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Getting thereLan Ha from Hanoi

Lan Ha Bay from Hanoi: boat tours, cruises and how to get there

From Hanoi you reach Lan Ha Bay in two ways: by shuttle to Tuan Chau (2.5–3 h) for a cruise or a big day ship, or by bus to Cat Ba (3–3.5 h, from USD 11) for local boat tours. One night is the sweet spot; a same-day boat tour works but means 12–15 hours on the road and water.

Hanoi → Tuan Chau
2.5–3 h by cruise shuttle, about 153–160 km
Hanoi → Cat Ba town
3–3.5 h by combo bus with the ferry crossing
Bus to Cat Ba
USD 11–15 (Good Morning Cat Ba), USD 13 (Cat Ba Express)
Cruise shuttle
free to about USD 40 return, depending on the ship
Day boat tour from Hanoi
pickup 05:15–07:30, back 20:00–21:00
2D1N cruise from Hanoi
pickup 08:00–08:30, back about 14:30–16:00 next day

Updated October 16, 2026Facts checked against official sourcesContains affiliate links

From Hanoi: what you can book

9 options · Prices checked on October 16, 2026

Length

See everything on GetYourGuide →See everything on Klook →

Getting to Lan Ha Bay from Hanoi is easier than the map suggests. Lan Ha (vịnh Lan Hạ, the bay east of Cat Ba Island in Hai Phong) has no road to it, but two expressway routes bring you to the water: one to Tuan Chau in Ha Long, where most cruises and big day ships board, and one to the Cat Hai side, where a short ferry or cable car takes you to Cat Ba Island and its day boats.

Which one you take depends on the trip. A Lan Ha Bay boat tour in one day, an overnight cruise and a few nights on Cat Ba each use a different route, and each has its own pickup times and hidden costs. Here is how they compare.

Tuan Chau International Marina1Halong International Cruise Port2Gia Luan ferry pier3Dong Bai ferry pier (Cat Hai)4Cai Vieng ferry pier5Phu Long cable car station6Ben Beo pier7Cat Ba town8

Overnight cruise track from Tuan Chau

Day-boat loop from Ben Beo (Cat Ba)

Tuan Chau – Gia Luan ferry

Dong Bai – Cai Vieng car ferry

  1. 1Tuan Chau International MarinaPierDirections ↗
  2. 2Halong International Cruise PortPierDirections ↗
  3. 3Gia Luan ferry pierPierDirections ↗
  4. 4Dong Bai ferry pier (Cat Hai)PierDirections ↗
  5. 5Cai Vieng ferry pierPierDirections ↗
  6. 6Phu Long cable car stationPierDirections ↗
  7. 7Ben Beo pierPierDirections ↗
  8. 8Cat Ba townTownDirections ↗
Routes drawn schematically: every ship sails its own licensed itinerary. · Chart: © OpenStreetMap contributors

Three ways to do Lan Ha Bay from Hanoi

Plan Route Hanoi pickup Back in Hanoi From
Overnight cruise (2D1N) Shuttle to Tuan Chau, ship into Lan Ha 08:00–08:30 about 14:30–16:00 on Day 2 $104
Day ship from Tuan Chau Shuttle to Tuan Chau and back 07:00–07:30 about 19:45–20:15 $38–53
Day boat tour via Cat Ba Bus to Cat Ba, boat from Ben Beo, bus back 05:15–05:30 (some tours) 20:30–21:00 $34
Cat Ba stay + day boats Combo bus to Cat Ba town, nights on the island bus 06:00–14:00 your choice bus USD 11–15

Our view: if you can spare one night, take it. Either a 2D1N cruise or a night on Cat Ba with a day boat the next morning gives you far more bay for the hours you spend travelling. The day trip is for travellers who truly have one day.

Lan Ha Bay cruise from Hanoi: the 2 days 1 night route

Most branded Lan Ha cruises check in at Tuan Chau International Marina in Ha Long, each in its own numbered lounge (Peony and Mon Chéri No. 34, Orchid Lot 32, Capella 20B…). The shuttle runs on the Hanoi – Hai Phong and Hai Phong – Ha Long expressways, 2.5–3 hours including a rest stop. From Tuan Chau the ship sails 1–1.5 hours through Ha Long waters into Lan Ha, or a speedboat takes you to a ship anchored near Gia Luan on north Cat Ba.

