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Halong Bay vs Lan Ha Bay (and Bai Tu Long): which bay to cruise

Ha Long and Lan Ha are one karst seascape split between two provinces. Pick Lan Ha for smaller lagoons, beach stops and Cat Ba; pick Ha Long for the big caves and the shortest trip from Hanoi. Four licensed overnight routes now let one ship show you both.

Lan Ha Bay
Hai Phong city (Cat Hai Special Zone), east of Cat Ba Island
Ha Long Bay
Quang Ninh province, about 1,553 km² and 1,969 islets
Bai Tu Long Bay
Quang Ninh, north-east of Ha Long
Day fee
Lan Ha 120,000 VND · Ha Long 150,000–250,000 VND per route
Overnight fee, 1 night
Lan Ha 400,000 VND · Ha Long 500,000–550,000 VND
Both bays on one ship
Only on 4 licensed overnight routes (since 1 April 2026)
Main cruise pier
Tuan Chau (Ha Long) for both bays

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

Lan Ha vs Ha Long: what you can book

9 options · Prices checked on October 16, 2026

Length

Platform

See everything on GetYourGuide →See everything on Klook →

Halong Bay vs Lan Ha Bay is less a choice between two places than a choice between two sides of the same limestone landscape. On 16 September 2023 UNESCO added the Cat Ba archipelago to the Ha Long Bay World Heritage site and renamed it "Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago", so Lan Ha now sits inside the same heritage property. What differs is the province, the fee regime, the sights on the itinerary, the pier you start from and how easily you can add Cat Ba Island.

Lan Ha (vịnh Lan Hạ, "vịnh" means bay) lies south of Ha Long, around the east side of Cat Ba. Most branded "Lan Ha" cruises still check in at Tuan Chau in Ha Long, so the drive from Hanoi is the same; the difference shows up on the water.

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

Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay: where one ends and the other begins

The boundary is a provincial line on the water. Ha Long and Bai Tu Long are in Quang Ninh. Lan Ha is in Hai Phong, administered since the 2025 reform by Cat Hai Special Zone (đặc khu Cát Hải, a city-level zone that replaced the old district). Each side has its own fees, its own port authority and its own rules for where overnight ships may anchor.

A ship sailing out of Tuan Chau toward Lan Ha spends its first hour or so in Ha Long waters before it crosses into Hai Phong.

Size is where many guides go wrong. Ha Long Bay is usually given as about 1,553 km² with 1,969 islets, of which the UNESCO core is 434 km² with 775 islets. Lan Ha is much smaller: its water area is put at "over 7,000 ha", with hundreds of limestone islets. The famous figure of 366 islands belongs to the whole Cat Ba archipelago, not to Lan Ha alone.

No official count of boats or visitors per bay exists. "Lan Ha is quieter" is a fair impression on most days, not a statistic.

What you see: Ha Long caves vs Lan Ha lagoons and beaches

The scenery is the same family of steep, forested karst towers. The stops are not.

Ha Long's numbered routes (VHL1–VHL8) are built around big caves and viewpoints. VHL1 covers Thien Cung, Dau Go and the Trong Mai rocks. VHL2 is the classic Sung Sot cave, Ti Top island and its beach, Soi Sim and Luon cave. VHL3 goes to Cua Van, Tien Ong cave, Ba Ham lake and Ba Men temple. VHL4 heads toward Bai Tu Long: Co and Thay caves, Vong Vieng fishing village and Cong Do. Most Ha Long day cruises from Hanoi run VHL1 or VHL2.

Lan Ha's stops are smaller and more water-level. The usual list:

  • Tra Bau and Ao Ech (Frog Lagoon), the main anchorage and activity area.
  • The Dark and Bright Caves (hang Tối – hang Sáng), sea-level tunnels visited by bamboo boat.
  • Ba Trai Dao ("Three Peaches") beach, often a swim stop when access, tide and weather allow.
  • Van Boi, a calm stretch of water with a sandy shore.
  • Cai Beo, the floating fishing village beside Ben Beo pier.
  • Viet Hai, a car-free village inside the national park, reached by boat and then bicycle (see Viet Hai village).
  • Monkey Island (Cát Dứa), ten minutes by boat from Ben Beo.

