Last updated: September 2026
Quick answer: Lan Homestay is in car-free Viet Hai Village on Cat Ba Island, Vietnam. From Cat Ba Town, take a roughly 15-minute speedboat from Ben Beo Pier or trek about 4 hours through Cat Ba National Park. From Hanoi, buses leave the Old Quarter at 06:00 and 07:30 (350,000 VND, which we book for you) to Cat Ba Island — or join our full-day Lan Ha Bay boat tour with hotel pickup. A golf cart (50,000 VND per person) meets you at Viet Hai Pier and brings you to our door.
Every year, more travelers ask us the same question before they arrive: “How do we actually get to Lan Homestay?” It’s a fair question — we are not on a road you can find with a taxi app. Lan Homestay sits inside Viet Hai Village, a car-free settlement tucked between Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba National Park, and reaching us is genuinely part of the adventure.
Where exactly is Lan Homestay?
We are located in Village 2, Viet Hai village, Cat Ba Island, Cat Hai Special Zone, Hai Phong — roughly 10 km from Cat Ba Town by water, on the western edge of Lan Ha Bay and inside the boundary of Cat Ba National Park. There is no road connection for cars or motorbikes; the village can only be reached by boat across the bay or on foot through the national park trails.
Three ways to reach us
1. Combo boat tour from Hanoi or Cat Ba Town (most popular)
You are picked up from your hotel in Hanoi’s Old Quarter (around 05:15–06:00) or from your hotel in Cat Ba Town (around 08:30–08:50), then join a boat that cruises through Lan Ha Bay before dropping you at Viet Hai pier in the afternoon. Along the way you’ll pass Cai Beo fishing village, kayak through limestone caves, swim at a beach, and have lunch on board.
2. Sunset & bioluminescent kayaking tour (most memorable)
Join our sunset tour: a full day on the bay followed by dinner on the water and a night kayaking session through glowing bioluminescent plankton. You’ll reach Viet Hai Village around 20:00, with the bay still shimmering around your kayak.
3. Trekking through Cat Ba National Park (for the adventurous)
Drop your luggage at our partner office in Cat Ba Town and take a taxi to the national park gate. From there, a 4–5 hour trek through steep jungle trails brings you to Viet Hai Village by early afternoon.
Not sure which option fits your trip? Send us your travel dates on WhatsApp and we’ll help you pick the right route.
Getting here is the part most guests worry about. Tell us your arrival city and date and we will put the whole chain together — bus, boat and the cart from the pier — and meet you at Viet Hai. See how the transfer works, or just send us the dates.
What tours and activities we arrange
- Full-day Lan Ha Bay boat tour — kayaking, swimming, a floating fish farm visit, and lunch on board.
- Sunset & night kayaking — the bioluminescent plankton experience described above.
- Navy Peak trek — a 3-hour hike above the village to a panoramic viewpoint.
- Village cycling — borrow a bicycle and explore Viet Hai’s rice paddies and farms.
- Wild beach day trips — private boat transport to secluded beaches around Lan Ha Bay.
See our full guest room options or read more about Viet Hai Village and getting here.
Practical tips from our own guests
- Bring cash. There is no ATM in Viet Hai Village.
- Pack proper shoes. Jungle trails get slippery after rain.
- Expect limited signal. Download offline maps before you arrive.
- Start early if trekking. Leave the national park gate by 8:00am at the latest.
- Children under 6 enter Lan Ha Bay free of charge.
Transportation: Bus, Speedboat & Golf Cart Prices
Here is the exact transport information we send our own guests, based on current 2026 schedules and prices:
Bus to Cat Ba Island (one way)
- From Hanoi: departures from the Old Quarter at 06:00 and 07:30 — 350,000 VND per person, booked through us.
- From Ninh Binh: departures at 7:00, 9:00, 10:00, and 12:00 — 350,000 VND per person.
From Cat Ba Town to Viet Hai Village
Once you’re on Cat Ba Island, there are two ways to reach us:
- Option 1 — Trekking through Cat Ba National Park: approximately 4 hours on foot, with luggage transfer available so you don’t have to carry your bags the whole way.
- Option 2 — Speedboat from Ben Beo Pier: approximately 15 minutes, much faster and the option most guests choose.
Speedboat & entrance fees
- Speedboat: rates depend on group size and season — message us on WhatsApp and we will arrange it for you.
- Lan Ha Bay entrance ticket: 120,000 VND per person (free for children under 6).
- Golf cart from Viet Hai Pier to the homestay: 50,000 VND per person.
From Viet Hai Pier, a golf cart transfers guests directly to Lan Homestay — there’s no need to walk with your luggage. Need help arranging any of this? Just message us on WhatsApp and we’ll take care of the whole transport plan for you, from your pickup city all the way to our door.
Ready to plan your stay?
Contact us to start planning, or browse our guest rooms to see where you’ll be staying.
Frequently asked questions
Answered by the Lan family in Viet Hai — the people who run the boats, cook the dinner and pick you up at the pier.
How do I get to Lan Homestay from Cat Ba Town?
Take a speedboat from Ben Beo Pier — about 15 minutes — or trek roughly 4 hours through Cat Ba National Park with luggage transfer available. From Viet Hai Pier a golf cart (50,000 VND per person) brings you to the homestay.
How do I get to Viet Hai Village from Hanoi?
Buses leave the Hanoi Old Quarter at 06:00 and 07:30 for 350,000 VND per person (from Ninh Binh: also 350,000 VND) — we book the seat for you. Once on Cat Ba Island, continue by speedboat from Ben Beo Pier. Alternatively, join our full-day Lan Ha Bay boat tour with pickup from Hanoi’s Old Quarter around 05:15–06:00.
How much is the Lan Ha Bay entrance ticket?
120,000 VND per person. Children under 6 enter free of charge.
Can I drive to Viet Hai Village?
No. There is no road into Viet Hai — the village can only be reached by boat across Lan Ha Bay or on foot through Cat Ba National Park.
Planning your trip to Viet Hai?
Book direct with the Lan family — fast answers on WhatsApp.
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