2 days 1 night from Hanoi (Peony's official schedule)

  1. Pickup at your Old Quarter hotelShuttle often sold separately

  2. Check-in at Tuan Chau, lounge No. 34Bring your passport

  3. Support boat to the ship, lunch while sailing to Lan Ha

  4. Tra Bau: swim, bamboo boat or kayak where allowedThen sunset, dinner and squid fishing

  5. Tai chi on the sundeckDay 2

  6. Gia Luan, Trung Trang cave on Cat Ba by road

  7. Brunch, check-out, transfer back

  8. Back at Tuan Chau; Hanoi about 14:30–16:00

The shuttle is the line item to watch. Platform listings that start "Hanoi:" usually include it; brand sites often do not. Published prices vary from free to about USD 40 per person return: Peony about $35 return ($18 one way), Sena USD 30, Era USD 40, Celina 1,500,000 VND including lunch. Venezia, which boards at Ben Beo on Cat Ba instead, is USD 125 without the bus and USD 145 with it.

Good first choices on GetYourGuide and Klook:

"5-star" and "6-star" in the titles are marketing: Vietnam's star rating for cruise ships is voluntary and has no sixth star. More ships in 2 days 1 night cruises; the 3-day guide explains which "3-day" listings are really one night aboard plus Ninh Binh.

Lan Ha Bay boat tour in one day from Hanoi

Two kinds of day trip exist, and they feel very different.

A Tuan Chau day ship. You ride the same shuttle as the cruise guests and board a large day ship. Taliya is the reference: pickup 07:00–07:30, check-in around 10:00, lunch while sailing, the Dark and Bright Caves by bamboo boat rowed by a local, a swim at Ao Ech, a cooking demo, back at Tuan Chau at 17:15–17:30 and in the Old Quarter about 19:45–20:15. On GetYourGuide it is from $53. Cozy Bay's Tropical day ship (from USD 58 direct including the bus, from $38 on Klook) also lands at Gia Luan for Trung Trang cave on Cat Ba before an afternoon in Tra Bau lagoon; it is back in Hanoi around 20:30–21:00.

A Cat Ba day boat with a Hanoi bus. The bus crosses to Cat Ba and you board a local boat at Ben Beo. Beka Travel's version picks up at 05:15–05:30 (Hoan Kiem only), boards at 09:00, visits the Dark and Bright Caves, Ba Trai Dao and a fish farm, and the bus leaves Cat Ba at 16:30 to reach the Old Quarter at 20:30–21:00. That is a 15-hour day for about seven hours on the water. On GetYourGuide: Beka day boat from $34, Lan Ha and Monkey Island full day from $29, or Ha Long Bay to Lan Ha Bay – Cat Ba Island day tour from $49. Serenity Grandeur from Ben Beo, with a Viet Hai stop, sells a Hanoi round trip for USD 82 direct (sale price) and returns to Hanoi around 20:20.

For the full comparison of Tuan Chau ships and Cat Ba boats see day cruises.

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

Hanoi to Cat Ba by bus, then boat tours from the island

The cheapest and most flexible way is to go to Cat Ba yourself and book boats there. Combo tickets cover the bus from your Old Quarter hotel, the Dong Bai – Cai Vieng crossing and a bus to your hotel in Cat Ba town:

  • Good Morning Cat Ba: USD 11 bus or USD 15 limousine (return USD 22 / 30), 3–3.5 hours, +USD 2 if routed by cable car.
  • Cat Ba Express: USD 13 one way, USD 26 return; from Hanoi at 06:00, 07:30/07:45, 10:45 and 14:00; from Cat Ba at 09:30, 12:30, 15:30 and 17:00.
  • Shared vans from various agencies: 230,000–400,000 VND.

The Hoang Long bus and speedboat combo that older guides recommend is suspended; do not plan on it.

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: 1.86 km, 25–35 minutes, about 05:00–18:30. Combo buses often use a 5–7 minute speedboat instead. The alternative is the Cat Hai – Phu Long cable car (about 100,000 VND one way; check the ticket, as published fares differ), whose Phu Long station is 20–30 minutes from Cat Ba town.

Once on the island, Lan Ha day boats leave from Ben Beo, 2 km from town: Cat Ba Expedition charges 900,000 VND direct, and GetYourGuide day boats start at $28. Add Cat Ba National Park (120,000 VND central route), a plankton evening in the warm months or climbing, and you have a better trip than any package. Cat Ba Island covers where to stay.

