The Ha Long Bay 3 - Lan Ha Bay itinerary features numerous scenic spots rich in natural and cultural values, such as: Cua Van Floating Cultural Center, Tien Ong Cave, Ba Ham Lake, Ba Men Temple, Ang Du, Rung Truc (Ha Long Bay), Tra Bau, Bright Cave, Dark Cave, Ba Trai Dao (Three Peaches), Quai To, Viet Hai inlet, Turtle Islet, and Cai Beo fishing village - Ben Beo (Lan Ha Bay).
Among them, Tien Ong Cave not only stands out with its stunning stalactites and stalagmites—particularly a stalagmite resembling a benevolent, fairy-like elder—but also preserves exceptional historical values. Through artifacts excavated inside the cave, historians identified Tien Ong Cave as one of the living and settlement sites of ancient Vietnamese people dating back to the Early Neolithic period, belonging to the Soi Nhu culture from around 10,000 to 8,000 years ago. Visiting here, tourists can encounter traces of prehistoric life inside the cave such as stream snail shells, mountain snail shells, and primitive stone and bone tools.
Another highlight is Ba Ham Lake, consisting of three enclosed marine lakes interconnected through underwater caverns piercing the karst mountains. Rowing a small boat through the water tunnels to visit each lake, visitors can feel the quiet, peaceful, and poetic ambiance across the water's surface, embraced by lush green vegetation draped over the rocky slopes. Somewhere in the distance echoes the chirping of birds or the fleeting silhouettes of golden monkeys playing playfully on the branches. Bordering Lan Ha Bay is the Ba Men Temple area—a shrine deeply revered and sacred to local fishermen. Visitors arriving during the annual temple festival held on the 19th and 20th days of the first lunar month will immerse themselves in a sea-imbued festive atmosphere, where numerous fishermen from Ha Long and Cat Ba gather to celebrate and pray for a smooth, peaceful year at sea.
This is an exploratory journey filled with destinations rich in cultural, ecological, and spiritual significance, delivering a tranquil, profound experience amidst the heritage expanse of Ha Long Bay. As for destinations on this itinerary within Lan Ha Bay, visitors will also enjoy many memorable experiences. The Turtle Islet area—a unique symbol of the Cat Ba Archipelago—impresses with its fresh, magnificent natural scenery. Rowing through the 70m-long Bright Cave and Dark Cave piercing through the mountain, tourists will feel as though they have stepped into paradise while admiring the expansive lagoon surrounded by majestic, towering limestone cliffs. And at Ba Trai Dao (Three Peaches)—a cluster of small islets in Lan Ha Bay renowned for picturesque landscapes and a romantic love legend—visitors can swim to their heart's content across three crescent-shaped sandy beaches embracing the peach-shaped karst hills...
In particular, this tour route also includes three fishing villages offering unique experiences for visitors. At Tra Bau fishing village, tourists can try their hand at catching seafood, prepare their own catch, and enjoy a seafood feast right on floating raft houses. To reach Viet Hai fishing village, visitors ride electric carts from Viet Hai pier across a 5km road traversing Cat Ba National Park, taking in its diverse natural ecosystem. In the heart of the village, tourists can discover the unique culture of local residents and enjoy various activities such as fish massage therapy...
Meanwhile, at Cai Beo fishing village, known as the oldest coastal floating village in Vietnam and one of the most famous tourist attractions in the Cat Ba Archipelago, visitors can sightsee from a traditional sampan or kayak around the village to admire the natural scenery as well as observe the aquaculture and fishing activities of local fishermen...
Observations show that the destinations across the four connecting itineraries between Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay within Lan Ha Bay are fairly similar, with each route typically adding or omitting a few stops. In contrast, the destinations within Ha Long Bay differ notably across each route, extending from coastal, nearshore areas to offshore spots and reaching all the way to the boundary adjoining Lan Ha Bay.
Specifically, on the Ha Long Bay 6 - Lan Ha Bay itinerary, Ha Long Bay locations such as Chan Voi (Elephant Leg) Islet, Ba Cua cove, Tung Lam Island, and Cap Bai Islet are primarily cruise-by destinations, allowing visitors to relax and marvel at the magnificent, distinctive natural beauty. These include linked mountain peaks sprawling across a vast expanse that resemble the legs of giant elephants reaching out to sea at Chan Voi Islet; the rich mangrove forests in the Ba Cua cove area; or the picturesque charm of Tung Lam Island, where Ha Long fan palms—an endemic plant species of the Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago—thrive. There is also Cap Bai Islet, highlighted by two towering limestone karst peaks standing opposite and symmetrical to each other. This islet also serves as a landmark demarcating the boundary between Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay.
By contrast, on the Ha Long Bay 4 - Lan Ha Bay itinerary, Ha Long Bay destinations such as Co Cave (Thien Canh Son), Thay Cave, Cap La Cave, Vung Vieng, and the Tung Ang ecological area - Hon Xep Park allow visitors both to sightsee from the ship and to directly explore beautiful caves, picturesque fishing villages, and the daily customs and livelihoods of Ha Long fishermen. Guests can also enjoy rowing sampans, kayaking, dragon boat racing on the bay, savoring fresh seafood, and watching the crafting of pearls cultivated in the bay... These are all destinations in the offshore areas of Ha Long Bay, where emerald waters meet verdant mountains in a pure, pristine, and stunning setting.
Furthermore, on the Ha Long Bay 5 - Lan Ha Bay itinerary, Ha Long Bay destinations such as Thien Cung - Dau Go Cave, Cho Da (Stone Dog) Islet, Ba Hang, Dinh Huong (Incense Burner) Islet, and Trong Mai (Fighting Cocks) Islet take visitors to prominent spots located relatively close to shore. Highlights include the magnificent Thien Cung Cave likened to a "heavenly palace", the ancient Dau Go Cave, the serene Ba Hang, along with the heritage site's famous and distinctive rocky islets such as Dinh Huong Islet, Cho Da Islet, and Trong Mai Islet (the iconic symbol of Ha Long Bay).
At present, it is only the initial stage of connecting sightseeing itineraries across the two bays of Ha Long and Lan Ha within the scope of the Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago World Heritage site. In the future, as cruise operators exploit these interconnected tour routes more comprehensively, visitors will certainly have further opportunities to experience more captivating destinations across this inter-provincial heritage region.
