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4 Days Ha Long, Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba and Ninh Binh Tour

Top rated
5.0
Activity provider: SST Travel
4 Days Ha Long, Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba and Ninh Binh Tour
4 Days Ha Long, Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba and Ninh Binh Tour 2
4 Days Ha Long, Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba and Ninh Binh Tour 3
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4-day tour in Ha Long Bay, taking in Viet Hai Village and Dark & Bright Cave. Run by SST Travel, booked direct rather than through a reseller.

Highlights

  • Viet Hai village: boat-only, in a karst valley on Cat Ba
  • Dark and Bright Cave by bamboo boat, tunnel then lagoon
  • Lan Ha Bay, where the big fleet does not go
  • Two nights on the water and one in Ninh Binh
  • Karst at sea and then inland, in one trip

4 Days Ha Long, Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba and Ninh Binh Tour: Key Facts

PriceFrom $1030 per person
Duration4 days
LanguagesEnglish
Tour typeGuided Tour
BookingDirect with the local operator — no OTA markup

Choose from 4 available options

4 Days Ha Long, Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba and Ninh Binh Tour

4-day tour in Ha Long Bay, taking in Viet Hai Village and Dark & Bright Cave. Run by SST Travel, booked direct rather th...
4 days
English
$1,028.66
Free cancellation

3-star Cruise

Departures: 8:00 AM
32 hours
English
$1,030
Free cancellation

4-star Cruise

Departures: 8:00 AM
32 hours
English
$1,238
Free cancellation

5-star Cruise

Departures: 8:00 AM
32 hours
English
$1,326
Free cancellation

Full description

Four days and two nights on the water, taking in the parts of this coast that day trips never reach.

Viet Hai village is the reason to give this trip four days. It sits in a valley on Cat Ba Island, ringed by karst and reachable only by boat and then a walk or cycle, and until recently had no road at all. It is a working farming village rather than a display, and getting there is the whole point: nothing on a Ha Long day cruise goes near it.

The Dark and Bright Cave is the other stop day trips skip. You go through in a bamboo boat: one tunnel in complete darkness, then out into a bright enclosed lagoon on the other side, which is where the name comes from.

Lan Ha Bay is the quieter bay south of Ha Long proper, around 300 islands off Cat Ba, where the big fleet does not go. Kayaking and swimming happen here rather than in the busy channels.

Ninh Binh closes the trip with the inland version of the same limestone: karst towers rising out of rice paddies and a river instead of the sea.

Two nights are spent on a cruise, one in Ninh Binh, and the cruise standard runs from 3-star to 5-star depending on the option selected.

Your place is held with the operator before your booking is final. The price covers Hanoi Old Quarter pickup and drop-off, two nights aboard a 3, 4 or 5-star cruise, one night in Ninh Binh, kayaking and swimming, Viet Hai village and the Dark and Bright Cave.

Four days. Minimum one day's notice.

Tour Itinerary

Itineraries are customisable as per your request

The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.

HOA LU ANCIENT - TRANG AN - MUA CAVE

Depart from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, known as “Halong Bay on land.” Visit Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, explore the magnificent Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex by boat through caves and rivers, and climb Mua Cave for a panoramic view of Tam Coc valley. After the tour, check in at the hotel in Ninh Binh and relax overnight.

HA LONG BAY - LAN HA & CAT BA ISLAND

After breakfast, check out the hotel and transfer to Ha Long Bay. Arrive at the harbor, check in to the cruise, and enjoy a welcome drink and lunch on board while sailing through the limestone islands. In the afternoon, visit beautiful islands and scenic spots before enjoying sunset activities and overnight on the cruise.

KAYAKING - SWIMMING

Continue the journey on the Lan Ha Bay route with exciting activities such as kayaking, swimming, cave exploration, and visiting Cat Ba Island area. Enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the bay, participate in onboard activities, and stay overnight on the cruise.

VIET HAI VILLAGE

Explore the peaceful beauty of Viet Hai Village, an ancient village located deep inside Cat Ba National Park. Guests can cycle through the forest, discover local life, and enjoy the pure and quiet atmosphere of nature, bringing a refreshing and inspiring experience. Afterward, return to the cruise for relaxation and sunset activities.

BRUNCH - RETURN TO HANOI WITH LIMOUSINE BUS

Start the morning with Tai Chi or sightseeing on the sundeck, then continue cruising through Lan Ha Bay.

DARK & BRIGHT CAVE

Explore Dark & Bright Cave, a pristine natural area where light, water, and dramatic limestone arches blend together to create a pure and magical landscape. Guests can experience kayaking or bamboo boat ride through the cave and admire the untouched beauty of nature.

CHECK OUT & RETURN TO HANOI

After brunch, return to the harbor and transfer back to Hanoi, ending the 4-day unforgettable journey.

Detailed Itinerary

HOA LU ANCIENT - TRANG AN - MUA CAVE

HA LONG BAY - LAN HA & CAT BA ISLAND

KAYAKING - SWIMMING

VIET HAI VILLAGE

BRUNCH - RETURN TO HANOI WITH LIMOUSINE BUS: Start the morning with Tai Chi or sightseeing on the sundeck, then continue cruising through Lan Ha Bay

DARK & BRIGHT CAVE

CHECK OUT & RETURN TO HANOI: After brunch, return to the harbor and transfer back to Hanoi, ending the 4-day unforgettable journey

Includes

  • Hotel pickup & drop-off (Hanoi Old Quarter)
  • 2 night on 3-star, 4-star or 5-star cruise
  • 1 night in Ninh Binh (hotel/homestay, private room)
  • English-speaking guide
  • Entrance fee for Ninh Binh
  • Kayaking, bamboo boat, cycling
  • Cooking class, Tai Chi, sunset activities
  • Meals as per itinerary

Excludes

  • Tips and gratuities
  • Dinner in Ninh Binh

Important information

Meeting point

Hotel pickup in Ha Long Bay. SST Travel confirms your pickup time and the exact spot once the booking is in.