Getting to Cat Ba Island
From → toHowTimePrice
Hanoi Old Quarter → Cat Ba townOld Quarter hotel pickup; about 2 h on the expressway, then the Dong Bai–Cai Vieng crossing (speedboat 5–7 min or ferry 25–35 min) or the cable car, then a bus to your hotel.Combo bus + speedboat, ferry or cable car + bus (Good Morning Cat Ba) Check dates →3–3.5 hUSD 11 bus, USD 15 limousine (return USD 22 / 30); +USD 2 if routed by cable car
Hanoi → Cat Ba townFrom Hanoi 06:00, 07:30/07:45, 10:45, 14:00; from Cat Ba 09:30, 12:30, 15:30, 17:00. The Hoang Long bus + speedboat combo is suspended — do not plan on it.Combo bus + crossing (Cat Ba Express) Check dates →about 3.5 hUSD 13 one way, USD 26 return
Hanoi → Cat Ba townSame road + Dong Bai crossing as the combo buses; compare pickup area and the drop-off point on Cat Ba.Shared limousine van (various agencies) Check dates →3–3.5 h230,000–400,000 VND per person
Hanoi / Noi Bai airport (HAN) → Cat BaCars cannot board the Dong Bai ferry toward Cat Ba 09:00–13:00 on weekends and holidays in summer (9 May–30 Sep 2026); the driver may switch you to the cable car or speedboat.Private car + car ferry Check dates →about 3–3.5 h1,200,000–2,000,000 VND per car (agency range)
Noi Bai airport (HAN) → Cat BaOnly works with the bus timetable; for a late flight take a private car.Airport car to the Hanoi office + combo bus (Good Morning Cat Ba)about 4–4.5 hUSD 19 per car (4–7 seats) to the office, then the USD 13 bus; Cat Ba → Noi Bai USD 29
Hanoi → Hai Phong → Cat BaSpeedboat Ben Binh → Cat Ba about 45–60 min; departures reported 07:00, 09:00, 13:00, 15:00 (back 08:00, 10:00, 14:00, 16:00). Operator and timetable not confirmed officially — check locally.Train to Hai Phong + taxi to Ben Binh + speedboatabout 3–4 h incl. connectionsTrain 70,000–150,000 VND; speedboat 200,000–300,000 VND
Ninh Binh / Tam Coc → Cat Ba townFrom Ninh Binh 07:30, 09:00, 09:30, 13:30, 14:00; from Cat Ba 08:00, 09:00, 12:30, 15:30 (limousine 12:30, 15:30).Tourist bus + crossing + bus (Good Morning Cat Ba) Check dates →4.5–5 hUSD 13 (about 350,000 VND); limousine USD 16 on the return
Hai Phong city / Cat Bi airport (HPH) → Cat BaCat Bi is the closest airport to the Cat Hai piers. The listing linked here runs Cat Ba → Cat Bi.Private car via Tan Vu–Lach Huyen bridge + Dong Bai ferry or cable car Check dates →check with the driver (not confirmed)see listing
Dong Bai (Cat Hai island) ⇄ Cai Vieng (Cat Ba)Daily about 05:00–18:30 (to ~19:00 in peak months). From 1 Sep 2026 the last ferry leaves Cat Ba 17:30 and the mainland 18:00. Stops at about Beaufort 4 wind; holiday queues of several hours have occurred.Car ferry (Bayview Cat Ba) — replaced the Got ferry on 1 Mar 202425–35 minWalk-on 10,000 VND; motorbike 45,000; car under 9 seats 190,000 (secondary sources)
Cat Hai ⇄ Phu Long (Cat Ba) cable carNot every day (closed Tuesdays per VnExpress; Wed–Mon 09:00–11:00 and 13:00–17:00 per Sun Group); fixed slots. Good when the car ferry queues or stops in wind.Sun World cable car, about 3.9 km Check dates →8–10 min, then 20–30 min by road to Cat Ba townFare reported between 50,000 and 150,000 VND one way — check the ticket listing
Tuan Chau (Ha Long) → Gia Luan (north Cat Ba)Sails only in good weather and with at least 30 passengers. 16 Apr–30 Sep from Tuan Chau 07:30, 09:30, 11:30, 13:30, 15:30; 1 Oct–15 Apr 07:30, 11:30, 15:00. From Cat Ba: summer 09:00, 11:30, 13:00, 15:00, 16:00; winter 09:00, 13:00, 16:00. Usually keeps running when the Dong Bai ferry stops.Passenger and car ferryabout 50 min–1 h 20; then about 30 min by road to Cat Ba townAbout 60,000 VND per passenger (secondary); car about 450,000 VND

Times and fares checked on October 16, 2026; ferries stop in storms and at low demand.

Private car, train and airport transfers

Private car. Hanoi or Noi Bai airport to Cat Ba costs about 1,200,000–2,000,000 VND per car (agency range), 3–3.5 hours. Watch the summer rule: cars may not board the Dong Bai ferry toward Cat Ba from 09:00 to 13:00 on weekends and holidays between 9 May and 30 September. Leave early, or let the driver drop you for the cable car or speedboat.

Train and speedboat. The train from Hanoi to Hai Phong takes 2–2.5 hours (70,000–150,000 VND). From Hai Phong station a short taxi reaches Ben Binh, where speedboats to Cat Ba take about 45–60 minutes for 200,000–300,000 VND. The operator and timetable are not published officially; check locally the day before.

