Halong Bay vs Lan Ha Bay: Which Bay Should You Choose in 2026?
By Jimmy Nguyen, Founder & Director of Asia Travel Expert Co., Ltd. · Updated Checked October 2026. Fees, rules and heritage facts come from UNESCO, the Ha Long Bay – Yen Tu World Heritage Management Board and Hai Phong Resolution 47/2025.
Halong Bay or Lan Ha Bay? Choose Halong Bay for the famous caves, viewpoints and the widest choice of day and overnight cruises. Choose Lan Ha Bay for fewer boats, beaches and Cat Ba Island, ideally on an overnight cruise. Both are part of the same UNESCO World Heritage site, “Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago”, and many cruises now combine them.
Key takeaways
- Same heritage site: UNESCO extended the Ha Long Bay listing to the Cat Ba archipelago, including Lan Ha Bay, in September 2023.
- Different provinces: Halong Bay is in Quang Ninh; Lan Ha Bay is in Hai Phong, south-east of Halong Bay next to Cat Ba Island.
- Crowds: Halong Bay’s main route is busy at midday; Lan Ha Bay is noticeably quieter.
- Kayaking: available at several Halong Bay points; suspended in Lan Ha Bay since late 2025.
- Entrance fees: lower in Lan Ha Bay (120,000 VND a day) than on Halong Bay’s main routes (250,000 VND).
Halong Bay vs Lan Ha Bay at a glance
| Halong Bay | Lan Ha Bay | |
|---|---|---|
| Province | Quang Ninh | Hai Phong (Cat Hai special zone) |
| Heritage status | UNESCO World Heritage since 1994 | Part of the same World Heritage site since 2023; also in the Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve (2004) |
| Size | About 1,553 km² and close to 2,000 islands | About 7,000 ha and around 400 islands |
| Scenery | Tall, dense karst towers and large caves | Smaller islands, lagoons and many white-sand beaches |
| Main sights | Sung Sot Cave, Ti Top Island, Luon Cave, Thien Cung and Dau Go caves, Cua Van village | Dark and Bright Cave, Ba Trai Dao, Viet Hai village, Monkey Island, Cat Ba |
| Crowds | Busy on route VHL2 at midday | Fewer boats |
| Kayaking | Listed at Luon Cave, Ba Hang, Cua Van and Vung Vieng | Suspended since late 2025 |
| Swimming | Ti Top and Soi Sim beaches | Many small beaches, such as Ba Trai Dao and Van Boi |
| Day trip from Hanoi | Easy: about 2.5 hours each way | Possible but long; better overnight |
| Adult entrance fee | 250,000 VND (VHL1, VHL2) per day; 550,000 VND for 1 night on VHL2 | 120,000 VND per day; 400,000 VND for 1 night |
| Best for | First-time visitors, day trips, classic sights | Couples, photographers, beach lovers, repeat visitors |
Halong Bay: the classic
Halong Bay is the original World Heritage area, inscribed by UNESCO in 1994 for its outstanding scenery and geology. It is managed by the Ha Long Bay – Yen Tu World Heritage Management Board, which licenses eight official sightseeing routes, VHL1 to VHL8.
- Route VHL1: Thien Cung and Dau Go caves, Ba Hang, Dinh Huong and Trong Mai (Fighting Cocks) islets.
- Route VHL2: Soi Sim and Ti Top beaches, Sung Sot Cave, Me Cung, Luon Cave and more; the route most cruises use.
- Route VHL3: Cua Van floating cultural village and Ba Ham lakes.
- Route VHL4: towards Bai Tu Long Bay, with Vung Vieng village and Cong Do.
Pros: the most famous caves and viewpoints, the most cruise choices, easy day trips. Cons: crowded stops on VHL2, especially from 11:00 to 15:00. Read our Halong Bay travel guide for each attraction.
Lan Ha Bay: quieter and greener
Lan Ha Bay lies south-east of Halong Bay, off the east coast of Cat Ba Island. Since 16 September 2023, when the World Heritage Committee met in Riyadh, it has been part of the World Heritage site “Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago”. It is managed by Hai Phong, so it has its own fees and rules.
- Ba Trai Dao and other beaches: small sandy coves for swimming in summer.
- Dark and Bright Cave (Hang Sang Toi): a sea-level cave leading to an enclosed lagoon, now visited by bamboo boat.
- Viet Hai village: a traditional village inside Cat Ba National Park, reached by bike.
- Monkey Island and Cat Ba: beaches, hikes and viewpoints on land.
Pros: fewer boats, beaches, lagoons and Cat Ba activities. Cons: longer to reach for a day trip; kayaking is suspended. Explore the bay in our Lan Ha Bay travel guide.
