Halong, Cat Ba, and Bai Tu Long Bays belong to a large limestones complex Halong Bay – the most famous one that you probably have heard of. A breathtaking nature site and a home for the King Kong movie film set, now it is sadly overrun by tourists: more than 3.000 boats daily cruise around the bay.
Instead, we suggest you leave the crowd and travel to one of the other bays in the Halong Bay area, to see a more authentic, less touristy yet beautiful alternative – Lan Ha Bay. You can see us in the video above having fun on a Lan Ha Bay cruise 🙂
Where is Lan Ha Bay?
Lan Ha Bay is located inside Halong Bay area, but facing southward instead of north. The stunning and less crowded bay is accessible from Hai Phong, and is only a two-hour drive from the Old Quarter in Hanoi. Settle into a private car or get a luxury bus for a more comfortable journey. You can choose to stay on Cat Ba Island in a hotel or homestay and then do day trips to Lan Ha Bay. A more expensive but better way to experience the bay is by cruise. The cruises in the area are more affordable and you will get more value for the money here.
5 reasons to choose Lan Ha Bay cruise above Halong Bay
- Fewer boats in Lan Ha Bay compared to Halong Bay, where you will see boats as far as the eye can see.
- It only takes two-hours to transfer to the bay, whereas Halong Bay takes 3 hours
- Better money value, as you will have much more activities and better accommodation for the same price as in Halong Bay.
- Cat Ba Island with stunning nature and biking opportunities, which is not possible in Halong Bay.
- Find yourself a quiet, white-sand beach away from the crowd.
Cat Ba Island
Famous for trekking, fishing, beaches, caves, kayaking, and for sightseeing in Lan Ha Bay, you will find Cat Ba Island. The island is the largest one located in the Halong Bay area. Cycle around the island to enjoy the nature and local villages or jump into a kayak to discover the breathtaking surroundings on your own. Cruises in the area will take you to enjoy the white-sand beaches as a break away from the crowd.
Hotels are right next to the shore. In the night the whole area turns into a bright and busy neon-land where everyone comes out. This makes the place a tad bit livelier. If you choose to stop by the town you should arrive on a weekday to enjoy a more quiet time.
So, if you like what you read, let us summarise your options:
One day cruise starts from 600 000 VND to 1 600 000 VND (25-68 USD) /approximate prices/
The one we usually take starts around 8 and finishes at 17:00 and includes lunch. Since you only have 1 day, skip Monkey island and enjoy more gorgeous sceneries. You also get a glimpse of the daily life of locals. Our favorite is Di san floating house and the Giant lucky fish (grouper)
What is it? Being literally a giant, this fish is usually 13-25 years old and 100-190 kilos (3527-6702 ounces)
Locals believe it brings luck to the person who caught it and will take care of it. That is the reason why it never ends up on their plates. They keep it captive in good conditions and feed it. Once it dies, they cremate it just like they do with their family members and bury the ashes in a special Fish temple on a secluded beach.
This trip also includes swimming, snorkeling and jumping from the boat for the braver ones. You will also kayak, which is suitable for all ages and explore caves in the area. You will spot butterflies, bats, birds and if you are lucky, even monkeys noisily making their way through the treetops in search of something yummy to eat.
Bat Cave, Dark & Bright Cave are our favorites on Lan Ha bay cruise itinerary.
Topped with a delicious lunch consisting of rice (a staple of Vietnamese cuisine), vegetables, potatoes, beef, fish that melts on your tongue, seafood, salad, and fresh fruit, we are sure you will love it.
Eager to see the starry sky from a deck of the boat? Have more time to spare? Then 2 days/1 night cruise is an option for you. These cruises start from 3,280,000 VND (140 USD), depending on the type of boat and the company.
The programme here is the same, swimming, kayaking, snorkeling and apart from lunch, breakfast and dinner are provided too. There is usually more time on a beach included. Bottled water is included as well, but alcoholic beverages and soft drinks you need to purchase separately. Snorkeling equipment as well as dry bags to store your valuables are provided.
If you go for a yacht you can enjoy bbq facilities, massage or SPA, WiFi or even a morning yoga or tai chi (depending on a cruise company)
Itinerary may vary slightly based on your selected junk boat’s programme as well as weather or tide (for example cave entrance can be closed if it would pose danger to passengers)
Do you “ship” the Lan Ha Bay cruise idea more and more? There are even 3 days/2 nights cruises, starting from approx. 4,700,000 VND (200 USD)! Basically the longer the cruise, the less people you will meet, as you will sail further. And long cruises sometimes include photo hunting, squid fishing, cooking class or a cooking demonstration or authentic dining on a floating farm too.
You can also rent a kayak separately.
Interested in a trip around this beautiful bay? Overwhelmed with all the cruise companies on the market? Hanoi Voyages create tailor-made trips around Southeast Asia and works only with verified companies that previous clients loved and that support local communities. Plan your very own trip to this beautiful bay with just one click right now!
