Lan Ha Bay cruises: overnight and day ships compared

Lan Ha Bay cruises sail the karst bay east of Cat Ba Island, in Hai Phong, just south of Ha Long Bay. The water is the same limestone landscape as Ha Long, with fewer boats at the anchorages and a different set of stops: Tra Bau, Ao Ech (Frog Lake), the Dark and Bright Caves, Ba Trai Dao beach and Viet Hai village.

You have three real choices. A 2 days 1 night (2D1N) cruise is what most people book and the best value for time. A 3 days 2 nights (3D2N) cruise adds a full day on a smaller boat to Viet Hai. A day cruise either leaves Tuan Chau in Ha Long or starts on Cat Ba. Below: every ship, the piers, prices, a day aboard, recent rule changes and our picks.

Lan Ha Bay cruise types: 2D1N, 3D2N or a day cruise

2 days 1 night is the default. You are picked up in Hanoi around 08:00, check in at the pier around 11:30–12:30, cruise through the afternoon, sleep at anchor in the bay and are back in Hanoi by about 14:30–16:00 the next day. Be honest with yourself about Day 2: it is half a morning (tai chi, one short excursion, brunch, disembark). Read the 2 days 1 night guide for the hour-by-hour detail.

3 days 2 nights gives you a full middle day, usually spent on a separate day boat to Viet Hai village (cycling or electric car through the national park) plus a beach or lagoon. It is the only way to see Lan Ha without rushing, and the right choice if you are not coming back to Vietnam soon. See 3-day cruises for which listings are true two-night cruises.

Day cruises work if you are short on time or already staying on Cat Ba. From Cat Ba, local boats leave Ben Beo pier for a full day in the bay at a fraction of the overnight price. From Hanoi, a day trip means about six hours on the road for five or six hours on the water. The day cruises guide compares both.

Every ship sailing Lan Ha: the cruise register

The register below lists the ships we track with their class, boarding pier, guest rating and lowest price on each platform today. Filter by length, class or pier.

A few things the register cannot show:

• Star classes are sales labels. Vietnam's rating for accommodation vessels is voluntary and runs from 1 to 5 stars only (Law on Tourism, article 50: https://hoatieu.vn/phap-luat/luat-du-lich-126571). "6-star" does not exist as an official class, and no ship on this bay has a confirmed national 4-star or 5-star decision. Read "5-star" as "marketed as 5-star".
• Some brand names are out of date. Several ships were renamed or stopped selling, and agencies keep the old pages with the old reviews. Doris, Dora, Era, La Pinta, Azalea and Lan Ha Legend all fall into this group; our operators overview explains what happened to each.
• Some "Lan Ha" ships are Ha Long ships. Sunlight Legend and Cozy Bay Grand sail Ha Long, Arcady's 2D1N stays in Ha Long, and Hera's 2D1N ships only reach Lan Ha on the 3D2N programme. Look for named Lan Ha stops in the itinerary.

Where Lan Ha cruises leave from: Tuan Chau or Cat Ba

Most big Lan Ha cruise lines check in at Tuan Chau International Marina in Ha Long, not on Cat Ba. A few boats and most Cat Ba day trips start on the Hai Phong side. Your voucher names the pier: check it.

Tuan Chau (Ha Long). Each line has its own numbered lounge: Peony and Mon Chéri at No. 34, Orchid at Lot 32, Capella at 20B, Aspira and Azura at Lot 38, La Regina at Lot 24, La Casta at F17, Scarlet Pearl at 41B, Celina at 41A, Heritage Binh Chuan at 28B. From there the ship either sails 1–1.5 hours through Ha Long waters into Lan Ha, or you take a speedboat to a ship anchored near Gia Luan on north Cat Ba. Hanoi to Tuan Chau is 2.5–3 hours; shuttles cost from nothing to about $40 return.

