Last updated on May 25th, 2026 at 03:41 am
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I was going to Ninh Binh from Hanoi a day before…
While sitting on the bus in my free time, I thought I would take advantage of the next day by booking my Lan Ha Bay tour online. I realized that after I got off the bus, my mind would fully shift to enjoying the present. So, that was the moment to make a decision.
From word of mouth, I heard of Lan Ha Bay and how secluded it is from Halong Bay which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Considering the quietness and less crowd, I quickly decided to take the Lan Ha Bay tour. I trusted my gut feeling without any high-end expectations about the Lan Ha Bay tour. However, the options are very limited because of the Tet time. In a moment, I came across the Lan Ha Bay day tour by Serenity Explorer Cruise from Hanoi for Rs. 6125 (18,23,603 VND)
I felt relieved and satisfied!
Table of Contents
Lan Ha Bay Day Tour — Quick Facts
| Tour booked on | Klook — Serenity Explorer Cruise |
| Cost | ₹6,125 (approximately $73 USD) |
| Duration | Full day from Hanoi — approximately 13–14 hours total |
| Departure | 7:00 a.m from Hanoi |
| Return | 8:00–9:00 PM to Hanoi |
| What’s included | Bus transfer, boat, kayaking, lunch, guide |
| Distance from Hanoi | 180 km — approximately 3.5 hours by bus |
| Best time | October to April — avoid monsoon |
Note – I did this tour in 2025 Feb, the cost might change, please check before confirming.
The Day to Visit Lan Ha Bay
Just like how the Ninh Binh day started. I woke up at 6 a.m., got ready, and moved out of my dorm room like a thief!
Then I went downstairs and had my breakfast. Meanwhile, I got the call, “I am waiting outside your hostel”.
The lady in the two-wheeler arrived, and we passed through the streets and reached the main road where the bus was already awaiting.
I was the last one to the pick-up as the bus was packed. I got a seat in the last row of the bus.
Interestingly, all I could glance at was that the majority of the bus was full of Indian tourists.
One such couple sat next to me, and I was half asleep. They sounded like they were fighting over breakfast, and I got irritated.
When the bus stopped for breakfast, I sat ahead on the bus where one more seat was vacant. Also, I was interested to clearly hearing the noteworthy information the guide was sharing. So, that seat was good enough for the remaining journey.
The guide highlighted the day’s schedule:
- Arrival from Hanoi to Haiphong City by Bus
- Take a ferry from Haiphong City to Cat Hai and then cruise to Cat Ba Island
- Explore Lan Ha Bay by Cruise
- Cycling at Cat Ba Island
- Buffet Lunch in the Cruise
- Kayaking
- Swimming
- Return from Cat Ba Island to Hanoi
The schedule was packed and I stood overly excited!
In about an hour, we arrived at the Haiphong City.
Haiphong City to Cat Hai
From Haiphong City, we took a ferry to Cat Hai, the charges were covered by the tour operator. The ride was adventurous!
In about 15 minutes, we reached Cat Hai. There, we have another bus waiting for us.
Lan Ha Bay vs Ha Long Bay — Which One Should You Choose?
Most people book Ha Long Bay because it’s famous. Lan Ha Bay is quieter, less crowded, and arguably more beautiful — with the same limestone karsts and emerald water. The key difference is Ha Long Bay gets hundreds of boats daily. Lan Ha Bay gets lesser.
If you’re visiting from India on a budget, Lan Ha Bay via Cat Ba Island is significantly cheaper — my tour including boat, kayaking, and lunch cost ₹6,125. Ha Long Bay overnight cruises start at ₹12,000+.
| Lan Ha Bay | Ha Long Bay | |
|---|---|---|
| Crowd | Low — far fewer boats | High — hundreds of boats daily |
| Scenery | Same limestone karsts, same emerald water | Same |
| Price | Lower — day tours from ₹5,000–7,000 | Higher — especially overnight cruises |
| Accessibility | Via Cat Ba Island | Direct from Halong City |
| Best for | Day trip from Hanoi | Overnight cruise experience |
| UNESCO status | No | Yes |
My recommendation: Lan Ha Bay for first-timers who want the iconic landscape without the crowd.
How to Book Lan Ha Bay tour from Hanoi?
I booked Lan Ha Bay tour through Klook while sitting on a bus to Ninh Binh — which tells you how straightforward the process is.
Search “Lan Ha Bay day tour from Hanoi” on Klook and filter by rating. Most reputable operators include:
- Bus transfer from Hanoi to the port
- Boat trip through the bay
- Kayaking
- Lunch on board
- English-speaking guide
- Return transfer
Tet warning: I booked during Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) and options were very limited. If you’re travelling around Tet — book at least 2 weeks in advance. Outside of Tet, booking 2–3 days ahead is usually fine.
Cost: Approximately ₹5,500–7,000 for a day tour including everything listed above. The exact price I paid was ₹6,125.
The Start of Lan Ha Bay Tour
The bus took us to the harbor, where we had the Serenity Explorer Cruise waiting for us for Lan Hay Bay.