Two traps here. Ba Ham lake, Cua Van and Tien Ong are often sold as Lan Ha sights, but they are in Ha Long (route VHL3). And Lan Ha has its own Hang Luon, a kayak-only tunnel into a lagoon, which has nothing to do with Luon cave on Ha Long's VHL2.

Fees: Lan Ha vs Ha Long, per person

Lan Ha is cheaper to enter. The day fee for the Cat Ba bays is 120,000 VND per adult, roughly half the 250,000 VND charged on Ha Long's main routes VHL1 and VHL2. Overnight fees follow the same pattern.

Fee per adult Lan Ha (Hai Phong) Ha Long (Quang Ninh)
Day visit 120,000 VND (child 60,000) VHL1, VHL2, VHL5: 250,000 · VHL3, VHL4: 200,000 · VHL6: 150,000 · VHL7: 600,000 · VHL8: 70,000 VND
1 night on the bay 400,000 VND (child 300,000) 500,000–550,000 VND, depending on the route
2 nights 600,000 VND (child 500,000) 650,000–750,000 VND
3 nights 650,000 VND (child 550,000) —

Sources: Hai Phong newspaper for Lan Ha, the Ha Long Bay portal for Ha Long. Under-6s are free on the Lan Ha side.

On almost every cruise these fees are inside the price. Two places to check: Heritage Line excludes the Lan Ha admission fee, and the cheapest Cat Ba day tours sold "excl. tickets" add 120,000 VND per adult at the pier. Part of the reason a Cat Ba day boat costs so little is this lower fee.

Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba fees
FeePriceWho pays
Lan Ha Bay sightseeing fee (day visit, Cat Ba bays route)Child = 6 years and over or taller than 1.2 m; under-6s free. A cheap Cat Ba day tour sold 'excl. tickets' adds this per adult. Collected by the Cat Ba Bays Management Board.120,000 VND (child 60,000)Included in most cruise and day-boat fares; check the listing
Lan Ha Bay overnight fee (on board)Figures of 300,000 / 500,000 VND seen online are the child rates or the pre-2024 table.1 night 400,000 VND (child 300,000); 2 nights 600,000 (500,000); 3 nights 650,000 (550,000)Usually in the cruise price (Heritage Line lists the Lan Ha admission fee as excluded)
Cat Ba National Park — whole parkOpen 07:00–17:00. Child = 6–14 or taller than 1.2 m; under 6 / under 1.2 m free; 50% off for Vietnamese citizens 60+.160,000 VND (child 80,000)Pay at the park gate unless your tour includes it
Cat Ba National Park — central route (Kim Giao forest – Ngu Lam peak – Trung Trang cave)The usual ticket for Ngu Lam peak. Older 40,000 / 80,000 VND figures are outdated.120,000 VND (child 60,000)Hikers; cruises that stop at Trung Trang cave normally include it
Cat Ba National Park — Ninh Tiep field – Tien Duc cave (incl. Hai Quan peak)80,000 VND (child 40,000)Pay at the park
Cat Ba National Park — Phu Long – mangroves – Thien Long cave80,000 VND (child 40,000)Pay at the park
Viet Hai village — bicycle or electric car from the wharfVillage service prices reported by VietnamNet (May 2026), not an official tariff. No separate village entry fee found.Bicycle about 50,000 VND per person per day; electric car about 150,000 VND one wayIncluded on most 3D2N cruises and Viet Hai day boats
Cat Hai – Phu Long cable car (Sun World)Fixed time slots; closed on some weekdays. Operator fare, not a state fee.Reported 50,000–150,000 VND one way (sources conflict)Independent travellers to Cat Ba
Cannon Fort (Cat Ba town)VnExpress guide, updated 16 Apr 2026 (not a primary source).80,000 VND; electric car +50,000 VNDPay at the gate
Hospital Cave (Hang Quan Y)VnExpress guide, updated 16 Apr 2026; some guides still say 40,000 VND.80,000 VNDPay at the gate
Monkey Island (Cat Dua)Removed from Hai Phong's fee list in 2024 (no landing pier or visitor facilities). Any 'entrance fee' quoted is outdated or a private charge.No state sightseeing feeBoat trip charged by the operator
Ha Long Bay routes (Quang Ninh) — for comparisonQuang Ninh Resolution 51/2025/NQ-HĐND; VHL6–8 from 1 May 2025 (halongbay.com.vn). How the two provinces' fees combine on the 2026 inter-bay routes is not published.Day: VHL1, VHL2, VHL5 250,000 VND; VHL3, VHL4 200,000; VHL6 150,000; VHL7 600,000; VHL8 70,000. Overnight: route 2 550,000 (1 night) / 750,000 (2 nights); routes 3–4 500,000 / 650,000Cruises boarding at Tuan Chau that sightsee on the Ha Long side

