sold as, sailed as

Lan Ha Bay cruise: which boats sail it, and from which pier

A Lan Ha Bay cruise boards in one of two places: at a pier on Cat Ba Island, such as Ben Beo or Gia Luan, or at Tuan Chau on the Halong side, where boats have been allowed to cross into Lan Ha Bay since 20 April 2026, on overnight itineraries only. With one night and a start in Hanoi, board at Tuan Chau: the shuttle runs straight to the pier and the boat crosses into Lan Ha Bay for the afternoon. Board on Cat Ba if you are staying on the island, since from Hanoi that leg adds a bus and a boat. The title rarely tells you which pier a cruise uses. Of the 17 overnight listings below, 4 name a different bay in the title than the bay their stops are in. Check the pier, the nights on board and the fee line before the price.

For a sense of cost: one night on a mid-range Lan Ha Bay cruise, per person for two sharing a cabin, comes to VND 4,020,000 (about US$157, AUD 228 or GBP 117), with the bay fee and the Hanoi transfer added where the listing leaves them out. Prices are per person, two sharing a cabin, as each partner lists them.

Lan Ha Bay (Vịnh Lan Hạ) is the bay of the Cat Ba Archipelago, run by Hai Phong; its rules, fee and piers are on the Lan Ha Bay guide. This page is about choosing the cruise.

Written by Rainer Lang Updated 14 November 2026

Some links on this page are affiliate links: the guide earns a commission when you book through them. The partner sets the price; the guide adds no fee.

title against itinerary

Sold as, sailed as: every Lan Ha Bay cruise listing

Each overnight Lan Ha Bay cruise listing, read for the bays its title names and the bays its named stops are in. A red edge marks a listing where the two differ. Under each: where it boards, the nights and where you spend them, whether it crosses from Halong Bay, kayaking as the listing states it, and the price as listed. Day tours are further down.

17 overnight listings: 6 board on the Cat Ba side, 11 on the Halong side. In 4 of them the title and the named stops point to different bays; those come first.

Klook, Azura Cruise

Azura 2D1N Luxury Cruise: Halong Bay & Lan Ha Bay Tour

Title namesHalong Bay and Lan Ha Bay

Stops inLan Ha Bay

It boards on the Halong side but names no stop in Halong Bay.

Boards
Halong side: Azura Cruise waiting room, Lot 38 Tuan Chau Marina

Nights
2 days 1 night, 1 night on board

Crossing
Crosses from Halong Bay

Kayak
Kayaking named in the listing

Price
Shown once you pick a date and cabin, as listed on 14 November 2026

Itinerary: Azura 2D1N Luxury Cruise
GetYourGuide, Sunlighttravel

Hanoi: 2-Day 1-Night Halong and Lan Ha Bay Cruise with Kayaking

Title namesHalong Bay and Lan Ha Bay

Stops inLan Ha Bay

It boards on Cat Ba and names no stop in Halong Bay.

Boards
Cat Ba side: Beo Harbor

Nights
2 days 1 night, 1 night on board

Crossing
No crossing

Kayak
Kayaking named in the listing

Price
from US$133 per person, as listed on 14 November 2026

Itinerary: 2-Day 1-Night Halong and Lan Ha Bay Cruise
Klook, La Pandora Boutique Cruise

La Pandora Boutique 2D1N Cruise: Halong Bay & Lan Ha Bay Tour

Title namesHalong Bay and Lan Ha Bay

Stops inLan Ha Bay

It boards on the Halong side but names no stop in Halong Bay.

Boards
Halong side: Block 26, Tuan Chau International Marina Terminal 2 (La Pandora Cruise No 26 Port 2), tender to the boat

Nights
2 days 1 night, 1 night on board

Crossing
Crosses from Halong Bay

Kayak
Kayaking named in the listing

Price
from about US$124(listed asAUD 180.90) per person, as listed on 14 November 2026

Itinerary: La Pandora Boutique 2D1N Cruise

Show 14 more listings

TourRadar, Vietnam Allure Travel

3 Days 2 Nights Halong Bay Cruise from Hanoi

Title namesHalong Bay

Stops inLan Ha Bay

It boards on the Halong side but names no stop in Halong Bay; the title leaves out Lan Ha Bay, where its stops are.

