Lan Ha Bay is considered one of the most beautiful bays in the world with extremely unique natural landscapes and biodiversity. This place also has very unique and distinctive cultural features that attract many domestic and foreign tourists to the bay. Lan Ha Bay has rich flora and fauna, pristine beaches, mysterious caves that change depending on the tide level
Lan Ha Bay is located in Hai Phong city, the bay has an area of about 7,000 hectares, is a bay with 400 large and small islands, many wild and attractive destinations. At the foot of the rocky mountains are hundreds of small sandbanks and many calm sea areas where you can dive to see corals such as Sen island, Monkey island. In the bay, there are hundreds of saltwater lakes, which are home to many species of marine life that are important in monitoring the evolution within the ecosystem as well as the fluctuations of physical factors.
The best time to visit Lan Ha Bay
The best time to visit Lan Ha Bay is from April to July and October to January.
In the summer, people enjoy bathing in the stunning Lan Ha Bay. It's the ideal time of year for leisure activities on Lan Ha Bay, such as swimming and snorkeling.
From October to January, the milder temperatures typically range from 15 to 23 degrees Celsius. It's the best time for sightseeing.
Although there is more rain and mist at this time of year, the weather contributes to Lan Ha Bay's ethereal aspect without detracting from its natural beauty. People are thrilled to watch the fog at Lan Ha Bay during winter.
The weather in Lan Ha Bay is quite pleasant, so that you can visit it anytime.
How to get to Lan Ha Bay?
To visit Lan Ha Bay, you can travel by many different means such as bus, plane or train. If you go from Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang or the southern provinces, you can take a flight to Cat Bi airport - Hai Phong.
If you go from Hanoi, you can rent a private car or limousine to take you to Hai Phong City
From the center of Hai Phong city, you travel by cable car to Cat Ba island with a ticket price of 200,000 VND/way for adults, 150,000 VND/way for children.
Then, buy a boat ticket at Beo wharf in the center of Cat Ba to Lan Ha Bay with a price of only 80,000 VND/adult/way, 40,000 VND/child/way.
Take a boat to the bay: You can buy tickets directly to the bay at Binh wharf. Prepare your health well to avoid seasickness. Ticket price to Lan Ha Bay Cat Ba is only about 30,000 VND/person.
Places to visit when you come to Lan Ha Bay
Lan Ha Bay Floating Market
If you have ever traveled to the West, you will probably imagine the floating market of the local people here. However, the Lan Ha Bay floating market is smaller in scale, mainly owned by fishermen who take care of shrimp and fish rafts. You can stop by this place to buy seafood as gifts.
Cua Van Fishing Village
Cua Van Fishing Village is nestled next to the Va Gia limestone mountain, in a calm area. This place attracts tourists with its colorful floating houses bobbing in the middle of the bay. The life of the fishermen is extremely peaceful with more than 300 families working in seafood catching. With its charming and poetic beauty, Cua Van Fishing Village on Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba is on the list of 16 most beautiful ancient villages in the world.
Nam Cat Island
Nam Cat Island is about 15 minutes by boat from Lan Ha Bay. The island is full of wildness, peace and charm. There are 3 wooden stilt houses and 6 bamboo guesthouses, helping you fully enjoy the fresh air from the natural sea.
Monkey Island
Monkey Island is also known as Cat Dua Island because there are many pineapple trees on the island. However, the island is now called Monkey Island because it is home to more than 20 monkeys brought by the rangers of Cat Ba National Park.
They are quite friendly and often like to play with tourists. Monkey Island has 2 beaches: Cat Dua 1 and Cat Dua 2. The sea water here is extremely clear, suitable for swimming, kayaking, etc.
Activities to experience in Lan Ha Bay.
Boating on the bay
If the group is large, you can rent a large boat to sightsee in the Bay, stop at a pristine beach or a calm area to swim or kayak. If the group is small, you can rent a small boat from the locals (easily found at Cai Beo port) for a suitable cost. The price of renting a boat to Lan Ha Bay depends on your itinerary and the agreement with the boat owner.
Swimming
With many beautiful beaches outside the bay, you can freely swim and play on the sea. In addition, in the bay area, there are also many lakes in the middle of the sea, you can comfortably jump in with a life jacket.
Diving
Lan Ha Bay area is relatively suitable for diving activities. The average water level at diving spots is about 4-5m, the coral layer, and beautiful and rich marine life will be the things that attract tourists.
Kayaking
To participate in this activity, you can rent a boat to see the bay or simply buy a kayaking tour. Usually, the boats will take you to calm areas, close to the shore for easier paddling (paddling in the sea with big waves is very tiring). Some places to kayak are Dark Cave, Bright Cave, Me Kong Cave, Ba Trai Dao Beach, etc.
Climbing
Climbing on the sea in Cat Ba is very attractive to tourists, especially foreign tourists. There are dozens of climbing spots on the islands in Lan Ha Bay, on the mainland and around the Cat Ba area.