Lan Ha Bay Insight: The Secret Lagoons
2 Days – 1 Night: Overnight on Junk
Traditional Junk Boat | Sea Kayaking | Hidden Lagoons | Lan Ha Bay Adventure
Discover the hidden side of Lan Ha Bay on this unforgettable 2-day kayaking adventure, created for travellers seeking an authentic alternative to the crowded cruises of Ha Long Bay. Combining traditional sailing, world-class sea kayaking, hidden sea caves, secluded beaches, and an overnight stay aboard a beautifully restored traditional junk boat, this journey explores the untouched beauty of one of Vietnam’s most spectacular coastal landscapes. If you’re looking for the ultimate Lan Ha Bay cruise and kayaking tour, this expedition delivers an unforgettable experience far beyond the standard tourist routes.
Cruise through the emerald waters of Lan Ha Bay and the quieter reaches of Bai Tu Long Bay, where thousands of towering limestone islands rise dramatically from the sea. Paddle premium sea kayaks through hidden lagoons, natural water tunnels, and the spectacular Dark Cave and Bright Cave, discovering peaceful places that larger cruise boats simply cannot access. Swim from pristine white-sand beaches, visit authentic floating fishing villages and local fish farms, and experience the incredible tranquillity that has made Lan Ha Bay one of the finest sea kayaking destinations in Southeast Asia.
As evening falls, anchor in a secluded bay surrounded by dramatic limestone karsts and spend the night aboard a traditional Vietnamese junk boat. Enjoy freshly prepared local seafood, breathtaking sunsets, and an unforgettable evening beneath a sky full of stars while gently drifting on the calm waters of Lan Ha Bay. This unique overnight experience combines the charm of traditional Vietnamese sailing with the comfort of modern private cabins, creating the perfect balance of adventure and relaxation.
Ideal for couples, photographers, outdoor enthusiasts, and anyone seeking an authentic island escape, Lan Ha Bay Insight: The Secret Lagoons offers a small-group adventure led by experienced local guides who know the hidden corners of Lan Ha Bay better than anyone. With premium sea kayaks, carefully selected off-the-beaten-path locations, and genuine Vietnamese hospitality, this is one of the most complete Lan Ha Bay kayaking tours available and an unforgettable way to explore Vietnam’s hidden coastal paradise.
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Tour Price
Group Tour Price:
290$ USD Per person
Group Size
• Minimum: 2 guests
• Maximum: 10 guests
Single Supplement
40$ USD Per person single room
• Private transfers from Hanoi can also be arranged.
• Flexible return times to Hanoi or Ninh Binh are available on request.
Why You’ll Love This Tour
Overnight aboard a traditional junk boat
with a private ensuite cabin, Freshly prepared Vietnamese seafood meals served onboard.
Guided sea kayaking through hidden lagoons
limestone tunnels, and the famous Dark Cave & Bright Cave secluded beaches and peaceful corners of Lan Ha Bay
Visit authentic floating fishing villages and local fish farms
Swim in crystal-clear emerald waters far from the tourist crowds
Small groups with experienced local guides
Relaxed and personalised adventure The perfect alternative to crowded Ha Long Bay cruises
Kayaking Adventure Itiniary
07:00 – 07:30 | Hotel Pick-up – Hanoi Old Quarter
Your adventure begins with a comfortable hotel pick-up from Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Travel by modern expressway through the lush Red River Delta, passing traditional farming villages before crossing the spectacular Tan Vu–Lach Huyen Sea Bridge, the longest sea bridge in Southeast Asia.
10:30 | Arrive on Cat Ba Island
Board a high-speed ferry to Cat Ba Island before enjoying a scenic drive through the edge of Cat Ba National Park to Ben Beo Harbour, the gateway to Lan Ha Bay.
12:00 | Welcome Aboard
Meet our friendly crew and board your traditional wooden junk boat. Check into your private ensuite cabin before cruising through authentic floating fishing villages where generations of local families continue to live and work on the water.
Enjoy a freshly prepared seafood lunch as the spectacular limestone islands of Lan Ha Bay unfold around you.
Afternoon | Kayaking the Hidden Lagoons
Cruise to the peaceful Ang Van Ta area before launching your kayak to explore one of Lan Ha Bay’s most beautiful landscapes. Paddle through the famous Dark Cave and Bright Cave (tide permitting), navigating natural limestone tunnels into hidden lagoons surrounded by towering cliffs and untouched rainforest.
