HALONG BAY OR LAN HA BAY ?
Which Bay is Right for You ?
Picture yourself cruising through emerald green waters, cocktail in hand. Moments ago you saw the sun dip beneath the encircling karst mountains and now you’re absorbing a transcendent sky – an explosion of pinks, purples, and oranges.
As your cruise ship glides through the waters, the scenery slowly morphs around you offering different vistas from different angles. Is this Halong Bay or Lan Ha Bay? The truth is that it could be either.
Halong Bay gets all the attention, but few can tell the two landscapes apart. Indeed, some of the images that you see when you put “Halong Bay” into Google are actually Lan Ha Bay, and vice versa.
But as an increasing number of tourists descend upon Halong Bay each year and restrictions around the UNESCO World Heritage Site tighten, Lan Ha Bay is emerging as a fresh alternative. However, as a developing destination, Lan Ha Bay is still finding its feet. There’s no definitive favorite. Read on to see which one is right for you.
A note on Bai Tu Long Bay. The Gulf of Tonkin is divided between three bays: Halong Bay, Lan Ha Bay, and Bai Tu Long Bay. The three bays are administered separately, with Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay belonging to Quang Ninh Province and subject to the same provincial regulations, while Lan Ha Bay belongs to Hai Phong Province. That’s why cruises in Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay remain quite similar, whereas cruises through Lan Ha Bay are different.
Which One Offers the Best Views and Photos ?
The karst islands are super picturesque in Halong Bay, which is one reason why it has overshadowed Lan Ha Bay for so long. They are taller and more imposing than anywhere else in the gulf, and offer scenes resembling giant turtles, sleeping dragons, and birds engaged in fierce battle. However, the sheer number of cruise ships in Halong Bay can make it difficult to enjoy the scenery or to snap a good photo, as you’ll always have a boat creeping in the frame.
Lan Ha Bay is smaller, but the area around Cat Ba Island is arguably the most impressive of anywhere in the Gulf of Tonkin. Booking cruises in Lan Ha Bay ensures visits to the remote Cat Ba National Park as well as exclusive access to Ho Ba Ham Fisherman Village where there is a grotto that you can kayak inside. Additionally, Ba Trai Dao is an absolutely breathtaking area to relax on an isolated beach, swim, kayak, and rock-climb.
Winner: Lan Ha Bay hands down.
Discover the romance and adventure hidden around every limestone karst in the mysterious Gulf of Tonkin on our carefully crafted Lan Ha Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay tours. Or, contact our trip designers to tailor-make an adventure just for you.
Which One is the Most Convenient ?
When it comes to travel, convenience is king. Or is it? Fewer cruise ships is a mixed blessing for Lan Ha Bay. The views may be clearer – but this means less choice, although the number of quality cruise ships is now rivaling that of even Halong Bay.
Both Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay have luxury ships with gorgeous cabins showcasing private balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows. Halong Bay’s most quality cruise lines include Bhaya, Au Co, Paradise, Indochina Junk, and Jasmine or Violet of the Heritage Line, while Lan Ha Bay’s most boutique options include Ginger and Ylang Ylang.
In terms of distance, both are very convenient. Nowadays, it takes about 90-minutes to reach Lan Ha Bay from Hanoi, while it takes about 2 hours to reach Tuan Chau Pier for Halong and Bai Tu Long cruises.
An added bonus of Halong Bay is the scenic seaplane tour by Hai Au Aviation, offering a wonderful bird’s-eye view 25-minute sightseeing tour by air. This can also be combined with Lan Ha Bay tours with a speedboat transfer from Tuan Chau Pier to Hai Phong after your seaplane tour finishes.
Winner: It’s a draw.
Wild Card: Cat Ba Island
Cat Ba is the biggest island in the Gulf of Tonkin and it technically lies in Lan Ha Bay. With a vast national park, charming isolated villages, and an interesting collection of historical sites, you definitely need to consider Cat Ba Island when deciding on itineraries.
Many two- and three-day Lan Ha Bay cruises include Cat Ba Island. But only some three-day Halong Bay cruises do. Therefore, if you want to make Cat Ba Island a priority, you’ll find it easier to look at Lan Ha Bay cruises.
How to Choose the Perfect Bay in 30 Seconds
Still can’t decide? Take a look at the following and see what matters to you most.
Go for Halong Bay if…
- You’re looking for the most choice and an affordable price
- You want to tick off this UNESCO World Heritage Site off your bucket-list
- You don’t mind exploring the area with thousands of others or seeing many ships
Choose Lan Ha Bay if…
- You like getting off the beaten track and away from the crowds
- You definitely want to make Cat Ba Island part of the itinerary
- You don’t mind limited options and (perhaps) paying a little more