From Noi Bai airport. Good Morning Cat Ba sends a car from the airport to its Hanoi office (USD 19 for 4–7 seats) to meet the USD 13 bus; Cat Ba back to Noi Bai is USD 29. Noi Bai to Tuan Chau is about 170 km. On the day you leave a cruise, you are back in Hanoi around mid-afternoon at the earliest, so book an evening flight and allow for traffic. How to get there lists every option, including Van Don and Cat Bi airports.

Ha Long or Cat Ba side: which is better from Hanoi?

Tuan Chau (Ha Long) Cat Ba (Ben Beo)
Time from Hanoi 2.5–3 h, road only 3–3.5 h, with a water crossing
What leaves from here Most overnight cruises, big day ships Local day boats, small overnight boats
First hour on the water Ha Long waters before Lan Ha Lan Ha almost at once
Weather risk Port authority can halt sailings Same, plus the Cat Ba ferry stops at about Beaufort 4
Best for Overnight cruises, one-day trips Budget trips, several nights, activities

The Cat Ba side has one extra risk. When wind reaches about Beaufort 4 the car ferry stops; on 13–14 September 2026 queues to leave the island reached 7–12 hours, and on 22 August 2026 a sea ban stranded more than 1,700 tourists (VnExpress). From June to November keep a spare day before your flight. Storm cancellations are ordered by the authorities; a typical operator refunds 100% if the trip is cancelled before sailing, and platforms follow their own terms. See best time to visit.

Booking tips for Lan Ha from Hanoi

  • Check the pickup area. Most shuttles collect from Old Quarter hotels only; some meet at a central point.
  • Check the ship and the pier. Generic listings often name neither. The voucher should show the ship and the lounge number at Tuan Chau, or Ben Beo for Cat Ba boats.
  • Send passport details early. Operators register passengers with the port authority, usually 24 hours ahead, and you need the original passport at check-in.
  • Compare like with like. A "Hanoi:" platform price usually includes the shuttle; a brand's direct price usually does not.
  • Prefer free cancellation in storm season. GetYourGuide listings mostly allow it up to 24 hours before; direct bookings often charge 100% inside 7 days. Our booking guide has more.
  • Coming from Ninh Binh? A 07:00–07:30 limousine reaches Tuan Chau in time for a midday check-in; see Lan Ha from Ninh Binh.

Our picks from Hanoi

1

Overnight, first visit

Elite of the Seas: well reviewed, 35 cabins, Lan Ha route, Hanoi transfer option in the listing.

2

One day, no ferry

Taliya: Dark and Bright Caves by bamboo boat and Ao Ech, back in Hanoi around 20:00.

3

Small boat, more Lan Ha

Venezia boards at Ben Beo and spends both days in Lan Ha, with Viet Hai on Day 2.

4

Lowest price from Hanoi

Beka Travel's wooden day boat; a 15-hour day, best if you then stay on Cat Ba.

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

How do I get from Hanoi to Lan Ha Bay?

Either by shuttle to Tuan Chau in Ha Long (2.5–3 hours), where most cruises and big day ships board, or by combo bus to Cat Ba town (3–3.5 hours, from USD 11), then a day boat from Ben Beo pier.

Can you visit Lan Ha Bay as a day trip from Hanoi?

Yes. Tuan Chau day ships pick up at 07:00–07:30 and return around 20:00; Cat Ba day boats with a Hanoi bus can start at 05:15 and end after 20:30. A night on Cat Ba or on a cruise is more comfortable.

How much is a Lan Ha Bay boat tour from Hanoi?

On the platforms, day tours with transport start at about $34–53 and 2-day cruises at about $104–146 per person. The Cat Ba bus alone is USD 11–15.

Is the Hanoi transfer included in Lan Ha Bay cruises?

On most platform listings that start with "Hanoi:", yes. On brand sites it is often extra, from free to about USD 40 per person return. Check before comparing prices.

How long is the drive from Hanoi to Lan Ha Bay?

About 2.5–3 hours to Tuan Chau, plus 1–1.5 hours of sailing into Lan Ha. To Cat Ba town it is 3–3.5 hours including the ferry or cable car.

Is there a direct bus from Hanoi to Lan Ha Bay?

Not to the bay itself. Combo buses go to Cat Ba town (Good Morning Cat Ba, Cat Ba Express), and cruise shuttles go to Tuan Chau. The Hoang Long bus and speedboat combo is suspended.

Keep exploring

Getting thereFrom Ninh Binhfrom $109 Getting thereHow to get there Getting thereCruise piersfrom $110 Day tripsDay cruisesfrom $28 Day tripsToursfrom $28