Take time to swim in the crystal-clear waters, relax on secluded beaches, and experience the peaceful atmosphere that makes Lan Ha Bay one of Vietnam’s finest sea kayaking destinations.
Evening | Overnight on Lan Ha Bay
As sunset colours the limestone mountains, cruise to a secluded anchorage far from the busy tourist routes. Enjoy a traditional Vietnamese dinner served onboard before relaxing beneath a sky full of stars and spending a peaceful night aboard your traditional junk boat.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Private ensuite cabin aboard a traditional junk boat
Morning | Sunrise Over Lan Ha Bay
Wake to the gentle sounds of the bay and enjoy breakfast on deck while watching the sun rise over the spectacular limestone peaks.
Tay Keo Lagoon & Red Lady Cave
Continue your kayaking adventure through the peaceful waters of Tay Keo Lagoon, one of Lan Ha Bay’s hidden gems. Depending on the tide, paddle into the fascinating Ba Do (Red Lady) Cave, a secluded sea cave surrounded by towering limestone cliffs.
Along the way, visit a traditional floating fish farm to gain an insight into the unique way of life of the local fishing communities that have lived on these waters for generations.
Three Peaches Beach
Cruise to the stunning Ba Trai Dao (Three Peaches Beach), famous for its soft white sand and crystal-clear turquoise water. Enjoy a freshly prepared seafood lunch onboard before taking one final swim or relaxing on the beach while surrounded by the spectacular scenery of Lan Ha Bay.
Afternoon | Return to Hanoi
After a final opportunity to kayak or swim, cruise back to Ben Beo Harbour where your transport will be waiting for the return journey to Hanoi.
19:00 – 19:30 | Arrival in Hanoi
Arrive back at your hotel with unforgettable memories of Lan Ha Bay, hidden lagoons, secluded beaches, and two incredible days exploring one of Vietnam’s most beautiful coastal destinations.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: None
Notes:
– Earlier or Later departure and return are available upon request.
-Vegetarian food is always available upon request.
– Minimum group size: 2 people.Maximum group size: 10 people. Please get in touch with us for larger group bookings; we may be able to offer a discount.
– The price does not include Private transportation to and from Hanoi but we can book private transport(Car + Hydrofoil) to and from Hanoi at a reasonable price.
Accommodation
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What's Included on Tour
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Kayak equipment,
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Bike, Meals as listed above (3 set menu Lunch,2 set menu Dinner,2 set menu Breakfast),
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Entrance sightseeing fees,
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English speaking Tour Guide,
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Private Room at home stay in national park,
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Private cabin on Junk Boat,
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Day boat supported
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Drinking support during the tour,
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Express bus ticket to and from Hanoi (or to and from Ninh Binh).
Tour Excludes
- International and domestic flights
- Vietnam visa
- Travel insurance
- Alcoholic drinks and soft drinks
- Personal expenses
- Laundry
- Tips
Make a Booking
Payment must be made in full before departure, Please make booking 24 hours in advance, we reserve the right to cancel kayak tours based on weather conditions. Please see our terms and conditions for full details.
EXCELLENT Based on 102 reviews Posted on Tripadvisor Jordan MVerified The most unforgettable way to see Ha Long Bay To any and all confident kayakers: This will be the highlight of your Vietnam trip. This experience is an ecofriendly way to explore Ha Long Bay away from tourist crowds. It is not a tour but an independent way to kayak outside of Cat Ba and enjoy the limestone karsts. A guide explains the boundaries which stretch for a few miles. However, you must be a strong kayaker familiar with open sea kayaking, OR make sure to travel in a self-organised group, as the weather can be unpredictable and other day trip cruises frequent the area. This was the most AMAZING experience, and worth every dollar. I can't recommend it enough.Posted on Tripadvisor éric PVerified Des souvenirs superbes dans ces paysages si particuliers Nous avons apprécié ces 3 jours 2 nuits avec Cat Ba kayak Adventures qui propose des séjours originaux en faisant travailler des entreprises locales. Séjours qui proposent des pas de cotés hors du flot touristique dans ces paysages grandioses.Posted on Tripadvisor Sara GVerified Wonderful time with Cat Bay Kayak Adventures We recently did the 3D/2N tour with Cat Ba Kayak Adventures. We stayed one night at the homestay and one night on the Junk Boat. Between the two, our favorite was the night on the homestay as we stayed in a peaceful cove away from other