Lan Ha Bay cruise from Hanoi: kayaking, biking & cooking class

Kayak into caves, bike through rainforest, cook Vietnamese dishes on the water

A two-day overnight cruise from Hanoi to Lan Ha Bay combines kayaking through limestone karst formations and caves, biking to Viet Hai Village on Cat Ba Island, and a hands-on cooking class onboard the Venezia Cruise. The tour departs from Hanoi Old Quarter hotels with pickup and drop-off included, operates with a small group and English-speaking guide, and covers all entrance fees, meals, and activities.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Hanoi to Lan Ha Bay cruise and activities

• Collect from Hanoi Old Quarter
• Transfer to Beo Harbour, Cat Ba
• Board Venezia Cruise by tender
• Welcome drink and safety briefing
• Lunch onboard cruise
• Cruise through limestone karsts
• Kayak at Ba Trai Dao Beach
• Swim in crystal clear waters
• Watch sunset from cruise deck
• Join traditional cooking class
• Dinner onboard cruise
• Night squid fishing and karaoke

Day 2 — Viet Hai Village visit and return

• Enjoy sunrise and light breakfast
• Visit Viet Hai Village by tender
• Bicycle ride through rainforest tunnel
• Meet locals and visit traditional house
• Return to cruise and check out
• Lunch onboard while cruising back
• Disembark at quay side
• Transfer back to Hanoi drop-off point

The Experience

You leave Hanoi Old Quarter at 7am and ride by bus to Beo Harbour in Cat Ba town, arriving around 11:30. A tender transfers you to the Venezia Cruise, where you check in, receive a safety briefing, and have lunch before the boat sails into Lan Ha Bay. The afternoon opens into kayaking—you paddle into wild caves and around islets surrounded by limestone karsts that rise straight out of the water, then swim in the bay's clear waters. This section of Lan Ha Bay sees fewer cruise ships than the main routes, so the landscape stays quieter.

Back onboard by late afternoon, you watch the sunset from the top deck and can join the cooking class, where the chef walks you through making Vietnamese dishes. Dinner follows in an intimate setting, and the evening fills with optional squid fishing, karaoke, and drinks from the bar. You sleep in a cabin with a window overlooking the bay.

Day two starts before sunrise—coffee and photos from your cabin, then a light breakfast as the boat cruises. A tender takes you to Viet Hai Village on Cat Ba Island, where you bike (or take an electric car) through a rainforest tunnel into a valley deep in a national park. You visit a traditional house, meet local residents, and see the village school before returning to the boat. Brunch happens during the cruise back to the mainland, and you're dropped at the port by noon. The bus returns you to Hanoi by around 4:15pm.

What’s included

• Pickup and drop-off from Hanoi Old Quarter hotels.
• two nights' accommodation in a cabin with bay views.
• all meals (lunch, dinner, breakfast, brunch).
• kayaking equipment and guide.
• biking to Viet Hai Village with bike rental or electric car option.
• onboard cooking class.
• squid fishing and karaoke.
• happy hour.
• all entrance and sightseeing fees.
• professional English-speaking guide.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Venezia Cruises

Is this one for you?Book Hanoi-Cruise-Hanoi to start from your hotel in the Old Quarter and board the boat by tender; choose Cat Ba pickup if you're already on the island or driving to Beo Harbour yourself.

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Top questions

What's the kayaking like in Lan Ha Bay?

Kayaking takes you into caves and around limestone islets in the less-visited sections of the bay, where the water is clear enough to swim in. The route passes through areas that larger cruise ships don't use, keeping the landscape quieter and the karst formations the main focus.

Do I need experience to bike in Viet Hai Village?

The bike ride goes through a rainforest tunnel to a village nestled in a valley—it's suitable for all fitness levels. An electric car is available as an alternative if you prefer not to pedal.

What happens in the cooking class?

The onboard chef instructs you in making some Vietnamese dishes. It's a demonstration class, not a full meal prep, and happens in the early evening after you return from kayaking.

Are meals included both days?

Yes—lunch and dinner on day one, and breakfast and brunch on day two are all included. The dinners are prepared by the onboard catering staff and served in an intimate setting.

Does the price include the bus ride from Hanoi?

Pickup from Hanoi Old Quarter hotels and return drop-off are included in the Hanoi-Cruise-Hanoi option. If you book the Catba option, you arrange your own transport to Beo Harbour and pick up the cruise there.

How many people travel together on this tour?

The tour operates with a small group of guests, and an English-speaking guide is with you throughout. All entrance fees and sightseeing fees are included in the price.