Lan Ha Bay Boutique Cruise 2d/1n Tour: Kayaking & Swimming At Pristine Places

What a wonderful experience. We were looking for a trip that would be less crowded than other tours, be a small group and have great food. We were not disappointed. The experience was seamless end to end. We were picked up at our hotel by a large tour bus, filled with folks going to different tours from Cat Ba island. Our guide ‘T’ greeted us on the bus and guided us through the boat transfers until we made it on the boat for our overnight stay. The boat was wonderful. While not the most modern, it was clean and organized and had plenty of room. The entire staff was helpful and T went above or beyond. We really liked Ts timing for everything. We seemed to arrived at the activities - kayaking, beach stop at a little island and bike ride through a village, right before big crowds came. That meant we were able to enjoy each of these activities with a small group and felt like it was very private. The food on the boat was great and they accommodated our seafood allergies very well. T arranged transportation for us to our next stop in Ninh Binh. We somehow forgot our cash on the shuttle and after we contacted T, he was able to help the shuttle driver find the cash and digitally transfer it to us. This really showed us how trustworthy and kind T and the rest of the tour staff is. I’m very glad we chose this tour and would recommend it to anyone wanting to experience the bay.

We did the cruise middle of October. Pickup and drop-off at hotel in Hanoi were organized what was very convenient. Our tour guide Hai was super cool and we had a lot of fun. The boat was small so the group wasn’t very big, we really enjoyed that. We liked the wooden rooms. Everything was clean. Food was very nice, a lot of meat and seafood. It is really a great experience because you spent most of the time in Lan Ha Bay where it is not crowded with other boats. Only thing we didn’t like too much was that the kayaking was in Halong Bay which was really crowded. But the overall experience was still amazing.

This was a magical cruise weaving through the archipelago. You will be well taken care of while also having copious space to fully enjoy your surroundings. Our tour guide, River, was wonderful, one of the most helpful and kind people we met in Vietnam. Also, if you are vegan like us, your meals will still be delicious and abundant :) We also kayaked through caves and the wooded karst scenery and really enjoyed it. Swimming was also fun! Such a memorable journey. Highly recommend.

The bay was beautiful and the boat was very nice with comfy beds and great food, but communication was really lacking. Several things in the itinerary were not delivered as promised, including the cooking class/demonstration and the morning Tai Chi. When we asked about these they simply said no due to covid, which didn’t really make sense but we would have ultimately been fine with had we been told in advance - it was also very frustrating that the price was not adjusted at all despite missing two activities we were really looking forward to. The rooms were comfortable but not that clean - there were bugs in our room including fruit flies, and the bathroom smelled like sewerage coming from the drain in the floor. Only one guide spoke English and he wasn’t always available of course, so even ordering drinks was very difficult, and about 75% of the cocktail menu was unavailable (and what was available was a bit overpriced for the quality). But the kayaking and the bike to the village were both fantastic, and all in all it was a pretty good tour for the price you pay - just needs more communication and a bit of a higher standard, and a price adjustment to reflect the missing activities.

Great experienced! Friendly and helpful staffs. However, sleeping arrangement were very tight for 4 of us (3 adults and a 8yo) on 1 single bed and 1 double bed

Was 2 months ago now, so have forgotten tour guides' name, but he was brilliant. On time p/u, and then kept us amused/informed on the small bus to Halong, 2-3 hours I think, with a stop along the way. Seamless transfers. Being smaller tour meant we got to know each other on the bus and boat, which helped make it a great experience. Good crew, passengers and food. Beer was a fair price too. As it is one of the older boats and cheapest cruises, it attracts a younger crowd with all their enthusiasm, good stuff. Some of the other cruise boats looked "flasher", but we all went to the same places, did the same things.Kayaking, swimming, fishing, cooking. The boat is well kept, clean, but basic. It's all there for a really enjoyable experience. Would have liked if they could have dropped us at the railway station, which was only 2km away from the hotel p/u. All in all, memorable.

We opted to do a 2 day- 1 night with this cruise trip in Lan Ha bay. Our guide Ha was lovely & funny. She taught us to do kayaking around the bay, cooking class & some funny game at night with cards. She did her great job to make sure everyone happy. The cruise boat & facilities were basic but clean & safe with fantastic crew.