Ben Beo (Cat Ba). The small harbor 2 km from Cat Ba town is the base for Cat Ba day boats (Serenity, Beka, Cat Ba Expedition) and for Venezia's two small overnight boats. Hanoi to Cat Ba town takes 3–3.5 hours by combined bus and car ferry, about $11–15 one way. The old Got ferry pier closed on 1 March 2024: the car ferry now runs from Dong Bai on Cat Hai island to Cai Vieng on Cat Ba.

Gia Luan (north Cat Ba) is the landing for Trung Trang cave on Day 2 of the Peony, Mon Chéri and Orchid programmes, and Peony and Mon Chéri can collect guests already on Cat Ba there (for a surcharge). Full details, lounge numbers and transfer times are in the piers guide and how to get there.

Lan Ha Bay cruise price by class

All prices are per person in a shared twin cabin, the lowest "from" price for 2 days 1 night. Platform prices often include the Hanoi shuttle; agency prices usually do not.

The same ship can sell at very different prices depending on where you book. Elite of the Seas is from $125 on GetYourGuide on the cheapest date and cabin, while an agency lists it from $245. Azura's own site prices its entry Baylight suite at $380 per person (VAT and entrance tickets included), against from $176 on Klook. Always compare the same cabin type and the same date.

Usually included: cabin, lunch, dinner and brunch, the bay entrance fee, an English-speaking guide, a bamboo boat or swim stop, cooking demo, tai chi, squid fishing.

Usually extra: drinks (almost never included; only mineral water in the cabin), the Hanoi shuttle on agency prices, spa, tips, VAT on some ships (Era, Aspira, Venezia 8%, Jade Sails 10%), card fees of 3–4.5% when booking direct, and gala dinner surcharges of about $40–60 per person on 24 and 31 December and at Tết (Lunar New Year, late January or February). Elite of the Seas adds 20% on Tết nights.

Children: usually under 4 free (one per cabin), ages 4/5 to 11 at 75%, 12 and over at the adult price. Bands vary: Heritage Line does not take children under 5, Scarlet Pearl and Jade Sails charge full fare from age 10, Hera and La Pandora from 9.

2 days 1 night on a Lan Ha cruise: a typical day aboard

Programmes are similar across ships. This is the usual shape of a 2D1N from Tuan Chau:

3 days 2 nights and "3-day" listings

A true 3D2N keeps you aboard for two nights. Days 1 and 3 follow the 2D1N programme; on Day 2 the ship stays near its anchorage and you transfer to a separate day boat, usually to Viet Hai village (by bicycle or electric car through the national park forest), then a beach or lagoon, lunch on the day boat and back to the main ship for dinner. You may share that day boat with guests from other ships.

The trap: many "3-day" listings are one day in Ninh Binh plus a one-night cruise, not two nights on the water. On GetYourGuide, the popular 3 Days Ninh Binh, Ha Long & Lan Ha (from $225) is this format, and it is good value if that is what you want. If you want two nights on the bay, look for "2 nights" in the title, as on Venezia's 3-day cruise from Cat Ba, or a ship's own 3D2N programme. Prices on GetYourGuide run about $220–340 per person; agencies quote $280–600.

Lan Ha day cruises: from Tuan Chau or from Cat Ba

Two different products share the name "Lan Ha day cruise".

From Tuan Chau (Ha Long): big day ships that sail into Lan Ha. Taliya (199 seats, a pool, launched February 2025) visits the Dark and Bright Caves by bamboo boat and Ao Ech; Hera Luxury Day and the Halong Catamaran also run Lan Ha days. An 8-hour cruise boards about 09:30 and returns about 17:30, and on a shared cruise you cannot leave early. Expect $40–80 with or without the Hanoi transfer. Taliya and Jade Sails leave from Tuan Chau, not from Cat Ba.

From Cat Ba (Ben Beo): local boats with lunch, a swim, often a bike ride to Viet Hai or a stop near Monkey Island, from about $28. Serenity Grandeur and Beka's wooden day boat start here. You need to be on Cat Ba the night before, or take a very early bus from Hanoi. See Cat Ba Island for where to stay.

