Kayaking in Cat Ba: Lan Ha Bay full day with lunch

Seven hours paddling between 388 islands, swimming in calm water, lunch cooked fresh on the boat

A full-day kayaking tour from Cat Ba explores Lan Ha Bay and Ha Long Bay with hotel pickup and drop-off, a live guide in English or Vietnamese, kayaks with life jackets, snorkeling gear, lunch with fresh seafood, and visits to Viet Hai Village by electric van. The Sea Star Cruise, built in 2023, handles all transport and meals. You paddle, swim and snorkel at your own pace across the 70-square-kilometer bay dotted with limestone islands.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Lan Ha Bay and Viet Hai Village

• Board Sea Star Cruise
• Explore Lan Ha Bay islands
• Kayak and swim in bay
• Enjoy fresh seafood lunch
• Visit Viet Hai Village by tram
• Walk through primeval forest
• Return to cruise

The experience

The day starts with hotel pickup and ends with drop-off, so you don't need a car or to arrange transport to the pier. Once aboard the Sea Star Cruise, you paddle out into Lan Ha Bay, an arc-shaped expanse of calm water ringed by 388 large and small limestone islands covered in green forest. The bay sits inside Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, and the water stays protected enough for kayaking even if you've never paddled before. You choose when to paddle, when to swim, and when to rest on deck.

Snorkeling happens at a coral site where the water is clear enough to see the reef below. Mask, snorkel and fins are provided, along with a dry bag to keep your things safe. Later, an electric van takes you inland to Viet Hai Village, a settlement that sits in the middle of the sea, surrounded by old forest and limestone cliffs that rise like green pyramids. The path in crosses three steep mountain slopes and passes under forest canopy and cool stone arches: a walk that shows you the landscape most boat tours only pass by. Lunch is cooked by experienced chefs on the boat using fresh seafood from Cat Ba island, and sunset tea and fruit are served as the day winds down.

The tour runs seven hours total. A professional guide leads the activities and explains the landscape and heritage of the bay. Life jackets, kayaks, towels and all snorkeling equipment are included. You bring only sunscreen and a willingness to get wet.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off by van.
• kayaks with life jackets and paddles.
• snorkeling mask, fins, snorkel and dry bag.
• lunch cooked fresh on the boat with seafood.
• sunset tea and fresh fruit.
• electric van transport to Viet Hai Village.
• towel.
• professional guide in English or Vietnamese.
• access to Lan Ha Bay and Ha Long Bay.

Before you book

Days and timesThursday and SaturdayDeparts at 08:00Last departure this season: 31 Oct

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Youth (7 to 12 years) · Child (3 to 6 years) · Infant (under 3)

Live guideEnglish and Vietnamese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go 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.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Tran Nguyen Travel

Is this one for you?Book the morning departure if you want to start paddling early and have the full afternoon for snorkeling and the village walk. The afternoon option suits travelers who prefer a later start or want to explore Cat Ba town before heading out to the bay.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Vietnamese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (7 to 12 years); Child (3 to 6 years); Infant (under 3).

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 is Lan Ha Bay like for someone who has never kayaked before?

Lan Ha Bay is an arc-shaped, calm-water bay protected by 388 islands, so the conditions stay gentle and suitable for all physical fitness levels. Life jackets and professional guides are included, and you paddle at your own pace. There is no racing or technical skill required.

Does the tour include time to snorkel and see coral?

Yes. The itinerary includes snorkeling at a coral site within the bay. Mask, snorkel, fins and a dry bag are provided. You decide how long to stay in the water.

How do I get to the boat, and what happens at the end of the day?

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cat Ba are included. A van collects you from your hotel in the morning and returns you at the end of the seven-hour tour, so you don't need to arrange your own transport to the pier.

What is Viet Hai Village, and how do you get there?

Viet Hai Village is a settlement surrounded by old forest and limestone cliffs in the middle of the sea, reached by walking through three steep mountain slopes and cool stone arches. An electric van takes you from the boat to the trailhead. The walk itself is part of the experience and shows the landscape up close.

Is lunch included, and what kind of food is served?

Lunch is included and cooked fresh on the boat by experienced chefs using seafood from Cat Ba island. Sunset tea and fresh fruit are also served. Drinks are available for purchase on the boat if you want them beyond what is provided.