Boards
Halong side: Tuan Chau International Marina

Nights
3 days 2 nights, 2 nights on board

Crossing
Crosses from Halong Bay

Kayak
Kayaking named in the listing

Price
US$450 per person, as listed on 14 November 2026

Itinerary: 3 Days 2 Nights Halong Bay Cruise
GetYourGuide, BAT Group Trading Transport and Tourism Co. Ltd

Hanoi: 2-Day 1-Night Lan Ha & Halong Bay Cruise with Balcony

Title namesLan Ha Bay and Halong Bay

Stops inHalong Bay, then Lan Ha Bay

Title and stops agree.

Boards
Halong side: Tuan Chau Wharf / Tuan Chau Harbor

Nights
2 days 1 night, 1 night on board

Crossing
Crosses from Halong Bay

Kayak
Kayaking named in the listing

Price
from US$142 per person, as listed on 14 November 2026

Itinerary: 2-Day 1-Night Lan Ha & Halong Bay Cruise
Viator, Aspira Cruises

2-Day 1-Night Luxury Halong & Lan Ha Bay Aspira Cruise from Hanoi

Title namesHalong Bay and Lan Ha Bay

Stops inHalong Bay, then Lan Ha Bay

Title and stops agree.

Boards
Halong side: Aspira Cruises Ha Long, 38 Ha Long, Tuan Chau, Quang Ninh

Nights
2 days 1 night, 1 night on board

Crossing
Crosses from Halong Bay

Kayak
Kayaking named in the listing

Price
from US$187.63 per person, as listed on 14 November 2026

Itinerary: 2-Day 1-Night Luxury Halong
GetYourGuide, Venezia Cruises

Hanoi: 2-Day 1-Night Lan Ha Bay Cruise with Meals & Activities

Title namesLan Ha Bay

Stops inLan Ha Bay

Title and stops agree.

Boards
Cat Ba side: Pier not stated in the listing

Nights
2 days 1 night, 1 night on board

Crossing
No crossing

Kayak
Kayaking named in the listing

Price
from US$126 per person, as listed on 14 November 2026

Itinerary: 2-Day 1-Night Lan Ha Bay Cruise
GetYourGuide, BAT Group Trading Transport and Tourism Co. Ltd

Hanoi: 2-Day 1-Night Lan Ha & Halong Bay Cruise w/Balcony

Title namesLan Ha Bay and Halong Bay

Stops inHalong Bay, then Lan Ha Bay

Title and stops agree.

Boards
Halong side: Tuan Chau Wharf

Nights
2 days 1 night, 1 night on board

Crossing
Crosses from Halong Bay

Kayak
Kayaking named in the listing

Price
from US$179 per person, as listed on 14 November 2026

Itinerary: 2-Day 1-Night Lan Ha
GetYourGuide, Cat Ba Eco Tours

Lan Ha Bay Cruise with private balcony: biking, kayaking, meals

Title namesLan Ha Bay

Stops inLan Ha Bay

Title and stops agree.

Boards
Cat Ba side: Pier not stated in the listing

Nights
2 days 1 night, 1 night on board

Crossing
No crossing

Kayak
Kayaking named in the listing

Price
from US$113 per person, as listed on 14 November 2026

Itinerary: Lan Ha Bay Cruise with private balcony
Viator, Beka Travel

2 Days 1 Night Lan Ha Bay Adventure

Title namesLan Ha Bay

Stops inLan Ha Bay

Title and stops agree.

Boards
Cat Ba side: Cat Ba town (hotel pickup)

Nights
2 days 1 night, the night in a Viet Hai village bungalow, not on board

Crossing
No crossing

Kayak
Kayaking named in the listing

Price
from US$120.56 per person, as listed on 14 November 2026

Itinerary: 2 Days 1 Night Lan Ha Bay Adventure
Klook, Sunlight Premium Cruise

Lan Ha Bay & Cat Ba Island by Sunlight Premium Cruise

Title namesLan Ha Bay

Stops inLan Ha Bay

Title and stops agree.

Boards
Cat Ba side: Beo harbor, Cat Ba (tender to cruise)

Nights
3 days 2 nights: 1 night on board, 1 in a Cat Ba hotel

Crossing
No crossing

Kayak
Kayaking named in the listing

Price
about US$153(listed asAUD 222.15) per person, as listed on 14 November 2026

Itinerary: Lan Ha Bay
TourRadar, Halong Bay Lux Cruises Tours

Halong - Lan Ha Bay 3 Day 2 Night Cruise & Private Balcony Cabin

Title namesHalong Bay and Lan Ha Bay

Stops inHalong Bay, then Lan Ha Bay

Title and stops agree.

