Lan Ha Bay vs Halong Bay: Which Should You Visit (2026)

Halong Bay is iconic. You know it, we know it. There is just no denying that and we are not here to diss it. UNESCO World Heritage, on every travel list, deserves the hype. But when locals want to actually escape, they go to Lan Ha bay. We've done both, and there's no comparison.

Halong bay gets hammered by 200-250 tour boats daily. Lan Ha Bay sees maybe 80-100. That difference is everything. You'll have entire limestone lagoons to yourself when you kayak through. Halong pulls 4.5 million visitors a year. Lan Ha gets 1.2 million. The water visibility in Lan Ha is 3-5 meters on clear days versus Halong's murky 1-2 meters. Studies show pollution levels are 70% lower here too.

Then there are the 139 white sandy beaches scattered across 400 limestone islands. Most completely untouched. You could visit five times and never swim at the same beach twice. The real question isn't whether Lan Ha is better. It's who you are as a traveler. Want the famous postcard and don't mind crowds? Halong works. Want raw beauty, silence, actual discovery? You're in the right place.

Why Visit Lan Ha Bay: 139 Beaches & Crystal Clear Water

Lan Ha beaches are genuinely untouched. Van Boi Beach, for instance, is on a limestone island requiring a 30 minute boat ride. When you arrive, you might be one of five people on an entire beach. Blindingly white sand, water so clear you see fish 10 meters out, nothing but cliffs and sky…and no, I am not exaggerating here!

Ba Trai Dao, Three Peaches, is another one. Three limestone karsts rise like stone sculptures. About an hour from Beo Port, the journey itself is incredible. Gliding through turquoise water, watching formations that look alien. The beach when you arrive is yours.

What makes this place feel different is the water. It's not that murky gray stuff from busy harbors. On good days you see 5 meters down easily. For snorkelers it's revelatory. Parrotfish grazing coral, tropical fish in impossible colors, no crowds fighting for sightlines. The bay was recognized in 2020 by the Club of the Most Beautiful Bays of the World, which came with real environmental protections. Development is restricted. The bay actually feels cared for, not just exploited.

7 Best Things to Do in Lan Ha Bay

1. Overnight cruises

This is the move. Lan Ha cruises are smaller, 20 to 40 passengers instead of Halong's floating hotels. You get a balcony cabin, actual restaurants, staff who know your name. Board around 1 PM, settle in, fresh seafood lunch. Afternoon exploring caves or just lying on deck watching islands drift by. Sunset dinner on deck with orange-pink skies reflecting off water. No crowds fighting for spots. Overnight you're anchored in the bay. Morning coffee on your balcony watching fishing boats, then kayaking before breakfast. Prices run $120-195 per person. Budget cruises are $100-145. 

Or you can just do a two day combo tour of both Halong bay and Lan Ha bay for $165

Mini tip: book through your hotel instead of online. They get 20-30% discounts you won't find. The best part is you can book it directly in Hanoi and the transport will be included in the package.

2. Kayaking into caves 

The Dark and Bright Cave (Hang Toi) is out of this world. You paddle between towering limestone cliffs into darkness, then the cave opens to turquoise water so clear it's electric. Unlike Halong's famous caves that are mobbed, Lan Ha's aren't famous (that is a good thing for you!). You might have two other boats, not fifty. $25-40 per person, often included in cruise packages.

3. Ba Trai Dao and Hon Rua Island

A private boat from Beo Port is $30-50 for up to 10 people. Ba Trai Dao takes an hour but the ride is the whole experience. Moving through a stunning seascape, three massive limestone karsts, a small beach, crystal water where you can see the sea floor. Hon Rua is closer and looks like a giant turtle. Both are quiet with excellent snorkeling.

4. Monkey Island

Monkey island is ten minutes from Beo Port. Actual monkeys living there, wild but not aggressive if you're respectful. Long beach, white sand, jungle to trek through. Entry and boat is $20-30, tours with meals are $40-60. Combine swimming and actual wildlife interaction without it feeling staged.

5. Snorkeling and diving 

This is where Lan Ha dominates. Water visibility 3-5 meters on good days, 24-29 degrees C temperature depending on season. Actual functioning ecosystem. Parrotfish, grouper, snapper, wrasse, nudibranch. Not just a museum. Snorkel tours $25-40. Diving $80-150 depending on depth. If you're certified it's worth every penny.

6. Van Boi Beach and stay overnight 

A small pristine beach enclosed by limestone cliffs on a private island. Clear warm water, fine white sand, barely anyone there. The Van Boi Ecolux Resort sits right on the beach. Simple bungalows with ocean views, not fancy but genuinely nice. 1.5-2 million VND per night ($60-80). Wake up to waves and swim before breakfast.

7. Cai Beo Floating Village 

Over 500 households live on the water. Explore by boat, hire a local guide, and eat what they caught that morning. Stay overnight at the Lan Ha Floating Homestay. Simple rooms over the water, family-run, genuine. Seafood is ridiculously fresh and cheap. Woken by fishing activity, watch the village come alive at sunrise, dinner with bay views. It's simple and increasingly rare.

