Lan Homestay accepts Vietnamese dong, US dollars, euros and credit or debit cards; from 1 January 2026 every bill carries 7% tax, and card payments carry a further 3% bank processing fee. Meals and drinks are added to your room and settled when you check out. There is no ATM in Viet Hai village and many local places cannot take international cards, so the practical advice is simple: withdraw cash in Cat Ba town before you cross the bay. Everything else you might want to know about paying is below, in one place, so there are no surprises at the end of your stay.
Payment at a glance
| Currencies | Vietnamese dong (VND), US dollars (USD), euros (EUR) |
| Cards | Credit and debit cards accepted at the homestay — 3% processing fee (bank transaction charge) |
| Tax | 7% on all payments, as required by local regulations, effective 1 January 2026 |
| When you pay | Room, meals, drinks and anything booked through us are settled together at check-out |
| Drinks | Self-service from the fridge; noted during your stay and added to the bill |
| Special meals | Seafood hotpot or BBQ ordered one day ahead; quick-food menu with 20 minutes’ notice |
| Cash on the island | ATMs in Cat Ba town only; none in Viet Hai village. Bay ticket, park fees and the electric cart are paid in cash |
| Questions | WhatsApp +84 363 934 325 or info@lanhomestay.com — any time, in English |
What you can pay with
We keep this as flexible as a village allows. Vietnamese dong is easiest for everyone; dollars and euros are welcome and converted at the rate on the day — ask before you pay if you would like to know the figure. Cards work at the homestay, but the bank charges us for every transaction and we pass that on rather than build it into the room rate, so the card price is 3% higher than cash.
| Method | Accepted for | Extra charge | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vietnamese dong (cash) | Everything | None | The simplest option; also the only way to pay the bay ticket, park fees and the electric cart |
| US dollars (cash) | Room, meals, tours and transfers booked through us | None | Converted at the day’s rate; clean, undamaged notes please — Vietnamese banks refuse torn ones |
| Euros (cash) | Room, meals, tours and transfers booked through us | None | Converted at the day’s rate; change is given in dong |
| Credit or debit card | Room, meals, tours and transfers booked through us | 3% processing fee | Major cards; 3% is the bank’s charge, not ours |
Tax and fees, explained
Since 1 January 2026 every payment at the homestay includes 7% tax, which local regulations require us to collect and pass on. It applies to the room, food, drinks and any tour or transfer you pay us for. The 3% card fee is different: it is not a tax but the bank’s charge for processing the transaction, and it only applies if you choose to pay by card. Paying in cash — in dong, dollars or euros — avoids it.
Some things you pay on the island are fixed by the state and are not ours to change. They are paid in cash, usually to a ticket office or driver rather than to us, which is why we ask you to arrive with dong in your pocket.
| Fixed state fee | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Lan Ha Bay ticket | 120,000 VND adult / 60,000 VND child; free under 6 or under 1.2 m | Bay ticket office, cash — included when a tour is booked through us |
| Electric cart, Viet Hai pier to the village | 50,000 VND per person | The driver, cash |
| Cat Ba National Park, main gate | 160,000 VND adult / 80,000 VND child | Park gate, cash |
| Kim Giao – Ngu Lam – Trung Trang route | 120,000 VND adult / 60,000 VND child | Park gate, cash |
| Ninh Tiep – Tien Duc and Phu Long mangrove routes | 80,000 VND adult / 40,000 VND child | Park gate, cash |
| Luggage sent ahead by boat while you trek | 350,000 VND | Arranged by us, cash |
| Bicycle hire | 30,000 VND per day; free for guests who book a tour with us | Homestay, added to your bill |
Food and drink: how the bill works
There is no menu ordering at dinner. Everyone staying that night eats together at one long table and the dishes come out to share; the price of the family dinner is on your booking. If you would rather eat on your own schedule, the quick-food menu is available all day with 20 minutes’ notice, and everything ordered is written down and added to your room. Drinks are self-service: take what you like from the fridge, we note it during your stay, and it appears on the same bill. Seafood hotpot and seafood BBQ need one day’s notice because we buy the seafood fresh from the boats that morning. What is on the table, and how to order, is on our dining page and in what to eat in Viet Hai village.
