Vietnam » Northern Vietnam » Hanoi | 🏛 Halong Bay Cruise From Hanoi · Halong Bay Overnight Cruise From Hanoi · Lan Ha Bay Tours

Lan Ha Bay Cruise: Kayaking, Viet Hai Village & Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.86 (336 reviews) 91% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pickLikely to sell out

1/43

Duration2d

GroupUp to 18

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Lan Ha Bay’s quiet corners, kayaking & village life with food and laughter

You’ll drift through Lan Ha Bay’s peaceful waters with a small group, kayak hidden coves, join a Vietnamese cooking class on deck, and cycle into Viet Hai village for real glimpses of daily life. With all meals included and hotel pickup from Hanoi, it’s an easy way to sink into local rhythms—just don’t blame me if you keep thinking about that sunrise view later.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Hanoi to Lan Ha Bay cruise

Bus pickup from Hanoi Old Quarter
Transfer to Venezia cruise by tender
Check in and welcome drink onboard
Lunch while cruising limestone karsts
Cruise to Ba Trai Dao beach area
Kayaking or swimming in Lan Ha Bay
Sunset watching on sundeck
Join traditional cooking class
Happy hour with fresh fruits
Dinner onboard with local food
Night squid fishing and karaoke

Day 2 — Viet Hai Village and return

Sunrise viewing and light breakfast
Visit Viet Hai Village by tender
Bicycle or electric car tour in village
Meet locals and visit traditional house
Return to cruise and check out
Lunch while cruising back
Disembark at quay side
Transfer back to Hanoi

The Experience

“You really think we’ll see that many islands?” That’s what I asked our guide as we left Cat Ba port and the Venezia Cruises boat slid into Lan Ha Bay. The water was so still you could see every cloud doubled up. We’d barely finished the welcome drink when someone pointed out a fisherman in a tiny boat waving — his hat looked too big for his head. Lunch was served before I even realized I was hungry; the lemongrass scent hit first, then the clatter of chopsticks. It felt like the whole bay belonged to us — not another cruise in sight, just limestone cliffs and those weirdly perfect little beaches.

I didn’t expect kayaking to be so… quiet. Just the sound of paddles tapping water and my friend laughing because she can’t steer straight (sorry Linh). The sun was warm but not punishing, and when we jumped in for a swim at Ba Trai Dao beach, the salt stung my lips — in a good way. Back on board, our chef set up for a cooking class on deck. He showed us how to roll spring rolls; mine looked sad but he just grinned and said “practice.” Later, happy hour meant fresh fruit and some kind of local wine that went straight to my head (in a fun way). Karaoke after dinner got loud — apparently “My Heart Will Go On” is universal.

The next morning I woke up early by accident — sunrise through the cabin window is hard to ignore. Breakfast was light but enough, coffee strong enough to wake me up properly. We took a tender out to Viet Hai village on Cat Ba Island; biking through that green tunnel of rainforest felt like being inside some old movie. Met an older woman weaving baskets who let me try (I failed miserably). Kids waved from the schoolyard, shouting “hello!” in chorus. Someone offered us fish foot massage — it tickled more than I want to admit. The ride back felt quieter somehow; maybe everyone was just thinking about what they’d seen.

What’s included

Your trip includes hotel pickup from Hanoi Old Quarter, all entrance fees along the route through Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba Island, kayaking or swimming time at quiet beaches, guided cycling (or electric car) tour into Viet Hai village with local encounters and even a quirky fish foot massage stop—plus all meals on board featuring Vietnamese flavors before returning you safely back in Hanoi by late afternoon.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Venezia Cruises