largest population of the critically endangered Delacour's langur.

Oct - Jun→

Village

Việt Hải Village

Hải Phòng

Việt Hải is a fishing and farming village of 87 households inside Cát Bà National Park - nicknamed 'island within an island', reachable only by boat from Bến Bèo or by a 12km jungle trek through the national park. No road access to the outside world.

Feb - Mar, Jun, Oct - Dec→

Central Vietnam (14)

Destination guides Da Lat, Hoi An, Hue, Ly Son, Nha Trang, Phong Nha - Ke Bang · Central Vietnam guide →

River

Bảy Mẫu Coconut Forest

Quang Nam

Bảy Mẫu Coconut Forest is a water coconut palm wetland in Cẩm Thanh village that has grown from its original 7-acre planting to more than 100 hectares today - navigated by traditional Vietnamese basket boats through narrow waterways under the palm canopy, with fishing demonstrations, local music performances, and a real wartime history as a revolutionary base.

Feb - Nov→

Island

Đảo Bé (An Bình Island)

Quảng Ngãi

Đảo Bé - also known as An Bình Island or Cù Lao Bờ Bãi - is a small outer island 3 nautical miles northwest of Lý Sơn's main island, reachable by a 10-15 minute boat ride. With clearer water, more intact coral reefs, and a fraction of the crowds of the main island, it's the best snorkeling location in the Lý Sơn archipelago and a quieter alternative for a half-day by the sea.

Apr - Aug→

Island

Điệp Sơn Island

Khánh Hòa

Điệp Sơn is a remote island cluster in Vân Phong Bay, northern Khánh Hòa, where a narrow tidal sandbar - close to a kilometre long - connects three islands at low tide, one of Vietnam's most photogenic natural phenomena, reached by a short boat ride from Vạn Giã fishing port.

Dec - Sep→

Island

Hon Kho Island

Bình Định

Hòn Khô is a small uninhabited rocky island northeast of Quy Nhơn, known for clear turquoise water, coral reefs, dramatic boulder coastline, and a seasonal golden seaweed (rong mơ) spectacle from May to July when the sea floor turns gold.

Feb - Sep→

Photo coming soon

Island

Hòn Mun Island

Khánh Hòa

Hòn Mun Island is the core zone of Nha Trang Bay Marine Protected Area, historically the best diving and snorkeling site in the bay - though its coral reefs have suffered serious, well-documented decline since 2020, and current conditions are a genuine mixed bag rather than the pristine reef of older travel guides.

Feb - Sep→

Island

Hòn Tằm Island

Khánh Hòa

Hòn Tằm is Nha Trang Bay's most developed private island - a resort island a short speedboat ride offshore with white sand beaches, water sports, and Vietnam's largest island-based hot mineral mud bath complex, though at a real cost in crowding, gated resort access, and inflated food prices.

Feb - Sep→

Island

Hon Yen Island

Phú Yên

Hòn Yến is a small coral island 15km north of Tuy Hòa in Phú Yên - two islands (Hòn Yến and Hòn Sụn) connected by a rock path at low tide, with exposed coral reefs, lobster farming, and floating seafood restaurants. Named for the swifts that once nested here.

Mar - Sep→

Lighthouse

Kê Gà Lighthouse

Bình Thuận

Kê Gà Lighthouse near Mũi Né is a historic French-built lighthouse dating to 1897-1899. Take a short boat ride to the rocky islet for panoramic views of Bình Thuận's coast - climbing the 183 spiral steps to the top has traditionally been allowed, though access can now depend on border guard or station permission.

Sep - Jul→

Beach

Kỳ Co Beach

Bình Định

Kỳ Co Beach is a secluded 1km² cove near Quy Nhơn with turquoise water, golden sand, and dramatic cliff scenery - 25km from Quy Nhơn city, accessible by speedboat from Nhơn Lý fishing village or by road year-round.

Apr - Sep→

Cave

Phong Nha Cave

Quảng Bình

Phong Nha Cave is the oldest cave in the Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng UNESCO World Heritage Site - a 7.7km limestone grotto with an underground river, navigated by wooden boat through chambers of stalactites, with the Son River flowing turquoise below.

