Dau Be — Ba Ham Lake and the Hidden Corner of Lan Ha Bay

Last updated: July 21, 2026

Quick Summary: Dau Be is a quiet corner of Lan Ha Bay most day tours skip, home to the enclosed Ba Ham Lake. Beka's 3D2N cruise includes it as an optional afternoon stop for kayaking and a swim away from the crowds.

Dau Be is a quiet stretch of Lan Ha Bay that most day tours never reach, home to the enclosed Ba Ham Lake. Beka's 3D2N cruise includes it as an optional afternoon stop, alongside kayaking, towering karsts, and a swim in calm water.

What is Dau Be

Dau Be sits right on the border between Lan Ha Bay and Ha Long Bay, far enough out that shorter, closer-to-shore day tours typically skip it. From here you can actually see part of Ha Long Bay in the distance - a view most Lan Ha Bay stops don't offer.

The area is home to Ba Ham Lake, an enclosed saltwater lagoon reached by kayak through a short rock tunnel - one of the reasons Dau Be draws travelers looking for something quieter than the bay's more visited beaches.

Beka Insight: based on Beka's own cruise logs, roughly half of all 3D2N sailings route to Dau Be on Day 1, with the other half visiting Ba Trai Dao Beach instead - the two stops alternate close to a 50/50 split depending on conditions.

How does Dau Be compare to Ba Trai Dao

Since Beka's 3D2N cruise alternates between the two, here's how they differ:

Both stops are offered on the same Day 1 afternoon slot, so which one you get depends on conditions on the day rather than a fixed schedule.

How do you get to Dau Be

There's no independent way to visit Dau Be on your own - no public ferry or day-tour departure goes there. The only way in is aboard Beka's LAN HA BAY 3D2N Cruise - Real Local Bay Cruise for Deep Exploration (linked below), which builds a stop here into its Day 1 afternoon sailing (roughly 15:00-17:00), after lunch on board and before returning to the boat for the evening.

What can you do at Dau Be

The stop centers on being out on the water rather than a fixed list of sights: kayaking into Ba Ham Lake and close to the surrounding limestone karsts, a tender boat ride to explore the coastline, and swimming in the bay's clear, emerald water when the season is warm enough. Guests who'd rather skip the water can simply relax on the boat's sundeck or the island's untouched beach instead.

Which Beka tour includes Dau Be

Dau Be is a highlight of Beka's LAN HA BAY 3D2N Cruise - Real Local Bay Cruise for Deep Exploration ($239 per person, 4-star cruise, maximum 25 guests, two nights on board). Beyond Dau Be, the same 3-day itinerary includes a guided walk in Cat Ba National Park with Tien Duc cave, lunch with a local family in Viet Hai village, and visits to floating fishing villages.

Worth knowing before you book: the stop alternates with Ba Trai Dao Beach depending on conditions on the day, so it's offered as one of two options rather than guaranteed on every departure. Ask your booking agent which stop is planned for your specific sailing date if visiting Dau Be specifically matters to your trip.

Why Ba Ham Lake is called the three-tunnel lake

Ba Ham translates roughly as three tunnels, and the name describes the shape of the place exactly. The lake is really a chain of three wide, round basins of water, each one linked to the next by a narrow, low cave tunnel cut through the limestone.

You reach the enclosed water by paddling through those tunnels rather than around the rock. Inside, the cave ceilings hang with stalactites and stalagmites in odd shapes and colours, and the enclosed basins stay glassy and still because the surrounding karst walls block the wind and swell from the open bay.

Timing your visit around the tide

The tunnels are the one thing to plan around. At high tide the low cave mouths fill with seawater and the passages close off completely, so reaching the inner lake is only possible when the tide is low enough to paddle through.

This is why Dau Be works best as a scheduled stop rather than a spontaneous detour. A crew that runs the route regularly reads the tide tables in advance and slots the visit into the part of the day when the tunnels are open, which is something an independent kayaker can easily misjudge.

Wildlife and scenery around Dau Be

The island itself is more alive than it first looks. Its slopes carry orchids, benjamin figs, banyans, and cycads, while the resident wildlife includes yellow-haired monkeys, seabirds, flying squirrels, and bats sheltering in the caves.

Because Dau Be sits well out toward the edge of the bay, far from the main day-tour lanes, the water stays clear and the surroundings quiet. It rewards travellers who want a genuinely remote corner of Lan Ha Bay over the busier, easier-to-reach beaches closer to Cat Ba town.

Frequently asked questions

Is Dau Be included on every 3D2N cruise departure?

Not guaranteed. The itinerary lists Dau Be as an optional Day 1 stop that alternates with Ba Trai Dao Beach depending on conditions, so confirm with your booking agent if seeing Dau Be specifically is a priority.

Can you swim at Dau Be?

Yes, in warmer months the water is calm and clear enough for swimming, alongside kayaking and tender boat exploration of the surrounding karsts.

What is Ba Ham Lake?

Ba Ham Lake is an enclosed saltwater lagoon at Dau Be, reached by kayaking through a short rock tunnel - one of the more distinctive stops on Beka's 3D2N Lan Ha Bay cruise.

Ready to see it for yourself? The 3D2N cruise above includes this stop, or browse the full Lan Ha Bay hub to compare every tour and cruise Beka runs.

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