Boards
Halong side: Hanoi Old Quarter pickup (bus)

Nights
3 days 2 nights, 2 nights on board

Crossing
Crosses from Halong Bay

Kayak
Kayaking named in the listing

Price
US$320 per person, as listed on 14 November 2026

Itinerary: Halong - Lan Ha Bay 3 Day 2
GetYourGuide, Amour Cruise

From Hanoi: 3-Day 2-Night Lan Ha & Halong Bay Amour Cruise

Title namesLan Ha Bay and Halong Bay

Stops inHalong Bay, then Lan Ha Bay

Title and stops agree.

Boards
Halong side: Lot 39, Tuan Chau

Nights
3 days 2 nights, 2 nights on board

Crossing
Crosses from Halong Bay

Kayak
Kayaking named in the listing

Price
from US$326 per person, as listed on 14 November 2026

Itinerary: 3-Day 2-Night Lan Ha
GetYourGuide, BAT Group Trading Transport and Tourism Co. Ltd

Hanoi: 2-Day 1-Night Lan Ha & Halong Bay Cruise with Balcony from Tuan Chau

Title namesLan Ha Bay and Halong Bay

Stops inHalong Bay, then Lan Ha Bay

Title and stops agree.

Boards
Halong side: Tuan Chau Harbor

Nights
2 days 1 night, 1 night on board

Crossing
Crosses from Halong Bay

Kayak
Kayaking named in the listing

Price
from US$144 per person, as listed on 14 November 2026

Itinerary: 2-Day 1-Night Lan Ha & Halong Bay Cruise
TourRadar, Indochina Today Travel

3-Day 2-Night Halong & Lan Ha Bay Cruise with Balcony & FULL ACTIVITIES

Title namesHalong Bay and Lan Ha Bay

Stops inHalong Bay, then Lan Ha Bay

Title and stops agree.

Boards
Halong side: Hanoi Old Quarter pickup (shuttle bus)

Nights
3 days 2 nights, 2 nights on board

Crossing
Crosses from Halong Bay

Kayak
Kayaking named in the listing

Price
US$315 per person, as listed on 14 November 2026

Itinerary: 3-Day 2-Night Halong & Lan Ha Bay Cruise
GetYourGuide, Cong ty TNHH Viet Nam Travel Touris

Hanoi: 2D1N Lan Ha Bay Cruise and Cat Ba Island Adventure (hotel night on Cat Ba)

Title namesLan Ha Bay

Stops inLan Ha Bay

Title and stops agree.

Boards
Cat Ba side: Cat Ba Island

Nights
2 days 1 night, the night in a Cat Ba hotel, not on board

Crossing
No crossing

Kayak
No kayaking named

Price
from US$148 per person, as listed on 14 November 2026

Itinerary: 2D1N Lan Ha Bay Cruise and Cat Ba
GetYourGuide, Ho Kinh Doanh Dinh Viet Hung

Lan Ha Bay: Luxury Cruise 2 Days 1 Night

Title namesLan Ha Bay

Stops inLan Ha Bay

Title and stops agree.

Boards
Halong side: Ha Long Tuan Chau International Port

Nights
2 days 1 night, 1 night on board

Crossing
Crosses from Halong Bay

Kayak
No kayaking named

Price
from US$175 per person, as listed on 14 November 2026

Itinerary: Lan Ha Bay

Kayaking shows as each listing states it. Hai Phong allows kayaks and other water recreation craft on the Cat Ba bays only between 5:30 and 18:30 local time, and whether kayaking runs on your date is for the operator to confirm. Prices are per person, two sharing a cabin unless the listing states another basis, as read on the date shown.

the pier decides

Cat Ba side or Halong side: two ways onto Lan Ha Bay

Where a Lan Ha Bay cruise boards decides the road from Hanoi, whether the boat crosses a bay border, and which bay you spend the first hours in.

Boarding on Cat Ba Island

Cruises that board on the Cat Ba side stay in Lan Ha Bay from the first hour. Listings name Ben Beo pier (Beo harbor), a short way east of Cat Ba town, and some leave the pier unnamed and collect you from a Cat Ba hotel. Gia Luan pier, in the north of the island, is the other Lan Ha Bay pier on the chart; Halong route VHL5 also ends there.

Getting there takes a bus and a boat. The one-night Lan Ha Bay cruise listing sells the bus as an option, and Viator lists the Cat Ba Express bus and speedboat at US$14 per person as listed on 14 November 2026, with a stated 3 hours 15 minutes to 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) for the trip, as the operator gives it. The legs and the ferry alternatives are on Hanoi to Cat Ba Island, and the island on Cat Ba Island.

