2 Days / 1 Night Cruise in Lan Ha and Halong Bay

Climate

Halong Bay is situated in a subtropical climate characterized by a relatively high humidity level, ranging from 70% to 85% throughout the year. The climate can be divided into two different seasons:

• Dry season: From April to October. Rainfall is less frequent and temperatures are cooler.
• Rainy season: From November to March. There is abundant rainfall and higher temperatures.

Below is a table displaying the monthly average maximum and minimum temperatures in Halong Bay:

Here is a table showcasing the number of rainy days per month and the corresponding rainfall measured in millimeters (mm):

As you can see, the months from June to September experience heavier rainfall, but it doesn't necessarily mean that it rains throughout the entire day. In fact, June is the month with the highest number of sunshine hours.

Anyway, don’t forget to take extra layers of clothing, as it might be windy on the deck, and cold overnight.

Price & What's Included

Cat Ba Vision offers several types of trips around the bays. Below is a table displaying the prices based on the type of accommodation:

2 Days (homestay) tour	105 USD	08:00 – 12:30 (+1)
2 Days (boat) tour	135 USD	08:00 – 15:30 (+1)

You can pay by card, but bear in mind that you will have to pay a fee of 3%, like in many other places around the country.

You don’t need to book in advance, you can just go the day before and ask if they have any spots. You can negotiate the price and get a discount for a last-minute reservation.

The maximum number of people on the tours is 20. However, the groups are rarely at full capacity. They often combine people from the one-day tour with the two-day tour, but at night you will be with a maximum of 8 people (maximum sleeping boat’s capacity).

The price includes all meals during the trip (abundant Vietnamese food, fresh fish and seafood, vegetarian/vegan options available). Additionally, all the activities are included, such as kayaking, snorkeling, and an English-speaking guide who will explain the history of the place as well as will guide you in the kayaking excursions.

On the 2 days tour the accommodation is also included:

• Homestay: It will be a private room in a floating homestay. You will get to see how a local family lives, and how they fish. If you are lucky, they will show you the mascot of the house.
• Boat: They have different kinds of rooms on the boat that are quite big. The ones at the top level are a little more expensive and have a great view of the bay.

Below we will tell you more about both of them.

Itinerary - Excursions and Spots

The order of the tour may vary depending on the weather conditions and the tides. It usually begins around 08:00 AM, and you can engage in several activities such as kayak excursions, cruising, or swimming among others.

Cruising on the two bays

The tour is mainly within Lan Ha Bay, but you will also cruise and discover some places in Halong Bay. In reality, there are no significant differences between the two bays. Actually, you will not notice when you are in Halong and Lan Ha if your guide doesn’t tell you. Regarding the main spots that you will sightsee, you can find:

• Pen rock: This distinctive rock formation resembles the shape of a pen. You will see it from far away.
• Monkey Island: The famous island will come into view from a distance. In the past, visitors were allowed to stop on the island, but it is now prohibited due to its protected status as a conservation area (location). However, you can still spot monkeys from afar if you keep a keen eye.
• Three peach islet: The original name is BaTrai Dao, and it resembles three peaches (location).
• Remote white-sand beaches and hidden lagoons: they are everywhere along the bay: están por todas partes a lo largo de la bahía.
• Many other picturesque places.

Fishing Farm and Fishing Villages

During the cruise, you will pass by a few floating fishing farms and villages. The biggest village can be found near the harbor of Cat Ba (location). Before 2023, it was allowed to live in a floating platform anywhere in the bay (for example, here), but the government imposed restrictions and now everyone is required to reside near the harbor to ensure easier access to schools for children. As part of the tour, you will also make a stop at a fishing farm where you will receive a brief explanation about their fish, oysters, and clams cultivation practices.

Kayaking through the caves and lagoons

Among the various kayak excursions included in the tour, this particular one stands out as the most thrilling. The boat will anchor here and if your cruise doesn’t have kayaks, you will be able to take them from a floating platform for free. Led by the guide, you will embark on an exhilarating 1.5-hour kayaking adventure through enchanting caves within an idyllic and untouched landscape. You will navigate your way to breathtaking lagoons surrounded by majestic karst peaks, which can only be accessed when the tide is low enough to pass through the caves. Additionally, you might see monkeys in the trees of the surroundings.
There is barely any current and everything is nearby, so you will not have to paddle a lot. Here you have the most impressive places.

