Halong Bay is the most popular tourist attraction in Vietnam and that means one thing – it can get crowded! Escape the crowds on this one-of-a-kind exclusive boat trip to Lan Ha Bay – the best-kept secret in North Vietnam! Step aboard a charming cruise ship and explore the hidden gems that most tourists will miss… Spend the night in an eco-village in the heart of Cat Ba! This trip offers all of the best bits of Halong Bay, without any of the hassle!
Itinerary – Real Lan Ha Bay Experience – 3 Days, 2 Nights
- START – DAY 1: Hanoi 7:30 am.
- FINISH – DAY 3: Hanoi 4:15 pm or 6:45 pm.
DAY 1 # HANOI – CAI BAO CRUISE PORT – CRUISE SHIP
- 07:30 – 07:40: Pick up from your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter.
- 12.00 – 12.10: Arrival at Cai Beo Cruise Port
- 12.30 – 13.00: Board the boat, enjoy a welcome drink & introductory meeting.
- 13.15 – 14.30: Enjoy lunch while cruising to charming Lan Ha Bay, enjoying the incredible landscape on the way.
- 15.00 – 17.00: Explore the magnificent quiet in a kayak, or just relax on one of the island’s deserted beaches.
- 17.30 – 19.15: Back to the boat to refresh and relax on the sundeck before experiencing a demonstration of authentic Vietnamese cooking. BBQ dinner on board.
DAY 2 # CAT BA ISLAND – VIET HAI VILLAGE
- 06:30: Morning is the best time of the day on Lan Ha Bay. Make the most of your time on board as you head to the upper deck to participate in our daily Tai Chi sessions, or alternatively, relax with an early morning cup of tea, coffee or juice and watch the sunrise over this mesmerizing landscape
- 07:00 Enjoy a light breakfast of pastries, tea and coffee, before embarking on another day of unforgettable experiences.
- 07:30 Arrange your luggage and prepare for check-out before visiting Dark & Bright Cave.
- 07:40 – 09:15 The final stage of your trip meanders through the mysterious caves and remote islets of this breathtaking World Heritage site. We access this wondrous landscape on local rowing boats, ensuring that you get a memorable authentic experience. Following this, you will journey back to the main ship.
- 09:30 It’s time to say goodbye to the cruise, as you board our speed boat and transfer to the beautiful Viet Hai Village.
- 09:40 Arrive at a local island, where a quaint and picturesque village waits to be explored. Our host will be waiting at the harbour and an electric car will be ready to take you to our homestay.
- 10:00 Arrive at our Homestay and check into your room. Feel free to explore the area: The village plays host to traditional houses; in the surrounding areas you will find local farmers and their water buffaloes ploughing the green field. The indigenous forest is a sight to behold. Be sure to bring your camera as you discover this serene island and its inhabitants.
- 12:00 Enjoy lunch at the homestay and take a moment to rest & relax.
- 13:30 – 17:00 Our host will show you the map of Viet Hai, leading you into the forest for a hike and exploration of a mysterious cave.
- 18:00 Enjoy a traditional dinner at the homestay
- 20:00 – 21:30 Playing board games and relaxing. Spend the night at the homestay.
- Optional (Extra fees): Join a kayaking tour, paddle to small coves under starlight and maybe even witness glowing plankton transform this already idyllic landscape into a dreamscape!
DAY 3 # CAT BA – HANOI/NINH BINH
- 08:00 Breakfast is served at the homestay, after which you have free time to visit the village to see the daily life of the local people (making rice wine, farming…).
- 10:45 Farewell brunch served at the homestay before taking a boat to Beo Pier.
- 11.20 Leave Viet Hai Village by speed boat.
- 11.40 Arrive at Beo Pier, Cat Ba Town. Our host will get a taxi for you to go to the drop-off point in Cat Ba Town where you can take the connecting bus to Hanoi or Ninh Binh (not included)
Solo Travellers, Families & Dietary Requirements
- Solo travellers – If you want to do the Real Lan Ha Bay Experience alone, there will be a single supplement (extra cost) of $185 US.
- Families with children – This trip is suitable for families with young children.
- Dietary requirements – Are you vegetarian, vegan or have an allergy? Please let us know when booking if you have any special dietary requirements and we will try our best to accommodate.
Stephanie –
Not quite as advertised, but still good. We booked this tour but the details in our itinerary differed from what was offered— we got picked up off the (amazing) boat earlier than our itinerary and thus missed the brunch on the boat, and got to the island very very early (before 9am) without any input on things to do or see until our hike to the top of a mountain which was also later in the day than our itinerary (2pm). The views were amazing but there were no caves. Additionally, we did not get the night kayaking which was something I was most looking forward to. Overall, it was an amazing experience and the boat was phenomenal, but a few tweaks would have made it perfect
Maureen –
We made the right choice booking this unique tour. The Lan Ha Bay cruise was very well organized, lovely helpful staff, no crowds or pollution, and amazing feasts for the meals, which included all kinds of fresh seafood. First class. We loved the speedboat ride to the village harbour. A beautiful home stay with lots of interest. The guide was terrific. We had a hike to a bat cave and the most magical night kayak to see the phosphorescent plankton. He also arranged transport for us to the hotel we were going to outside Cat Ba Town. Note there is a weekend premium fee and Visa payment charge for this tour — that might be a standard practice. So it was more expensive than advertised but still great value for money. Highly recommend it.
Anna Ford –
This cruise was amazing!! We booked for seven people (one vegan and two vegetarian)—they were super accommodating and we had wonderfully clean rooms and a really great adventure. The viet hai village was beautiful and the stay with the local people was a very cool experience. Lots of fun activities included as well.
Sarah Horton –
This was a great tour with much care and attention given to details. Even though the weather was not great we still had a memorable trip. Food on the boat was amazing. Comfy beds. Professional crew who looked after us very well. The home stay in Viet Hai was beautifully quiet after the chaos and pollution of Hanoi. Truly authentic. Good English speaking guide for the hike up the mountain and wonderful hospitality from our hosts. Recommended.
Marko Pende –
The Lan Ha Bay Tour was truly a great experience. I would recommend it at any time as a super alternative to the Ha long bay short trips. The overnight stay at the village was very cool and the people very nice. The view after the hike was breathtaking