Kayaking in Lan Ha Bay from Hanoi: All-inclusive day cruise
Lan Ha Bay is less crowded than Halong, with the same limestone cliffs and hidden lagoons.
Kayaking in Lan Ha Bay is a full-day cruise from Hanoi that combines paddling, swimming and village visits in a quieter alternative to Halong Bay. You're picked up at your hotel, ferried to Cat Ba Island, then cruised through Cai Beo floating village and into Lan Ha Bay itself, where you kayak through grottos and swim in the lagoon. The day ends with a sunset gathering on deck before the return drive to Hanoi.
Step-by-step itinerary
Lan Ha Bay Day Tour from Hanoi
- Hotel pickup in Hanoi Old Quarter
- Travel via 5B Expressway to Hai Phong
- Rest stop at Gia Loc
- Cross Tan Vu: Lach Huyen sea bridge
- Ferry ride to Cat Ba Island
- Scenic drive along Cat Ba National Park
- Board cruise at Cai Beo Floating Village
- Welcome aboard and lunch buffet
- Visit Viet Hai Village by electric car or bicycle
- Kayaking and swimming in Lan Ha Bay lagoon
- Sunset party on cruise sundeck
- Return cruise to Beo Pier
- Bus return to Hanoi Old Quarter
What’s included
- Day cruise through Lan Ha Bay.
- round-trip transfer from your Hanoi hotel by air-conditioned bus.
- welcome drink on board.
- Vietnamese buffet lunch with vegetarian options.
- kayak, swimming and sliding into the bay.
- entrance fees and permits.
- life jackets.
- one bottle of water.
- English-speaking local guide.
Times
- Every day 07:10
Before you book
Operated by Hanoi Explore Travel
Prices and times updated 3 days ago
Traveler reviews
The experience
The day starts with hotel pickup in the Old Quarter at 7am, then a drive across the Tan Vu–Lach Huyen sea bridge toward Hai Phong. You board a ferry to Cat Ba Island, where a scenic route traces the edge of Cat Ba National Park before you step onto the cruise. The boat glides through Cai Beo, one of Vietnam's oldest floating villages, where wooden homes and fishing boats sit anchored among limestone cliffs that have framed this settlement for over 7,000 years.
Lunch is a Vietnamese buffet served on board as the cruise moves deeper into Lan Ha Bay: seafood and vegetarian options both available. After eating, you transfer by electric car or bicycle to Viet Hai Village, tucked inside the national park, where you can meet locals or try a natural fish-foot massage in traditional wooden homes. Then comes the core of the day: a quiet lagoon where you kayak through hidden grottos, swim in the emerald water, or slide off the boat deck into the sea. Life jackets are provided. The return journey includes tropical fruit, biscuits and tea on the sundeck as the boat heads back, timed for a sunset view before the drive back to Hanoi, arriving around 8:30pm.
An English-speaking local guide travels with the group. The itinerary is set, but kayaking itself is optional. You can swim or stay on deck instead. Bring sunscreen, a swimsuit, a hat and comfortable shoes. Weather can cancel the tour, though full refunds are issued if that happens.
Is this one for you?Book this if you're based in central Hanoi without your own transport: round-trip bus pickup and drop-off are included, so you only need to show up at your hotel.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 7 years); Infant (under 5).
What is Cai Beo floating village like?
Cai Beo is one of Vietnam's oldest floating villages, with a history stretching back over 7,000 years. You see it from the cruise as it passes through: wooden homes and fishing boats anchored among towering limestone cliffs, with daily life unfolding on the water.
Do I have to kayak, or can I just swim?
Kayaking is optional. You can paddle through the hidden grottos, swim in the lagoon, slide off the boat deck into the sea, or stay on deck. The choice is yours once you reach the quiet lagoon in Lan Ha Bay.
How does the pickup work from my Hanoi hotel?
The tour picks you up at your hotel in the Old Quarter between 7am and 7:30am. If your hotel is outside the pickup zone, a designated meeting point is arranged. The return bus drops you back in the Old Quarter around 8:30pm.
What's included in the lunch?
Lunch is a freshly prepared Vietnamese buffet served on the cruise, with local seafood and vegetarian options available. A welcome drink is also included. Other drinks are not.
Is this tour suitable if I'm not very fit?
The tour is suitable for all fitness levels. Kayaking is optional, so you can choose to swim or rest on deck instead, and the pace on the boat and in the village is relaxed.
What happens if the weather is bad?
The tour may be canceled due to weather. If that happens, you receive a full refund.
Kayaking in Lan Ha Bay from Hanoi: All-inclusive day cruise
12h · EN · at your hotel
from US$ 89 per person
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