How to Get To Lan Ha Bay from Hanoi

134 kilometers from Hanoi. 2-2.5 hours in good traffic, 3-3.5 in typical Hanoi chaos. Plan for 3 hours.

The Cheap Route Through Cat Ba Island

Get to Hai Phong first. The bus from Hanoi takes 2.5-3 hours. Vexere is the app we highly recommend. Book your seat, know the price, $4-6 USD. Or Grab/Gojek for private car, $20-35 USD, faster and direct.

From Hai Phong, two options to Cat Ba Island. The ferry from Dong Bai Port takes 45 minutes, costs $4, and is a scenic boat ride. Or the famous Cable Car over the sea. 15 minutes suspended 500+ feet above water, terrifying and incredible, $16 USD one-way. Worth doing once.

Once you're on Cat Ba, you're at Lan Ha's doorstep. Beo Port is where boats leave. You can book online but showing up and asking around usually gets better prices. Local guesthouses have relationships with operators and negotiate last-minute rates.

The Fast Route to Tuan Chau Port

Tuan Chau Port in Ha Long City is 30 minutes further north. Many luxury cruises run from here because infrastructure is better. Grab directly from Hanoi is $25-40 USD, 2-2.5 hours straight there.

Mini Tip: Don't try to arrive in Cat Ba and immediately hop on a boat the same day. Getting from Hanoi takes half the day. Stay a night in Cat Ba, catch a boat the next morning. And seriously, ask your hotel for cruise partnerships. They get standing agreements with operators. You'll get 15-30% off just by having someone in the know make a phone call.

Best Time to Visit Lan Ha Bay

October through April. Done. That's when the weather is dry, temperatures 15-23 degrees C (perfect for water), water is calm, skies clear.

November through January is peak for a reason. Reliably nice weather, best visibility for snorkeling, and it's not the absolute peak season yet. March 31 specifically is the Fisherman's Festival (Le Hoi Lang Ca). Marks the fishing season start. Dragon boat races, traditional ceremonies, cultural performances. Worth timing a trip for if you can.

May through September gets hot, humid, and wet. Late June through August is full monsoon. 30-35 degrees C, humidity makes everything sticky, sudden heavy rain. September and early October is the typhoon season. You CAN visit, but you're gambling on the weather. Boats might get cut short due to rough seas. Visibility drops. If a typhoon warning hits, everything shuts down 24-48 hours. Prices drop 30-50% though if you're budget hunting.

Peak season (November-February) has more tourists but crowded at Lan Ha is still peaceful compared to Halong. Want zero crowds? Visit April or October. Good weather, most tourists gone, beaches to yourself.

Where to Stay

On Cat Ba Island is where most people sleep. It has infrastructure, restaurants, shops, ATMs.

Luxury tier (3+ million VND/$120+ USD): Flamingo Cat Ba Beach Resort has beachfront, modern, ocean views. Hôtel Perle d'Orient has French colonial vibes. Catba Island Resort & Spa has an actual spa. Not fantasy luxury but genuinely nice, professional, not wondering if you'll get sick from the water.

Mid-range (1.5-3 million VND/$60-120): Clean, comfortable rooms, a/c, private bathroom. Usually good location, helpful staff, breakfast included. Catba Explorer Hostel (has private rooms) is great value. Friendly vibe, you meet travelers, good location. Cat Ba Dream Hotel and similar places are simple but clean. This is the sweet spot.

Budget (1 million VND/$40): Blue Lagoon Cat Ba is the classic, basic rooms but clean and friendly. Cat Ba Oasis Bungalow is family-run, cheap. Maison Cat Ba Bay View Villa sounds fancier than it is but good value. You're not getting luxury but you're safe and comfortable. Fine if you're not planning to spend time in your room.

Floating village homestays are where things get interesting. Lan Ha Floating Homestay and Eco Floating Farmstay Cai Beo let you sleep on the water in Cai Beo Floating Village. Simple wooden rooms on stilts, family-run, spartan but genuine. 1.5-2 million VND per night including meals. Wake up to fishermen working, eat breakfast on a deck over the water. You're living the floating village life, not visiting it. Genuinely one of the most authentic experiences in Vietnam.

For first-timers, overnight cruise is ideal. Wake up IN Lan Ha Bay, see sunrise from water, boat moves to different spots during night, explore more. Pickup, meals, activities all included. Simplifies everything.

What to Eat

Fresh seafood. Seriously, that's the advantage. People live there, catch fish there, cook what was pulled yesterday morning.

Grilled squid (mực nướng) is the classic. Fresh squid, seasoned with garlic and chili, grilled over charcoal. When it's fresh, texture is tender. 150-250k VND ($6-10) per kilo by weight. Steamed crab (cua hấp) served with simple dipping sauce. When it's fresh you don't need much else. 300-400k VND ($12-16) per kilo.

Clams with lemongrass (ngao nướng) are slightly sweet and savory, aromatic from the lemongrass. 80-150k VND ($3-6) per portion. Seafood hot pot (lẩu hải sản) is communal. Pot of broth, fresh seafood, vegetables, rice noodles, you cook at the table. Great for groups. 300-500k VND ($12-20) per person. Whole grilled fish (cá nướng) usually caught that day. 200-350k VND ($8-14) per kilo.

