Lan Ha Bay Snorkeling Tour: Kayak and Swim from Hanoi

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Duration15h–16h

GroupUp to 48

LanguagesEN · VI

PickupAt your hotel

A 7,000-year-old fishing village still floats on the water where you kayak.

This full-day snorkeling cruise from Hanoi explores Lan Ha Bay with kayaking, swimming and snorkeling in the less touristy areas, departing from Cat Ba Town or Hai Phong with hotel pickup included. The boat carries under 45 people, and the itinerary can shift to Viet Hai Village or Cat Ba National Park depending on sea conditions and tides. Lunch features fresh Cat Ba seafood and Vietnamese dishes; an English or Vietnamese-speaking guide leads the day on the water.

15h–16h

Step-by-step itinerary

Lan Ha Bay full-day cruise and activities

Pick-up at Hanoi Old Quarter hotel
Pick-up at Serenity Cruises Office Hanoi
Pick-up at Hai Phong location
Pick-up from Cat Ba Express office and nearby hotels
Check-in Serenity Boutique Cruise and welcome drinks
Cruise past Cai Beo ancient fishing village
Cruise through Lan Ha Bay emerald waters and islands
Kayaking at Dark Cave and Bright Cave area
Return to cruise and relax
Lunch with fresh seafood and Vietnamese dishes
Cruise to Ba Trai Dao Beach area
Cruise back to harbour with scenic views
Sunset party on board
Arrive at Beo Wharf and end trip
Return to Hai Phong
Return to Hanoi

The Experience

The boat leaves Beo Wharf at 9:00 AM after pickup from your hotel in Hanoi, Cat Ba Town or Hai Phong. The first stop is Cai Beo, an ancient fishing village where floating houses line the mountainside—your guide explains how the fishers live and what the water means to them. From there the cruise moves into the core of Lan Ha Bay, where limestone islands rise from emerald water in shapes that shift as you pass them.

At 10:30 AM the boat anchors at Dark Cave and Bright Cave (Sang–Toi Cave), on the border between Halong and Lan Ha Bay. You spend an hour and a half kayaking through the limestone structures and natural habitat there. After kayaking, you return to the cruise, rest, and eat lunch at 12:30 PM—fresh seafood and Vietnamese dishes cooked on board. The crew can prepare vegetarian meals if you request them ahead of time.

The afternoon takes you to Ba Trai Dao Beach, then back toward the harbor on a different route so you see more of the bay's landscape. At 4:00 PM there's a sunset party on deck before arrival at Beo Wharf at 5:00 PM. The return journey to Hanoi takes until 8:20 PM; if you're picked up from Hai Phong or Ninh Binh, arrival times shift accordingly. The itinerary can change to Viet Hai Village or Cat Ba National Park instead of the caves if sea currents, weather or tides make that necessary.

What’s included

Hotel pickup from Hanoi, Cat Ba Town or Hai Phong.
round-trip transfer to and from the boat.
kayak and snorkeling equipment.
entrance and sightseeing tickets.
lunch with fresh Cat Ba seafood and Vietnamese dishes (vegetarian meals available on request).
an experienced guide who speaks English or Vietnamese.
time kayaking through limestone caves and swimming at Ba Trai Dao Beach.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Cat Ba Express

Is this one for you?Choose this cruise if you want to snorkel and kayak without fighting the crowds at Ha Long Bay—Lan Ha's less touristy route and small group size mean you spend the day on the water with under 45 people instead of the packed boats elsewhere. The fixed itinerary and included pickup from your hotel means the day holds together without you arranging transport or timing yourself.