Choose Ha Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay or Bai Tu Long Bay for a Cruise in Vietnam?

Are you captivated by the breathtaking scenery of the Gulf of Tonkin, famously known through Halong Bay, a UNESCO Heritage Site in Vietnam? If so, you may be confused when it comes to choosing between Halong Bay, Lan Ha Bay, or Bai Tu Long Bay while planning your visit to Vietnam.

At first, it may not be easy to decide between the three bays as they boast similar landscapes and services quality. However, in this article, we will delve into each bay's unique features and highlights, enabling you to make an informed choice that best suits your preferences and expectations.

1. Highlights of the three bays

1.1. Halong Bay - Vivid and colourful beauty

Bearing a gorgeous and majestic beauty, Halong Bay is able to win all travellers’ hearts at the first sight. However, does Halong Bay still show the beautifully wildest scenery to visitors? The answer is not really, but don't get me wrong, this heritage still retains its intrinsic values. However, the fact that the bay welcomes nearly 6 million tourists a year has some certain impacts on.

If you don’t mind the crowds of tourists behind and choose Halong Bay for your vessel, you can enjoy a truly fantastic journey. The most appreciated thing about Halong Bay compared to other bays is a system of beautiful caves with many interesting legends.

>> To learn more, read: Top 7 magnificent caves and grottos in Halong Bay

1.2. Lan Ha Bay - Pristine and dynamic beauty

The name "Lan Ha" means the orchid descending to earth in order to beautify life. As gentle as its name, Lan Ha Bay brings people a feeling of peace. It is rustic, unspoiled, but seems to have a charm that wins the heart of anyone who sees it at a glance.

At present, Lan Ha Bay is in the early stages of tourism development, and because of this, the bay still retains its pristine beauty. Although Cat Ba Island has been well known for a long time and is a traditional tourist destination of Vietnamese people, Lan Ha Bay tourism development is committed to not destroying the primitive beauty.

>>See more: All about Lan Ha Bay, cruise trips and tour activities

1.3. Bai Tu Long Bay - Hidden beauty

Despite occupying 3/4 of the Gulf of Tonkin, Bai Tu Long Bay is not as famous as the other two sisters. Because of this, Bai Tu Long Bay remains relatively untouched by mass tourism. The atmosphere is peaceful and the beauty is wild. Bai Tu Long Bay cruises often include visits to local communities as it has a strong connection with the locals in the non-tourist areas, and of course, you will find it much more interesting in these rural areas

2. Distances from major attractions to each bay

For each bay, you start from a different pier, accordingly, it takes a different amount of transfer time from your starting point.

Halong Bay

• All Halong Bay cruises start from Tuan Chau harbour
• The distance from Hanoi is 146km and it takes 3 hours by car to drive on the national highway
• The distance from Noi Bai International Airport is 148km and it takes 3 hours to drive by car or 45 minutes to fly by seaplane
• The distance from Cat Bi International Airport is 62km and it takes 1 hour 45 minutes by car

Lan Ha Bay

• Lan Ha Bay cruise normally departs from the Got harbour
• The distance from Hanoi is 153km and it takes 2h by car
• The distance from Noi Bai International Airport is 150km and it takes 2.5h by car
• The distance from Cat Bi International Airport and it takes 28km and it takes 40 minutes by car

In addition, there are cruises that leave from Beo harbour, right from Cat Ba Island - the largest island in the bay. However you need more time to transfer from Pha Got pier by ferry to get to Cai Vieng pier, then continue to transfer by car to go to Beo harbour. This transfer takes about 1 hour if there is no traffic.

Bai Tu Long Bay

• Bai Tu Long Bay cruise departs from Hon Gai harbour
• The distance from Hanoi is 136 km and it takes 3h15’ by car
• The distance from Noi Bai International Airport is 157km and it takes 3h20’ by car
• The distance from Cat Bi International Airport is 79km and it takes 2h driving

3. Halong Bay vs Lan Ha Bay vs Bai Tu Long Bay Itineraries

Halong Bay

Being the most famous part and closest to the mainland, Halong Bay offers different itineraries which are organised to explore the most beautiful corners. These are the day trips that last 4 - 8 hours, the 2-day 1-night cruise trip or 3-day 2-night journey. Start from Tuan Chau Port or Halong International Port, you will have an amazing time on the water. The trip takes you to discover the most glorious and famous caves such as Surprise Cave, Paradise Cave, Thien Cung Cave, Dau Go Cave, and Ti Top Island,... Because these are must-see attractions, they are expected to be always crowded.

Read more details in these articles:

>> About Halong Bay day trip from Hanoi

>> Halong Bay Cruise 2 days 1 night - What to do and see?  

>> How to plan your first 2-night Halong Bay cruise?

Lan Ha Bay

Currently, in Lan Ha Bay, 1-day, 2-day 1-night and 3-day 2-night tours are organised. It should be noted that the 1-day tours often leave from Beo harbour, Got pier and there are not as many cruises running Lan Ha Bay day trips. For the 2-day 1-night and 3-day 2-night tours, there are many more cruise options to choose from. Some cruise operators even run them from Tuan Chau Port or Halong International Port.

With the Lan Ha Bay route, you will visit the Ba Trai Dao area, Dark and Bright Cave, and Trung Trang Cave. The itinerary sometimes also includes taking a bicycle or electric car tour on Cat Ba Island, discovering the beauty and tranquillity of Viet Hai Village and Cat Ba National Park, one of the best national parks in Vietnam.

Also, check out these articles:

>> List of 14 best Lan Ha Bay cruises

>>The 10 Most Beautiful National Parks in Vietnam 

Bai Tu Long Bay

Bai Tu Long Bay is located further from the mainland than the other two bays so only 2 itineraries of 2 days 1 night and 3 days 2 nights are offered here. The tour to Bai Tu Long Bay allows you to discover the lesser-known caves in this area of the bay, which is an extremely enjoyable experience. A voyage of discovery with the cruise will take you to some of the most attractive destinations, such as Thien Canh Son Cave, Cam Island, Cap La Island, and Bai Tu Long National Park. If you are fascinated by the most peaceful and hidden scenery, Bai Tu Long Bay is a good choice.

See more information of the bay and its itineraries here:
>> Everything to know about Bai Tu Long Bay

With this information, we hope you can have an idea to choose which one will be your next trip’s destination: Halong Bay or Bai Tu Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay. You can check and book your Cruises in Vietnam. Happy travelling!