Full-Day Lan Ha Bay Tour
Authentic local experience
Relaxed & authentic adventure — perfect for those seeking culture, nature, and fewer crowds.
Highlights
- Visit Cai Beo floating village
- Kayak through hidden lagoons
- Swim at Ba Trai Dao Beach
- Vietnamese traditional lunch onboard
Daily itinerary
Times are approximate and may shift slightly with weather, tide, and group pace. The order of activities stays the same.
- 08:00 – 08:30
Pickup & transfer to Cai Beo Harbor
We pick you up from your accommodation in Cat Ba Town and drive you down to Cai Beo Harbor — the eastern port from where we depart for Lan Ha Bay. You'll meet your guide and the rest of your group at the boat.
- 08:30 – 10:30
Cruise through Cai Beo & limestone karsts
We sail out past Cai Beo Fishing Village — one of the last working floating villages in northern Vietnam — and into open Lan Ha Bay. You'll cruise past hundreds of karst towers shaped like chopsticks, seals, and other fantastical forms, with plenty of time on deck for photos.
- 10:30 – 12:30
Kayak through hidden caves & lagoons
Time to get on the water. We paddle through hidden lagoons, rock tunnels, and natural archways — including K.A Cave and Bat Cave, two spots most day cruisers never see. Two-person sit-on-top kayaks, life jackets, and dry-bags are all provided.
- 12:30 – 13:30
Vietnamese lunch at Ong Cam Islet
The boat anchors in a sheltered cove off Ong Cam Islet for a full traditional Vietnamese lunch — fresh seafood, rice, vegetables, soup. After eating, free time to swim straight off the deck, jump in, lounge on the sundeck, or just hang out with your fellow travellers.
- 13:30 – 14:30
Sail into Southern Ha Long Bay
We continue south into the less-visited part of Ha Long Bay — past Dau Be Island, Vung Vieng floating fishing village, Le Virgin arch, and the Kite arch. This stretch is what most one-day Ha Long tours skip; you'll see it from the deck.
- 14:30 – 16:00
Kayak & swim at Ba Trai Dao Beach
We anchor at Ba Trai Dao — a remote, three-cone island beach far from the tourist boats. Kayak out to the temple beach, explore more lagoons and arches, or just swim and sunbathe on the empty sand. This is the quietest, most natural part of the day.
- 16:00 – 17:00
Sunset cruise back to harbor
We turn the boat back toward Cat Ba and cruise slowly home as the sun drops behind the karsts. Drinks on the deck, music if you want it, and one last chance for photos before we dock.
- 17:00 – 17:30
Disembark & drop-off
Arrive back at Cai Beo Harbor, jump in our car, and we'll drive you back to your accommodation. Tour ends at your door.
What's included
Not included
Quick facts
- Pick-up
- 08:00 – 08:30
- Return
- 17:00
- Duration
- 8.5 hours
- Group size
- 20–30 people
- Food
- Lunch included. Vegi/Vegan options available.
- Children's policy
- Children under 5 travel free. Ages 5–10 pay 50% of the adult fare. From 11 the full adult fare applies.
Cancellation & changes
Applies to every tour and transfer unless the product page states a stricter schedule. Counted from the moment we receive your written cancellation request.
- 14 days or more before departure100% refund
- 7 – 13 days before departure70% refund
- 3 – 6 days before departure50% refund
- 24 – 72 hours before departure30% refund
- Less than 24 hours before departure, same-day cancellation or no-show0% refund
Refunds never exceed the amount Cat Ba Outdoors actually recovers from the supplier. Amounts already paid or committed to a supplier on a non-refundable basis, and bank, payment-gateway, currency-exchange and refund-transfer fees, are not returned. A refund is confirmed only after the supplier has released the funds.
If we, the operator or the authorities cancel a departure (typhoon, rough seas, boat ban, port or ferry closure) we first offer a new date or a credit for a future booking. If neither suits you, we refund what you paid for the undelivered services less any documented third-party costs already incurred for your booking that the supplier does not return — itemised on your refund statement. Reasonable changes made for safety (route, boat, vehicle, departure time, an equivalent service) do not in themselves entitle you to a refund.
Name changes, extra guests, fewer guests and date changes are handled on request, subject to the supplier's approval and any price difference; fewer guests is a partial cancellation on the schedule above.
Guest stories
Written by guests after this trip — unedited.
- ★★★★★
Absolutely fantastic experience! I had such a great time and would definitely recommend Catba Outdoors. Our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable, spoke English well, and explained everything clearly. He shared lots of interesting information along the way and made the whole trip fun and relaxed. The boat trip was really enjoyable, with absolutely beautiful scenery throughout. Lunch was included and everything was well organised. It was a great day, very interesting and a lovely experience from start to finish. Highly recommended! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Photo gallery
Guest stories
How was Full-Day Lan Ha Bay Tour?
A few honest lines help the next traveller choose well, and tell our crew what mattered. Your story goes up exactly as you wrote it, under the name you choose. We read it first — we never edit it.
Plan the rest of your trip
Pair this tour with where to sleep and how to get to Cat Ba — booked through one operator, all in one place.
Lan Ha Floating Homestay
Sleep on the bay — limestone cliffs all around. 6 rooms · free kayak & SUP for guests · 2km from Cat Ba town.
See the homestay →Hanoi → Cat Ba in 3.5 hours
Bus and limousine transfers from Hanoi to Cat Ba. Check departure times and pickup details for your selected vehicle before booking.
See route & vehicles →