The 15 Best Cat Ba & Lan Ha Bay Tours

1.Amanda Cruise – Ha Long, Lan Ha Bay – All Inclusive 2D1N & 3D2N

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4,358 reviews · from $56Our pick

Travel from Hanoi’s Old Quarter for an overnight Ha Long or Lan Ha Bay cruise with an en-suite cabin, meals, cave visits, and activities such as kayaking, swimming, tai chi, and squid fishing. The route depends on your chosen package. Past departures have had guides including Alex, Dan, Hannah, and Roxanne, but guide assignments can vary.

“We have marked this down one star as the company emailed us with one day's notice to say they were changing our boat to the Hera Grand. The reason being that the one that had previously been confirmed to us was then allocated to a larger group that had come in. That may be good business for them, but isn't customer friendly for people who have booked so far in advance. Other than that, we still enjoyed the trip. The cabin was very nice and the food was excellent. All staff were efficient, friendly and approachable. One big drawback was the lack of internet, even though it is advertised as…”

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2.Lan Ha – Ha Long Bay – Dau Be island 2D/1N from Cat Ba in less touristy areas.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,460 reviews · from $170

From Cat Ba, spend two days cruising Lan Ha and Ha Long bays, with visits to caves, a floating fishing village, Dau Be Island, and Ba Trai Dao Beach. Kayak through Ba Ham Lake’s lagoons and tunnels, swim when conditions allow, and sleep in a cabin aboard the boat. Guides have included Ben, Hang, Tom, Tony, and Danny; the group is capped at 18.

“Great night on the boat, food was delicious, Tony our guide was knowledgeable and funny. So lucky to see the Langurs ! Loved this tour”

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3.Full day trip to Lan Ha-Ha Long Bay from Cat Ba, avoid the crowds

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,317 reviews · from $41

Leave Cat Ba at 8:30 am for a nine-hour boat trip through Cai Beo floating village, Lan Ha Bay, and Ha Long Bay. Expect 1.5 to 2 hours of kayaking through rock arches and caves, beach stops for swimming, and lunch on board. Guides such as Hang, Jack, Bee, and Tony have earned praise, though your guide will vary.

“This was incredible! No crowds as promised and our guide, Hang, was absolutely lovely (knowledgeable, fun, and so caring—he truly went above and beyond for each of us). The first swim spot in particular was like something out of a dreRead more”

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4.2-Day Halong & Lan Ha Bay 5-Star Cruise with Balcony

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 3,300 reviews · from $188

Travel from Hanoi to a one-night cruise through Ha Long and Lan Ha bays. Expect a private balcony cabin, meals aboard, a sunset spring-roll class, and activities such as kayaking, swimming, tai chi, squid fishing, or a bamboo-boat cave visit. The exact stops vary by cruise and conditions, so check which route is planned before you book.

“The whole experience was wonderful and we would recommend it. The only thing I would say is that it isn’t two days but more like 24 hours. It would have been better to have a full second day rather than only til 11 am”

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5.Mon Chéri Cruise 5 star: Unique 2 Days Tuan Chau – Halong bay – Lan Ha Bay

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,422 reviews · from $195

Set sail from Got Pier near Hai Phong for a two-day, one-night cruise through Lan Ha and Ha Long bays. Expect scenic sailing, cave visits, a traditional bamboo boat ride, time for kayaking and swimming, Vietnamese meals, and an overnight cabin. Hanoi transfers cost extra, and the group is capped at 35.

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6.Doris Cruise 5 star cruise 2 days visiting Halong Bay Lan Ha Bay private balcony

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,338 reviews · from $235

Leave Hanoi’s Old Quarter by limousine bus for a two-day Doris Cruise through Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay. Your cabin has a private balcony, air conditioning, and a shower. The trip includes kayaking or a rowboat, a visit to Dark and Bright Cave, meals, and onboard tai chi and a cooking class. Guides including Emily, Mona, and Jessica have been praised for attentive service.

“Very nice rooms , vegan food, well planned activities and the sundeck.”

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7.3-Day Ninh Binh, Ha Long, & Lan Ha Bay 5-Star Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,401 reviews · from $313

Travel from Hanoi to Bai Dinh, Trang An, and Mua Cave, then spend a night in Ninh Binh and a night aboard a five-star Lan Ha Bay cruise. Expect a river boat ride, a steep viewpoint climb, kayaking or cave visits, and meals along the way. Guides may include Peter, James, Dat, or Leo, but assignments can vary.

“Loved the cruise. Activities, food everything was great. The staff was very attentive and the rooms were beautiful”

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8.Mon Chéri Cruises 5 star: Amazing 3 days exploring Halong & Cat Ba island

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,280 reviews · from $360

Sail for three days and two nights aboard Mon Chéri, visiting Lan Ha Bay, Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba Island. Expect a private balcony cabin, meals, a guide, and activities that can include kayaking, swimming and cave visits. A Hanoi limousine transfer is available for an extra $20 each way. Halal food can be arranged.

