Kayaking Lan Ha Bay from Hanoi: Catamaran, Cave & Swimming

Paddle into a limestone cave, then float in a bay-view Jacuzzi as the sun sets.

A 12-hour catamaran cruise from Hanoi to Lan Ha Bay includes hotel pickup, lunch, kayaking through Bright & Dark Cave, swimming with a water slide and trampoline, an onboard Jacuzzi, a Vietnamese cooking class, and an English-speaking guide. The catamaran departs from Tuan Chau Marina after a morning pickup from Hanoi Old Quarter hotels, with a short rest stop on the drive north.

Step-by-step itinerary

Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay Cruise

• Pick up from Hanoi Old Quarter hotels
• Short break for snacks and restroom
• Arrive at Tuan Chau Marina and board catamaran
• Enjoy welcome drink and lunch while cruising
• Explore Bright & Dark Cave by kayak or bamboo boat
• Swim, use water slide, trampoline, or relax onboard
• Join Vietnamese cooking class for summer rolls
• Relax with tea, fruits, and cakes at sunset
• Disembark and transfer back to Hanoi
• Drop off at Hanoi Old Quarter hotels

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Hanoi Old Quarter hotel between 7:30 and 8:00 am, followed by a drive north with a short break for coffee or restroom use before you reach Tuan Chau Marina around 11:15. Once aboard The Halong Catamaran, you get a welcome drink and settle in for lunch while the boat moves through the bay. The crew speaks English and handles the logistics, so the only thing you manage is what you want to do next.

At 2 pm you kayak or take a traditional bamboo boat through Bright & Dark Cave, where local villagers row if you choose that route. The cave sits inside the limestone landscape and the paddle or ride takes 45 minutes. After that, the afternoon opens up: swim in the bay, slide down the water slide, bounce on the floating trampoline, or soak in the outdoor Jacuzzi while the scenery stays in view. A Vietnamese cooking class at 4 pm teaches you to roll fresh summer rolls by hand, then you settle with tea, fruit and cakes as the boat heads back and the sun drops over the water.

The return trip to Hanoi takes the same highway route with another short stop, and you're back at your hotel between 8 and 8:30 pm. Towels are provided onboard, the changing room is available, and the crew can arrange vegetarian, vegan or allergy-friendly meals if you request them ahead of time. Bring sunscreen, a hat, swimwear and a waterproof bag for your phone and camera.

What’s included

• Limousine transfer from Hanoi Old Quarter (or Halong, depending on your option).
• entrance and sightseeing fees.
• English-speaking guide throughout the day.
• lunch and complimentary water onboard.
• welcome drink.
• Vietnamese cooking class.
• towels and changing room access.
• vegetarian, vegan and allergy-friendly meal options available on request.

Options for this experience

2 options

Collection from HalongGuide in English · 11:30Gathering point: If you are already on Tuan Chau Island, Halong Bay, please head to Dock 25 at Tuan Chau Harbor between 11:20 and 11:30 noon. Departure point: Tuan Chau Island, Quang Ninh, Vietnam.

Collection from HanoiGuide in English · 07:30Please note: hotel collection is available from the Hanoi Old Quarter. If your accommodation lies beyond the Old Quarter, kindly meet us at 160 Tran Quang Khai. Includes pickup.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:30 and 11:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (10 to 90 years) · Youth (7 to 9 years) · Child (4 to 6 years) · Infant (under 4): free

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 13.53

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Viland Travel

Is this one for you?Pick the Hanoi pickup if you're based in the Old Quarter. Pick the Halong pickup if you're already there or want less driving before you board.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (7 to 9 years); Child (4 to 6 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is Bright & Dark Cave and how do I get inside it?

Bright & Dark Cave is a limestone cave in Lan Ha Bay that you enter by kayak or bamboo boat. The kayak option takes 45 minutes and you paddle yourself through the water passage. The bamboo boat option puts you in a traditional wooden boat rowed by a local villager, covering the same route without paddling.

Can I choose between kayaking and the bamboo boat, or is one option set for the whole group?

You choose at the time of the activity. Both options are available during the same 45-minute window, so you decide whether to paddle or ride based on what you want to do that day.

Is the cooking class hands-on, and what do I make?

The Vietnamese cooking class is hands-on and you learn to roll fresh summer rolls by hand. It runs from 4 to 4:30 pm onboard the catamaran, and the rolls you make are part of what you eat during the tea and fruit service afterward.

What's included in the price and what costs extra?

The price includes hotel pickup from Hanoi, the catamaran cruise, lunch, a welcome drink, entrance fees, the English-speaking guide, and complimentary water. Beverages beyond water and the welcome drink cost extra, as do any snacks or drinks you order at the rest stops on the drive.

How long is the drive from Hanoi to the marina, and do I need to bring anything for the water?

The drive from Hanoi Old Quarter to Tuan Chau Marina takes roughly three hours with a short break included. Bring swimwear, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, a camera or phone in a waterproof bag, and a change of clothes. Towels and a changing room are available onboard.

Are there two different pickup locations, and does it matter which one I choose?

Yes, you can choose pickup from Hanoi Old Quarter hotels or from Halong at checkout. The Hanoi pickup includes the full drive and rest stop. The Halong pickup starts closer to the marina and shortens the travel time before boarding.