Boarding on the Halong side

Cruises that board at Tuan Chau International Marina or Ha Long International Cruise Port sail Halong Bay first and cross into Lan Ha Bay on one of the connecting itineraries, Halong routes VHL3 to VHL6. The Ministry of Construction states that these are all overnight cruises, with no day tours, so a crossing always includes a night on board. The shuttle from Hanoi to the Halong piers runs on the expressway; a limousine shuttle from Hanoi to Halong, one way, per adult, costs VND 300,000 (about US$12, AUD 17 or GBP 8.8), and the listed shuttles state 2.5 to 3 hours on the road. Each pier, with the way to reach it, is on ports and piers.

The wide band marks the Halong routes that may continue into Lan Ha Bay since 20 April 2026; dots are piers and villages. Schematic. © OpenStreetMap contributors

Lan Ha Bay seascape — Wide view from the hills above Cat Ba town over the islands of Lan Ha Bay.Photo: Edgardo W. Olivera from Montevideo, Uruguay / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

nights on board

Lan Ha Bay cruise: 1 night or 2 nights

A "two days, one night" cruise is one night on board, and most Lan Ha Bay cruises are sold that way. Two-night cruises add a full day on the water. A few listings sold as cruises spend the night ashore instead.

One night. From Cat Ba, a one-night cruise boards around midday, spends the afternoon on the water and anchors for the night in the bay; the boat must be inside its overnight area by 19:00 in summer, 18:30 in winter. From Tuan Chau, the first afternoon is in Halong Bay and the evening in Lan Ha Bay. Either way you are back at the pier by late morning on day two.

Two nights. The Lan Ha Bay cruise 2 nights options in the table all board on the Halong side and cross; their second day stays in Lan Ha Bay and on Cat Ba, with stops such as Viet Hai village. Two nights on Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay, per person for two sharing a cabin, come to VND 8,360,000 (about US$326, AUD 474 or GBP 245). The overnight cruise guide covers how the nights on board run.

A night ashore. 2 Days 1 Night Lan Ha Bay Adventure is a boat day with 2 days 1 night, the night in a Viet Hai village bungalow, not on board, and the Sunlight combo on Klook adds a Cat Ba hotel night to a night on board. Both show the place of each night in the table.

Cat Ba floating village (Cai Beo) — Boats moored among the floating houses of Cai Beo.Photo: Christophe95 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

four listings, both sides

Lan Ha Bay cruises to compare

Two Lan Ha Bay cruises that board on Cat Ba and two that board on the Halong side, each read from its own listing: the bay its itinerary sails, the pier, the nights, what the price leaves out and the all-in cost from Hanoi.

1 night
GetYourGuide, Venezia Cruises

Hanoi: 2-Day 1-Night Lan Ha Bay Cruise with Meals & Activities

Sails: Lan Ha Bay. Route not stated in the listing. Pier: Pier not stated in the listing.
- 2 days 1 night, 1 night on board
- Bay fee not named in the inclusions: VND 400,000 per adult (Hai Phong City People's Council, Resolution 47/2025)
- Hanoi transfer not in the price
- Kayak or bamboo boat listed
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before start for a full refund (as listed)
from US$126 per person for the lowest option on the listing, as listed on 14 November 2026

All in from Hanoi: VND 4,350,000 (about US$170)

4.8 from 912 reviews

Check dates: 2-Day 1-Night Lan Ha Bay Cruise
1 night
GetYourGuide, Ho Kinh Doanh Dinh Viet Hung

Lan Ha Bay: Luxury Cruise 2 Days 1 Night

Sails: Lan Ha Bay. Connecting itinerary from Halong Bay into Lan Ha Bay, sailed since 20 April 2026; route code not stated in the listing. Pier: Ha Long Tuan Chau International Port.
- 2 days 1 night, 1 night on board
- Bay fee not named in the inclusions; the fee depends on a route the listing does not state
- Hanoi transfer not named as included
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before start for a full refund (as listed)
from US$175 per person for the lowest option on the listing, VAT not included, as listed on 14 November 2026

From Hanoi, before the bay fee: VND 5,090,000 (about US$199) plus a bay fee of VND 400,000 or more per adult

No rating shown

Check dates: Lan Ha Bay
1 night
GetYourGuide, Cat Ba Eco Tours

Lan Ha Bay Cruise with private balcony: biking, kayaking, meals

Sails: Lan Ha Bay. Route not stated in the listing. Pier: Pier not stated in the listing.
- 2 days 1 night, 1 night on board
- Bay fee not named in the inclusions: VND 400,000 per adult (Hai Phong City People's Council, Resolution 47/2025)
- Hanoi transfer not in the price
- Kayak or bamboo boat listed
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before start for a full refund (as listed)
from US$113 per person for the lowest option on the listing, as listed on 14 November 2026

