Lan Ha Bay & Tours

Cat Ba – Gateway to Lan Ha Bay & Ha Long Bay: New 2026 Inter-Bay Cruise Routes

13
Jul

Big news for travelers in 2026: Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay are officially connected. On 20 April 2026, the first cruise linking the two bays set sail, opening a seamless journey across the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago. Four inter-bay cruise routes are now licensed, and in the first month alone more than 2,200 guests — mostly international visitors — made the crossing. And here is the best part: Viet Hai village, home of Lan Homestay, is a stop on these very routes.

The must-do trip: Cat Ba – Lan Ha Bay day tour

You don’t need an overnight cruise to fall in love with Lan Ha Bay. Departing right from Cat Ba, our guests’ favorite full-day boat tour covers every highlight of the bay:

Kayaking with friends on the emerald water of Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba
Kayaking on the emerald water of Lan Ha Bay
  • Cai Beo floating fishing village — Vietnam’s oldest fishing village with thousands of years of history. Kayak among the floating houses and watch daily fishing life up close.
  • Monkey Island (Cat Dua) — meet the playful monkeys, hike to the viewpoint for a panorama of the bay, and swim at the white-sand beach.
  • Bright & Dark Cave — paddle through a ~70m rock tunnel into a mirror-calm lagoon walled by limestone cliffs. Many guests call it “paradise on the sea”.
  • Ba Trai Dao (Three Peaches) Beach — three crescent-shaped sandy coves tied to a romantic legend, the prettiest swimming spot in Lan Ha Bay.
  • Floating fish farms — visit a family fish raft, pick your own fresh seafood and enjoy it right on the water.
  • Viet Hai village — finish in our village: cycle or ride an electric buggy through 5 km of Cat Ba National Park forest, try the famous fish massage, share a home-cooked dinner and stay the night at Lan Homestay.
Kayaks at the entrance of Bright and Dark Cave, Lan Ha Bay
Paddling into Bright & Dark Cave

Daily departures from Viet Hai / Cai Beo pier — Lan Homestay guests get priority seats and the best rates.

New in 2026: the four Ha Long – Lan Ha inter-bay cruise routes

Under the new agreement between Quang Ninh and Hai Phong, four overnight cruise itineraries now link the two bays (source: Vietnam News Agency):

Route Ha Long Bay 3 – Lan Ha (operating — richest experience)

Cua Van floating cultural center → Tien Ong Cave (an archaeological site 8,000–10,000 years old) → Ba Ham Lake → Ba Men Temple, then into Lan Ha: Tra Bau fishing village → Bright & Dark Cave → Ba Trai Dao → Viet Hai entrance → Turtle Islet → Cai Beo village.

Floating fishing village with boats in Lan Ha Bay near Cat Ba
Life on the water at the floating fishing village

Route Ha Long Bay 4 – Lan Ha (culture & activities)

Co Cave → Thay Cave → Cap La Cave → Vong Vieng fishing village, then Bright & Dark Cave → Ong Cam → Gia Luan pier. Highlights: bamboo-boat rides, kayaking, dragon-boat racing, fresh seafood and a pearl-farm visit.

Route Ha Long Bay 5 – Lan Ha (the icons — best for first-timers)

Thien Cung Grotto → Dau Go Cave → Stone Dog Islet → Incense Burner Islet → Trong Mai “Kissing Rocks”, then Gia Luan → Tra Bau → Bright Cave → Viet Hai entrance.

Route Ha Long Bay 6 – Lan Ha (operating — wild nature)

Elephant Foot Islet → Ba Cua cove → Tung Lam Island → Cap Bai Islet, ending at Viet Hai pier. Endless limestone karsts, mangrove forests and rich ecosystems.

Why start from Cat Ba instead of Ha Long City?

  • Closer and cheaper: Lan Ha Bay lies right beside Cat Ba — you’re on the water minutes after leaving Cai Beo or Viet Hai pier, skipping the crowded main harbor.
  • Sleep on the island, cruise both bays: at Lan Homestay you stay inside Cat Ba National Park, in one of the last traditional villages of northern Vietnam.
  • Lan Ha is quieter and clearer: the same heritage seascape as Ha Long with fewer boats, clearer water and better swimming.
Aerial view of Viet Hai village surrounded by rice fields and Cat Ba National Park
Viet Hai village — where Lan Homestay welcomes you after a day on the bay
Rare langurs spotted in the Cat Ba archipelago
Keep your eyes open for Cat Ba’s rare wildlife along the way

How to book your tour with Lan Homestay

  1. Tell us at least one day ahead — ask our reception at check-in, or email info@lanhomestay.com / WhatsApp +84 363 934 325 when you book your room (May–August high season sells out fast).
  2. Pick your route — first visit? Route 5. Fishing villages and kayaking? Route 3 or the day tour. Quiet wild nature? Route 6. Family activities? Route 4. We advise free of charge.
  3. We handle the transfers — electric buggy through the forest to Viet Hai pier and the shuttle boat timed to your cruise pick-up.

Good to know: bring your passport for cruise boarding, and in summer check the weather forecast 3–5 days before sailing. Route details may be adjusted by the authorities — we confirm the latest schedule when you book.

Ready to cruise across two heritage bays? We hope to see you soon in Viet Hai!

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