Lan Ha Bay Cruise Honest Review 2026: Is It Worth It? (From Cat Ba)

After three emotional days trekking through the mountains of Sapa with our guide Zaza, we said our bittersweet goodbyes and made our way east toward the coast. The destination: Cat Ba Island, and then an overnight cruise through Lan Ha Bay — one of Vietnam’s most photographed seascapes.

The scenery delivered. The boats, however, were a different story.

Here’s our honest account of the journey from Sapa to Cat Ba, what Lan Ha Bay is actually like, and the question every traveller asks before booking: is it actually worth it?

Getting from Sapa to Cat Ba: What to Expect

The journey from Sapa to Cat Ba is a long one — there’s no getting around that. We took the bus, which is the most common and affordable option, and it’s a multi-leg journey that will eat most of a day.

The general route goes: Sapa → Hanoi (or Hai Phong) → Cat Ba Island, typically involving a bus and then a ferry crossing to get onto the island itself. Expect the full journey to take anywhere from 8 to 12 hours depending on connections and how smoothly things run.

Our tips for the Sapa to Cat Ba bus journey:

Book your bus in advance, especially during peak travel season — seats fill up fast
Bring snacks and a good playlist — this is not a short ride
The ferry crossing to Cat Ba Island is included with most through-tickets, but confirm this when booking
Arrive in Cat Ba with accommodation already sorted — the town is small and popular options book out

The bus itself was fine — nothing luxurious, but functional. After the intimacy of Sapa’s mountain villages, arriving at Cat Ba’s waterfront town was a jolt back into tourist infrastructure.

Cat Ba Island: A Functional Stopover, Nothing More

We’ll be honest — Cat Ba Island didn’t particularly wow us. It’s a stepping stone to Lan Ha Bay more than a destination in its own right, at least for the part of town most travellers stay in.

The waterfront is lined with hotels, restaurants, and tour booking offices. It’s perfectly pleasant but fairly generic — the kind of place that exists to serve the cruise industry rather than having a strong identity of its own. We spent one night there before our cruise departure and didn’t feel the need for more time.

That said, Cat Ba National Park is genuinely impressive if you have an extra day and want to hike. The island is also less crowded than the Ha Long Bay gateway towns, which counts for something.

What to do if you have time in Cat Ba:

Visit Cat Ba National Park for hiking and wildlife spotting
Walk or rent a motorbike to explore the quieter southern and western parts of the island
Book your Lan Ha Bay cruise from one of the many operators in town — prices are competitive and you can often negotiate

Lan Ha Bay: The Scenery Is Real

Let’s start with what Lan Ha Bay gets right, because it gets this very right: it is genuinely, jaw-droppingly beautiful.

Lan Ha Bay sits just south of the more famous Ha Long Bay, and shares the same dramatic landscape — thousands of limestone karst islands rising vertically from calm, emerald-green water. On a clear morning, with mist drifting between the islands and the light turning everything golden, it’s the kind of scenery that makes you understand why people fly across the world to see it.

Our overnight cruise included kayaking through narrow passages between the karsts, swimming in the open bay, exploring a cave and grotto system with impressive formations, a cooking class on board, and sunset drinks on the deck as the sun dropped behind the islands. Ticked off as individual experiences, this is a solid itinerary.

The views from the kayak especially — paddling through channels so narrow the limestone walls close in on both sides — were something we won’t forget.

The Honest Part: The Boats Are Old and Dirty

Here’s what the glossy travel blogs won’t tell you: compared to the newer, better-maintained fleet operating on Ha Long Bay proper, the boats on Lan Ha Bay are noticeably older and, in our experience, not particularly clean.

Our cabin was tired. The bathrooms needed attention. The common areas had seen better days. For a cruise that cost under $100 USD per person, you might say you get what you pay for — but the issue is that the marketing imagery for these cruises often shows polished, boutique-style vessels that don’t reflect reality at the budget end of the market.

This matters because the cruise experience — the time you spend on the boat, sleeping on it, eating on it — is a significant part of what you’re paying for. And if the boat itself is underwhelming, it takes the shine off even genuinely spectacular surroundings.

To be clear: the scenery more than compensated. But we left feeling like the experience was sold slightly above its actual value, and that’s worth knowing before you book.

Lan Ha Bay vs Ha Long Bay: Which Should You Choose?

This is the question most travellers have, so here’s our honest take.

Ha Long Bay is more famous, more visited, and generally has a newer, better-quality fleet — especially at the mid-range and luxury end. If boat quality and comfort matter to you, and you’re willing to spend a bit more, Ha Long Bay cruises (particularly departing from Hanoi) offer better value at higher price points.

Lan Ha Bay is less crowded, slightly more off the beaten path, and accessible directly from Cat Ba without needing to return to Hanoi. The landscape is equally stunning. But the cruise infrastructure is less developed, which means older boats and fewer premium options at the budget price point.

