Lan Ha Bay day trip with kayaking and cooking class

You kayak through hidden caves, cook Vietnamese spring rolls on deck, and watch the sunset over 1,600 limestone islands.

A full-day cruise from Ninh Binh to Lan Ha Bay with hotel pickup, featuring kayaking around Bright and Dark Cave, a hands-on cooking class for spring rolls, lunch with seafood, and drop-off in Hanoi's Old Quarter by evening. The route skips the standard Halong Bay crowds by exploring the quieter Lan Ha Bay instead, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the Gulf of Tonkin.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Ha Long Bay3h · entry included
2. Lan Ha Bay3h · entry included
3. Hanoi Old Quarterpass by

Ninh Binh to Lan Ha Bay cruise and Hanoi drop-off

• Pick up from Ninh Binh hotels
• Drive 4-4.5 hours to Halong Bay
• Arrive at Halong harbor and board cruise
• Enjoy lunch while cruising Halong Bay
• Explore Lan Ha Bay by kayak or bamboo boat
• Relax on boat with trampoline and water slide
• Join Vietnamese spring roll cooking class
• Participate in sunset ceremony on boat
• Disembark at Tuan Chau Harbor
• Return to Hanoi by limousine bus
• Drop off at Hanoi Old Quarter hotel

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Ninh Binh hotel between 7 and 7:10 am, then a 4 to 4.5 hour drive to Halong Harbor. You board the cruise around 11 am and eat lunch while the boat heads into Lan Ha Bay, where over 1,600 mostly uninhabited limestone islands rise from turquoise water. The bay sits in northeastern Vietnam's Gulf of Tonkin and is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site, but stays far quieter than the main Halong Bay route most tours take.

Once anchored in Lan Ha Bay, you have your pick of activities: kayak or row a bamboo boat around Bright and Dark Cave, jump on the trampoline, use the water slide, or swim in the bay. Back on deck, you join a cooking class to learn how to make Vietnamese spring rolls from scratch. As the boat cruises back toward harbor, you gather for a sunset ceremony with tea and cake, watching the light fade across the water and islands. Disembark at Tuan Chau Harbor around 5:30 pm.

The return journey takes 2.5 hours by expressway bus, with drop-off at your hotel in Hanoi's Old Quarter between 8:30 and 9 pm. An English-speaking guide travels with the group throughout. Lunch includes Vietnamese and seafood dishes. Dietary restrictions like vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free can be accommodated if you note them at booking.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in Ninh Binh.
• round-trip transport by bus to and from Halong Harbor.
• premium cruise through Lan Ha Bay.
• kayak or bamboo boat rental for cave exploration.
• access to trampoline, water slide and swimming.
• hands-on Vietnamese spring roll cooking class.
• deluxe lunch with Vietnamese and seafood dishes.
• sunset ceremony with tea and cake.
• English-speaking guide throughout.
• drop-off at your Hanoi Old Quarter hotel.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (9 to 90 years) · Child (4 to 8 years) · Under 4: can't be included in the booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Authentic Travel Ho Chi Minh

Is this one for you?The full day (roughly 11 to 12 hours from pickup to hotel drop-off) leaves no room for other activities, but it solves the problem of reaching Lan Ha Bay from Ninh Binh without renting a car or booking a separate transfer. If you're arriving in Ninh Binh and want to see the bay before heading to Hanoi, this tour chains both into a single journey.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 8 years). Under 4: they can't be included in the booking.

What is Lan Ha Bay and how is it different from Halong Bay?

Lan Ha Bay sits in the same Gulf of Tonkin as Halong Bay and is part of the same UNESCO World Heritage site, but remains far less crowded. It holds over 1,600 mostly uninhabited limestone islands and islets in turquoise water, offering the dramatic karst landscape without the tour boat traffic of the main Halong Bay route.

Can I do the kayaking if I've never paddled before?

Kayaking is included as an option during the bay exploration, and the tour notes it is suitable for all physical fitness levels. You can also row a bamboo boat instead, or simply stay on the main boat and swim or relax. The choice is yours once you arrive at the bay.

What time does the tour end and where do I get dropped off?

The tour ends with drop-off at your hotel in Hanoi's Old Quarter between 8:30 and 9 pm. The return bus ride from Halong Harbor takes about 2.5 hours by expressway, departing around 5:45 pm after you disembark from the cruise.

Is lunch included, and can you handle dietary needs?

Lunch is included and features Vietnamese and seafood dishes served while the boat cruises. The operator can accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and other dietary restrictions. Just note your requirements when you book.

Do I need to arrange my own transport from Ninh Binh, or is pickup included?

Hotel pickup is included in Ninh Binh between 7 and 7:10 am from the Tam Coc, Hoa Lu, Mua Cave or Ninh Binh City areas. Contact the operator with your hotel address so they can confirm the pickup time in advance.