| Item | How it is ordered | How it is paid |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | Included with the room | — |
| Family dinner | Tell us at check-in if you are eating with us | Added to the bill, settled at check-out |
| Quick-food menu | 20 minutes’ notice, any time of day | Added to the bill |
| Seafood hotpot or BBQ | One day’s notice; say how many people and any allergies | Added to the bill |
| Drinks | Self-service from the fridge | Noted during your stay, added to the bill |
Tours and transfers booked through us
Most guests book at least one thing with us besides the room: the full-day Lan Ha Bay boat tour, the sunset and night kayaking, the Navy Peak hike, or the speedboat and bus chain described on our transport page. Tour and transfer rates move with the season and group size, so we quote them when you ask and confirm them in writing before anything is booked. The confirmation tells you exactly what is included — the bay ticket, lunch, kayaks, the cart — and how and when that item is paid; there is nothing to negotiate at the pier and nothing to pay on the boat. Our packages, such as 2 Days in Viet Hai, are priced Hanoi to Hanoi with every ticket included.
A note from Chilly
We would rather you asked twice than worried once. If you are unsure what a bill includes, what the exchange rate is, or whether to bring dollars or dong, message me on WhatsApp +84 363 934 325 before you travel and I will answer the same day. Every guest sees the itemised bill before paying, and if something on it looks wrong we fix it there and then.
Cash, ATMs and cards on Cat Ba Island
Cat Ba town has bank ATMs; Viet Hai village has none, and there is no bank, exchange counter or shop in the valley. The speedboat from Ben Beo is the last point at which you can easily get money out, so withdraw before you board. Many small restaurants, boat operators and rafts on the island cannot take international cards at all, and those that do usually add a fee. Keep your cash in two places, and read Cat Ba scams and overcharging for the few things worth watching for in town. The rest of what to bring is in our Cat Ba packing list.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about paying at Lan Homestay
Answered by the Lan family in Viet Hai — the people who run the boats, cook the dinner and pick you up at the pier.
Do you accept credit or debit cards?
Yes — major credit and debit cards at the homestay, with a 3% processing fee that covers the bank’s transaction charge. Cash in dong, dollars or euros carries no fee. State fees on the island — the bay ticket, park fees, the electric cart — are cash only, so bring dong for those even if you plan to pay your room by card.
Why is there a 7% tax on my bill?
Local regulations require accommodation providers to collect 7% tax on all payments from 1 January 2026, and we pass it on exactly as collected. It applies to the room, meals, drinks and any tour or transfer paid to us. It is shown as a line on your itemised bill, not hidden in the prices.
Can I pay in US dollars or euros?
Yes. Both are accepted for the room, meals and anything booked through us, converted at the rate on the day, with change given in dong. Bring clean, undamaged notes — banks here refuse torn or marked foreign currency and so, unfortunately, must we.
Is there an ATM in Viet Hai village?
No. The nearest ATMs are in Cat Ba town, 30 minutes away by speedboat. Withdraw what you need for the bay ticket, the cart, park fees and any cash spending before you cross. If you run short, we can settle your homestay bill by card so your cash goes further.
When do I pay for meals and drinks?
At check-out, together with the room. Meals you order and drinks you take from the fridge are noted during your stay and appear as separate lines on the bill. You see the itemised total before you pay, and any question about a line is answered on the spot.
How do I pay for a boat tour or transfer booked with you?
We quote the current rate when you ask, confirm it in writing with everything it includes, and tell you in that confirmation how and when it is paid. Nothing is paid on the boat or at the pier, and the bay ticket is inside the quote, so there is no second bill on the day.
Do I need to pay a deposit to book a room?
It depends on the dates and the size of the group; we tell you when we confirm the booking, before anything is due. Send your dates through the contact form or WhatsApp and we reply with availability, the rate and the booking terms in one message.
Still have a question? WhatsApp +84 363 934 325 or send us a message — we answer in English, usually within the hour.
Anything unclear about payment?
Message me — Chilly — on WhatsApp +84 363 934 325, email info@lanhomestay.com or use the contact form. We answer in English, usually within the hour, and we would much rather sort out a question before you arrive than at the check-out table.
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