Speedboat out to a floating platform
You choose where to paddle
Bay ticket included
This is the short way onto Lan Ha Bay from Viet Hai: about four hours, and you paddle yourselves. The electric cart takes you from the house to the pier, a speedboat carries you out to a floating platform on the bay where the kayaks are kept, and from there the water is yours to explore until the speedboat brings you back. There is no guide in the kayak with you, so it suits people who are comfortable paddling on their own and would rather set their own pace than follow a group. Life jackets are provided, and the raft staff give you a short safety briefing and show you the route before you paddle off.
Included
- Electric cart between Lan Homestay and Viet Hai pier, both ways
- Speedboat from the pier to the floating platform and back
- Kayak hire at the platform
- Lan Ha Bay entrance ticket
- Life jackets and a safety briefing at the raft
Not Included
- A guide on the water — you paddle on your own
- Meals and drinks
- Personal expenses
- Tips
Itinerary
Gallery
What to Bring
- Swimwear and a towel
- Sunscreen, hat and sunglasses
- Drinking water
- A dry bag for your phone
- Sandals or shoes with straps
Half day or full day
| Half-day kayak | Full-day boat tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Time | About 4 hours, morning or afternoon | 09:30 to 15:30 from Viet Hai |
| On the water | Speedboat out, then your own kayak | Wooden boat, with a kayaking stop |
| Guide | None on the water; safety briefing and life jackets at the raft | English-speaking guide |
| Lunch | Not included | Cooked on board |
| Best for | Confident paddlers with half a day free | A full day on the bay with everything arranged |
If you would rather have a guide, lunch and a boat to rest on, the full-day Lan Ha Bay boat tour is the better choice. For a walk instead of the water, see Navy Peak, and for everything else in the valley, things to do in Viet Hai.
Half a day free in Viet Hai?
Tell us the day before and whether you prefer the morning or the afternoon.
| When it runs | Morning or afternoon, your choice, on any day the water is open. Tell us the day before. |
| What it costs | 800,000 VND (≈$32) per person, for two people or more. The Lan Ha Bay ticket, the electric cart, the speedboat and the kayak are all inside that price. |
| Who it suits | Guests staying with us in Viet Hai who are happy paddling without a guide. |
| Paying | Nothing is charged online. You settle at the homestay before you leave — see payment information. |
| If the weather turns | We do not sail when the harbour master closes the water. A cancelled trip is moved to the next clear day or refunded — we never run a boat we would not put our own family on. |
| Getting here | Three to three and a half hours from Hanoi, then about half an hour to the door. We arrange the whole chain — see getting to Lan Homestay. |
| Who answers you | Chilly and the family, at the house in Viet Hai. No agency in between. Usually within a few hours, Vietnam time (GMT+7). |
How much is the half-day kayak tour?
800,000 VND (≈$32) per person, with a minimum of two people. That covers the electric cart, the speedboat both ways, kayak hire and the Lan Ha Bay entrance ticket.
Is there a guide in the kayak?
No. The speedboat takes you to the floating platform and collects you again, and in between you paddle on your own. If you want a guide with you on the water, take the full-day boat tour instead.
Can I go in the afternoon?
Yes. The trip runs in the morning or the afternoon and takes about four hours either way. Tell us the day before which you prefer.