Mar - Aug→

Island

Phú Quý Island

Bình Thuận

Phú Quý Island (also known as Cù Lao Thu) is a remote coral island 120km off the Bình Thuận coast with some of the clearest water and best diving in southern Vietnam - a 2.5 to 3.5 hour ferry from Phan Thiết that delivers a genuine fishing island experience with minimal resort infrastructure.

Mar - Aug→

Lake

Tà Đùng Lake

Đắk Nông

Tà Đùng Lake in Đắk Nông is called the 'Hạ Long Bay of the Central Highlands' - a reservoir with 47+ forested islands that are actually the hilltops of submerged terrain, formed by the Đồng Nai 3 hydroelectric dam. Sea of clouds visible at 5-6 AM during rainy season. 250km from Saigon.

Jul - Apr→

Pagoda

Thiên Mụ Pagoda

Thừa Thiên Huế

Thiên Mụ Pagoda is the oldest and most iconic religious site in Huế - a 21-metre seven-tiered tower, officially recognised as Vietnam's tallest ancient octagonal pagoda tower, on a hill above the Perfume River, founded in 1601 and part of the UNESCO-listed Complex of Huế Monuments.

Feb - Apr, Sep - Nov→

Lake

Tuyền Lâm Lake

Lâm Đồng

Tuyền Lâm Lake is Đà Lạt's largest reservoir - one of the largest bodies of water in the area, surrounded by pine forests, accessible by cable car, kayak, or bicycle, with Trúc Lâm Thiền Monastery perched on Phụng Hoàng Mountain above the northern shore.

Nov - Jun→

South Vietnam (16)

Destination guides Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc · South Vietnam guide →

Island

Ba Hòn Đầm Islands

Kien Giang

Ba Hòn Đầm is a cluster of three small islands in the Bà Lụa Archipelago, Kiên Lương - known as the 'mini Ha Long of the South', 20km offshore with calm shallow water between the islands, colourful pebble beaches, and bioluminescence at night from November to April.

Nov - Apr→

Lake

Bàu Sấu (Crocodile Lake)

Đồng Nai

Bàu Sấu is a remote oxbow lake deep inside Cát Tiên National Park - a 3-hour jungle trek from the park headquarters leads to one of southern Vietnam's last viable crocodile habitats and a prime birdwatching site.

Jul - Apr→

Lake

Búng Bình Thiên Lake

An Giang

Búng Bình Thiên, the largest natural freshwater lake in the Mekong Delta, is a peaceful border-district lake in An Giang known for its year-round clear water, a striking two-toned confluence at C3 bridge, surrounding Cham Muslim villages, and a flood-season lotus bloom - a quiet cultural and nature stop for travellers who don't need a dramatic 'wow' view to feel it was worth the trip.

Aug - Nov→

Market

Cái Răng Floating Market

Cần Thơ

Cái Răng Floating Market is the largest wholesale floating market in the Mekong Delta - recognised as national intangible cultural heritage in 2016 and listed by Rough Guides among the world's 10 most impressive markets. Hundreds of wooden boats gather at dawn to trade fruit and produce on the Cần Thơ River, 6km south of the city centre.

Year-round→

Island

Cần Giờ Monkey Island

Hồ Chí Minh

Cần Giờ Monkey Island sits inside a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve 50-60km from central Saigon - a river island in the mangrove forest where over 2,000 long-tailed macaques live in large semi-wild troops, reached by boat through the Cần Giờ waterways and often paired with the nearby Rừng Sác War Base on the same day trip.

Nov - Apr→

National Park

Cát Tiên National Park

Đồng Nai

Cát Tiên National Park - established 1992, 71,920 hectares (larger than Singapore), UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Over 1,610 plant species, 1,568 animal species, 300+ bird species (nearly 50% of Vietnam's total). Once the last mainland Asian refuge of the Javan rhinoceros, declared extinct here in 2010. Winner of 4 awards at the 2025 AEN International Ecotourism Awards including top prize for Biodiversity Conservation.

