Lan Ha Bay & Cat Ba Island: 3-day cruise with kayaking

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.87 (94 reviews) 89% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/20

Duration3d

GroupUp to 45

LanguagesEN · VI

PickupAt your hotel

Kayak caves cycle Cat Ba taste local food on the bay

You’ll float through HaLong & Lan Ha Bay’s limestone towers by cruise ship, kayak hidden caves with a local guide, try your hand at Vietnamese cooking during sunset, and bike through Cat Ba Island’s peaceful villages. Expect moments of laughter (and maybe wobbly Tai Chi), fresh seafood lunches onboard, and quiet mornings on deck — all included with pickup and comfortable cabins.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay Cruise

Arrive at Tuan Chau harbor
Check in and meet crew
Enjoy welcome drink and safety briefing
Have Vietnamese seafood and vegetarian lunch
Cruise and admire rock formations
Explore Dark and Light Cave
Kayak in Lan Ha Bay
Return to cruise for Happy Hour and cooking class
Have dinner on board
Join squid fishing or relax on sundeck

Day 2 — Cat Ba Island Exploration

Morning Tai Chi on sundeck
Enjoy breakfast
Transfer to Tender boat to Viet Hai Village
Explore Viet Hai Village by bicycle or electric car
Visit local school and meet villagers
Return to cruise for lunch
Relax and sunbathe on board
Kayak or swim at Ba Trai Dao beaches
Relax on sundeck after activities
Enjoy dinner on board

Day 3 — Lan Ha Bay and Return to Harbor

Morning Tai Chi on sundeck
Have breakfast with bay view
Kayak or bamboo boat exploration
Relax and pack luggage
Check out from cabin
Enjoy cruise and room service
Have lunch on board
Take Tender boat back to Tuan Chau port

The Experience

I didn’t expect to feel so small out there — not in a bad way. Just floating between those limestone giants in Lan Ha Bay, I caught myself staring up at the mist and thinking how quiet it was except for the soft slap of water against the boat. Our guide, Minh, handed me a cold hand towel when we first boarded (I never realized how good that would feel after a dusty drive from Hanoi). He grinned and told us about the “Dark and Bright” caves — apparently even locals argue which is which.

Lunch was this spread of seafood and something with eggplant that I still think about. The air smelled faintly salty, but also like fried garlic drifting up from the kitchen below deck. Later, kayaking near the caves got my arms burning — but paddling through that narrow gap into sudden silence was worth it. Minh shouted encouragement from his own kayak; I probably splashed more than necessary. Back on board, there was this happy hour thing (buy one get one free) and a cooking class where we tried rolling fresh spring rolls. Mine looked like lumpy socks but tasted fine.

The next morning started with Tai Chi on the sundeck — I’m not exactly graceful at sunrise, but everyone just laughed together when someone toppled sideways (okay, it was me). Cycling through Viet Hai village on Cat Ba Island felt like stepping into another rhythm: kids waving from behind water buffaloes, old women nodding as we passed rice fields. It’s weird how peaceful it all felt after city noise. We stopped at a tiny school; our guide chatted with a teacher who let us peek inside. I forgot sunscreen and ended up pink-nosed by lunch.

On the last day we kayaked again or just floated around — honestly, I lost track of time watching light shift across the rocks. Packing up felt abrupt; no one really wanted to leave yet. If you’re thinking about this 3 day cruise from HaLong Bay to Cat Ba Island and back, just know you’ll remember little things: fish sauce in your hair after squid fishing, or how quiet it gets when you drift away from everyone else for a minute.

What’s included

Your journey includes pickup at Tuan Chau harbor, an English-speaking guide throughout the trip, two nights in a private balcony cabin with bathtub aboard a 5-star ship, all entrance fees covered, daily Vietnamese meals (with vegetarian choices), kayaking or bamboo boat excursions in Lan Ha Bay, cycling or electric car tour on Cat Ba Island’s Viet Hai village, Tai Chi sessions at sunrise on deck, sunset cooking class with happy hour drinks each evening, squid fishing equipment if you want to try after dinner — plus insurance while onboard and even cold towels when you arrive.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Asia Fun Adventures