All in from Hanoi: VND 4,020,000 (about US$157)

4.8 from 156 reviews

Check dates: Lan Ha Bay Cruise with private balcony

Show 1 more cruise

2 nights
TourRadar, Vietnam Allure Travel

3 Days 2 Nights Halong Bay Cruise from Hanoi

Sails: Connecting itinerary from Halong Bay into Lan Ha Bay, sailed since 20 April 2026; route code not stated in the listing. Pier: Tuan Chau International Marina.
- 3 days 2 nights, 2 nights on board
- Bay fee not named in the inclusions; the fee depends on a route the listing does not state
- Hanoi transfer at extra cost
- Kayak or bamboo boat listed
- Cancellation terms not shown on the listing page
US$450 per person, as listed on 14 November 2026

From Hanoi, before the bay fee: VND 12,140,000 (about US$474) plus a bay fee of VND 600,000 or more per adult

5.0 from 4 reviews

Check dates: 3 Days 2 Nights Halong Bay Cruise

Where a card says the fee depends on a route the listing does not state, the boat crosses from Halong Bay and sails under two fee rules. Each price is taken apart line by line on Halong Bay cruise prices.

Resolution 47/2025

The bay fee on a Lan Ha Bay cruise

The Hai Phong City People's Council sets the Cat Ba bays fee in Resolution 47/2025. A cruise with nights on the bays pays the overnight fee, which replaces the day fee.

Cat Ba bays (Lan Ha Bay) feeHai Phong City People's Council, Resolution 47/2025
Trip	Adult / child
Day visit	VND 120,000 per adult per visit; child VND 60,000 per child per visit
One night on the bays	VND 400,000 / 300,000 per person
Two nights	VND 600,000 / 500,000 per person
Three nights	VND 650,000 / 550,000 per person

Read the inclusions for "entrance fees", "admission" or "sightseeing tickets". Several Cat Ba cruises name them; others leave the fee unmentioned, and the cards above add it where they do. A one-night cruise from Cat Ba that leaves the fee out costs VND 400,000 more per adult.

A cruise that crosses from Halong Bay passes through two fee areas, and no combined fee for a crossing is published. Ask the seller which fees the price holds, and get the answer in writing.

as the listing states

Kayaking and the water rules on a Lan Ha Bay cruise

Most Lan Ha Bay cruises list kayaking, often in Ao Ech lagoon or at the Dark and Bright caves, and a swim stop. The table prints kayaking exactly as each listing states it.

Hai Phong's Decision 253/2025 allows kayaks and other water recreation craft on the Cat Ba bays only between 5:30 and 18:30 local time, and no boat leaves port in a dangerous weather warning. Whether kayaking runs on your date is for the operator to confirm. If it is the reason you are booking, ask before you pay, and check what the listing offers instead.

Boat hours set the shape of the day: in summer boats must be back in port by 20:00 local time, in winter by 19:00 local time. Life jackets on the tender between pier and boat are required by the same decision, and La Pandora lists them among its inclusions. How kayaking works on each bay is on kayaking.

Kayaks or bamboo boats in Lan Ha Bay — Yellow sea kayaks tied up at a floating fishing platform below limestone cliffs off Cat Ba Island.Photo: Tuyencabr / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Monkey Island (Lan Ha) — The small beach on Monkey Island with macaques foraging on the sand.Photo: TomFitzhenry / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

no night on board

Lan Ha Bay day cruises from Cat Ba Island

The crossings from Halong Bay are overnight only, so a Lan Ha Bay day cruise starts on Cat Ba Island. These two collect you on the island, or in Hanoi for a long day on the road.

