Lan Ha Bay (vịnh Lan Hạ): Day Trips, Overnight Cruises and Ha Long Compared
Staying on Cat Ba (Cát Bà) Island? A shared boat from the pier near town is the easiest way to see Lan Ha Bay in a day; an overnight cruise adds the quiet evening and early morning. If kayaking matters to you, confirm that it is permitted at the exact stop on your itinerary before booking.
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Forested limestone islands reflected in calm water, seen from a boat in Lan Ha Bay, August 2018.
At seven in the morning the first shared boats pull away from the pier. Soon after leaving, you pass the green-painted floating houses of Cai Beo (Cái Bèo) fishing village, joined by wooden walkways. After the village the limestone islands close in on both sides and the water turns calm and green.
What Lan Ha Bay is, and how it relates to Ha Long Bay
Lan Ha Bay is the stretch of sea along the east side of Cat Ba Island, between Cat Ba and Ha Long Bay. From the deck you cannot see a border. The limestone islands continue as one landscape. The difference is on the map: Lan Ha belongs to Hai Phong (Hải Phòng) city, and Ha Long belongs to Quang Ninh (Quảng Ninh) province. On 16 September 2023, UNESCO extended the Ha Long Bay World Heritage Site to include the Cat Ba archipelago. Its name is now Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago.
One heritage site, but two sets of rules. Each bay has its own routes, piers and fees, and the 120,000 VND fee above covers only the Cat Ba bays. Until recently, a tour boat from Ha Long could not take guests into Lan Ha. That changed on 1 April 2026, and since 20 April 2026 some overnight cruises from the ports in Ha Long sail straight into Lan Ha. These connecting routes are for overnight cruises only. You cannot do them as a day trip.
Lan Ha Bay vs Ha Long Bay: which one to choose
| What matters | Lan Ha Bay | Ha Long Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Where you board | Ben Beo pier on Cat Ba; some tours from Hanoi (Hà Nội) board at a port on Cat Hai (Cát Hải) island | Tuan Chau (Tuần Châu) or Ha Long port, reached by road |
| Day trip from Hanoi | Possible, but a long day: 12-16 hours door to door | Reached by expressway, with no sea crossing to an island first |
| Swimming in the bay | Boats stop at small beaches or swim areas, only when the crew allows it | Only Ti Top (Ti Tốp) and Soi Sim beaches are approved for visitors. Confirm which swim stops are operating on your route. Do not count on Soi Sim until its reopening is confirmed |
| Crowds | Can be busy too: many boats may reach the Bright and Dark caves (hang Sáng, hang Tối) at the same time | The two routes nearest the port can get overcrowded at peak times |
| Kayaking | Depends on permission for each area | Offered at some points on certain routes; ask which are open |
We would choose Lan Ha if you are already on Cat Ba or plan to spend a night on the island. The pier is a short ride from your hotel, the scenery is just as dramatic, and most itineraries include a swim stop. If you are based in Hanoi and have only one day, Ha Long is the less tiring choice because the bus goes straight to the port. If you want to see both bays in one trip, ask about an overnight cruise on the new connecting routes.
What a typical boat trip includes
Every boat company has its own itinerary, but the same names come up again and again. From Ben Beo, boats pass Cai Beo village and then head between the islands towards Viet Hai (Việt Hải), Ba Trai Dao (Ba Trái Đào) and the Bright and Dark caves. The licensed overnight routes from Ha Long visit the same places, plus the Tra Bau (Trà Báu) area and Quai To (Quai Tơ). A 2-3 hour trip usually covers only the fishing village and a few nearby islands. For the caves and a swim stop, choose a full day.
The Bright and Dark caves are tunnels through the rock that a small boat can pass through. Many boats take guests in on bamboo rowing boats paddled by villagers, or on the boat's own small tender. Ba Trai Dao has a small beach where many boats stop for swimming and photos. Near the cliffs around Viet Hai you may see the Cat Ba langur from a distance. No trip can promise it. If you do see one, ask the crew to keep their distance and stay quiet.
Kayaking on the Cat Ba bays was suspended on 15 November 2024, and in late November 2025 the Cat Hai special zone government extended the suspension until further notice. For the autumn-winter 2026-2027 season, at least one cruise company has put kayaking or a bamboo boat at Bat Cave (hang Dơi) back on its itinerary, subject to the weather and approval from the bay management board. So whether you can paddle depends on the area and the trip. Ask the seller to confirm it for the exact stop on your itinerary, and what you will do instead if there is no kayaking. Usually that is a bamboo boat rowed by villagers.
Day boat or overnight cruise: from Cat Ba, Hai Phong or Hanoi
| Starting from | How, and guide price | Best for, what to check |
|---|---|---|
| Cat Ba town | Shared boat from Ben Beo: 350,000-380,000 VND for 2-3 hours, 650,000-750,000 VND for a full day with lunch. Private boat: 2-3.5 million VND per boat for 2-3 hours, 4-8 million for 6 hours | People staying on the island. Some private quotes do not include the 120,000 VND bay fee per person |
| Central Hai Phong | Cross to Cat Ba yourself and take a shared boat, or buy a tour with transport | Start early; compare the boat's docking time with the last ferry and cable car |
| Hanoi | Day tours on booking platforms vary a lot, roughly US$40-125. The price depends on where you board (Ben Beo or a port on Cat Hai), the boat, and whether transport, lunch and the bay fee are included. Old Quarter pickup around 6-7:45am | People with one day only who are fine with 12-16 hours including the drive |
| Overnight cruise | About 3-6 million VND per person for one night; international booking sites list one-night cruises from about US$105 to over US$350. Boarding on Cat Ba, Cat Hai or in Ha Long, depending on the boat | Anyone who wants the evening and early morning on the bay. Ask whether the price includes the sightseeing-plus-one-night rate |
From central Hai Phong, the hard part is getting to the island. The cable car, the Dong Bai (Đồng Bài) ferry and the speedboats each keep their own times, so check the cable car and ferry times to Cat Ba before you pick a boat trip. A day trip from Hai Phong is possible if the times fit. The cable car is closed on Tuesdays. The published final operating window is 2:30-2:45pm on weekdays and 3:30-3:45pm at weekends, and the timetable does not separate the two directions, so confirm the last departure from Phu Long separately. After a full-day boat, the usual way back is the Dong Bai ferry, which last leaves Cai Vieng (Cái Viềng) at 5:30pm (1 Sep-31 Dec 2026).
