Lan Ha Bay 2-day cruise from Hanoi: kayaking, cooking

Kayak through karst islands, cook spring rolls on deck, sleep on the water

A 2-day cruise from Hanoi to Lan Ha Bay with overnight stay aboard a boutique boat, featuring kayaking around limestone karst, swimming in pristine waters, a hands-on Vietnamese spring roll cooking class, and meals made from fresh seafood. Pickup from Hanoi old quarter hotels is included in most options; you choose between family or double rooms and whether to depart from Hanoi or meet the boat at Cat Ba harbour.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Hanoi to Lan Ha Bay cruise and activities

• Pick up from Hanoi old quarter hotels
• Check-in onboard at Cai Beo harbour
• Enjoy special Vietnamese seafood lunch
• Cruise through Lan Ha Bay and kayak
• Swim near the boat
• Join cooking class making spring rolls
• Dinner on board with local food
• Squid fishing and karaoke
• Happy hour on sundeck

Day 2 — Biking Viet Hai Village and return to Hanoi

• Wake up to sunrise on the bay
• Breakfast in restaurant
• Bike 5km to Viet Hai Village
• Lunch served on boat
• Disembark at To Beo Harbor
• Bus transfer back to Hanoi
• Drop off at hotel

The Experience

The boat picks you up from your Hanoi hotel between 7:00 and 7:30 AM, then drives you to Cai Beo harbour on Cat Ba Island for a noon check-in. By early afternoon you're sailing through Lan Ha Bay, watching limestone peaks rise from the water as the boat cuts through the Cua Van area. Lunch—fresh seafood and Vietnamese appetizers—is served while you cruise.

At 2:30 PM the kayaking starts. You paddle around the karst landscape, exploring the bays at water level before returning to the boat for a 4:30 PM swim. The boat has a jump platform, so you can dive straight in from the deck. Back onboard by 6 PM, you join a cooking class making Vietnamese spring rolls with the crew, using ingredients prepped in the galley. Dinner follows at 7 PM—local dishes prepared by the onboard catering staff. After dark, you can join squid fishing or karaoke on the sundeck, or simply watch the water and stars. You sleep in a private room with a hot shower, air-conditioning and an en-suite bathroom.

Day two starts early. At 6 AM you're on deck for sunrise (weather permitting), then breakfast at 7 AM. The boat moves to Viet Hai harbour, where you disembark for a 5 km bike ride through the village—a half-hour pedal through quiet scenery. Lunch is back on the boat at 11 AM. By noon you're heading back to Cai Beo, boarding the shuttle bus for the return drive to Hanoi, arriving around 4 PM. Your guide will drop you at your hotel.

What’s included

• Shuttle pickup from Hanoi old quarter hotels (7:00–7:30 AM, depending on your option).
• two lunches and one BBQ dinner, plus one breakfast.
• private room with hot shower, air-conditioning and en-suite bathroom.
• kayaking around Lan Ha Bay.
• swimming in pristine waters.
• Vietnamese spring roll cooking class.
• all entrance fees and activities.
• English-speaking guide onboard.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for back problems

Operated by Vietnam tonkin cruise & Media JSC

Is this one for you?Book the 7:00 AM departure from Hanoi if you want the shuttle included and a full morning in the bay; choose the 11:30 AM harbour option if you're arranging your own transport to Cat Ba or prefer a later start. Family and double rooms are both available, so pick the one that fits your group size.

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Top questions

What's included in the price for the Lan Ha Bay cruise?

The cruise includes all meals (two lunches, one BBQ dinner and one breakfast), entrance fees to Lan Ha Bay, kayaking and swimming equipment, the cooking class, your private room with bathroom and hot shower, an English-speaking guide, and the shuttle bus from Hanoi old quarter (depending on which option you book).

Can I choose between picking up from my hotel or meeting the boat at the harbour?

Yes. Two options include pickup from your Hanoi old quarter hotel at 7:00–7:30 AM; two options ask you to meet the boat at Cai Beo harbour on Cat Ba Island by 11:30 AM. If you're not staying in the old quarter, you can meet the shuttle at Hanoi Opera House by 7:30 AM.

What's the cooking class like?

You make Vietnamese spring rolls on the boat with the crew, learning to prepare them with fresh ingredients from the galley. It's a hands-on class, not a demonstration.

Is there time to swim, or is it just kayaking?

Both. You kayak in the afternoon, then return to the boat for a separate swim at 4:30 PM. The boat has a jump platform so you can dive from the deck into the water.

What happens on the second morning?

You wake for sunrise at 6 AM (weather permitting), have breakfast at 7 AM, then bike 5 km through Viet Hai village—a scenic half-hour ride through quiet countryside. Lunch is back on the boat before the return journey to Hanoi.

Do I need to bring anything special?

Pack a swimming suit, towel, hat or umbrella, sun protection (sunglasses and sunscreen), shoes or sandals, a light rain jacket, and a camera. Bring a refillable water bottle and any snacks you prefer. In winter, add a jacket for cooler mornings.