Day
GetYourGuide, Halong Dolphin Travel

Cat Ba: Lan Ha & Halong Bay Full-Day Tour with Biking, Kayaking, Lunch

Sails: Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay in the title, but day boats do not cross between them: ask the seller which bay you sail. Route not stated in the listing. Pier: Cat Ba Island.
- Day cruise, no night on board
- Bay fee in the price
- Starts with a pickup on Cat Ba Island; getting there from Hanoi is not in the price
- Kayak or bamboo boat listed
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before start for a full refund (as listed)
from US$28 per person for the lowest option on the listing, as listed on 14 November 2026

All in from the pier: VND 720,000 (about US$28)

4.8 from 1,720 reviews

Check dates: Lan Ha & Halong Bay Full-Day Tour
Day
Viator, Serenity Cruises

Lan Ha Bay Full-Day Tour from Hanoi, Hai Phong: Serenity Cruises

Sails: Lan Ha Bay. Route not stated in the listing. Pier: Beo Pier, Cat Ba Island.
- Day cruise, no night on board
- Bay fee in the price
- Hanoi transfer in the price
- Kayak or bamboo boat listed
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience for a full refund (as listed)
from US$43.20 per person for the lowest option on the listing, as listed on 14 November 2026

All in from the pier: VND 1,110,000 (about US$43)

5.0 from 1,296 reviews

Check dates: Lan Ha Bay Full-Day Tour from Hanoi, Hai

A Cat Ba Island cruise for the day suits you if you are already staying on the island. From Hanoi, the day boat that collects you in the Old Quarter means hours on the road each way; a night on Cat Ba or a one-night cruise gives you more time on the water.

star words

Sold as 5-star: what the label means on Lan Ha Bay

Many Lan Ha Bay cruises are sold as 5-star or sold as 6-star. Under Decision 253/2025, star ranking of overnight boats on the Cat Ba bays is voluntary, and no list of ranked boats is published.

So the stars come from the seller (more on who ranks the boats). The guide drops star words from product names and compares what you can read instead: the cabin (a balcony, a bathtub), what the price includes, the pier and the cancellation terms. Boats are sold under their own names, such as Azura, La Pandora or Sunlight, and a name tells you more than a star count once you read the itinerary behind it.

Cabins with balconies and larger suites sit at the top of the price range; see luxury cruises for that end of the market.

five checks

Before you book a Lan Ha Bay cruise

The pier. Ben Beo or Gia Luan means Cat Ba, a bus and a boat from Hanoi. Tuan Chau means the Halong side and a crossing. If the listing names neither, ask.
The stops, not the title. Read the day-by-day itinerary for named places: Ao Ech, Viet Hai, the Dark and Bright caves and Ba Trai Dao are in Lan Ha Bay or on Cat Ba.
The nights and where they are spent. "Two days, one night" should mean one night on board; a hotel or bungalow night is not a cruise night.
The fee and the transfer. Is the bay fee in the price, and is the bus or shuttle from Hanoi? The cards above show both.
Cancellation. Terms vary a lot: the Azura listing states Listed as no cancellation; operator may cancel for extreme weather (as listed), while La Pandora states Free cancellation 72 hours before the activity date (as listed). Storms stop departures; what you get back is whatever the operator and the booking site state.

Still between the bays? Lan Ha Bay vs Halong Bay sets them side by side.

before you book

Lan Ha Bay cruise questions

Which pier do Lan Ha Bay cruises leave from?

Cruises that board on Cat Ba Island name Ben Beo pier near Cat Ba town, or collect you from a Cat Ba hotel; Gia Luan pier in the north of the island is the other Lan Ha Bay pier. Cruises sold from Hanoi often board at Tuan Chau International Marina on the Halong side instead and cross into Lan Ha Bay.

Can a Lan Ha Bay cruise leave from Halong?

Yes, since 20 April 2026. Boats on Halong routes VHL3 to VHL6 may continue into Lan Ha Bay, and the Ministry of Construction states these connecting itineraries are all overnight cruises, with no day tours. A cruise that boards at Tuan Chau and visits Lan Ha Bay therefore includes a night on board.

Is the bay fee included in a Lan Ha Bay cruise?

Read the inclusions. Some listings name entrance or sightseeing fees, others do not. Under Hai Phong's Resolution 47/2025 a cruise with one night on the Cat Ba bays pays VND 400,000 / 300,000 per person (adult / child), instead of the day fee of VND 120,000 per adult per visit. For a crossing from Halong Bay, ask the seller which fees the price holds.

Is kayaking included on Lan Ha Bay cruises?

Most listings name kayaking, and the table prints it as each listing states it. Decision 253/2025 allows kayaks and other water recreation craft on the Cat Ba bays only between 5:30 and 18:30 local time, and not in a dangerous weather warning. Whether it runs on your date is for the operator to confirm.

How much does a Lan Ha Bay cruise cost?

One night on a mid-range Lan Ha Bay cruise, per person for two sharing a cabin, comes to VND 4,020,000 (about US$157, AUD 228 or GBP 117), with the bay fee and the Hanoi transfer added where the listing leaves them out. Listed prices are per person, two sharing a cabin, and move with the date and the cabin.