Bear in mind that if the tide is too high, you might not be able to go through the tunnels and consequently, you will not be able to explore all the lagoons. Furthermore, this is one of the most popular spots of the bay, so expect to find many people kayaking, and some traffic inside the caves. Everyone stops there.

Breaks for swimming and jumping from the boat

At noon, the boat will anchor again at some spot without currents, allowing you the opportunity to jump into the water from the boat and swim around. Meanwhile, the chef will be preparing the delicious lunch.

Swimming and kayaking around the whale island

The whale island (location) is another popular spot you will visit. It’s an islet shaped like a whale. If the tide is not too high, there is even a small stretch of sand forming a beautiful beach. It’s quite famous, so expect to find people from different tours. Some groups even set up a BBQ, a volleyball net and put music on big speakers. If you prefer a more secluded place, you can take the kayaks and paddle to any of the surrounding beaches, which are deserted but unfortunately, with remnants of garbage (location).

Kayaking at sunset

At sunset time, you will be able to take a kayak again and chase the sun while it hides behind the islets.

Bioluminescent plankton watching

At night time, you will take a kayak again to look for the bioluminescent plankton. Its brightness will depend on the strength of the sun in the previous days, so if it was cloudy you might barely see it. If the conditions are met, you will see small particles glowing as you paddle or when you place your hand in the water, as if you were a magician (location).

Homestay / Fishing farm visit

The homestays in Halong have the particularity of being fishing farms as well. You will have a brief tour of one of these farms where they will show you how they cultivate fish, oysters, and clams (location).

Kayaking at three hidden lagoons

• In this excursion, you will have to paddle more as the currents are stronger (location). To reach one of the lagoons (location), you have to pass through a cave when the tide is very low, otherwise, it’s not possible due to its low ceiling. You will also encounter other interesting spots such as arches and an islet with a pagoda with a curious story behind (location).

Jungle excursion

You might also go on a bike excursion through the jungle. You will reach the viewpoint “Vietnamese Navy Peak”, which is one of the highest viewpoints around the bays and offers a great view of it. Depending on the time you have left, this might be skipped.

Accommodation: Boat & Homestay

The boat you will be traveling on during the tour may not be the same as the sleeping boat. A fast boat is typically used for the tour, while you will switch to the sleeping boat at night. This one offers various types of rooms, with the best ones located on the upper level, providing superior views of the bays at the upper level. Each cabin on the boat is equipped with a private bathroom that has hot water.

If you choose to stay in a homestay, you will also need to check in before nighttime. The homestay will be the house of a local on a floating platform. You will have the opportunity to sleep in a cabin directly on the platform.

The boat will anchor near the homestay, and both boat guests and those staying in the homestay will participate in the same activities. Dinner and plankton kayaking are done together.

FACTS & RECOMMENDATIONS

• Although snorkeling is advertised, the visibility in the bay is extremely poor. The water is murky, making it difficult to see anything.
• The seabed and beaches have a variety of shells and dead corals with different shapes. Don’t take home any of the corals, leave it where you found it!
• The tides vary significantly (up to 4.5m!), which may prevent access to the caves at certain times. If you have flexibility in your schedule, consider the tide conditions when planning your trip. It would be beneficial if the guide could adjust the kayaking schedule to coincide with low tide, even if it means an early morning departure. Remember to inquire about this when booking the tour.
• Another determining factor is the weather. If it’s cloudy it can be a bit cold (don’t forget extra layers), and some of the activities require you to get wet (like kayaking). You will live it at its most on a sunny day. Also the colors of the landscape are more scenic when the sun shines.
• While cruising, keep an eye out for small fish that surf and jump the waves created by the boat. They are locally known as the “small dolphins”.
• In addition to the two days tour, you have other options such as:
  • 1 Day tour
  • 1 Day tour plus (night kayaking for plankton watching included)
  • 3 Days / 2 Nights tour

You can check it out directly on the website of CatBa Vision.