Official fees checked on October 16, 2026. Hai Phong People's Council Resolution 47/2025/NQ-HĐND of 10 Dec 2025 (32nd session, XVI Council), in force from 1 Jan 2026; bay rates unchanged from 1 Aug 2024 ↗

Halong Bay to Lan Ha Bay: how ships cross between the bays

Until spring 2026, sightseeing in both bays meant changing boats: about 500,000 visitors a year switched between Ha Long and Lan Ha by speedboat. Quang Ninh and Hai Phong then signed a joint regulation on 26 March 2026, in force from 1 April, that licenses four overnight routes across the line (VnEconomy):

Route Ha Long side Lan Ha side
VHL3 – Lan Ha Cua Van, Tien Ong cave, Ba Ham lake, Ba Men temple Tra Bau, Dark and Bright Caves, Ba Trai Dao, Cai Beo
VHL4 – Lan Ha Co and Thay caves, Vong Vieng Dark and Bright Caves, Ong Cam, Gia Luan
VHL5 – Lan Ha Thien Cung, Dau Go, Trong Mai Gia Luan, Tra Bau, Bright cave, Viet Hai gate
VHL6 – Lan Ha Chan Voi, Tung Lam Viet Hai wharf

Ships leave from Tuan Chau and Ha Long International Cruise Port. The first sailings, on 20 April 2026, were Âu Cơ 1 (Bhaya) on VHL3 and Ambassador Signature on VHL6.

An overnight ship may only anchor for the night at designated spots in its home province, so a Lan Ha ship sleeps in Lan Ha. AIS/GPS tracking is compulsory, ships must treat wastewater, and no single-use plastic may be used or sold on board ships on these routes.

Day cruises such as Taliya sail from Tuan Chau into Lan Ha and back the same day: a round trip, not a transfer.

Lan Ha Bay to Halong Bay: piers, transfer times and Cat Ba

The second big difference is where you board.

  • Tuan Chau International Marina (Ha Long) is the check-in point for most branded Lan Ha overnight ships, each in a numbered lounge (Peony and Mon Chéri No. 34, Orchid Lot 32, Capella 20B, La Regina Lot 24…). From there a 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. Hanoi to Tuan Chau is 2.5–3 hours by road.
  • Ha Long International Cruise Port (Bai Chay) is the second departure port for the inter-bay routes and the base for some Bai Tu Long ships.
  • Ben Beo (Cai Beo), 2 km from Cat Ba town, is the base for Cat Ba day boats and for small overnight boats such as Venezia.

A pure Ha Long cruise is reached by road only. Getting to Cat Ba means a water crossing: the car ferry from Dong Bai (Cat Hai island, formerly the Got pier area) to Cai Vieng takes 25–35 minutes, or you take the Cat Hai – Phu Long cable car. Hanoi to Cat Ba town by combo bus takes 3–3.5 hours. The ferry stops at around Beaufort 4, and on 13–14 September 2026 queues to leave Cat Ba reached 7–12 hours.