Kayaking, swimming and activities
Kayaking is the biggest practical difference in 2026. Cat Hai authorities suspended kayaking on the Cat Ba bays in November 2024 while licensed areas are planned, and cruise operators again suspended kayak services in Lan Ha Bay from late November 2025. No resumption had been announced by October 2026. In Halong Bay, the management board still lists kayak and bamboo-boat services at Luon Cave, Ba Hang, Cua Van and Vung Vieng.
| Activity | Halong Bay | Lan Ha Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Kayaking | Yes, at licensed points | Suspended |
| Bamboo boat | Yes, at Luon Cave and other points | Yes, for example at Dark and Bright Cave |
| Swimming | Ti Top and Soi Sim beaches | Many small beaches |
| Caves | Large caves: Sung Sot, Thien Cung, Dau Go | Sea caves and lagoons |
| Cycling and hiking | Limited | Viet Hai village, Cat Ba National Park |
Getting there
- Halong Bay: about 2.5 hours from Hanoi by expressway to Tuan Chau or the Ha Long International Passenger Port in Bai Chay.
- Lan Ha Bay: many 5-star cruises start at Tuan Chau and sail south; day boats usually leave from Ben Beo pier on Cat Ba, about 3 hours from Hanoi via the Got ferry. Since May 2025, licensed Cat Ba boats may also collect guests at Tuan Chau and Ha Long ports.
Which bay should you choose?
| Your priority | Better choice |
|---|---|
| First visit, classic caves and viewpoints | Halong Bay |
| Only one day | Halong Bay (day cruise) |
| Quiet scenery and fewer boats | Lan Ha Bay |
| Beaches and swimming | Lan Ha Bay |
| Kayaking | Halong Bay |
| Two or three days | A cruise that combines both bays |
Still deciding between a short trip and a night on board? Read Halong Bay day cruise vs overnight cruise, then compare Lan Ha Bay cruises and top Halong Bay cruises.
Not sure which bay suits your dates? Contact Halong Tour Expert and we will recommend a route.
Halong Bay vs Lan Ha Bay: FAQs
1. Is Lan Ha Bay better than Halong Bay?
Neither is simply better. Lan Ha Bay is quieter with beaches and lagoons; Halong Bay has the famous caves, viewpoints and more cruise choices. Compare ships on our Lan Ha Bay cruises page.
2. Is Lan Ha Bay part of Halong Bay?
Not administratively: Lan Ha Bay belongs to Hai Phong and Halong Bay to Quang Ninh. Since 2023 both are part of the UNESCO site “Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago”. Read our Lan Ha Bay travel guide.
3. Can you kayak in Lan Ha Bay in 2026?
No. Kayaking in Lan Ha Bay has been suspended since late 2025 and no resumption had been announced by October 2026. Halong Bay still has licensed kayak points, such as Luon Cave.
4. Which is less crowded, Halong Bay or Lan Ha Bay?
Lan Ha Bay has far fewer boats. In Halong Bay, the busiest stops are on route VHL2 between about 11:00 and 15:00. For the quietest scenery, also consider Bai Tu Long Bay.
5. How much is the Lan Ha Bay entrance fee?
For adults, 120,000 VND per day, 400,000 VND for one night, 600,000 VND for two nights and 650,000 VND for three nights, under Hai Phong Resolution 47/2025. Children under 6 are free. Most overnight Lan Ha Bay and Halong Bay cruises include the fee.
6. Can I visit Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay on one cruise?
Yes. Many cruises leave from Tuan Chau and sail through the edge of Halong Bay into Lan Ha Bay, especially on 2-day and 3-day trips. See our Halong Bay luxury cruises for combined routes.
7. Is Lan Ha Bay good for a day trip from Hanoi?
It is possible, but most Lan Ha Bay day boats leave from Cat Ba, about 3 hours from Hanoi, so it makes a long day. An overnight cruise is more relaxed. Compare in Halong Bay day cruise vs overnight cruise.
8. Where can I swim in Lan Ha Bay?
Small beaches such as Ba Trai Dao and Van Boi are popular swimming stops from about May to October. Read about Ba Trai Dao islets before you go.
9. What is Dark and Bright Cave in Lan Ha Bay?
Dark and Bright Cave (Hang Sang Toi) is a sea-level cave that leads to an enclosed lagoon. Visitors now go through by bamboo boat. See our Dark and Bright Cave guide.
10. Which bay is better for families, Halong Bay or Lan Ha Bay?
Halong Bay suits families on a short trip, with easy caves and Ti Top beach. Lan Ha Bay suits families who want beaches and a slower pace. Our Halong Bay deluxe cruises offer family cabins on both routes.
11. When is the best time to visit Lan Ha Bay and Halong Bay?
October to December for clear skies, and April to June for warm sea and green islands. July to September brings the most rain and storm risk. See our best time to visit Halong Bay guide.
12. Is Bai Tu Long Bay similar to Lan Ha Bay?
Both are quieter than Halong Bay. Bai Tu Long Bay, north-east of Halong Bay, has floating villages such as Vung Vieng; Lan Ha Bay has more beaches. Browse Bai Tu Long Bay cruises.
