Lan Ha Bay floating village: Kayak and cook at sunset
Kayak through lagoons, then cook dinner as the sun drops over the water
You get picked up early from Hanoi or your Cat Ba hotel, spend the morning kayaking through Lan Ha Bay's lagoons and visiting a floating fishing village, swim at Ba Trai Dao Beach, eat fresh seafood lunch on the boat, visit a local fish farm, and take a cooking class at sunset before heading back. Transport from Hanoi, all entry tickets, kayaking gear, lunch and the cooking class are included in the price.
Options for this experience
2 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Lan Ha Bay full day boat trip
- Pick up from Hanoi Old Quarter
- Transfer to Got pier with break
- Speed boat to Cai Vieng harbour
- Bus to Cat Ba town, drop at Beo harbour
- Bus pick up in Cat Ba to Ben Beo Pier
- Board boat to Lan Ha Bay
- Pass Cai Beo Fishing Village
- Kayak in Lan Ha Bay lagoon
- Relax on cruise
- Lunch with fresh seafood
- Boat to Ba Trai Dao Beach
- Swim at Ba Trai Dao Beach
- Visit local fish farm
- Cooking class and sunset view
- Bus back to Cat Ba hotels
What’s included
Your day includes hotel pickup in Cat Ba (or bus pickup from Hanoi Old Quarter at 5:30am if booked from Hanoi), all transport to Ben Beo Pier, boat entry tickets for the Lan Ha Bay route, kayaking gear and a guided paddle through the lagoons, a visit to Cai Beo floating fishing village, a stop at a local fish farm, fresh seafood and Vietnamese lunch on the boat with vegetarian and vegan options available, swimming time at Ba Trai Dao Beach, and a cooking class on the boat at sunset before the return to Cat Ba town.
Times
- Every day 05:30 08:30
Before you book
Operated by Beka Travel
Prices and times updated 2 days ago
Traveler reviews
The experience
You're wondering if a boat day in Vietnam is worth the early pickup and the drive. The answer depends on whether you want to skip the crowded Ha Long Bay crowds and actually see how fishermen live. This tour heads to Lan Ha Bay instead: less touristy, same limestone cliffs, and you're in the water by 10:30am kayaking through lagoons that change shape with the tide. The boat leaves Ben Beo Pier at 9am, passes Cai Beo fishing village (the biggest floating settlement in northern Vietnam), and then you're paddling through narrow channels between rock formations, the kind of place that doesn't photograph the way it feels.
Lunch lands around 12:30 on the boat. Fresh seafood, Vietnamese dishes, and they'll handle vegetarian or vegan requests without fuss. After you eat, the boat moves to Ba Trai Dao Beach, where the water is clean enough to actually want to swim in it. Then comes the part that stuck with me: a visit to a local fish farm where you see the setup (nets, cages, the whole operation), and talk to the people who live on the water year-round. It's not a performance. It's just how they work. By 3:15pm you're back on the boat, and that's when the cooking class starts. You're making something simple (usually a spring roll or a basic curry), the sun is dropping over the bay, and you eat what you made while the light goes soft. The bus back to Cat Ba town leaves around 4:15pm, or you can pay extra to ride back to Hanoi and arrive around 8:30pm.
The whole day runs about 11 hours if you're picked up from Hanoi Old Quarter at 5:30am. That's the bus ride to Got Pier, a speedboat to Cat Ba, then the main boat from there. If you're already staying in Cat Ba, pickup is 8:30am from your hotel and you skip the early start. Either way, bring sunscreen, a light layer for the boat, and shoes that dry fast. The group stays small enough that you're not fighting for space on the kayaks or at the cooking station.
Is this one for you?Book this if you're based in Hanoi or Cat Ba and want a full water day without arranging separate transport, tickets and timing. The fixed schedule handles all three, and the smaller group size means you're not competing for space on kayaks or at the cooking station.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and Vietnamese.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 8 years); Infant (under 3).
What time does the tour start if I'm staying in Hanoi?
Pickup from Hanoi Old Quarter is 5:30am. You'll take a bus to Got Pier, then a speedboat to Cat Ba, arriving at Ben Beo Pier around 8:30am to board the main boat at 9am.
What if I'm already in Cat Ba?
Hotel pickup in Cat Ba town is 8:30am, and you'll be at Ben Beo Pier 10 minutes later. The boat departs at 9am.
Is lunch included?
Yes. Lunch is served around 12:30pm on the boat with fresh seafood and Vietnamese dishes. Vegetarian and vegan options are available. Let them know when you book.
Do I need to know how to kayak?
No. The kayaking is in calm lagoon areas and suitable for all fitness levels. Gear is provided.
What's included in the price?
Bus transport from Hanoi to Cat Ba (if booked from Hanoi), hotel pickup in Cat Ba, boat entry tickets, kayaking, lunch, swimming, the floating village visit, and the sunset cooking class.
Can I return to Hanoi the same day?
Yes, but it costs extra. The last bus back to Hanoi leaves around 4:15pm and arrives around 8:30–9pm depending on traffic.
How long is the full day?
About 11 hours from Hanoi pickup to Cat Ba dropoff. If you take the bus back to Hanoi, add another 4 hours.
What should I bring?
Sunscreen, a light layer or rash guard, water shoes or sandals that dry quickly, and a change of clothes. The boat provides life jackets for kayaking.
What if the weather is bad?
The tour operates in most conditions, but check with the operator if there's a storm warning. Kayaking location may change depending on tides and weather.
Lan Ha Bay floating village: Kayak and cook at sunset
8h–15h · EN +1
from US$ 31 per person
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