KlookDay trip

Tropical Day Cruise: Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba Island, Trung Trang Cave

4.9 (1,916) · 10K+ booked

from $38Check dates

KlookDay trip

Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba Day Tour by Serenity Grandeur Cruise

5.0 (390) · 3K+ booked

from $41Check dates

GetYourGuideDay trip

Cat Ba: Lan Ha, HaLong bay full day- biking, kayaking, lunch

4.8 (1,672)

from $28Check dates

KlookDay trip

Taliya Day Cruise: Ha Long Bay & Lan Ha Bay Day Tour

4.9 (310) · 5K+ booked

from $43Check dates

GetYourGuideDay trip

Hanoi/Cat Ba: Beka Day Boat - Lan Ha Bay Full Day Boat Tour

4.8 (670)

from $34Check dates

GetYourGuideDay trip

Hanoi/Cat Ba: The most luxurious day cruise in Lan Ha Bay

4.8 (637)

from $53Check dates

See everything on GetYourGuide →See everything on Klook →Prices checked on October 16, 2026

Which Lan Ha Bay cruise to book: our picks

Best Lan Ha Bay cruises by traveler

1

First-timers who want a big, well-run ship

Elite of the Seas: steel hull, 35 cabins, launched 2022, infinity pool, and soft drinks, beer and cocktails included at lunch and dinner. Thousands of reviews, from $125 on its best date.

GetYourGuide2D1N

Hanoi: 2D1N Elite Lan Ha & Ha Long Cruise with Infinity Pool

4.9 (2,817)

from $125Check dates

2

Couples who want a balcony and a real Lan Ha route

Aspira: 22 suites, all with a balcony or terrace, check-in at Lot 38 Tuan Chau, Dark and Bright Caves by kayak or bamboo boat. Note that VAT is excluded on direct bookings.

Klook2D1N

2D1N Halong & Lan Ha Bay Cruise Tour by Aspira Cruise

4.9 (824) · 6K+ booked

from $146Check dates

3

Small groups and anyone starting from Cat Ba

Venezia: two small boats (10 and 5 cabins) from Ben Beo, no Ha Long detour, Ba Trai Dao swim and a Viet Hai bike morning. Simple cabins, no balconies.

GetYourGuide2D1N

Hanoi: 2 Days Lan Ha Bay Cruise with Meals & Activities

4.7 (873)

from $125Check dates

4

Newest ship, larger suites

Azura: launched December 2025, 30 suites all with a balcony or terrace and a bathtub. Its 5.0 rating reflects a new ship with under a year of reviews.

Klook2D1N

Azura 2D1N Luxury Cruise: Ha Long Bay & Lan Ha Bay Tour

5.0 (449) · 2K+ booked

from $176Check dates

For the full ranking see best Lan Ha Bay cruises; for big-suite ships, luxury cruises. Aspira and Azura are sister ships from the same Hanoi office and the same pier lot, with near-identical programmes: pick by budget and cabin.

GetYourGuide2D1N

Hanoi: 2D1N Elite Lan Ha & Ha Long Cruise with Infinity Pool

4.9 (2,817)

from $125Check dates

5★

GetYourGuide2D1N

2 Days Ha Long Lan Ha Bay 5-Star Cruise w/Balcony & Bathtub

4.7 (1,231)

from $131Check dates

Klook2D1N

Azura 2D1N Luxury Cruise: Ha Long Bay & Lan Ha Bay Tour

5.0 (449) · 2K+ booked

from $176Check dates

5★

GetYourGuide3D2N

Hanoi: 3Day 5-Star Cruise Ha Long, Lan Ha & Viet Hai Cycling

4.8 (594)

from $266Check dates

6★

GetYourGuide2D1N

Hanoi: 2–3 Day Lan Ha & Halong Bay 6-Star Cruise w/Balcony

4.9 (526)

from $179Check dates

GetYourGuide2D1N

From Hanoi: Ha Long & Lan Ha Bay 2-Day Cruise with Meals

4.8 (454)

from $133Check dates

See everything on GetYourGuide →See everything on Klook →Prices checked on October 16, 2026