We’ll get a warm welcome on the cruise and get seated.
Soon, we were offered welcome drinks and everybody cheered for this fantastic cruise journey to see the majestic Lan Ha Bay!
I was thrilled to tour the cruise since I was experiencing it for the first time. So, I went to every corner of the cruise.
It was an incredible feeling, and the views were spectacular from everywhere. The greenish-lookalike ocean and splendid limestone mountains will undoubtedly leave you awestruck!
The guide quickly reminded us about the cycling activity coming next.
After exploring the cruise and seeing the magnificent surroundings.
Soon, we reached Cat Ba Island.
My Film on Solo in Vietnam
I have made a film on my Solo journey in Vietnam. Please watch and let me know your thoughts in the comments. Lan Ha Bay had played a huge role in filming my experience.
Cat Ba Island
Our guide was a cheerful and lively person who shared plenty of interesting insights.
One of them was about the name “Cat Ba.” He explained that “Cat” means “many” and “Ba” means “women,” so it translates to “Many Women Island.”
With a playful smile, he turned to the single travelers in the group and joked, “This is Many Women Island – you might find your match here!”
He then explained the real reason behind the name. Long ago, men would leave the island to work, while women stayed back to farm and take care of their families. That’s how the island got its name.
Exploring Cat Ba Island on Two Wheels
As we arrived at the harbor, we hopped onto e-rickshaws, which took us to a briefing point. The guide gave us a quick introduction to Cat Ba Island, setting the stage for our adventure.
Then came the exciting part – cycling!
Cat Ba Island has very little traffic, and two-wheelers seem to be the primary mode of transport. We rode through lush green fields and quiet village roads, enjoying the perfect weather. A drizzle even added to the charm.
After about 15-20 minutes of cycling, some people stopped for a fish massage. But I felt like exploring more, so I decided to cycle to the harbor, about 4-5 km away.
The island is mostly covered with dense forests, making the ride even more scenic. I stopped at several spots along the way to take photos.
Indeed, in between, I felt a little worried about the direction as I couldn’t spot anyone behind or ahead of me. But, I remembered the guide told, that you can’t get lost here as all the roads lead you in only one direction.
Reaching the Harbor
I was the first to reach the harbor and parked my cycle there. After a while, the others arrived, and we regrouped to board the cruise for the next part of our adventure.
It was a fun and refreshing ride—the main highlight of my visit to Cat Ba Island!
Buffet Lunch
But before lunch, I wanted to take aerial shots.
Honestly, I was a bit scared to fly my drone while the cruise was moving. The guide also suggested flying cautiously, as previously, someone lost their drone while flying. But I kept my belief and showed courage.
I flew my drone and recorded the clips. Everything was going perfectly!
The jaw-dropping beautiful surroundings were mind-blowing.
The problem came when I decided to land my drone.
The cruise was moving, and I tried to land my drone. But since the cruise was moving, it was challenging to land.
I hurriedly went upstairs to the cruise captain and asked if he could slow down the cruise. He agreed and slowed down, almost stopped. Then, I quickly landed my drone safely.
Phew!
I came back to have my lunch.
One side was for Vegetarians and the other for Non-Vegetarians. I tried the Vegetarian meal, it was fresh and tasty.
After the meal, it was time for kayaking.
Kayaking was not in my destiny
At first, I wanted to go kayaking, but I soon realized I didn’t have a partner to join me.
So instead, I decided to fly my drone. Watching the others kayak from a bird’s-eye view was an amazing experience. Seeing them paddle through the water from above gave me a whole new perspective.
It was truly a satisfying moment.
I enjoyed watching people swim
After that, it was time for swimming.
To get into the water, you could either slide down or jump off the cruise. At first, many were hesitant—the height and the risk of injury made them nervous. Even though life jackets were provided, some still had doubts.
Then, one brave person took the first leap. Slowly, others started gaining confidence and followed.
After a while, this thrilling experience came to an end.
Also read, 6 Days, less than 60k, My Epic Vietnam Travel Budget Story
Back to Hanoi
Every good day also comes to an end, and so does this.
It’s time to head back to the Cat Hai and to follow the same route.
We reached Cat Hai at 5-5:30 p.m, took the ferry, and reached Haiphong City. From Haiphong City, we took the bus and reached Hanoi in the next 2 hrs.
I was glad, indeed, that decision to book made me fall in love with Lan Ha Bay!
Please share your thoughts with me in the comments. I would be happy to help!
FAQ
- Is Lan Ha Bay worth visiting? Yes — especially over Ha Long Bay for travellers wanting fewer crowds and lower costs.
- How far is Lan Ha Bay from Hanoi? Approximately 180 km — about 3.5 hours by bus to Cat Ba Island, then boat.
- Can you do Lan Ha Bay as a day trip from Hanoi? Yes. Most day tours depart Hanoi at 7–8 AM and return by 7–8 PM.
Read my complete Vietnam 6-day cost breakdown here.