Know before you go

  • Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more
Duration 4 days
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English
Wheelchair accessible

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Main Tour Price
Starting from $1,028.66
$1,028.66
Questions before you book? Ask us anything about this tour, any time. A real person replies, no bots. Larger group or custom booking? Ask us too.Ask a question on WhatsApp
We reply within 5 minutes
Free cancellation
Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more

Traveler Reviews

5/5
based on 4 reviews
Guide
5/5
Value for money
5/5
Verified reviews from travelers on this operator’s experience
5
M
Moritz
July 12, 2026

The tour had been very well organised. Elise from the travel agency had been very pro-active, supportive and helpful. Bus transportations had been excellent. Tour guides were very eager, though sometimes it felt like travelling as a school class. In Ninh Binh we would have preferred a traditional homestay as adverted instead of a rather remote located basic hotel. Throughout our trip personell was very kind and welcoming. Trang An and Halong Bay are must-see‘s. Unfortunately both sites were totally overcrowded. And mass tourism leaves traces. Halong Bay is rather dirty with lots of plastic was

5
B
Benji
April 16, 2026

We had an amazing time! The cruise was so cool, felt very luxurious and the staff were all super attentive. Maddie, who booked the whole experience for us and handled all the travel transfers was amazing, always reachable and quick to respond and super helpful. The cruise activities and food was all really good and the Ninh Binh scenery was amazing. Would definitely go again and highly recommend.

5
T
Traveller
May 3, 2026

I had an amazing time at Ha Long Bay! The crew was very nice and the accommodation was great. The tour operator, Aaron, was very helpful. He gave me lots of information before the trip and made sure everything went smoothly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Hotel pickup in Ha Long Bay. SST Travel confirms your pickup time and the exact spot once the booking is in. The collection window is usually a little wider than a fixed minute, because the driver is working a route around several hotels.
The price does not cover tips and gratuities and dinner in ninh binh. Everything it does cover is listed in full on this page, so if something is not on that list, budget for it separately.
Overnight cruises sleep on board; day cruises do not. Cabins on the boats we book are private with an ensuite bathroom, and the grade of boat is stated in the option you choose rather than left vague. Bay conditions occasionally force an itinerary change, which the operator decides on the morning and is not something we can promise around.
We confirm your booking with the operator before we treat it as final, and we need at least one day's notice. Once it is confirmed you get the meeting point, the time and a contact number for the day. If the operator cannot take your date we tell you and refund you rather than leave you waiting.
Hotel pickup & drop-off (Hanoi Old Quarter), 2 night on 3-star, 4-star or 5-star cruise, 1 night in Ninh Binh (hotel/homestay, private room), English-speaking guide, Entrance fee for Ninh Binh, Kayaking, bamboo boat, cycling, Cooking class, Tai Chi, sunset activities, Meals as per itinerary
The duration of the 4 Days Ha Long, Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba and Ninh Binh Tour is typically 4 days. We recommend arriving 15 minutes before the scheduled start time for a smooth check-in. Your guide will meet you at the designated meeting point and ensure the experience runs on schedule while remaining flexible to your pace.
For most experiences, we highly recommend an early morning start. This allows you to avoid the midday heat, bypass the largest crowds, and capture the best lighting for photography. Your guide can advise on the optimal timing based on the season and specific attractions included.
Yes, once your booking is completed via our secure payment gateway, you will receive an instant confirmation email with your tour details, meeting point address, guide's name, and direct contact information. You can also view and manage your booking through your AsiaByLocals account dashboard.
Yes! All our private tours are fully customizable. Whether you want to add extra stops, skip certain locations, change the pace, or adjust the start time — simply let your guide know in advance or on the day. We aim to create a personalized experience tailored to your interests and energy level.
We offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours may be subject to a partial charge depending on the tour type. Weather-related cancellations for outdoor and boat tours are handled on a case-by-case basis, with full refunds or free rebooking offered when safety is a concern.
Most of our experiences are family-friendly and suitable for children of all ages. However, some tours involving extensive walking, water activities, or early morning starts may be better suited for children aged 5 and above. Please check the specific tour description for age recommendations, or contact us for personalized family itinerary advice.
After booking, you will receive detailed meeting point instructions via email. Most tours include complimentary hotel pickup within the central area. For tours without pickup, your confirmation email will include the exact address, Google Maps pin, and your guide's phone number for easy coordination. Guides typically arrive 10 minutes early and will message you on WhatsApp.
We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), PayPal, Apple Pay, and Razorpay for Indian cards. All payments are processed through a PCI-compliant secure gateway with 256-bit encryption. You can also pay in multiple currencies — the price is automatically converted to your local currency at checkout.
Yes, all AsiaByLocals guides are licensed professionals who have been rigorously vetted through background checks, skill assessments, and customer reviews. Many hold government-issued tourism licenses, university degrees in history or cultural studies, and have years of experience leading tours for international travelers. Every guide maintains a minimum 4.5-star rating to remain active on our platform.
Starting from$1,030Free cancellation