Tours out of Ho Chi Minh City and across Vietnam
Cruises and boat journeys
Two nights in the southern bay, with a day ashore
Two nights on a small boat in Lan Ha, the part of the bay with beaches, lagoons and Cat Ba island, and a middle day that is half on land and half on the water.
Overview
The bay with beaches
Lan Ha lies south of Ha Long and east of Cat Ba island, and it is the same limestone seascape with two differences that matter. There are far fewer boats, because the big fleets sail from Ha Long city. And among the islands are small sand beaches and enclosed lagoons with clear water, which Ha Long largely lacks. If you want to be in the water rather than looking at it, this is the bay.
Two nights gives you a middle day with some land in it. You cycle through a village on Cat Ba, the largest island in the bay, then return to the boat for an afternoon of kayaking. For families, that break from the deck makes the trip.
We book through our partner operator in Hanoi, on a boat we have chosen and visited.
- Length
- 3 days, 2 nights aboard
- Start and finish
- Hanoi
- Road
- About 3 hours each way
- Day ashore
- Cat Ba island on day 2
- Families
- The best of our bay cruises for children
- Best months
- October to December, March to May
Nights
Where you sleep
Day by day
Day by day
Day 1
Hanoi to the southern bay
Pick-up in Hanoi at about 08:00. The road to the pier is around three hours, about half an hour more than for Ha Long, which is the price of the quiet. Aboard by midday for lunch as the boat heads into Lan Ha. In the afternoon you kayak through a rock arch into a lagoon, then swim from a small beach in the warm months. Sunset on deck and dinner at anchor.
Day 2
Cat Ba island, and the lagoons in the afternoon
A lagoon with nobody else in it
After breakfast the tender puts you ashore on Cat Ba. With a guide you cycle about ten kilometres on a quiet road through a valley village of farms and fruit gardens, or walk if you prefer. The boat collects you for lunch, and the afternoon is on the water again: kayaks, a different lagoon, and a floating fish farm where the families raise grouper and clams. A cooking class before dinner.
Day 3
A slow morning, and back to Hanoi
Tai chi or coffee on deck at dawn, breakfast as the boat returns through the islands, and brunch before you land at around 10:30. Back in Hanoi by about 14:30.
Price
Price
| Travellers | Tier 1 — simple | Tier 2 — comfortable | Tier 3 — the good ones |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 travelling | from 525 | from 655 | from 1000 |
| 4 travelling | from 430 | from 540 | from 820 |
| 6 travelling | from 390 | from 485 | from 740 |
The boat decides the tier. Family cabins, interconnecting cabins and balconies are all available on some boats and not others, so tell us who is travelling before we choose. Weekends and the New Year period carry supplements, and single travellers pay more for a cabin alone.
Included
What is included
What the price includes
- Two nights in a private cabin with bathroom, at your chosen tier
- All meals on board from lunch on day 1 to brunch on day 3
- Private car and driver between Hanoi and the pier
- Kayaks, bicycles on Cat Ba and the guided island visit
- Bay and national park fees, and the boat’s English-speaking guide
What it does not include
- Drinks on board
- Tips for the crew
- Visas and travel insurance
Practical
Season, swimming and seasickness
The same rules as the rest of the bay apply. October to December and March to May bring the clearest days. January and February are cold and misty. July to September is typhoon season, and the authorities close the whole area to overnight boats when a storm is forecast; we offer a new date or an alternative on land, and refund the unused part if neither suits you. Swimming is comfortable roughly from April to October.
The transfer to Lan Ha includes a slightly longer stretch of open water than Ha Long. On a windy day it can be choppy for twenty minutes; the anchorages themselves are sheltered.
Not for everyone
Who this does not suit
If what you want is the Ha Long of the postcards, with its named rocks and sails, book Ha Long; Lan Ha looks similar but is not that. Anyone prone to seasickness should weigh the open-water crossing. And travellers who want a hotel bed on the middle night can book a night on Cat Ba instead of on the boat — cheaper, and a walk in the national park added.
Common questions
Questions travellers ask most
Is Lan Ha better than Ha Long?
Quieter, with beaches and better kayaking. Ha Long has the famous views and more choice of boats. For a two-night trip with children, we usually recommend Lan Ha.
Can children kayak?
Yes, in a double kayak with an adult, usually from about six. Life jackets are provided in children’s sizes on most boats; tell us ages when you book.
Do we need to cycle on Cat Ba?
No. You can walk part of the way or ride in a local electric car; the route is flat and short.
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Example journey
Ha Long Bay, two nights
Two nights in Ha Long, with the quiet middle day.
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Themes
Travelling with children
Shorter drives, earlier finishes and hotels chosen for the afternoon.
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Tours
Tours
Day trips, regional routes and full-length itineraries.
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Start planning
Tell us about the trip you have in mind
Dates, party size and the places you care about are enough to start. You get a draft route and an indicative price, not a brochure.
Or talk to us:+84 766 045 399