Prices start at $30 per adult, $23 per child and free for infants. A $10 per person surcharge applies on major holidays. The rate covers your Lan Ha Bay sightseeing ticket, transport, lunch on board and every activity in the itinerary. Drinks are the only thing most guests spend on during the day.

Yes. Lan Ha Bay covers over 7,000 hectares with around 400 islands and sees far fewer boats than the main Ha Long Bay routes, so you get quieter kayaking spots and beaches. Cai Beo, Ba Trai Dao and the lagoon route sit on the southern side of the same UNESCO seascape, away from the main Ha Long Bay cruise lanes.

Kayaking through caves and lagoons, swimming and boat jumping at Ba Trai Dao Beach, a floating fish-farm visit, a short cooking class and a freshly cooked lunch on board are all included. Everything listed runs on one ticket, with no optional extras sold on board. Kayaks, life jackets and the guide are all part of the price.

The waters in the bay are extremely calm and protected by thousands of islands, making it perfectly safe for beginners. Our expert local guides will provide a quick safety briefing and ensure you are comfortable before you start paddling.

Yes. A freshly cooked Vietnamese-style lunch is served on the boat and is included in the price. Beverages are not included. The crew cooks it on the boat at the lunch anchor point between Lan Ha and Ha Long bays. Vegetarian portions are available if you tell us when booking.

Yes. Hanoi Old Quarter pickup runs between 05:15 and 05:30, and the return bus leaves Cat Ba at 16:30, reaching Old Quarter hotels between 20:30 and 21:00. That makes it a 15-hour day door to door, so book it on a day you have nothing else planned either side.

Yes. The Lan Ha Bay sightseeing ticket sits inside the rate.

Trips are suspended only when the Cat Ba bay management board issues a stop order, and that order applies to every boat on the water that day. You then choose one of three things: a full refund, a new departure date, or the land route to Tien Duc cave and Viet Hai village.

This trip suits travellers who want one full day on the water without committing a night, and who would rather be on a wooden day boat with 25 to 30 people than a party cruise with two hundred. It works for families, for solo travellers, and for anyone joining from Hanoi on a tight route.

You board at Ben Beo at 09:00 and are back at the pier by 16:20. In between the boat covers the lagoon route, one cave paddle at the Dark and Bright Caves, one swim stop at Ba Trai Dao, one floating fish farm and one cooking class, with lunch cooked on board at anchor.

The bay runs year round and this tour departs daily. Sea temperature is what changes most: 30.5 degrees Celsius in July against 19.6 in January. If swimming at Ba Trai Dao is why you are booking, aim for May through October, as the best time to visit Cat Ba guide sets out.

The 30 USD rate covers transport on the option you pick, your Lan Ha Bay sightseeing ticket, lunch cooked on board, kayaking, the swim stop, the floating fish farm visit and the cooking class. Drinks, tips and the holiday surcharge are not covered. Nothing else is collected at the pier.

Keep it to one small bag, because there is nowhere to leave luggage on board. Sun protection, swimwear and slippers are the essentials listed under What to bring. Add cash in Vietnamese dong, since drinks on board and stalls at the pier do not take cards, plus a dry bag for the kayak leg.

Take the day tour if you are based on Cat Ba, if Lan Ha Bay is one stop inside a longer Vietnam route, or if you want to see the bay without giving up a night. Stay overnight if you want the bay at sunrise and after dark, when the day boats have gone in and the water goes quiet.

This is a full-day tour, not a half day trip. It runs from pickup to drop-off across a full day, which gives enough time for kayaking, swimming and lunch on the water rather than a rushed few hours.

Kayaking happens at two or three points along the route depending on tides and group pace, usually including a low limestone cave and a stop near Ba Trai Dao Beach.

Beka's boat captains average 10 years of experience navigating Lan Ha Bay, as a leading local operator based on Cat Ba Island rather than a reseller.

This particular day tour focuses only on Lan Ha Bay by boat, so it doesn't include Cat Ba National Park. If you want to see both, we recommend booking a separate half-day national park trip on a different day of your Cat Ba stay — most guests combine the two if they have two or more nights on the island.

Yes, let us know when you book if you need a vegetarian, vegan or other special meal, and the crew will prepare it for the onboard lunch. Please flag any serious allergies in advance too, since the kitchen is a small boat galley with limited last-minute substitutions.

Yes, the boat has an onboard toilet, so you won't need to wait until you're back on land. Facilities are simple rather than luxury, in keeping with a day-tour boat rather than a live-aboard cruise ship.

Lan Ha Bay is sheltered by limestone islands, so the water is usually calm and seasickness is uncommon on this route. If you're prone to motion sickness, sit toward the middle of the boat where movement is smallest, and consider taking motion sickness medication about 30 minutes before departure.

Yes, solo travelers are welcome and join the same group departure as other guests, so you won't need to pay a hefty single supplement like you might on an overnight cruise. It's also an easy way to meet other travelers doing the same kayaking and swimming stops.

You're booking directly with the local crew who runs this boat, not a resold listing bundled by someone else. Our team on Cat Ba Island handles your questions, seat availability and any last-minute changes personally, from the day you book to the day you sail, and your booking supports a local, family-run business based on the island.