2-Day Lan Ha Bay Cruise from Hanoi with Cat Ba and Dark & Bright Cave

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Explore Trung Trang Cave in the middle of Cat Ba National Park
• 02 Kayak and swim in the green emerald waters of Tra Bau, Lan Ha Bay
• 03 Cruise through untouched areas of the World Heritage Ha Long Bay ensemble
• 04 Discover Dark & Bright Cave by bamboo boat or kayak

Discover the beautiful nature of Lan Ha Bay on a luxury La Pinta Cruise, exploring untouched areas within the World Heritage Ha Long Bay ensemble. Visit Trung Trang Cave in the heart of Cat Ba National Park, enjoy kayaking and swimming in the Tra Bau area, and learn to make traditional Vietnamese dishes during an onboard cooking show. You will also explore Dark & Bright Cave by bamboo boat or kayak while taking in the bay's breathtaking seascapes and limestone islets.

6:00 - Wake up in the middle of the bay, breathe in the fresh air, watch the sunrise on a broad horizon, and admire the breathtaking seascape.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 2 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Luxury

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Halong, Hanoi, Hai Phong, Cát Bà Island

Languages English, French

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Hanoi to Lan Ha Bay via Cat Ba National Park

• 9:00-9:30 - Meet your tour guide near Hanoi Old Quarter, where the La Pinta Limousine service team will welcome you. Check the guest list and personal belongings before departure.
• 9:30-11:45 - Travel along the new National Highway 5B from Hanoi to Cat Hai Island.
• 11:45 - Arrive at Got Pier and the La Pinta Lounge, where the staff will offer a tea break with tea, lemon juice, or purified bottled water.
• 12:00 - Transfer to La Pinta Cruise.
• 12:15 - Board the La Pinta Cruise, enjoy a welcome drink, and receive a cruise briefing and safety instructions before check-in.
• 12:30 - Savor a delicious lunch at the restaurant, with menus mainly featuring Vietnamese specialties and some international cuisine, while admiring the canals and islets along the way, such as Da Chong, Con Vit, and Gia Luan.
• 14:15 - Travel by bus to Trung Trang Cave on Cat Ba Island, located in the middle of Cat Ba National Park and surrounded by Kim Giao forest. After visiting Trung Trang Cave, take a few short trekking routes at the entrance to Cat Ba National Park to learn more about the distinct formation of the tropical forest.
• 16:00 - Seasonal options:
• Wintertime (from 1st Nov to 31st Dec and 1st Jan to 28th Feb).
  • 16:00 - Return to La Pinta Cruise after visiting Trung Trang Cave. Relax on the sundeck and admire the incredible landscape of thousands of stone islets rising from the middle of the bay. Take photos of the sunset views.
  • 17:30 - Cruise to the Dark & Bright Cave area and dock overnight.
• Summertime (1st Mar to 30th Oct).
  • 16:00 - Sightseeing at Lan Ha Bay.
  • 15:00 - La Pinta Cruise reaches the less populated area of Tra Bau in Lan Ha Bay. Enjoy the green emerald and calm waters by swimming and kayaking.
  • 18:30 - Join the La Pinta chefs for a cooking show, where you can learn how to make some traditional Vietnamese dishes and taste them. You are also welcome to take part in the special activity or any activity of your choice.
  • 19:30 - Dinner is served on board.
  • 20:30-23:00 - After dinner, enjoy the bay at night from the top deck, relax with romantic music, watch a magic show, enjoy drinks from the bar while watching Top Gear Vietnam Special by BBC, or try your luck at squid fishing. You may also relax with drinks outside your cabin's private balcony. Overnight on board.

2

Day 02

Sunrise on the Bay and Dark & Bright Cave

• 6:00 - Wake up in the middle of the bay, breathe in the fresh air, watch the sunrise on a broad horizon, and admire the breathtaking seascape.
• 6:30 - Spend about 10 minutes travelling by tender to the nearby fishing area. The tender keeps a distance of 20-30 m (60-90 ft) from the Chã. Observe a man and a woman in classic fishery costumes netting for about 20 minutes. You can take photos and video clips of this performance or of the limestone islets on the bay. Chã is a traditional small boat made of a timber frame and bamboo coated with natural plant compound or an asphalt mixture.
• 7:00 - Return to the cruise for breakfast with a light buffet.
• 8:00 - Transfer to Dark & Bright Cave and explore this lovely cave by bamboo boat.
• Option 1: Guests may choose to visit Dark & Bright Cave by bamboo boat, rowed by local people.
• Option 2: Guests may choose to go kayaking to visit the cave.
• 8:45 - Return to the cruise and join the special activity or any activity of your choice on board.
• 9:15 - Pack and check out.
• 9:45 - Enjoy a farewell brunch at the restaurant. Observe the scenery from different angles and take photos as the boat slowly cruises back to the pier, passing many islets of Halong Bay along the way.
• 11:45 - La Pinta Cruise returns to Got Pier.
• 12:00 - Disembark and say goodbye to the cruise.
• 12:15 - Transfer back to Hanoi by limo service.
• 14:30 - Arrive in Hanoi's Old Quarter and drop off at your hotel. The trip ends here.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• Entrance fees
• Luxury minivan Hanoi - Hai Phong - Hanoi (FOC until now)
• English- and French-speaking Vietnamese tour guide
• Welcome drink and hot/cold towels
• Spacious air-conditioned cabins and en-suite bathrooms
• 01 breakfast, 01 lunch, 01 dinner, and 01 brunch on board
• Kayaking or a bamboo boat ride, cooking class, and swimming
• Squid fishing, music entertainment, and satellite TV (subject to weather conditions)

What's Not Included

• Airfare and visa arrangements
• Beverages, tips, gratuities, and other personal expenses
• Surcharge for Xmas, Solar New Year's Day, and Lunar New Year's Day
• All other services not stated above

Know before you go

• Pick-up and drop-off services in Hanoi's Old Quarter apply only to tourists who book shuttle bus transfers.
• Special activity is subject to weather or seasonal conditions.
• Cruise itineraries and schedules are subject to change without notice depending on the weather and operating conditions.
• Please get in touch when you arrive in Hanoi to reconfirm your departure date.
• Đá Chồng - Stacking Stones is a destination in Quang Ninh province, well known for adventure tours. Con Vịt - The Duck is an islet shaped like a duck. Gia Luận is a village on Cat Ba Island, the third most significant island in Vietnam, under Hai Phong governance.
• Trang Valley is the largest valley on Cat Ba Island. The valley covers an area of approximately 300 hectares, has a depth of 10 m to 30 m, and is located in the middle of Cat Ba National Park. Trung Trang Cave measures 300 m in length and penetrates the mountains. The cave was formed by nature more than 2000 years ago. It has many stalactites in various shapes that awe and inspire visitors to use their imagination.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Hanoi, Hoàn Kiếm, Hanoi, Vietnam

Tour start

Hanoi, Hoàn Kiếm, Hanoi, Vietnam

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.