A Tuan Chau cruise (Lan Ha or Ha Long) is simplest from Hanoi or Ninh Binh; the Cat Ba side suits travellers staying on the island. Details: how to get there and the piers guide.

Getting to Tuan Chau
From → toHowTimePrice
Hanoi Old Quarter → Tuan Chau Marina (cruise check-in)Pickup usually 08:00–08:30 for 11:30–12:30 check-in; back in Hanoi about 14:30–16:00 on the last day. Buses over 16 seats cannot enter the Old Quarter, so big shuttles use meeting points.Cruise-line shuttle / limousine2.5–3 h incl. a 30-min stopFree to about USD 40 per person return depending on the ship (e.g. Sena USD 30, Scarlet Pearl USD 35, Era USD 40; Elite of the Seas shared limousine free)
Hanoi / Noi Bai airport → Tuan ChauBook through your cruise line if possible so the driver has the lounge lot number.Private carabout 2.5–3 h (Noi Bai about 170 km)From about USD 50 per car one way (Elite of the Seas price list); premium vans up to USD 200
Van Don airport (VDO) → Tuan ChauAllow the longer figure until your driver confirms.Taxi / private car30 min–2 h (sources conflict)ask the cruise line
Ninh Binh / Tam Coc → Tuan ChauDepartures 07:00–07:30 reach an 11:30–12:30 cruise check-in the same morning.Limousine vanabout 4–4.5 hUSD 15 (Good Morning Cat Ba); USD 25 per person each way (Peony / Mon Chéri shuttle); USD 20 (La Pandora)
Hai Phong / Cat Bi airport → Tuan ChauHeritage Line gives about 1 h; Peony 45–75 min.Taxi / private car via the Hai Phong–Ha Long expressway45–75 minask the cruise line
Cat Ba → join a Tuan Chau cruiseOffered by Peony and Mon Chéri (and on request by others); saves the trip round to Ha Long. Otherwise take the Gia Luan → Tuan Chau ferry.Speedboat or tender from Gia Luan pierwait at Gia Luan 12:30–13:00surcharge set by the cruise line

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

Bai Tu Long Bay: the third option

Bai Tu Long, north-east of Ha Long and also in Quang Ninh, is the quieter extension of Ha Long. Ha Long's route VHL4 runs in its direction (Co and Thay caves, Vong Vieng fishing village, Cong Do).

Some well-known ships sail it instead of Lan Ha, and they are easy to confuse:

  • Heritage Line Violet sails a two-night Bai Tu Long circuit. Its sisters Ylang and Ginger are the Lan Ha ships (see Heritage Line Ginger).
  • La Regina Classic runs a 2D1N in Bai Tu Long from Ha Long International Cruise Port, with Thien Canh Son cave and Vung Vieng. La Regina's Lan Ha ship is the Grand, from Tuan Chau (La Regina review).
  • On GetYourGuide, 2 Days Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay Cruise (from $140, 4.7 from 1,645 reviews) is a Ha Long + Bai Tu Long product, not Lan Ha.

Choose Bai Tu Long if you want Ha Long-type scenery with fishing villages, a departure from the Ha Long side and no Cat Ba crossing. Choose Lan Ha if you want lagoons, swim stops and the option to land on Cat Ba.

"Lan Ha" cruises that spend the day in Ha Long

This is where the real Lan Ha experience is won or lost. Many listings carry both names, and some brands run Lan Ha only on part of their programme:

  • Arcady: the 2D1N stays in Ha Long; only the 3D2N reaches Lan Ha (Arcady review).
  • Hera Grand and Classic Boutique: the 2D1N is Ha Long; Lan Ha only on the 3D2N.
  • Orchid Luxury 3D2N includes Tien Ong and Cua Van, both in Ha Long.
  • Cozy Bay Grand, Sunlight Legend, La Casta Daily and the Elegance and Legacy ships of the Paradise fleet are Ha Long products.
  • Generic GetYourGuide titles such as "5-Star Cruise with Balcony" are sold by agencies and do not always name the ship.

