Quiet Bay Overnight Cruise — 3 Days 2 Nights
Two nights at anchor on the quiet side of Lan Ha — Viet Hai on foot and by bike, Tien Duc cave, lunch with a local family, kayaking at Dau Be
Three days at the pace the bay deserves. The same quiet route as our 2-day cruise, but with the time to go properly ashore: a full morning in Viet Hai by bike, a walk into Cat Ba National Park to the Tien Duc cave, and lunch in an old house with the family who lives there. Afternoons are for kayaking and swimming at Dau Be, the far corner most boats never reach; evenings for BBQ on deck, squid fishing, and two nights asleep among the karsts. On the last morning the cruise threads as close as it can to the prettiest islets and stops at a floating house where local families raise fish.
Highlights
- Sails the quiet side of Lan Ha Bay — no cave queues, no cruise traffic
- Floating fishing village of more than 400 houses
- Kayaking, bay swimming and a wild, empty beach
- Sunrise over the karsts, then Tai Chi on the sundeck
- Vietnamese cooking demonstration before dinner
- Viet Hai ancient village in Cat Ba National Park by bike or electric car
- Night squid fishing off the deck
- Tien Duc cave walk in Cat Ba National Park
- Lunch with a local family in an old Viet Hai house
- BBQ dinner on deck on the first night
Daily itinerary
Times are approximate and may shift slightly with weather, tide, and group pace. The order of activities stays the same.
- Day 1 · 12:00
Cai Beo Cruise Port
Our crew meets you at Cai Beo Cruise Port in Cat Ba town. Settle into your cabin, welcome drink, and the cruise briefing.
- Day 1 · 13:15
Lunch under way
Lunch is served as the boat heads out into Lan Ha Bay.
- Day 1 · 15:00
Ba Trai Dao or Dau Be
Deeper into the quiet bay: kayak among the karsts, take the tender through the rock passages, or swim off the untouched beach.
- Day 1 · 17:30
Cooking demonstration & BBQ dinner
Freshen up, then a Vietnamese cooking demonstration on the sundeck before BBQ dinner on board. Squid fishing afterwards. Overnight at anchor.
- Day 2 · 06:30
Sunrise & Tai Chi
Sunrise over the bay around 5am if you want it, Tai Chi on the sundeck at 06:30, breakfast at 07:30 with the morning view.
- Day 2 · 08:30
Viet Hai village by bike
Ashore for the morning: cycle through the rainforest tunnel into Viet Hai, the ancient village inside Cat Ba National Park.
- Day 2 · 10:00
National Park walk & lunch with locals
Walk into Cat Ba National Park to visit the Tien Duc cave, then lunch in an old village house with the family who lives there.
- Day 2 · 13:30
Sail to Dau Be
Back to the pier and out again toward the Dau Be area — the far, quiet corner of the bay.
- Day 2 · 15:00
Kayak, swim, sunset
Kayaking or swimming, then back toward Lan Ha for the night. Sunset from the sundeck, dinner at 19:20, squid fishing after. Overnight on board.
- Day 3 · 07:00
Tai Chi & breakfast
Tai Chi on the sundeck, then breakfast on board around 07:00.
- Day 3 · 08:00
Islets & the floating fish farm
The cruise sails as close as it can to the most beautiful islets and rocks, and stops at a floating house where local families raise fish.
- Day 3 · 10:00
Check out
Time for a shower before checking out of the cabin as the cruise returns to port.
- Day 3 · 11:45
Disembark at Cai Beo
Back alongside at Cai Beo Cruise Port around 11:45 – 12:00.
What's included
Not included
Quick facts
- Pick-up
- 12:00 boarding at Cai Beo Cruise Port (Cat Ba town)
- Return
- 11:45 – 12:00 Day 3 (Cai Beo Cruise Port)
- Duration
- 48 hours
- Group size
- Boutique en-suite cabins · A/C · double, twin and balcony triple
- Food
- Included: all meals from lunch on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 3, plus a BBQ dinner on the first night and lunch with a local family in Viet Hai village. Vietnamese seafood menus cooked on board; sunset snacks of rice cakes, prawn crackers and seasonal fruit. Vegetarian and vegan menus on request. Drinks are not included — there is a bar on board.
Optional add-ons
- Return bus Hanoi ⇄ Cat Ba (round trip)+650.000 VND / person
- One-way bus Hanoi → Cat Ba (or return leg only)+350.000 VND / person
- Upgrade to a cabin with private balcony+800.000 VND / person
- Honeymoon / birthday celebration package+1.000.000 VND / tour
Cancellation policy
- More than 14 days before: 100% refund
- 5–14 days before: 100% refund (processed within 48 hours)
- Less than 5 days before: non-refundable
Photo gallery
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 + speedboat combo from Hanoi Old Quarter. Three daily departures · pickup from your hotel · drop-off at Cat Ba Town.
See route & vehicles →