Lan Ha Bay Cruise Review: Best alternative to Halong Bay

One of the absolute highlights of our two-week Vietnam itinerary was taking a cruise in Lan Ha Bay.  Located in northern Vietnam, right next to the famous Halong Bay, Lan Ha Bay offers the same breathtaking scenery of limestone karsts rising from emerald waters, but with far fewer boats and crowds.  If you’re planning a Halong Bay cruise, it’s worth considering this stunning alternative.

Of course, Halong Bay is legendary.  Recognised worldwide as a place of outstanding natural beauty, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.  Thousands of karsts and uninhabited islets fill the bay, making it one of Vietnam’s most iconic travel destinations.  However, its popularity has also led to overcrowding, higher prices, and increasing environmental concerns.

That’s where Lan Ha Bay comes in.  With the same jaw-dropping scenery but fewer visitors, it’s a fantastic option for those who want the magic of Halong Bay without the downsides.  In this review, we’ll share our experience on a 3-day, 2-night Lan Ha Bay cruise, including what the boat was like, the activities we joined, and tips to help you choose the best cruise for your Vietnam trip.

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Initially, we planned to visit Halong Bay.  After all, it’s appears on almost every Vietnam travel itinerary.  I’d been once before for a 1-night trip many years ago and was keen to go again with the family.

However, when we started researching cruises, the reality felt a bit off-putting.  Halong Bay is undoubtedly beautiful, but its popularity has led to overcrowding, with too many boats and people doing the same activities.

That’s when we discovered Lan Ha Bay. It sits right next to Halong and has the same dramatic scenery of limestone karsts rising from emerald water,  but with far fewer tourists. Because it’s part of Cat Ba National Park, there are stricter rules on boat operators, which keeps the area quieter and cleaner.  Another bonus is that, as it is less well-known, some Lan Ha Bay cruises are cheaper than Halong Bay.

For us, Lan Ha Bay offered everything we wanted from a Halong Bay cruise, without the downsides. That made the decision easy, so we booked a 3-day, 2-night cruise in Lan Ha Bay.

Popular cruises in Halong and Lan Ha Bay

Here is a map showing our triangular route from Ninh Binh to Lan Ha Bay and back to Hanoi.  You can see on the map how close Lan Ha Bay is to Halong Bay.

To make things easier, we booked our transfers to and from the harbour through the cruise company, which ensured we were there on time!  They arranged minibus transfers from our homestay in Ninh Binh, which took about 3 hours.   After the cruise, we continued by minibus to our hotel in  Hanoi.  You’ll see from our map that this is a triangular route, so you could do it in the other order if you prefer.

You can book your own private minibus transfers, which is an economic option if you’re travelling in a family or group.  If you are a solo traveller, it would be cheaper to book a bus.

Most cruises in Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay depart from Tuan Chau Pier.  If you prefer, there are several hotels nearby, so you can stay close to the port before departure.  Check out the Paradise Suites Hotel or Sunrise Motel, both of which are walking distance.

From the departure point, we took a tender boat to reach the Doris Cruise ship, where we received a warm welcome from the crew.

The Doris Cruise really was the most indulgent stay of our 2-week Vietnam itinerary, true five-star luxury on the water.  With only 24 cabins on board, it felt intimate and relaxed, nothing like the overcrowded commercial boats you might imagine.

From the moment we stepped on deck, Lynn, our host, made sure we had the best possible experience.  First stop was lunch, a delicious  set menu. Afterwards, we set off to explore the cabins.

The cabins were beautifully decorated in a neo-classical style, with a modern finish.  Each had its own private balcony, though we didn’t spend much time there, as we were too busy making the most of the cruise.  However, it was still a treat to have the choice.  The highlight was the bathtub with full ocean views, so you could soak while gazing out at the limestone karsts drifting past.  I loved it.

On the upper deck, there was an outdoor jacuzzi and a sun deck with loungers and a bar. You could find us here for 4 for 3 sunset cocktails and nibbles before the evening meal.

After the first lunch, all meals were served buffet-style, with a wide selection of fresh, high-quality dishes.  There was always a mix of Vietnamese specialities, like spring rolls and seafood, alongside international options.  The staff were attentive to dietary requirements too, happily offering alternatives for anyone with restrictions.

Although the cruise was relaxing, the itinerary was packed with activities.  Some of the highlights included:

Kayaking and Swimming – Exploring hidden lagoons by kayak was great fun, and our boys loved jumping straight off the boat into the water.

Cat Ba Island – We visited a small village on Cat Ba Island to meet some locals.  Guests could cycle or take an electric buggy.  I optimistically chose the bike, until I realised how steep the hills were.  Luckily, I managed to squeeze into the buggy on the return trip.

Dark and Bright Cave – On the final morning, a local fisherman rowed us to the Dark Bright Cave in his boat.  Despite the language barrier, he was a real good laugh, calling to monkeys on the cliffs and trying to spot bats inside the cave.

Cooking Class and Sunset Party – A hands-on demonstration where we made fresh spring rolls, followed by happy hour cocktails as the sun set over the bay.

Squid fishing – we even managed to catch a couple

Karaoke – optional karaoke or you could retire to your cabin or the jacuzzi

It was a great mix of relaxation and adventure and very family-friendly. Our teenage boys loved it just as much as we did.

You can visit Lan Ha Bay all year round, but the conditions will vary, which could impact your views and activities.

• December–January – Peak season, cooler weather, but busy.
• October–April – Generally pleasant weather, though still popular with tourists.
• May–September – Hot and humid, with a risk of tropical storms.

We visited in late July. It was sunny most of the time, though we did get one thunderstorm in the evening. The boat felt stable, and the lightning over the bay was spectacular to watch from our cabin.

Our 3-day 2-night cruise package included:

• Luxury accommodation
• All meals on board (2 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners)
• Welcome drink, bottle of water
• All excursions, activities, and equipment

The only extras were drinks, which were reasonably priced and tour guide tips, which are optional.  We paid extra for the transfers.

Both Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay are stunning, with near-identical landscapes of limestone karsts and turquoise waters.  Although they lie in different provinces,  you can travel seamlessly between the two and cover a vast area.

Halong Bay is the more famous choice and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  It’s probably the easier option if you want to do a day trip from Hanoi or one-night cruise.  However, its popularity comes at a price, as it can be busier.

Lan Ha Bay, on the other hand, is part of the Cat Ba National Park and remains less well known.  This makes it quieter, cleaner, and in our opinion, better suited to a longer 3-day, 2-night cruise, where you can fully relax and enjoy the scenery.

The day-time activities, swimming, kayaking and cave visits, are similar in both bays and the climate is the same.  The difference comes down to the experience: Halong Bay offers the iconic name, but Lan Ha Bay gives you the beauty without the crowds.

The local currency is the Vietnamese Dong (VND). You should plan to take plenty of cash to Vietnam, as most places don’t accept credit cards.  However, on the cruise everything was included and they did accept credit cards for your final bill.

You can pay by card in the hotels, but they will charge you an additional 3% bank charge.

You will find ATMs in most cities.

All the hotels and restaurants offered free Wi-Fi.  However, it is advisable to buy a sims card before you go.  This is especially useful for using maps and Grab.  We used Airalo, an eSIM, which was excellent.  Internet access on the cruise was intermittent.

If you’re from the UK, you can stay for 45 days or less without a visa.  However, if you’re from the US, you will require a visa to enter the country.

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