How to book a Lan Ha cruise: GetYourGuide, Klook, Trip.com or direct

GetYourGuide carries most of the big Lan Ha listings and the date calendar on this site. Many are sold by agencies under generic titles such as "5-Star Cruise with Balcony", without the ship's name in the headline. Most listings offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before and "reserve now, pay later".

Klook sells most cruise brands under their own names (Aspira, Azura, La Pandora, Peony, Capella, Mon Chéri and others) and shows "booked" counts, which helps you judge how established a ship is. Cancellation rules differ per activity, so read them on each product. La Pandora, for example, is from $104 on Klook and $171 on GetYourGuide today.

Trip.com lists a few ships nobody else sells in English, but with few reviews so far. Check it third, after the other two.

Booking direct with the cruise line is stricter: cancellation fees often start 30 days out and 100% applies inside 7 days (Elite of the Seas allows free cancellation until 7 days; Orchid, Sena and Era charge from 30 days out; Heritage Line from 45). Add card fees of 3–4.5%. That flexibility gap is the honest reason to book through a platform. Our GetYourGuide vs Klook review compares both.

Most ships ask for passport details 24 hours before sailing and the original passport at check-in. Step by step in how to book.

What can go wrong: weather, rules and safety

Storm cancellations. Sailings are stopped by the port authorities, not by the cruise line. Hai Phong issues a sea ban and stops the Cat Ba ferries; Quang Ninh halts departure permits at Tuan Chau. The storm season runs June to November. In 2026 a storm stranded more than 1,700 tourists on Cat Ba on 22 August, and the car ferry stopped again on 13–14 September (https://vnexpress.net/hon-1-700-du-khach-van-o-tren-dao-cat-ba-5112281.html). Refunds follow the operator's or platform's terms; a typical operator rule is a full refund if the cruise is cancelled before sailing. Keep a buffer day before an international flight.

Fog and drizzle. February to April brings the least sunshine of the year and fine drizzle. October and November are the driest, sunniest months. See best time to visit.

Holiday crowds. The 30 April–1 May holiday and summer weekends are the domestic peak, with long queues at the car ferry. Tết brings surcharges.

Life jackets. After a fatal collision between two day boats near Van Boi on 14 June 2026, Cat Hai Special Zone (đặc khu Cát Hải, the local administration) requires every passenger to wear a certified life jacket from boarding and throughout the trip, with crew safety briefings; inspections focus on wooden tenders (https://tienphong.vn/tang-cuong-kiem-tra-tau-cho-khach-du-lich-tren-vinh-lan-ha-post1851944.tpo). No cruise brand on this site was involved.

Wooden hulls. Wooden boats are still legal, and both 2026 incidents in the region involved wooden boats. Before booking a cheap tour, ask three questions: steel hull? year built? ship name on the voucher?

Lan Ha Bay vs Ha Long Bay cruises

Lan Ha is part of the same UNESCO site, "Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago", since 2023, but it sits in a different province with its own fees and port authority. Lan Ha generally feels quieter at the anchorages. In practice, Lan Ha cruises often start at Tuan Chau anyway, the activities lean towards lagoons, beaches and Viet Hai, and overnight fees are lower (400,000 VND per adult for 1 night, against 500,000–550,000 VND on the Ha Long overnight routes). The full comparison is in Lan Ha vs Ha Long, and our cruise finder filters ships by route.

Cruises2 days 1 night cruisefrom $104 Day tripsDay cruisesfrom $28 CruisesBudget cruisesfrom $104 CruisesLuxury cruisesfrom $125

Lan Ha Bay cruise FAQ