Nov - May→

Lake

Dầu Tiếng Lake

Tây Ninh

Dầu Tiếng Lake is the largest artificial reservoir in Vietnam - a 270km² expanse of water on the Tây Ninh and Bình Dương border, surrounded by forest and used for irrigation, with sunrise photography, lakeside cycling, and the nearby Chùa Thái Sơn temple on Núi Cậu among the main visitor draws.

Jun, Dec - Apr→

Island

Hòn Sơn Island

Kien Giang

Hòn Sơn is a large mountainous island in the Gulf of Thailand, Kiên Giang - calmer seas and a shorter crossing than Phú Quý, with clear water, Ma Thiên Lãnh peak, fishing villages, and almost no resort development. Minimum 2 nights to do it properly.

Nov - May→

National Park

Mũi Cà Mau National Park

Cà Mau

Mũi Cà Mau National Park is the southernmost point of Vietnam's mainland - a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of 42,000 hectares of mangrove forest at the tip of the Cà Mau Peninsula, where the East Sea meets the Gulf of Thailand. The only place in Vietnam to watch both sunrise and sunset from the same spot.

Dec - Apr→

Island

Nam Du Islands

Kien Giang

Nam Du is Vietnam's southernmost island archipelago - 21 islands in the Gulf of Thailand, closer and cheaper than Phú Quốc, with clearer water, outer islands for snorkeling, and a genuine fishing community character. 2 hours from Rạch Giá by high-speed ferry.

Nov - May→

Island

Phoenix & Unicorn Islands (Cồn Phụng & Cồn Thới Sơn)

Bến Tre, Tiền Giang

Phoenix Island (Cồn Phụng) and Unicorn Island (Cồn Thới Sơn) are two of the Mekong Delta's famous Tứ Linh islands near My Tho, known for coconut canals, sampan rides, fruit orchards, and the unusual Coconut Religion temple.

Jun - Feb→

Island

Pirate Islands

Kien Giang

The Hai Tac Islands (Quần đảo Hải Tặc) are a 16-island archipelago in the Gulf of Thailand about 28km from Hà Tiên, historically known as the Pirate Islands. Reachable by a regular, roughly 30-minute speedboat service, they remain one of the least-developed island groups in Vietnam, with coral reefs, quiet beaches, and a small fishing community.

Nov - Apr→

Village

Rạch Vẹm Fishing Village & Starfish Beach

Kien Giang

Rạch Vẹm on Phú Quốc's northern coast combines two experiences: a traditional stilt-house fishing village built over the sea, and Starfish Beach (Bãi Sao Biển) where hundreds of large red starfish are visible in shallow clear water. One of the last untouched corners of Phú Quốc - under redevelopment pressure as of 2026.

Nov - Apr→

Monument

Thường Phước Border Gate

Đồng Tháp

Thường Phước Border Gate in Đồng Tháp is one of the Mekong Delta's international river crossings into Cambodia - a working border post on the Mekong marked by Border Marker 240, where boats, traders, and travelers cross into Cambodia's Prey Veng province via the connecting Kaoh Roka border post.

Nov - Apr→

Forest

Trà Sư Cajuput Forest

An Giang

Trà Sư Cajuput Forest is an 845-hectare flooded cajuput woodland in An Giang - navigated by rowboat through mirror-flat green waterways, with over 70 bird species, a 10km bamboo walkway through the forest, and an observation tower over the canopy. Best September to November.

Sep - Nov→

Lake

Tri An Lake

Đồng Nai

Tri An Lake is a large reservoir in Dong Nai province, 65-70km from Ho Chi Minh City, formed by the Tri An hydroelectric dam on the Dong Nai River. A popular weekend camping and kayaking destination for city residents, with 76 forested islands, calm water, and dramatic sunset views.

Year-round→

Browse other experiences

• Beaches55 places→
• Trekking74 places→
• Camping45 places→
• Caving15 places→
• Snorkeling21 places→
• Kayaking23 places→
• Food32 places→
• Culture57 places→
• History82 places→
• Photography181 places→
• Markets11 places→
• Nightlife9 places→
• Walking Tours29 places→
• Cycling31 places→
• Cable Cars9 places→
• Homestays11 places→
• Wildlife33 places→
• Motorcycling32 places→
• Shopping5 places→