Halong Bay & Lan Ha: Catamaran Day Cruise with Kayak & Lunch

Summary

Halong Bay day trip with kayaking, local food and sunset tea

You’ll cruise Halong & Lan Ha Bay by catamaran with hotel pickup from Hanoi included. Enjoy lunch onboard, kayak through quiet lagoons or relax on bamboo boats, then learn to make Vietnamese summer rolls before sunset tea on deck. The mix of local food, gentle water sounds, and real stories from your guide will stay with you.

What’s the experience like?

Someone hands me a glass — sweet-sour, almost floral — before I’ve even found my sea legs. The Halong Catamaran is bigger than I pictured, all clean lines and bright decks. Our guide, Minh, grins as he points out the hammock nets stretched over the water between the hulls. “You can try later,” he says. I nod but honestly, I’m still thinking about that first lungful of salty air after the long drive from Hanoi Old Quarter. Traffic was chaos but our driver just shrugged and put on old pop songs; it’s funny how quickly you get used to the rhythm here.

Lunch comes out in waves — grilled prawns, something green and sharp with fish sauce, rice that sticks to your fingers if you’re not careful. Minh tells us about Lan Ha Bay’s legends while we eat. I catch myself staring at the cliffs sliding past outside the window, all misty and layered like a painting someone forgot to finish. After lunch we split up for kayaking or the bamboo boat ride; I pick kayaking because I want to feel small under those rocks. The lagoon is quieter than I expected — just paddle splashes and a heron somewhere out of sight. At one point Minh laughs when I nearly drift into another couple’s boat (I blame the current).

Later there’s swimming at Frog Pond if you want it (the trampoline looks fun but honestly I just float for a bit). The water feels cool against my skin after so much sun. Back on board, everyone gathers for a quick cooking lesson — summer rolls this time — and my first attempt is lumpy but edible. Minh shows me how to roll tighter; his hands are quick and sure from years of practice. There’s tea and little cakes as we drift back toward Tuan Chau marina under a sky turning orange-purple at the edges.

The drive back to Hanoi is quieter; people sleep or scroll through photos. My hair smells faintly of salt even after two showers — it lingers longer than you’d think. Sometimes when things get noisy at home now, I remember that silent lagoon in Lan Ha Bay and wish I could paddle back there for an hour or two.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Halong Bay Full Day Cruise Experience

• Hotel pick up in Hanoi Old Quarter
• Short lavatory break en route
• Board the cruise at Tuan Chau marina
• Enjoy lunch on board with drinks
• Kayak or bamboo boat to Bright-Dark Cave
• Relax and swim at Frog Pond, Lan Ha Bay
• Participate in Vietnamese cooking demonstration
• Sunset ceremony with tea and cakes
• Disembark and return to Hanoi by limousine
• Hotel drop off in Old Quarter

Top questions

How long does the Halong Catamaran day trip take?

The tour lasts about 12-13 hours including transfers from Hanoi Old Quarter hotels.

Is hotel pickup included for this Halong Bay day cruise?

Yes, pickup from hotels in Hanoi Old Quarter is included in your booking.

What activities are offered during the cruise?

You can kayak or take a bamboo boat into lagoons, swim in Lan Ha Bay, join a cooking class, and enjoy sunset tea.

Is lunch provided on board?

Yes, lunch is served onboard by an award-winning chef; drinks besides water cost extra.

Are entrance fees included in the price?

All entrance and sightseeing fees are included in your day trip booking.

Can children join this Halong Bay catamaran tour?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels; specialized infant seats are available if needed.

What should I bring for kayaking in Lan Ha Bay?

A change of clothes is helpful if you plan to kayak or swim; towels are provided on board.

Is there an English-speaking guide on this cruise?

An English-speaking guide leads the group throughout the entire day trip.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup from Hanoi Old Quarter by limousine transfer both ways, all entry fees for Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay sights, a welcome drink when you board, full lunch prepared by an award-winning chef (with complimentary drinking water), options for kayaking or bamboo boating into quiet lagoons, time to swim or relax at Frog Pond in Lan Ha Bay, a Vietnamese summer roll cooking demonstration with tasting, plus sunset tea with cakes and fruit before heading back in comfort to your hotel.