Plan the rest

Read how the bay is run in the Lan Ha Bay guide, compare every cruise of the three bays in the cruise chooser, and plan the road on Hanoi to Cat Ba Island.

Sources

Hai Phong City People's Council Resolution 47/2025/NQ-HĐND, which sets the Cat Ba bays (Lan Ha Bay) sightseeing fees, took effect on 1 January 2026. Hai Phong City People's Council, Resolution 47/2025/NQ-HĐND (10 Dec 2025), full text as reproduced by thuvienphapluat.vn, 10 December 2025.
Under Hai Phong Resolution 47/2025/NQ-HĐND (from 1 Jan 2026) the day sightseeing fee for the route on the bays of the Cat Ba Archipelago (Lan Ha Bay) is, per adult per visit, VND 120,000 per adult per visit. Hai Phong City People's Council, Resolution 47/2025/NQ-HĐND (10 Dec 2025), full text as reproduced by thuvienphapluat.vn, 10 December 2025.
Under Hai Phong Resolution 47/2025/NQ-HĐND the day sightseeing fee for the Cat Ba bays route for a child aged 6 or over is VND 60,000 per child per visit. Hai Phong City People's Council, Resolution 47/2025/NQ-HĐND (10 Dec 2025), full text as reproduced by thuvienphapluat.vn, 10 December 2025.
Under Hai Phong Resolution 47/2025/NQ-HĐND the fee for touring the Cat Ba bays with 1 overnight stay(s) on the bays is (adult / child 6+) VND 400,000 / 300,000 per person. Hai Phong City People's Council, Resolution 47/2025/NQ-HĐND (10 Dec 2025), full text as reproduced by thuvienphapluat.vn, 10 December 2025.
Under Hai Phong Resolution 47/2025/NQ-HĐND the fee for touring the Cat Ba bays with 2 overnight stay(s) on the bays is (adult / child 6+) VND 600,000 / 500,000 per person. Hai Phong City People's Council, Resolution 47/2025/NQ-HĐND (10 Dec 2025), full text as reproduced by thuvienphapluat.vn, 10 December 2025.
Under Hai Phong Resolution 47/2025/NQ-HĐND the fee for touring the Cat Ba bays with 3 overnight stay(s) on the bays is (adult / child 6+) VND 650,000 / 550,000 per person. Hai Phong City People's Council, Resolution 47/2025/NQ-HĐND (10 Dec 2025), full text as reproduced by thuvienphapluat.vn, 10 December 2025.
Under Hai Phong Decision 253/2025/QĐ-UBND, in summer (1 Apr to 31 Oct) tourist boats on the Cat Ba bays may leave port from 5:00 and must be back in port by 20:00 local time. Hai Phong City People's Committee, Decision 253/2025/QĐ-UBND (31 Dec 2025), Regulation on tourism and tourist boats on the Cat Ba bays, full text as reproduced by thuvienphapluat.vn, 31 December 2025.
Under Hai Phong Decision 253/2025/QĐ-UBND, in winter (1 Nov to 31 Mar) tourist boats on the Cat Ba bays may leave port from 5:30 and must be back in port by 19:00 local time. Hai Phong City People's Committee, Decision 253/2025/QĐ-UBND (31 Dec 2025), Regulation on tourism and tourist boats on the Cat Ba bays, full text as reproduced by thuvienphapluat.vn, 31 December 2025.
Under Hai Phong Decision 253/2025/QĐ-UBND, overnight boats on the Cat Ba bays must be inside the overnight area by 19:00 in summer, 18:30 in winter local time. Hai Phong City People's Committee, Decision 253/2025/QĐ-UBND (31 Dec 2025), Regulation on tourism and tourist boats on the Cat Ba bays, full text as reproduced by thuvienphapluat.vn, 31 December 2025.
Under Hai Phong Decision 253/2025/QĐ-UBND, water recreation craft may operate on the Cat Ba bays between 5:30 and 18:30 local time. Hai Phong City People's Committee, Decision 253/2025/QĐ-UBND (31 Dec 2025), Regulation on tourism and tourist boats on the Cat Ba bays, full text as reproduced by thuvienphapluat.vn, 31 December 2025.
Under Hai Phong Decision 253/2025/QĐ-UBND, star ranking of overnight boats on the Cat Ba bays is voluntary. Hai Phong City People's Committee, Decision 253/2025/QĐ-UBND (31 Dec 2025), Regulation on tourism and tourist boats on the Cat Ba bays, full text as reproduced by thuvienphapluat.vn, 31 December 2025.
Viator lists Bus Hanoi to Cat Ba Island with Cat Ba Express at From US$14 per person. Viator product page (as listed on the read date).
Viator lists Bus Hanoi to Cat Ba Island with Cat Ba Express with a stated duration of 3 hours 15 minutes to 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.). Viator product page (as listed on the read date).
Ha Long Bay to Lan Ha Bay connecting cruises (itineraries VHL3, VHL4, VHL5 and VHL6 to Lan Ha Bay) are all overnight cruises with no day tours, according to the Ministry of Construction, and started on 20 April 2026. Ministry of Construction news, 'Chính thức vận hành tàu chạy tuyến kết nối Vịnh Hạ Long - Vịnh Lan Hạ', 21/04/2026, 21 April 2026.
Cruise boats began crossing between Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay on four connecting itineraries (VHL3, VHL4, VHL5, VHL6 to Lan Ha Bay); the first two sailings left Tuan Chau International Marina and the Sun Group inland pier at Ha Long International Cruise Port on 20 April 2026. Ha Long Bay Management Board website, post 698 (2026-04-20), 20 April 2026.
Lan Ha Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay cruises: bay in the title against bay in the itinerary. Each partner listing's title, itinerary, pier and inclusions as read on its read date
Headline costs. Added up from the listed prices, bay fees and fares each cost names; each part has its own source in this list
Partner listing details. Each partner listing page as read on its read date (pier, cancellation terms, rating)
Days and nights of each cruise. Each partner listing's duration and itinerary as read on its read date
Bay sightseeing fees. Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council Resolution 51/2025 (Halong Bay, published by the Ha Long Bay Management Board); Hai Phong City People's Council Resolution 47/2025 (Cat Ba bays, from 1 January 2026)

