Cap La Island, Halong Bay: 2026 Kayaking, Cave & Visit Guide

By Jimmy, Halong Bay cruise specialist · Updated 9 October 2026

Cap La Island 2026: Eastern Halong Bay’s Quiet Kayak Stop and Unlit Cave

Cap La is an island in the quiet eastern part of Halong Bay, about 18 km south-east of Ha Long International Cruise Port, on official route VHL4. It is known for an unlit fossil cave with two separate entrances high above the water, small beaches and sheltered channels where cruises stop for kayaking, swimming and overnight anchorage.

Good to know (checked October 2026): Cap La is often sold as part of Bai Tu Long Bay, but the official route list places it on Halong Bay route VHL4. Its cave has no lighting or built facilities, and whether your cruise enters the cave, kayaks around the island or simply anchors nearby depends on the operator, the tide and the weather.

Cap La Island at a Glance

Location	Eastern Halong Bay, route VHL4
Distance	About 18 km south-east of Ha Long International Cruise Port
Name	Named after the lá (tra) plants whose leaves locals used to weave mats; the cave takes the island’s name
Cave	Fossil horizontal tube cave with two separate entrances 20–30 m above sea level; unlit
Known for	Calm channels, small beaches, very few boats, a near-natural cave
Activities	Kayaking, swimming, sunset from the deck
How to visit	Eastern-bay 2D1N, 3D2N or 4D3N cruises; VHL4 boats
Ticket	VHL4 route ticket (200,000 VND, Management Board 2025); included in cruise prices
Best time	May–October for swimming; October–November for clear weather
Nearby	Thien Canh Son Cave, Vung Vieng, Cong Do – Cong Dam
Find it	Google Maps

Is Cap La Island worth it? Yes if you want space and silence on the water; it is the opposite of busy Ti Top. It is not a sight to tick off but a place to paddle, swim and watch the light change.

Cap La Island's pristine white sand beach with crystal-clear emerald water -- one of Bai Tu Long Bay's most unspoiled and uncrowded swimming beaches — Kayaks on a small beach at Cap La Island in eastern Halong Bay

What Makes Cap La Island Special

Silence

Far from the main anchorages, Cap La Island often has only one or two ships nearby, even in high season.

A cave left almost natural

The Ha Long Bay Management Board describes Cap La cave as a fossil horizontal tube cave in the Cat Ba limestone formation, with two entrances whose passages do not connect. A 2023 study of the bay’s caves found that Cap La, with no lighting or paths, keeps a fairly intact ecosystem.

Sheltered paddling

Channels between the islets are calm, ideal for beginner kayakers.

Small beaches

Little sandy coves appear at lower tide for a swim stop.

Name and Background

According to the Management Board, the island is named after the lá plants that grow there, whose leaves were used for weaving mats. Cap La has also been home to a small fishing community, one of the bay’s traditional floating villages. Today the area is visited mainly by longer cruises in the eastern bay.

Cap La Floating Fishing Village -- one of 4 UNESCO World Heritage floating villages in the bay region, with 80 households living entirely on the water between Bai Tu Long Bay and Halong Bay — Fish farms near Cap La Island

Things to Do at Cap La

1. Kayak through the islets

Most cruises allow 45–60 minutes of kayaking with a guide.

2. Look into the cave

Some itineraries include a short visit; with no lighting, bring or ask for a torch and follow your guide closely.

3. Swim from a beach or the ship

Swimming is usually offered from May to October, subject to the crew’s safety call.

4. Watch the sunset

Ships anchoring here enjoy one of the quietest sunsets in the bay.

Practical Information

Item	Details (checked October 2026)
Access	Cruises and VHL4 boats only
Fee	Included in cruise prices (VHL4 route)
Facilities	None on land; use your ship’s facilities
Rules	Do not touch formations or coral; no litter or single-use plastic

How to Get to Cap La Island

Option	Notes
Eastern bay / Bai Tu Long cruise, 3D2N or 4D3N	Most likely to include Cap La
2D1N eastern-bay cruise	Some itineraries; check
Private cruise	Can be routed here on request