Our guide Ha was helpful and entertaining, and the experience on a smaller boat was a lot more fun than the big cruises looked. We got to jump off and swim around the boat, and the whole group of guests were great to hang out with. 5 stars

Our guide - Truong was so kind and she has a very good attitude. We all satisfied with this awesome trip. The bay itself was very clean & beautiful. Swimming in the cool water around the boat was great feeling. BBQ dinner on the top deck was brilliant!

Had a pleasant time on this tour. Lan Ha Bay is the same bay as Ha Long, but in a different area. A little less crowded than Ha Long area. Our tour guide checked in with everyone on food restrictions needs, which is nice. Enjoyed the dinner/lunch/breakfast on the boat. The crew works hard to make sure everyone has a great time. Kayaking was great. Put sunscreen on and bring a hat! For booking details, you can email VietnamTonkinTravel contact information. They are very good at responding to email inquires.

We have really enjoyed the cruise. Best of the cruise was kayaking in the ocean throught the caves. Meals were also delicious and our guide was so friendly. We have learnt lots of Vietnamese culture and customs.

The cruise is a very good option for budget travellers. Not luxury facilities but good enough, clean & safe. And the staff were all friendly & helpful. BBQ dinner on the top deck was a highlight. Kayaking & swimming was the best!

We've paid for a boutique boat trip for Halong bay & Lan ha bay 2 days, night & it's well worth every penny. Yes, the boat was not luxury as others around, some cruise ship was beautiful & very big we've seen on the way but no need, it's same same route & activities. We're taken care very much by friendly staffs & professional tour guide. The BBQ dinner on the top deck was excellent. Kayaking, swimming, cooking class, fishing...was amazing. Highly recommend!

The boat was not luxury but we've liked it. Services were great with friendly staff & Chef was brilliant, he cooked perfect meals for lunch, BBQ dinner & breakfast. I love to eat his foods everyday!

This is a very good choice for small group in Halong bay. The boat was not luxury but very nice in traditional style & boutique. Linh was excellent & very nice young lady!

My wife and I took the one night cruise and it was great. The boat was small compared to other boats in bay but that made for a nicer experience. We kayaked, swam and took a tour of a pearl farm. Our guide Vû was great as was the rest of the crew. Food was great too!

We had amazing experience on 3 days/ 2 nights trip, loved all of activities especially Biking, Kayaking & swimming on the second day. The boat was not new but comfortable & clean. Staff were all fantastic, BBQ dinner was perfect. Highly recommend!

We did the two-day, one-night Lan Ha Bay cruise and had a really fun time. The boat was old but in good shape, the staff were friendly, the activities were fun, and everything was very-well organized. Our highlight was probably the kayaking through caves that we did on the first day. I know some cruises are known to charge exorbitant prices for drinks, and the Lan Ha drinks cost a bit more than on land, I think it only ended up costing $2/beer with their happy hour. While I'm not 100% sure you get a lot more doing an overnight boat trip rather than just a day trip, we had a good time and are happy we went with this cruise.

We are happy and satisfied with the whole package. The guide Vu is very nice and helpful. Food is delicious. Program is also interesting and not too packed. Cruise boat is not too fancy, but it's stable and good for the price we paid.

First of all I'd like to say a big thanks to the entire crew. They picked me up from Hanoi opera house on time. Although the car was 5 minutes late, but our guide apologised so many times, I had to stop him from doing so. On the way to halong bay, he told us interesting stories about Hanoi. On arrival at the bay, there were two speed boats ready to take us to our junk. Upon arrival, we were briefed about our activities. That was followed by a sumptuous lunch. Then they took us for kayaking. A great thanks to our guide Hung. He avoided all the crowded places and took us to an amazing place where we were the only ones kayaking around. He even told us interesting facts about the tunnels. Later when we arrived at the junk, they gave us amazing dinner. And the rooftop of the terrace was perfect. They served us alcohol and parked the boat in such a place that there was no one around us. Also, a big thanks to the people I travelled with. We kept on chatting and drinking till late in the night. In the morning they served breakfast and took us for fishing and a visit to pearl farm. Before leaving, they served delicious lunch. All in all it was a very good service from them. And Hung even personally helped me find a bus to Ninh Binh. Thanks again.

Prestation de base (le bateau date un peu) mais plutôt sympa dans l'ensemble (11 touristes en tout). Pas de Tai shi, ni apéro, ni cours de cuisine. Par contre on a adoré les deux excursions (village en vélo et rando kayak) faisables avec enfant de 8 ans. Les repas étaient bons.