Lan Ha Bay is a must-see for nature lovers thanks to the huge appeal of its spectacular limestone islands, pristine white-sand beaches, and a lively fishing village, named Cai Beo. Lan Ha Bay, with more than 300 limestone islands and outcrops, is as stunning as its neighbor Halong Bay. However, it has a more secluded and unspoiled vibe.
Lan Ha Bay, home of Cat Ba Island, is geographically an extension of Halong Bay, but it is in a different province. The administrative boundaries place Lan Ha Bay within Hai Phong Province (not Quang Ninh Province, to which Halong Bay belongs). The bay spreads over an area of more than 7,000 ha, of which 5,400 ha are under the management of Cat Ba National Park.
Unlike its famous neighbor, Lan Ha Bay reserves more pristine scenery with an intense concentration of limestone mountains, which the sea surface has partitioned into smaller bays and gulfs. With over a hundred beautiful, small beaches lying at the foot of the mountains, there is no problem finding a good spot for swimming, or kayaking. You can totally relax while bathing in the azure waters and breathing the salty sea breeze of Lan Ha Bay.
Lan Ha Bay has gradually gained popularity, thanks to its unspoiled and magnificent natural beauty, and as people look for pristine and less-crowded destinations. Lan Ha Bay, among the three bays in Halong Bay zone, is considered to have the best water quality. For overnight stays, Lan Ha Bay offers many options, from spending your night on a cruise or junk boat in a quite area surrounded by rock and water, to combining one night in a hotel, hostel, on Cat Ba Island, or in Viet Hai village. Then you can have time to do some trek into the jungle or scroll around the island.
Both the 1- and 2-night cruises include a leisure cycling tour to discover a small and charming village nestled in a valley on jungle-cladded Cat Ba Island as well as a kayaking tour through the bay’s island labyrinth. Additional highlights of the 2-Night journey include a trek into the jungle and having lunch at a remote and authentic place in Viet Hai village for those who love to walk.