A full-day cruise may finish too late for that ferry. Some boats dock around 5pm, and from Ben Beo you still have to cross the island: Cai Vieng is about 22-23 km from Cat Ba town. Confirm the docking time and the transfer to Cai Vieng before booking. Otherwise, stay overnight or choose a shorter trip. With a night on the island, you can also take the boat at an easy pace the next morning.
The bay fee follows the Hai Phong city council resolution on sightseeing fees (in Vietnamese), in force from 1 January 2026, and it has two separate rates. Day boats pay the sightseeing fee per visit. If you spend one night on the bay, you pay the sightseeing-plus-overnight rate instead: 400,000 VND per adult, which already covers the day fee, so the 120,000 VND is not added on top. When you get a cruise quote, ask whether this fee is included.
An overnight cruise costs a lot more. In return you get hours on the bay after the day boats have gone back. Prices vary with cabin class, day of the week and season. From Hanoi, package cruises usually include a bus, and the drive takes about 2.5-3.5 hours before you board. To reach the island first and choose a boat there, take a bus-and-boat ticket from Hanoi that drops you in Cat Ba town. If you are going on to Ninh Binh (Ninh Bình) or to an airport on the day you return, ask what time the boat docks and when the bus drops you off before you choose a company.
Choosing a boat for your group, and how to book
Families with young children do well on a short trip or a private boat, so you can decide when to eat and rest. Children under 6 do not pay the bay fee, but each boat sets its own child price. Older travellers should choose a larger boat with fewer transfers to small boats, because stepping from one boat to another on the water is where people are most likely to slip. Ask whether crew members help guests across. For a group of ten or more friends, a private boat for six hours can cost close to a shared full-day trip per person, but it usually does not include lunch or the bay fee.
You can book through your hotel, a tour office in Cat Ba town or an online platform. Bring enough cash in Vietnamese dong (VND) in case the seller does not take cards, and ask before paying by card whether there is a surcharge. Check the guide language in the listing. If you need a guide who speaks Korean, Chinese or Thai, ask the seller to confirm it in writing before you pay. Do not assume the crew speaks your language.
Whatever you book, ask these questions first:
- Does the price include the bay fee, the overnight fee, lunch and the transfer to the pier? How are drinks charged?
- Which pier do we board at, and what time do we get back? Does the boat go into Ha Long Bay?
- How do we get into the Bright and Dark caves? Which swim stops are operating on this route? Is kayaking included, and what is the replacement if it is not possible?
- Are there life jackets in children's sizes? How many guests are on the boat, and how many on each small transfer boat?
- What happens if there is a sea ban or bad weather: a new date or a refund?
Safety, weather and sea closures
Since mid-June 2026, the Cat Hai special zone has required every passenger on tour boats in the Cat Ba bays to wear a properly fastened life jacket from boarding until the end of the trip. Crews must show guests how to wear it and where the safety equipment is. A life jacket does not replace supervision: children need an adult right beside them at all times, even when sitting on deck.
At swim stops, get in only when the crew says so, and stay in the area they mark. Non-swimmers should stay on board. Avoid alcohol before and during the trip. If you get seasick easily, ask a pharmacist about medicine before you go.
When to go and what to bring
We would pick October or November: the weather is mild, rain is less frequent, and October still has days warm enough for a swim. April to June is also good, with more sun and warming water, though showers become more frequent from May. June to August has the warmest sea, but it is also the busiest time and falls in Hai Phong's rainy and typhoon season, which runs from May to September. December to February is cold. The islands still look good from the boat, but few people want to swim.
Bring sunscreen, a hat with a strap, a light jacket for the morning on deck, swimwear under your clothes, a waterproof phone pouch and some small notes in cash for drinks or a bamboo boat. For an overnight cruise, bring your passport: the boat needs it to register guests staying overnight.
Frequently asked questions
I am in Ha Long. Can I visit Lan Ha Bay as a day trip?
Not on the new connecting routes, which are for overnight cruises only. For a day trip, take the Tuan Chau - Gia Luan (Gia Luận) car ferry to Cat Ba (three to five sailings each way depending on the season, about 50-80 minutes, as of Apr-Aug 2026) and then a boat from Ben Beo. Sailings are few, so check times at the pier the day before and leave enough time for the ferry back.
Is Lan Ha Bay a good trip for non-swimmers?
Yes. Most of the time you sit on the boat and look at the scenery. Like everyone else, you wear a life jacket for the whole trip. Stay on board during the swim stop, and when moving into a bamboo boat, wait until a crew member holds it steady before you step across.
Where do I pay the bay fee?
On a shared boat it is usually part of the tour price. On a private boat or a cruise, ask who buys the ticket for you and keep it with you. The amount follows the city fee table.