Before paying, check three things: the ship's name in the listing, the Lan Ha stops in the itinerary (Tra Bau, the Dark and Bright Caves, Ba Trai Dao, Viet Hai, Cai Beo), and the meeting point with its lounge number. If the listing says "or similar", the ship can change. Our booking guide has the full checklist.

A night aboard: what changes between the bays

The programme of a 2D1N is almost identical on both sides. A typical Lan Ha run from Tuan Chau, based on Peony's official itinerary:

Lan Ha 2 days 1 night from Tuan Chau

  1. Hanoi hotel pickupShuttle usually extra, about USD 35–40 return

  2. Check-in at the Tuan Chau loungePassport needed

  3. Support boat to the ship, lunch while sailing to Lan HaFirst hour in Ha Long waters

  4. Tra Bau: swim, or kayak where allowedThen sunset, cooking class, dinner, squid fishing

  5. Tai chi on the sundeckDay 2

  6. Landing at Gia Luan, Trung Trang cave on Cat Ba by roadA land excursion, not bay time

  7. Brunch and check-out, sail back around 10:30

  8. Back at Tuan Chau, Hanoi around 14:30–16:00

Three honest differences. Kayaking: Cat Hai suspended all kayak services in the Cat Ba bays from 15 November 2024, re-confirmed in late 2025, with no lifting notice since (VnExpress). Some ships offer it only in a designated area or replace it with a bamboo boat or swim; ask the operator in writing, and read our kayaking guide. Swimming: Lan Ha has more beach and lagoon swim stops. Day 2: Lan Ha ships often land on Cat Ba, which adds a cave or village visit you cannot do from a Ha Long-only ship.

For more on the programme see 2 days 1 night cruises; the 3-day guide explains why a true 3D2N, with a day boat to Viet Hai, is where Lan Ha pulls clearly ahead.

Prices: Ha Long vs Lan Ha cruises today

On the platforms, a Lan Ha overnight costs about the same as a comparable Ha Long one. The gap is between ship classes and channels, not bays.

Product Bay From
Ha Long Bay day cruise from Hanoi Ha Long $39
Jewels of the Bay day tour (Klook) Ha Long $39
Taliya day cruise Lan Ha, from Tuan Chau $53
Cat Ba full day: Lan Ha and Ha Long Lan Ha, from Cat Ba $28
Starlight overnight (Klook) Ha Long $119
Elite of the Seas 2D1N Lan Ha (billed "Ha Long – Lan Ha") $125
La Pandora 2D1N (Klook) Lan Ha $104
Ha Long + Bai Tu Long 2D1N Ha Long / Bai Tu Long $140

Typical Lan Ha 2D1N "from" prices per person, twin share: Cat Ba-side boats $96–116 on GetYourGuide, mid-range $124–160, luxury mostly $155–225.

The cheapest real Lan Ha day is on the Cat Ba side: a local day boat from Ben Beo for under $40, if you sleep on the island. From Hanoi in one day, Ha Long is the easier trip; a Lan Ha day from Tuan Chau like Taliya costs a little more and spends more time sailing. See day cruises for both kinds.

Our picks by bay

1

Lan Ha overnight from Hanoi

Steel ship, 35 cabins, 4.9 from 2,817 reviews, and the route spends its time in Lan Ha. Read our Elite review.

2

Lan Ha in a day from Tuan Chau

A large day ship that reaches the Dark and Bright Caves by bamboo boat and Ao Ech, without the Cat Ba crossing.

3

Real Lan Ha from Cat Ba

The cheapest way onto the bay with a bike leg; check what replaces kayaking.

4

Ha Long and Bai Tu Long

For travellers who prefer the Quang Ninh side and its fishing villages.