If you’re already on Cat Ba and want to do a bay cruise without backtracking to Hanoi, Lan Ha Bay makes sense. If you’re choosing from scratch and boat quality matters to you, Ha Long Bay with a reputable mid-range operator might serve you better.

What the Cruise Included (And What We Thought of Each)

Kayaking Paddling through the karst formations was the standout activity. Get out early in the morning before other boats arrive if you can — the stillness is remarkable.

Cave and grotto exploration The cave system was genuinely impressive — large caverns with dramatic stalactite formations. It gets crowded when multiple boats arrive at the same time, so timing matters.

Swimming The water is clean and the setting is surreal. Swimming with limestone islands all around you is a memory that sticks.

Cooking class on board A nice touch in concept, but fairly surface-level in execution. You’ll make a simple Vietnamese dish with some guidance from the crew. It’s fun enough but don’t expect a deep culinary experience.

Sunset drinks on deck This was genuinely lovely. Whatever the boat’s shortcomings, watching the sun go down over the karsts with a drink in hand is hard to complain about.

Is Lan Ha Bay Worth It? Our Verdict

The scenery: absolutely yes. Lan Ha Bay is one of the most beautiful places we’ve ever been. Full stop. The limestone karsts, the emerald water, the morning mist — it lives up to every photo you’ve seen.

The cruise experience: manage your expectations. At under $100 USD per person for an overnight trip including all meals and activities, you are not getting a luxury experience. The boats are old and could be cleaner. The food is adequate rather than memorable. The activities are well-structured but not deeply curated.

If you go in knowing that you’re paying for access to an extraordinary natural landscape — not a boutique floating hotel — you’ll leave satisfied. If you book based on glossy brochure imagery expecting polished comfort, you may be disappointed.

Our recommendation: Do Lan Ha Bay. But either budget up for a better-quality boat (spending $150–$200+ per person will get you significantly better conditions), or go in with clear eyes about what the budget option actually delivers.

Practical Information

How to get there: Bus from Sapa to Cat Ba (via Hanoi or Hai Phong), then ferry to the island. Full journey 8–12 hours. Book bus tickets in advance.

Cruise cost: Budget cruises start under $100 USD per person for an overnight trip. Mid-range operators charge $150–$250 USD per person and offer noticeably better boats and food. Luxury options exist above that.

How to book: Dozens of operators in Cat Ba town sell cruises directly. You can also book in advance through GetYourGuide or direct with operators online. Booking in Cat Ba gives you more room to negotiate but less certainty during busy periods.

What to bring on the cruise:

Swimwear and a towel (sometimes provided but bring your own to be safe)
Sunscreen — you will be on open water with strong sun exposure
Motion sickness tablets if you’re sensitive — the bay is generally calm but the ferry crossing can be choppy
A dry bag for your phone and valuables during kayaking
Cash for tips and any extras on board
A light layer for the evening — it cools down on the water after sunset

Best time to visit: October to April for the clearest skies and calmest water. May to September brings more humidity and occasional rain, though the bay remains beautiful and less crowded.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lan Ha Bay better than Ha Long Bay? The scenery is equally stunning and Lan Ha Bay is less crowded. However, Ha Long Bay has a newer, better-quality cruise fleet at mid-range price points. Lan Ha Bay wins on atmosphere; Ha Long Bay wins on cruise infrastructure.

How long should you spend on a Lan Ha Bay cruise? An overnight cruise gives you a full day on the water plus a morning before returning to Cat Ba — this is the minimum we’d recommend. Two nights allows a more relaxed pace and access to quieter areas of the bay.

Can you do a day trip to Lan Ha Bay from Cat Ba? Yes, day trips are available and cheaper. But you’ll miss the sunrise and sunset on the water, which are genuinely the best moments. Overnight is worth the extra cost.

How do you get from Hanoi to Cat Ba for a Lan Ha Bay cruise? The most common route is bus from Hanoi to Hai Phong, then ferry to Cat Ba Island. Several operators run through-tickets directly from Hanoi that handle all connections — these are the easiest option for first-time visitors.

Is Lan Ha Bay worth visiting in rainy season? The bay remains beautiful even in overcast conditions — the mist on the karsts is atmospheric in its own way. Heavy rain can limit activities, so check forecasts and have flexible plans if visiting May to September.

Final Thoughts

Lan Ha Bay will give you some of the most visually arresting moments of any Vietnam trip. The kayaking, the karsts, the silence on the water at sunrise — these are real, and they’re worth making the journey for.

Just go in with honest expectations about the boats at the budget end, and consider stretching your budget slightly if comfort matters to you. The landscape is priceless. The vessels, at $100 per person, are not.

From Cat Ba, our journey continued onward — next stop, the rest of our 100-day Asia adventure. If you’re planning a similar northern Vietnam loop, check out our Sapa trekking guide and our Vietnam visa guide for Canadians to get the full picture.

Planning your Vietnam trip? We use and recommend Ekta Travel Insurance for all our travels — comprehensive cover that doesn’t break the bank.