Where to eat: Cai Beo Floating Village is the cheapest and most authentic. Family homes with a few tables, the chef is usually someone's mother. No menu, whatever's fresh today. 30-50% cheaper than Cat Ba because no middleman. You're eating from the person who caught it. 150-300k VND ($6-12) per main dish, rice and soup included.

Cat Ba restaurants are mid-range. Nicer setup, English menus, slightly higher prices. 250-400k VND ($10-16) per main. On cruises, meals included. Quality depends on tier. The budget includes basic but adequate seafood. Mid-range gives variety and better preparation.

Ask your boat operator or hotel where locals eat. There's usually a specific restaurant the guides eat at. Costs more than local places but way less than tourist spots. Do seafood hot pot with a group. Communal, fun, cheaper per person, you get variety.

Daily food budget: breakfast 80-150k, lunch 150-300k, dinner 250-400k, beer 20-40k. Total roughly 400-800k ($16-32) if eating out for everything. Genuinely cheap.

All your questions about Lan Ha Bay answered (including comparison with Bai Tu Long bay and Halong bay)

Q. Is Lan Ha Bay really better than Halong? 
Depends who you ask. They're different experiences. Halong is more famous, more developed, more options. If it's your first time, Halong works. Lan Ha is quieter, cleaner, and less crowded. Water quality is genuinely better. If you want raw natural beauty without the floating theme park feeling, Lan Ha wins.

Q. When's the best time?
October through April. If forced to pick one month: November. Weather ideal, not peak season yet. Avoid July-August (too hot, too humid). September has typhoon risk.

Q. How much does a trip cost?
Budget version: $300-400 total. Mid-range: $600-900. Luxury: $1,200+. All extremely cheap compared to most destinations.

Q. Can I visit in one day?
Technically yes. Day tour of Lan Ha bay is $60-80 for 6-8 hours. But one day is just enough time to realize what you're missing. Two days is better.

Q. Distance from Hanoi?
134 kilometers. 2-2.5 hours in good traffic.

Q. What's included in cruises?
Meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner), water, tea, coffee, basic activities (kayaking, cave visit, swimming), guide, your cabin. Usually NOT included: alcohol (unless luxury), tips ($1-2 per person per day is standard), specialty activities.

Q. Is Lan Ha bay safe for families?
Absolutely. The water is warm, activities are beginner-friendly, boats are stable. Kids love beaches, kayaking, seeing monkeys, and caves. Use basic sense and you're fine.

Q. Lan Ha Bay Vs Bai Tu Long Bay? Which tours should I do?
Both are quieter than Halong. Bai Tu Long bay  is even quieter, further north, less developed, and fewer tourists. Better if you want maximum solitude. Lan Ha better if you want solitude with better infrastructure and food. Also, Bai Tu Long bay tours are slightly costlier than Lan Ha bay just because of fewer tour operators.

Q. Should I do direct booking or travel agent?
Both work. Direct is cheaper if you research. Using an agent is easier if you want them handling it. Best option: ask your hotel in Cat Ba or Hanoi or Halong. They have relationships and get better prices than either online or direct agents.

Q. What currency to use during the trip and for tips?
Vietnamese Dong. ATMs on Cat Ba Island. Most local businesses are cash-only. Bring $300-500 USD worth of VND for 2-3 days. Tips for cruise tour are optional and give it only if you feel the service was exceptional!

Q. What to pack?
Swimsuit, water shoes, waterproof bag for phone/camera, SPF 50+ sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, light rain jacket, motion sickness medicine if prone, comfortable shoes for docks, light layers, bug spray, snorkel gear if you have your own (rentals available).

Q. Water quality is really better than Halong?
Yes. Visible difference. Halong usually 1-2 meters visibility. Lan Ha 3-5 meters on clear days. Snorkeling and diving are noticeably better. Testing shows cleaner water too.

Q. How crowded is Lan Ha Bay?
Way less. Halong 200-250 boats daily. Lan Ha 80-100. Even peak season never feels mobbed. You see tourists but not claustrophobic.

Q. What are the quieter months to visit the bay?
Go in April or early October. Good weather, tourists mostly gone. Or stay at a floating homestay in Cai Beo. Or go to Bai Tu Long instead.

Q. When is the Fisherman's Festival?
March 31st. Celebrates the start of fishing season. Dragon boat races, traditional ceremonies, cultural performances. Worth timing a trip if possible.

Q. Is Lan Ha Bay part of Halong Bay?
Not technically, but it's commonly grouped together.
Lan Ha Bay is located south of Halong Bay, not within it. However, because both bays are part of the same broader Halong Bay zone in the Gulf of Tonkin and share nearly identical limestone karst landscapes, locals and tourists often treat them as one region.

The key distinction: while administratively, Lan Ha Bay falls under Hai Phong Province (whereas Halong Bay belongs to Quang Ninh Province), geographically they're neighboring bays with three major bays in the area: Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay, and Lan Ha Bay.