Halong & Lan Ha Bays: 3-Day Cruise, Kayak & Floating Villages

Kayaking emerald bays, local villages and slow mornings on the water

You’ll drift through Halong & Lan Ha Bays on calm water, kayak beneath towering cliffs, try your hand at local dishes in Viet Hai village, and feel welcomed by both crew and villagers alike. Expect slow mornings with coffee on deck, quiet moments in caves or floating villages, and plenty of chances to pause for yourself along the way.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Kayak and relax in Lan Ha Bay

• Kayak in Ho Ba Ham area
• Relax on private beach
• Enjoy Happy Hour drinks and canapés
• Join sleep well meditation under stars
• Try squid fishing adventure
• Retreat to cabin for rest

Day 2: Explore Viet Hai village and unwind

• Bike or ride electric cart in Viet Hai village
• Visit Bhaya Community Farm and Save the Langurs
• Relax at Bhaya Café with mojitea
• Try making Bánh Cuốn dish
• Enjoy wellness treatment or swim in heated pool
• Experience Happy Hour on lounge deck
• Try squid fishing or join sleep well meditation
• Retreat to cabin for rest

Day 3: Discover Tien Ong Cave and floating village

• Walk meditation in Tien Ong Cave
• Explore Cua Van Floating Culture Center
• Kayak or row boat around floating village

The experience

The first thing I remember is the smile from our guide, Minh, when we stepped onto the Bhaya Soul boat. He handed me a cup of ginger tea (stronger than I expected) and pointed out the limestone peaks of Halong Bay: “That one looks like a sleeping dragon,” he said. The air was thick with salt and something sweet, maybe from the fruit baskets. We set off toward Lan Ha Bay, and honestly, I didn’t expect how quiet it would get after we left the main harbor behind. Even my phone signal faded out: probably for the best.

Kayaking in Ho Ba Ham was my favorite part. The water there is this unreal green, almost glassy if you catch it before lunch when the sun’s still soft. My paddle kept bumping into little floating leaves (lotus? I never asked), and for a while all I could hear was my own breathing and Minh’s laughter echoing off the cliffs. Later, we biked through Viet Hai village on Cat Ba Island: kids waved at us from doorways, and an older woman tried to teach me to say “Bánh Cuốn” properly. Li laughed when I tried it in Mandarin: probably butchered it but she seemed happy anyway.

I’m not usually big on spa stuff but that 40-minute massage onboard felt like someone pressed pause on time. At night there was squid fishing under a sky so clear you could see Orion’s belt. I caught nothing but Minh showed me how he used to do it as a kid. The next morning started with meditation inside Tien Ong Cave: cool stone underfoot, echoes bouncing around as we sat quietly. It smelled faintly earthy, like rain-soaked rock.

Cua Van Floating Village was quieter than I’d pictured. Just gentle splashes from oars and voices drifting between houses on stilts. We took a traditional rowing boat past painted doors and laundry flapping in the breeze. One fisherman nodded at us without stopping his work. There’s something about watching daily life float by that sticks with you longer than any postcard view.

What’s included

Your journey covers all meals onboard (with non-alcoholic drinks from your mini bar), daily shore excursions including kayaking in Lan Ha Bay and biking through Viet Hai village, a guided meditation session inside Tien Ong Cave, entrance fees for each site visited plus a complimentary 40-minute wellness treatment per guest. Just settle into your cabin each night as everything else is taken care of by the crew.

Options for this experience

4 options

Signature Cabin without transferUp to 10 people · Guide in English · Available from 1 Nov · 11:30Signature Cabin, pickup is included

Signature Cabin with bus transferUp to 10 people · Guide in English · Available from 1 Nov · 08:30Signature Cabin: round-trip Limo bus to and from central Hanoi, pickup is included

Symphony Suite without transferUp to 6 people · Guide in English · 11:30Symphony Suite, includes pickup

Symphony Suite with bus transferUp to 6 people · Guide in English · 08:30Symphony Suite: round-trip Limo bus to and from central Hanoi at around 8:30–9:00 AM, pickup is included

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30 and 11:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Youth (6 to 11 years) · Child (2 to 5 years): free · Infant (under 2): free

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “Please be present at our cruise center before 11.30AM for check-in.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 6 days before the start.Between 2 and 6 days before the start, 50% refund.After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Bhaya Cruises Company Limited

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (6 to 11 years); Child (2 to 5 years): free; Infant (under 2): 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 6 days before the start.

Is pickup included for this Halong Bay cruise?

No hotel pickup is included. Guests board directly at the port after advance registration.

What activities are offered during the 3-day Halong & Lan Ha Bays cruise?

The cruise includes kayaking in Lan Ha Bay, biking or electric cart rides in Viet Hai village, meditation sessions, squid fishing at night, visits to Tien Ong Cave and Cua Van Floating Village.

Are meals included on this Halong Bay cruise?

Yes, all meals are included along with non-alcoholic drinks from the mini bar plus signature coffee and tea selections.

Is WiFi available onboard?

WiFi is available free of charge on the terrace deck but may be interrupted due to signal limitations at sea.

Are wellness treatments included?

Each passenger receives a complimentary 40-minute wellness session during the cruise.

Do I need to register before boarding?

Yes. Advance registration with passport details is required for all passengers due to port authority regulations.

What happens if there is bad weather?

The itinerary may change or some activities like swimming or kayaking might be canceled depending on weather conditions.