Lan Ha OvernightKayak, trek and sleep on the bay — three days off the grid in Lan Ha
3-Day Floating Village ExpeditionWe message you the night before to confirm the pickup time at your hotel in Cat Ba Town. Meet your guide at pickup, and we drive you down to Ben Beo Harbour where the boat to Lan Ha Bay is waiting.
We sail out past Cai Beo Fishing Village and into Lan Ha Bay proper — about 30 to 45 minutes — dropping anchor at our own floating homestay, a working family-run property tucked between karsts, far from the cruise-boat route.
First meal: family-style Vietnamese seafood — what the boats brought in this morning. Eat at a wooden table above the water, then welcome tea on the deck, room drop, quick orientation, and a short rest before the afternoon paddle.
Hit the kayaks for the afternoon. We paddle into Tay Keo Lagoon and through Ba Do Cave — both quiet at this hour because the day-cruise crowd has already left. Two-person sit-on-top kayaks, life jackets, dry-bags provided.
Pull onto a white-sand cove the cruise boats can't access, swim, jump off the kayaks, lie on the sand. Stay as long as the light lets you.
Back at the homestay for dinner with the host family. After dark, the deck is yours — the bay is far enough from town that on a clear night you'll see more stars than you've seen in years.
After breakfast on the deck, a small boat takes us across to the National Park pier. Grab a bike at the dock — we're cycling.
Five kilometres of jungle road through the park to Viet Hai — one of the last car-free villages on Cat Ba. The road is flat and shaded most of the way; bikes are basic single-gear, fine for everyone.
Two-hour optional trek to a viewpoint that looks over both Lan Ha and Halong bays. If you'd rather not climb, the guide will walk you around the village — old houses, the school, the temple, the fish-foot-massage stream.
Lunch at a family home in the village — local dishes (boar, chicken, river fish, jungle vegetables), cooked over wood. Nothing flown in.
Easy cycle back to the pier. Stop at the freshwater stream for the famous Viet Hai fish-foot massage if you want (~50k VND, your call).
Boat back to the floating homestay. Afternoon is yours — swim off the deck, paddle around the floating fish farms, nap, read.
Family-style dinner on the deck with the host family — fresh catch of the day, simple Vietnamese home cooking, served at a long wooden table over the water. After, if the season and tide are right (strongest May–September, dark-moon nights), the guide offers an optional bioluminescent night kayak to see glowing plankton. Not guaranteed — we only run it when it's actually there.
After breakfast we pack out and the boat cruises off Lan Ha bay, passing Cai Beo Fishing Village and thousands of karst towers with unique shapes — chopsticks, seals, dog faces. We head south toward the Southern Ha Long Bay, the least-visited stretch of the area.
Kayak through hidden lagoons, tunnels and archways. Bright Cave (Hang Sáng) opens onto a quiet inner lagoon; Dark Cave (Hang Tối) is narrow and cool with bats overhead — only passable at low tide. We also stop at Đền Bà Men, a small floating temple on the way back.
Boat drops anchor at Ông Cấm islet for a sumptuous traditional Vietnamese seafood lunch. Free time to relax, swim, jump off the boat, lounge on the deck, socialise.
Afterwards, the boat continues to sail off Southern Ha Long Bay, passing by Đầu Bê Island, Vung Viêng fishing village, Le Virgin arch and The Kite arch. Quick stop at the Lan Ha fisheries station — meet the local team who manage the bay's aquaculture and marine protected zones. They show you the floating pens, talk through what's farmed here (and what isn't), and answer questions about how the bay actually works.
Kayaking, swim and beach hopping at Ba Trai Đào (Three Peaches) Beach — three cone-shaped islands above a quiet strip of sand: natural, remote, less-touristy. Discover the temple beach, more lagoons and arches by kayak.
Enjoy the magical sunset as the boat travels back through Lan Ha toward Ben Beo harbor. Hot showers and dry clothes in the office if you need them before the drive.
Arrive at Ben Beo harbor, hop in our car for the drive back to your Cat Ba Town hotel. Tour ends at your door — or, if you booked the Hanoi transfer, we'll continue straight to the speedboat and on to Hanoi (arrive ~21:00).
All meals included — 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners. Family-style Vietnamese seafood, caught that morning. Vegi/Vegan options on 24h notice.
Sleep setting: Floating homestay. Boarding and return: 12:15 Day 1 / 08:30 Day 3.
Routes can change for weather or authority restrictions. Availability, guest requirements, pickup and final total are confirmed in writing.
Read booking terms12:15 Day 1
08:30 Day 3
A family-run floating wooden homestay anchored in Lan Ha Bay, 2km from Cat Ba town.
The exact cabin is assigned before payment. Physical boat capacity is not live availability.
1 double bed · 1 double bed + 1 sofa bed
Up to 2 guests
Private bathroom (most rooms)
Sea view + balcony · Air conditioning · Free WiFi
Entry fare basis
Request this classUnder 5: free. Ages 5–10: 50% of the adult base fare. From 11: adult base fare. Supplements are checked separately.
Child rates, solo occupancy, extra cabins and special nights are checked for your selected date. Cabin photographs follow the exact operator class references. The cabin class is a preference until availability and arrangement are confirmed.