tourists. The accommodations were spartan but clean. If you want to do lots of kayaking away from the throngs of tourists in Ha Long Bay, this tour is for you!!! Our guide, Hieu was an encouraging guide and very personable. On the third day, we hiked to Navy Peak Tower and were rewarded with stunning views. The company was well organized and we would book with them again if we find ourselves in Cat Ba.Posted on Tripadvisor Tuhina RVerified Fabulous outfit They all expressed satisfaction and immense pleasure with the trip. The specific comments from my family: Mr Ming was really great . We loved his flexibility with our itinerary, catering to our needs and all the information he gave us. Floating homestay was cozy and beautiful . One of the bathroom doors needs to be repaired . Food was absolutely amazing . The location was lovely and we will be backPosted on Tripadvisor John PVerified Cat Ba Kayak Adventures delivers a high quality experience for the adventurous minded traveler. Cat Ba Kayak Adventures is everything as advertised. We purchased a 3 day, 2 night tour that included a floating homestay, 2 days of kayaking and 1 day of biking and hiking. Mong was an excellent guide that catered to our every need and who was very personable, with great English skills and a lifetime of local knowledge. The food and accommodations at the homestay exceeded our expectations with family style meals that were delicious, local and in overly generous portions. The rooms were clean with comfortable, firm beds and private bathrooms. Exploring the area by kayak was definitely the best way to see this geologically unique ecosystem, although the amount of plastic pollution was disappointing but well beyond the control of any one business to deal with. Biking into the nearby village of Viet Hai was a delight, and although the hike up to Navy peak was challenging, it offered some absolutely stupendous views of the surrounding area. I would highly recommend Cat Ba Kayak Adventures and will definitely use them again when I return to the area.Posted on Tripadvisor JLP20142014Verified Awesome sea kayaking around Lan Ha Bay We did a two day one night sea kayaking trip in Lan ha Bay. Everything about it exceeded expectations. The scenery was beautiful, our guide Ming was excellent and they overnight stay in LAN home stay was beautiful. The food was amazing throughout as wellPosted on Tripadvisor I am the SidVerified A really excellent trip to the less busy areas around Cat Ba We had an excellent trip booked with these guys and I can thoroughly recommend them. The organisation is excellent, the equipment is top quality - much better kayaks than the "sit on" type which means you can go further on your trip. Our trip was 4 days/3 nights and the first two full days we kayaked in 4 different locations - most trips concentrate on a smaller, very busy area. The scenery is really stunning and our excellent guide Ming knew the best places to go Days 3 and 4 were cycling and trekking to viewpoints on Catba and were well worth doing First night was on a floating homestay, second on a junk and third at the Blue Lagoon homestay in Cat Ba. Accommodation and food were excellent at all of them. I must mention Ming again - he was awesome - he knows a lot of interesting stuff and the best paces to visit, his English is great and he took great care of us throughout.Posted on Tripadvisor Simone JVerified A wonderful day out kayaking in Lan Ha Bay with a professional and friendly crew. Ming, the guide for the day, was very helpful. He was friendly and happy to answer any questions about the local area and adapt the trip to suit your needs and wants. He even taught me some Vietnamese words as we were paddling around. The lunch was delicious and very generous and I would definitely choose these guys again for a genuinely local, less touristy experience. The bay itself was beautiful, calm and paddling here was a magical experience.Posted on Tripadvisor Sharon WVerified Best Kayak Teip in Lan Ha Bay! Booked last minute as let down by another tour company. Collected promptly from our hotel, taken to the boat that picked up the kayaks and took us out. Easy 3 hour kayak paddle around the Lan Ha archipelago with our expert guide, Minh, who was excellent company. He was so informative about his beloved Lan Ha area and generally great company; he is fluent in English! We were lucky enough to spot a family of 3 Cat Ba langur (critically endangered species) crouching in the rocks, made our day! My husband then enjoyed a swim off the boat. Returned back to our hotel by car. Cannot rate this trip highly enough, do it, you will not be disappointed!Posted on Tripadvisor Nancy CVerified Well worth it but spend some time picking up trash is a horrendous problem for this beautiful place This is a great trip. We enjoyed the kayaking but be aware the water is heavily polluted with plastic trash. We spent our time kayaking and collecting trash. We did a nice hike and enjoyed where we stayed. Henry also realized that charging an extra 3% on credit card payments is nonsense.





