“Booking this cruise was extremely easy. The shuttle service picked us up at our hotel right on time. The shuttle had wifi and massage chairs. We were greeted at the ship with a welcome beverage and served a lovely buffet lunch. Cruise direRead more”

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9.Lan Ha, HaLong bay full day- biking, kayaking, lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,166 reviews · 1 day · from $22Best value

From Cat Ba, spend a full day cruising Lan Ha and Ha Long bays, visiting caves by local bamboo boat, swimming when conditions allow, and cycling to Viet Hai village for a fish massage. A guide such as Tony, Kai or B leads the day. Kayaking is currently replaced by the bamboo boat, so confirm the activity before booking.

“It was amazing! You get a lot for your money - shuttle service, guide, food, … were great”

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10.2-Day Lan Ha & Halong Bay 5 Stars Cruise with Balcony

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,147 reviews · from $162

Spend one night in a private-balcony cabin as your cruise moves through Lan Ha and Ha Long Bay. Expect kayaking or a bamboo-boat cave visit, swimming stops, a cooking class, dinner onboard, and morning Tai Chi. Blue Asia Tours coordinates the trip; Lucas is often the contact for transport and special requests, while onboard crew and cruise managers vary.

“Kayaking and swimming was super fun and the hospital cave was super cool! Henry made the experience even more amazing!! You can really tell that he loves his job and his enthusiasm and energy made the whole cruise magical! YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY GO ON THE CRUISE WITH HENRYYYY!!!!”

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11.Best Lan Ha Bay Cat Ba Cruise 2 Days 1 Night Less touristy

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,055 reviews · from $87

Spend two days among Lan Ha Bay’s limestone islets, with a stop at Ba Trai Dao beach and a visit to Viet Hai Village on Cat Ba Island. The trip includes meals and a shared cabin, while kayaking, biking and entrance fees cost extra. Guides on different departures have included Tony, Hai and Shin.

“Amazing tour. Itinerary was perfect and our tour guide Tony was great. The scenery is absolutely stunning. Only negative aside from the usual tourist trap bus stops along the way (unavoidable unless you book private transport) was the food oRead more”

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12.Lan Ha Bay full-day tour from Hanoi, Hai Phong – Serenity Cruises

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 958 reviews · from $48

Spend a long day reaching Lan Ha Bay from Hanoi, then cruise past Cai Beo fishing village, visit Viet Hai by bicycle or electric car, and stop for kayaking, swimming, jumping, and sliding. The $48 tour includes transfers, lunch, entry fees, and water. Guides such as Binh, Flora, and Tam have earned praise for their care and smooth organization.

“This was a great tour - Lan Ha Bay is beautiful and peaceful, the boat was comfortable and the cable car, cycling and kayaking were also fun. In particular, we really enjoyed the day with Flora, our guide, she was fun and kind and made sure everything ran smoothly.”

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13.Doris Cruise 5 star cruise 3 days visiting Halong – Lan Ha Bay

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 652 reviews · from $425

Travel from Hanoi by limousine for a three-day, two-night cruise through Lan Ha Bay, with kayaking or a local bamboo boat, swimming, a visit to Viet Hai Village by bicycle, and Dark and Bright Cave. An English-speaking guide accompanies the trip. Lucien, also known as Michael McIntyre, has been singled out for warm service, though guide assignments can vary.

“A great 2 night. Lots of activities, great food and plenty of it. The views are stunning. The staff are amazing. A shout out to Lucien aka as Michael McIntyre”

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14.From Ha Noi/Cat Ba: Full-Day Cruise to Lan Ha bay – Ha Long Bay

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 504 reviews · from $32

Spend about nine hours cruising from Cat Ba through Lan Ha and Ha Long bays, with a visit to Cai Beo fishing village, kayaking through caves, a lagoon swim and lunch on board. The trip includes snorkeling gear, life jackets and a dry bag. Guides have included Jack and Tiny Tiger, though your guide may differ.

“Great tour! The lenght and pace of the tour was pretty much perfect - had sufficient time to lay back and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Kayak ride and the fish farm were cool as well. Food was good and plenty. And the tour guide was greRead more”

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15.3-Day Hanoi-Ninh Binh-Halong-Lan Ha Bay 5 Star Cruise & Balcony

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 485 reviews · from $265

Spend three days traveling from Hanoi through Ninh Binh to a one-night cruise in Halong or Lan Ha Bay. Expect temples, a sampan ride, caves, kayaking and long bus transfers. The package includes meals, a private balcony cabin and an English-speaking guide, though your guide and boat may change between stops.

“The 3-Day Hanoi-Ninh Binh-Halong-Lan Ha Bay 5-Star Cruise is an experience I would highly recommend to anyone looking to explore Vietnam in style. With great service, amazing food, and an incredibly friendly staff, this cruise exceeded all my expectations. It truly felt like a luxurious escape into one of the most beautiful parts of the world. Don't miss out on this incredible journey!”

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