A Rustic Vietnam

Private Lan Ha Bay Boat Day

The same quiet Lan Ha route as our small group day, with the boat, the guide and the schedule kept for your group alone.

Private Full day Private, your group only Private Cat Ba and Lan Ha Bay

At a glance

Some days are better without strangers: grandparents and grandchildren, two couples travelling together, a birthday, or a group that wants an hour longer at the swim stop. This is the Lan Ha day we run for everyone else, on a boat that carries only your group. Kayak the lagoons, swim, eat lunch cooked on board, and tell the guide on the morning what to slow down or leave out. The route is the same. The pace is yours.

DurationFull day
08:00 to 16:30
GroupPrivate, your group only
StylePrivate
PickupYour hotel in Cat Ba Town, included
Activity levelEasy to moderate. Kayaking is optional and as long as you like
MealsLunch on board, included

Highlights

  • A boat, a guide and a schedule for your group alone
  • Kayak the lagoons and swim off the boat at your own pace
  • Lunch cooked on board, served when you are hungry
  • A slow pass through a working floating village
  • A message from your host the evening before and the evening after

The route

Cat Ba TownBeo pierLagoons by kayakSwim stopFloating villageCat Ba Town

Why we chose this trip

Most companies sell a private boat as an upgrade and change nothing else. We treat it as the same day with the pressure taken off. You choose the start time, nobody hurries you at the swim stop, and your host still checks in that evening to ask how the day really went. If a shared boat would suit your group better, we will say so before you pay.

The day, as it really runs

Morning

Choose your start

Tell us the evening before when you would like to leave. The standard day starts with a hotel pickup around 08:00, and we can talk about earlier or later.

Morning

Beo pier

A short ride to Beo pier, about 2 km from town, where your boat is waiting with no other group on it.

Late morning

Kayak the lagoons

Paddle double kayaks under limestone arches and into sheltered lagoons. Stay out longer if the group is enjoying it, or skip it.

Midday

Swim stop

Anchor off a small beach. Swim, float or stay on deck for as long as your group wants.

Early afternoon

Lunch on board

Seafood, rice, vegetables and fruit cooked in the boat's kitchen and served when your group is ready to eat.

Afternoon

Floating village

A slow pass through a working fishing village. Please ask before photographing people or their homes.

Late afternoon

Back to town

Return to Beo pier and hotel drop-off. That evening your host checks in to ask how the day went.

The order and the timings are a starting point, not a script. Tell the guide on the morning what to lengthen or leave out. The sea and the captain still decide what is safe.

What's included

Included

  • Private boat and licensed English speaking guide
  • Double kayaks, paddles and dry bags
  • Seafood lunch on board, fruit and drinking water
  • Bay route fees and life jackets
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cat Ba Town
  • A message from your host the evening before

Not included

  • Drinks other than water
  • Travel insurance
  • Tips for guide and crew, never expected

You get the full list in writing before you pay anything.

Practical details

Pickup
Your hotel in Cat Ba Town, included
Activity level
Easy to moderate. Kayaking is optional and as long as you like
Meals
Lunch on board, included
Group
Private. Your group only, no other guests on the boat
Price
Per boat, not per person. Ask us for a quote for your dates and numbers
Best months
October to April for clear air, May to September for warm water
Bring
Swimwear, towel, sunscreen, hat, a dry bag for your phone
Who runs it
A licensed local partner we have travelled with. Their name is on your written confirmation

Is this day right for you?

The honest version.

A good fit if

  • You are travelling with family, older parents or close friends and want the boat to yourselves.
  • You want to set the pace: longer at the swim stop, a shorter paddle, lunch when you are hungry.
  • You have a celebration, a photographer or a mixed ability group that a shared boat would not suit.

Tell us early if

  • You are watching the budget. A private boat costs more than a seat on the small group day, and it is priced per boat, so it works best when the boat is well filled.
  • You are here in July or August. Storms can close the bay, so keep a spare day in your plans.
  • You want somewhere outside the usual Lan Ha routes. The bay has fixed numbered routes, so we can change the pace and the stops, not the map.
Weather
Boats do not sail in unsafe seas, and that call belongs to the captain. Storm risk on this coast peaks in July and August. If the day cannot run we tell you the evening before or first thing in the morning, and you choose: move the date, swap to a land day, or cancel.
How the price works
A private boat is priced per boat, and the number depends on the day, the boat and your group size. Message us your dates and how many of you are coming, and we reply with one price in writing, not a menu.
Your route
Lan Ha Bay has a small number of numbered sightseeing routes, and a boat ticket covers one of them. We choose the route with you. What you control is the time, the pace and how long you stay at each stop.

Questions guests ask

How many people can the boat take?
That depends on the boat we can offer for your dates, so tell us your group size and we confirm the boat and the number before you pay. We would rather say no than squeeze a group onto a boat that is too small.
Can we start earlier or later than the usual day?
Usually yes, within the limits of daylight, the tide and the weather. Tell us what you have in mind and we confirm the timings in writing along with the price.
Is the price per person?
No. A private boat is priced per boat, so the number depends on the day and the boat rather than on how many of you come. Message us your dates and numbers for a quote.
Can we change the route?
The bay has fixed numbered sightseeing routes and a ticket covers one of them, so the map stays the same. Within your route, the stops, the time at each one and when you eat and swim are yours to change.
What if the weather turns?
The captain decides, and we tell you as early as we can. You can move to another date, swap to a land day, or cancel. Storms are most likely in July and August.

Check availability

No payment to ask. We reply on WhatsApp, 7am to 11pm daily, usually within minutes.

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With country code, like +44 7700 900123 Please add a number we can reach.
Please pick a date, even a rough one.
Opens WhatsApp with your details filled in. 50% deposit by card link. The rest after your trip.

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