Lan Ha Bay, Vietnam – the forgotten paradise

Lan Ha Bay in Vietnam, southwest of Ha Long Bay and southeast of Cat Ba Island, spans 70 km² and features 300 small islands and sandy beaches.

Similar to Ha Long Bay, almost every island here is covered by lush green foliage.

Overview of Lan Ha Bay, Vietnam

Area:	‎70 km²
Location:	‎Hai Phong
National administrative area:	‎Cat Ba Island district
Total number of islands:	300 Island

Best time of the year to visit Lan Ha Bay, Vietnam

The weather is pleasant all year round, so the best time to visit is...anytime. Each season offers visitors plenty of reasons to visit.

Early fall offers crisp air and sunshine, while late fall and winter are perfect for invigorating activities without heat and sweat.

Domestically, the Bay is most visited from April to October during summer, while international travelers frequent Lan Ha Bay from December to March.

Book a bus to Cat Ba and tour Lan Ha Bay

1. Hanoi to Cat Ba
2. Cat Ba to Hanoi
3. Lan Ha Bay full-day tour from Cat Ba Island - Serenity Premium Cruise
4. Lan Ha Bay full-day tour from Hanoi - Serenity Explorer Cruise

Things to do at Lan Ha Bay

1. Kayaking paradise

With its many sandy beaches and islands, Lan Ha Bay is ideal for tourists seeking to kayak in clear waters and explore Cat Ba Island's pristine nature.

Some famous places for kayaking here are Cai Beo floating village, Van Boi center area in the middle of the bay, Ba Trai Dao area, and the Monkey Island area.

2. Swimming

There are many small beaches in Lan Ha Bay, Vietnam for you to come to swim, and it is lovely to swim at Monkey Island or Van Boi Con Island.

3. Rock climbing

Catba has an international Rock climbing center, and you can book a half or full-day rock climbing trip at the Monkey Island Resort booking office.

4. Visit Viet Hai fishing village

From Lan Ha Bay, Vietnam, you can come to Viet Hai harbor and then take a motorbike or bicycle to come 6 km to visit Viet Hai fishing village in the Cat Ba National Park.

5. Visit floating village

You can visit Cai Beo floating village, where people must stay in floating houses; children go to school by boat.

6. Play and stay at a private beach

Some private beaches offer bungalows for overnight stays. You can book a tour or just a room, with plenty of time for activities like kayaking, swimming, and beach sports.

Play and stay at a private beach

7. Jumping in the Bay

You can jump into the water from the ship/ cruise in Lan Ha Bay, while this activity is banned in Ha Long Bay & Bai Tu Long Bay.

You can swim anywhere in Lan Ha (better with local security/instructor), while you can not do that in Bai Tu Long. You can swim in an allowed area in Ha Long Bay only.

How to get to Lan Ha Bay, Vietnam

How to get to the bay from Hanoi, you can book the ticket of Cat Ba Express online or in the office to reach the island.

Click book bus → Bus Hanoi to Cat Ba Island

If you are in Cat Ba already, You can get to Beo port from the town of Cat Ba, buy the entrance ticket, and book a ship to cruise Lan Ha Bay.

If you plan not to go too far from the shore, a canoe rented from the locals will be more convenient for the journey.

Read more → Lan Ha Bay day tour - Serenity Premium Cruise and Lan Ha Bay full-day tour from Hanoi - Serenity Explorer Cruise

Some must-go attractions in Lan Ha Bay, Vietnam

1. Luồn Passage

Luồn Passage is found on Bo Hon Island, right behind the Con Rua (Turtle) Islet, left to Cong Troi (Heaven’s Gate).

The precipitous cliffs stand in the calm, dreamy bosom of the water, carrying you into recesses of feeling otherwise impenetrable.

Like any other unique nature sculpture in Lan Ha Bay, Vietnam, the cave surprises visitors with its curiously shaped pinnacles associated with many legend stories.

2. Cai Beo ancient fishing village

Cai Beo Fishing Village

It was a quiet storybook hamlet, totally opposite to the hustle and bustle in the center of Cat Ba Town.

Cats can take you around the floating fishing village and indulge in the area's peace, surrounded by lush turquoise water.

If you travel in a group, you can rent the whole boat to go with each other.

The helmsman will take you around the village in their tender, sharing local legends and tales of life on the water.

You can also stay with a fisher family and see their lives in such a special condition.

3. Monkey Island

Visitors usually take a boat in around 10 minutes to reach Monkey Island across fishing villages and several small islands.

Monkey island used to be named Cat Dua (Sand – Pineapple) due to the large number of wild pineapple trees with juicy look but inedible.

Many years ago, the rangers of Cat Ba National Park brought about 20 monkeys from the archipelago to there.

They gradually get familiar with visitors and usually come closer to the visitors. You can feed them with bananas, apples, kumquats, candies, etc.

Over time people called the island Monkey Island, which recently became its official name.

4. Dark Cave And Bright Cave

Dark and Bright Cave is one of the largest and most beautiful caves on Halong-Lan Ha Bay.

Nothing is more enjoyable than free kayaking on the crystal blue water and then finding yourself under the low roof of the cave.

Dark and Bright Cave, in Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve, where Lan Ha Bay meets Halong Bay, is often compared to Surprise Cave.

They are both spacious and have stunning limestone structures, except that Dark and Bright Cave is a sea cave mostly underwater.

Dark and Bright Cave

5. Ba Trai Dao Beach area

The local residents of Lan Ha Bay, Vietnam now still tell the old story about the origination of Ba Trai Dao Islet.

The story has it that the youngest daughter of God fell in love with a poor fisherman.

As she wanted him to be immortal to be with her forever, she stole three peaches in heaven for him. The God noticed and was very angry.

He turned three peaches into three stone mountains on the sea. Therefore, the locals named the islet “Ba Trai Dao” Islet (Three Peaches Islet).

Ba Trai Dao Beach

6. Van Boi Beach

This is a perfect spot for kayaking and swimming with its calm, crystal-clear waters that gently embrace your hands.

The surrounding trees and cliffs will give you a gust of desire to immerse in nature and tell the world the glories of your journey.

7. Rua Islet

It is a small islet shaped like a swimming turtle in Lan Ha Bay Vietnam. You can see it from Beo port to Viet Hai village.

8. Chuong Islet

Chuong Islet is also known as But (Pen), Nen (Candle), or Bap Chuoi (Banana flower spike). You can see it from the town of Cat Ba to the Cua Van fishing village.

Read more →

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