Lan Ha Bay Day Cruise
A fishing boat on Lan Ha Bay in Vietnam
Lan Ha Bay Cruise From Cat Ba Island
Lan Ha Bay versus Ha Long Bay
Our original plan had been a three-day, two-night cruise on Halong Bay. We had delayed booking to ensure decent weather. By the time we were ready, the cruises were sold out—a blessing in disguise. We met a Danish family at breakfast on our first morning in Hanoi, and they had just returned from a similar cruise.
If they could do it again, they would go to Cat Ba Island instead and do a day cruise on Lan Ha Bay. The cost is much less, the scenery is said to be equivalent, and you avoid the bustling, touristy Ha Long Bay area. We quickly adapted plan B.
Two men are working from their fishing boat near a floating village on Lan Ha Bay, Vietnam
One-Day Cruise on Lan Ha Bay
Lan Ha Bay is part of the famed Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which includes 2,000 islets, most of which are limestone.
As indicated earlier in the blog, I usually shy away from organized tours, but may have to reevaluate this philosophy after our trip with Cat Ba Ventures on Lan Ha Bay. We booked a one-day tour for the following day. The tour included lunch and a 2-hour kayak trip. It’s easy to find the tour operators on the docks on Cat Ba Island.
Floating fishing village and limestone islets on Lan Ha Bay, Vietnam
Our guide, Hang, was charming and provided just the right amount of information along the way to make it enjoyable. He also knew when to leave us alone so we could enjoy the scenery. Lunch on board was excellent.
Traveling as a couple, we sometimes get stuck in our ways, and it was refreshing to connect with other travelers and hear their experiences. The group included visitors from France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, India, Russia, and other Eastern European countries.
We paddled among the bays and inlets on Lan Ha Bay and passed through three tunnels. One tunnel was more than 200m long.
Kayaking
The 2-hour kayaking trip was nothing short of amazing. The scenery from the water’s edge is magical. We were in a double kayak with Di in front and me in the back with the camera. There were lots of cheers as we paddled through the tunnels. What a fantastic experience.
The cruise continued after the kayak trip, and we passed through mind-blowing scenery and fishing villages located right on the water. We stopped at a fish farm and gained further insight into how a community lives on the water. We even sailed by Monkey Island. Amazing. We highly recommend this cruise!
Making our way back to our ship, it felt like we were in a movie, paddling in the lovely scenery on Lan Ha Bay among the limestone islets
Kayaking near Cat Ba Island on Lan Ha Bay in Vietnam
Kayaks are lined up ready for a tour group on Lan Ha Bay in Vietnam
Traveling on Lan Ha Bay
Jumping in from the boat - Lan Ha Bay Cruise
Clothes are hung out to dry in floating fishing village near Cat Ba Island on Lan Ha Bay in Vietnam
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Photos in this article were made using a Fujifilm X-Pro2. Lenses: XF 14mm f/2.8 R - XF 35mm f/1.4 R (links to my camera and lens reviews). Editing was done in Lightroom. I have made use of Fujifilm film simulations.