Photographs

Lan Ha Bay seascape. Photo: Christophe95 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Lan Ha Bay seascape. Photo: Preparetavalise.com / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Kayaks or bamboo boats in Lan Ha Bay. Photo: Tuyencabr / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Cat Ba floating village (Cai Beo). Photo: Christophe95 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Monkey Island (Lan Ha). Photo: TomFitzhenry / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Lan Ha Bay seascape. Photo: Edgardo W. Olivera from Montevideo, Uruguay / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Lan Ha Bay seascape. Photo: Christophe95 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Cat Ba floating village (Cai Beo). Photo: Christophe95 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Kayaks or bamboo boats in Lan Ha Bay. Photo: Tuyencabr / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Kayaks or bamboo boats in Lan Ha Bay. Photo: Christophe95 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Lan Ha Bay seascape. Photo: Christophe95 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Cat Ba floating village (Cai Beo). Photo: Jakub Hałun / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

Lan Ha Bay cruise: which boats sail it, and from which pier

Sold as, sailed as: every Lan Ha Bay cruise listing

Azura 2D1N Luxury Cruise: Halong Bay & Lan Ha Bay Tour

Hanoi: 2-Day 1-Night Halong and Lan Ha Bay Cruise with Kayaking

La Pandora Boutique 2D1N Cruise: Halong Bay & Lan Ha Bay Tour

3 Days 2 Nights Halong Bay Cruise from Hanoi

Hanoi: 2-Day 1-Night Lan Ha & Halong Bay Cruise with Balcony

2-Day 1-Night Luxury Halong & Lan Ha Bay Aspira Cruise from Hanoi

Hanoi: 2-Day 1-Night Lan Ha Bay Cruise with Meals & Activities

Hanoi: 2-Day 1-Night Lan Ha & Halong Bay Cruise w/Balcony

Lan Ha Bay Cruise with private balcony: biking, kayaking, meals

2 Days 1 Night Lan Ha Bay Adventure

Lan Ha Bay & Cat Ba Island by Sunlight Premium Cruise

Halong - Lan Ha Bay 3 Day 2 Night Cruise & Private Balcony Cabin

From Hanoi: 3-Day 2-Night Lan Ha & Halong Bay Amour Cruise

Hanoi: 2-Day 1-Night Lan Ha & Halong Bay Cruise with Balcony from Tuan Chau

3-Day 2-Night Halong & Lan Ha Bay Cruise with Balcony & FULL ACTIVITIES

Hanoi: 2D1N Lan Ha Bay Cruise and Cat Ba Island Adventure (hotel night on Cat Ba)

Lan Ha Bay: Luxury Cruise 2 Days 1 Night