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

Safety, weather and crowds on both bays

Weather is shared. October and November are the best months on both sides; February to April brings fog and drizzle; the storm season runs from June to November. When a storm comes, departure permits are halted by the authorities, not by the cruise line, and in Hai Phong a sea ban also stops the Cat Ba ferries. On 22 August 2026 more than 1,700 tourists were stranded on Cat Ba. Leave a buffer day before an international flight. More in best time to visit.

Both bays have had recent incidents, all involving day or tender boats, none an overnight cruise on this site:

  • 19 July 2025, Ha Long: the day boat Vịnh Xanh 58 capsized in a squall after leaving Bai Chay; 35 people were reported dead and 4 missing the next day.
  • 27 February 2026, Ha Long: a wooden 48-seat boat caught fire near Co cave; all 41 people were evacuated unhurt.
  • 14 June 2026, Van Boi (Lan Ha): one day boat hit a wooden boat from behind; it sank and one tourist died. Cat Hai Special Zone now requires every passenger to wear a certified life jacket from boarding and throughout the trip (Tien Phong).

Wooden hulls are still legal on both sides. Whatever bay you pick, ask: steel hull? year built? ship name on the voucher?

Crowds peak on the same dates: the 30 April – 1 May holiday (with 2 km ferry queues to Cat Ba), summer weekends, and Tết, the Lunar New Year in late January or February.

Which bay should you choose?

You want… Choose
Lagoons, beach stops, bamboo-boat caves and a Cat Ba land excursion Lan Ha
A 3D2N with a day boat to Viet Hai village Lan Ha
Several nights on Cat Ba: cheap day boats, the national park, climbing Lan Ha, from Ben Beo
The big show caves (Sung Sot, Thien Cung) and Ti Top island Ha Long
One day from Hanoi with no ferry and the cheapest day ships Ha Long
Fishing villages on the Quang Ninh side, no Cat Ba crossing Bai Tu Long
Both bays on one ship without changing boats An inter-bay route (VHL3–VHL6 – Lan Ha)

Our view: for an overnight, choose a Lan Ha ship and read the itinerary to make sure the afternoon is spent in Lan Ha. For one day from Hanoi, Ha Long is the simpler and cheaper choice. For two nights or more, base yourself on Cat Ba Island or take a true 3D2N. The cruise guide lists every ship with its route.

Is Lan Ha Bay part of Halong Bay?

It is a separate bay in a different province (Hai Phong, while Ha Long is in Quang Ninh), but since 2023 both belong to the same UNESCO World Heritage site, "Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago". The scenery is continuous; the fees, piers and rules are not.

Can you go from Halong Bay to Lan Ha Bay by boat?

On an overnight cruise, yes: since 1 April 2026 four licensed routes (VHL3, VHL4, VHL5 and VHL6 – Lan Ha) let one ship visit both bays. There is no public day boat between them. On your own, the Tuan Chau – Gia Luan ferry to north Cat Ba is the link, and it sails only with at least 30 passengers.

Is Lan Ha Bay better than Halong Bay?

For an overnight, we prefer Lan Ha for its lagoons, swim stops and Cat Ba excursions. Ha Long has the bigger caves and is easier for a single day from Hanoi.

Do Lan Ha Bay cruises leave from Halong?

Most branded Lan Ha overnight ships check in at Tuan Chau in Ha Long and sail into Lan Ha, or take you there by speedboat. Cat Ba day boats and some small overnight boats leave from Ben Beo on Cat Ba. Your voucher names the pier.

What is the real Lan Ha Bay experience?

The lagoons east of Cat Ba (Tra Bau, Ao Ech), the Dark and Bright Caves by bamboo boat, a beach swim and ideally a day boat to Viet Hai, rather than Sung Sot or Ti Top.

Is Bai Tu Long Bay the same as Lan Ha?

No. Bai Tu Long is north-east of Ha Long, in Quang Ninh, on the opposite side from Lan Ha. Heritage Line Violet and La Regina Classic sail Bai Tu Long; their sister ships sail Lan Ha.

Keep exploring

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