Lan Ha Bay tours

Hanoi Eco Tours offer Lan Ha Bay Tours with latest update trips in 2025 including half day, one day, two days, three days trips in the Lan ha bay area with daily departure either from Hanoi, Haiphong, Halong or Cat Ba island. Lan Ha bay is way less touristy than Halong bay which is worth a visit. Book Lan Ha Cat Ba bay boat tour with us for a memorable experience

Why Lan Ha bay with Hanoi Eco Tour?

• Quiet, touristy-free and cleaner than Halong Bay
• Lots of interesting outdoor activities for adventurers: kayaking, swimming, snorkeling and so on. 
• Unexplored areas with untouched white sand beaches
• Visiting the biggest floating villages in Lan Ha Bay where local fishermen living 
• Clean water
• Customize your trip to have your own itinerary because we do offer private Lan Ha bay tours
• Hidden lagoons where you may kayak through 

Why Hanoi Eco Tour ?

We take a good care of you

We only organize a small group or private tour to Lan Ha Bay to make sure your experience is unique as well as make sure that the smallest thing will be handed during the tour

We offer a small number of tours but quality

There is a wide range of choices for a Lan Ha bay cruise trip,  but we, Hanoi Eco Tour focusing on offering amazing sightseeing experiences in the less visited area and great outdoor activities to you in the Lan Ha bay area

We support BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER the tour

Everything you need before, during, and after the tour, we are happy to give a hand to help. For example, if you need to take a bus to Ninh Binh, we will help you to arrange it or simply taking a speed boat from Cat Ba to get back to your hotel in Halong 

We are honest

In case of bad weather, the cruise tour will be canceled. Hanoi Eco Tour will offer you alternative things to do and understand your expectation before booking the tour to ensure that you are our target clients or not. We DON'T try to sell the tour at all costs

We are experienced

Our founder, David, has been working in the tourism industry for over 12 years, so our itinerary has been well-researched with hand-picked activities. We are not sitting at the table, looking at the map, and selling a tour that we have never been on before. 

He has done so many cruise trips to Lan Ha bay and guided travellers directly so his experiences are hands-on and practical. 

We benefit locals

Some of our Lan Ha bay tours include an overnight stay in a floating village in Lan Ha bay to ensure that you will get an authentic, local living experience: meet locals, eat authentic fresh seafood. Your money stays local because of part of your tour rate benefits the local community 

Lan Ha bay cruise tours from Cat Ba 

There are two type of Lan Ha bay cruises, which is different from their departure points.

Departure from Halong : You may take a speed boat or a tender which is organized by the cruise companies. Then you will get on board the cruise.

Most of them are luxury 5-star cruise , the rate ranges from 170 to 200 USD per person including round trip transfer from Hanoi.

Departure from Cat Ba : You will be taking the bus from Hanoi to Cat Ba (with ferry crossing) and cruise in the heart of Halong. Standard 3-star cruise only but clean cabins and affordable rate from 125 to 140 USD per person including round trip transfer from Hanoi

Private Lan Ha bay junk boats/cruise from one cabin to five cabins

If you are travelling on a small group like couples, families with kids, group of friends then taking a private cruise on Lan Ha Bay is an ideal with your own privacy. 

There are boat sizes from one cabin to 5 cabins that you can take max 14 people onboard. 

Your itinerary will be more flexible than those who are taking group tours with fixed schedules.

The good news is that the private cruise/ junk boat in Lan Ha Bay is a lot more affordable and cheaper than the private boat tour in Bai Tu Long Bay, usually 2/3 of the price, even half of the price sometimes. 

Commonly asked questions for a Lan Ha bay tours

Where does the tour start or finish?

The tour start and finish in Hanoi. If you would like to leave for somewhere else like Hai Phong city, Halong,  we are happy to help.

We do offer pick up and drop off from your hotel in Hanoi to Cat Ba to join the tour. If you would love to go to other places such as Ninh Binh, Halong, Ha Giang or Sapa, we will help with coordinating for the bus tickets

How to get to Ninh Binh from Cat Ba  ?

There are 2 companies that offer buses to Ninh Binh,Cat Ba Discovery and The Long . It costs around $15 USD including ferry, bus. They offer pick up from hotels in Cat Ba, drop-off in Tam Coc (Ninh Binh)

Can I choose to stay in Cat Ba town instead of the junk boat?

Of course, you can customize your itinerary as you wish. Or choose to stay 1 night on board and 1 night in Cat Ba island

Can I include trekking the national park in the trip?

We do offer tours that take you trek in long journey 4 hours from Cat Ba National Park via Frog lake to Viet Hai village, which is the longest trekking route in the national park area. After that, you can choose to stay in either Viet Hai village or a homestay in a floating village or a hotel in Cat Ba town

How much does a Lan Ha bay tour cost?

Day trip from Hanoi : $96 USD per person (Seat in coach tour), 168 USD per person for a private tour that starts from Hanoi (minimum 2 people to run a a tour) - A solo traveller will be charged at a higher rate. 

2 days 1 night onboard in an overnight cruise : $130 to $250 USD depending on what type of cruises : 3,4 or 5 stars

2 days 1 night private tour :  Trekking in the national park with a overnight stay in a homestay in a floating village in Lan Ha bay : $273 USD per person

3 days 2 nights onboard on an overnight cruise : Double the price of the 2 days 1 night trip

3 days 2 night trip : one night on an overnight cruise and 01 night in a hotel in Cat Ba town : $300 USD per person

Note : All price above is suggested only. The actual price based on the cruise you take, travelling period and number of passengers. Please contact us for the actual price. 

Is Cat Ba island and Lan Ha bay a family-friendly trip?

Yes, it is. Fun, educational and great outdoor activities

There is tons of activities that are good for kids like kayaking, swimming, cycling, hiking etc...

Is Cat Ba trekking tour right for a family with 2 year old kid?

No, it isn't. It is challenging trekking trip so we recommend traveling with kids over 6 years old. It takes 45 minutes to reach its submit and the a bit less amount of time to trek down. 

Why Lan Ha Bay day tours from Hanoi is higher than Halong bay?

• Travelling on freeways but comfortable with high toll fee
• Hiring a boat in Lan Ha bay with less choice we often pay 40% extra for boat services than Halong bay!
• We provide a tour guide, a local guide for trekking during the trip
• Our tours are either private or small-group 

Can we choose where to stay?

Plenty of choices

• Hotel in Cat Ba
• Monkey Island Resort (temporarily closed)
• A homestay in a floating village in Lan Ha Bay
• Homestay in Viet Hai village

Is this tour budget-friendly for backpackers?

No, it isn't. The tour starts and finishes in Hanoi so we need to pay lots of expenses including food, accommodation, transfer, and entrance fees. Backpacking travelers should go to Cat Ba Island and travel around on their own, which is cheaper

For backpackers, you could travel to Cat Ba on a bus, and spend the night in Cat Ba. Do the boat tour in Lan Ha bay the following day. 

Halong Bay Castaway is a good choice for backpackers

Which activities can I do in Cat Ba island and Lan Ha bay?

• Trekking through the national park
• Jumping off the boat for swimming
• Hanging out on the private beach
• Camping on an island
• Snorkeling (It is all right but not the best place to do comparing to other destinations in Vietnam) 
• Sightseeing on the boat

What kind of cruises in Lan Ha bay do we offer?

• Family-friendly cruise in Lan Ha bay
• Private Lan ha bay cruise for couples
• Small group Lan Ha Bay cruise for solo travellers 

What to do in Hai Phong in 4 hours - A Good option to spend time before taking the flight after an overnight boat tour on Lan Ha Bay

• Visit Du Hang Pagoda
• Learn at Hai Phong museum
• Short trek to Elephant Mountain in the countryside of An Lao
• Wander around the local market
• Join a Haiphong walking food tour

Read more : Private Haiphong half day tour 

How to go from Hai Phong to Sapa?

There is no direct way to get to Sapa. What you should do is to head back Hanoi then take an overnight train or a bus to Sapa

What to do in Haiphong at night? - A great place for a stopover before taking the Lan Ha bay tour - Off the beaten track. 

There are a lots of local hawkers stalls along Hang Kenh Street where lots of locals have dinner at night. 

On the other hand, there is an array of pubs: Mya bar, New Face, King Club

Can we take a Lan Ha bay boat excursion without doing any activities?

Of course, you can. We offer several trips for those who just want to take a sightseeing trips without doing a single thing. We can cater the trip, feel free to contact us to customize your trip. 

Do you offer a plankton tour ?

We do offer a sunset cruise with kayaking through plowing plankton and a dinner onboard. 

Lan Ha Bay Shore Excursion

This Lan Ha bay day trip from Halong for those who are cruise passengers from the big cruise ship in Halong but want to cruise the bay, which is less touristy than Halong bay but similar landscape. 

Other bay tours which is off the beaten track?

Take a Bai Tu Long private tours, which is off the beaten track and less touristy than Halong Bay: quiet, beautiful, and amazing scenery