Ha Long Bay and the Cat Ba Archipelago form one UNESCO World Heritage property in northeastern Viet Nam: 65,650 hectares, 1,133 islands and islets, marine inlets and limestone karst towers. The property boundaries were extended to include Cat Ba in 2023.
Choose a specific way to explore it: a cruise on Ha Long Bay, a Lan Ha Bay trip beside Cat Ba, or an itinerary connecting the bays. In April 2026, Quang Ninh authorities reported the launch of Ha Long–Lan Ha inter-bay cruises. Availability, departure port and itinerary depend on the operator, so confirm them before paying. There is no single schedule or ticket price for the entire area; cost and duration depend on the route, season and included stops.
Choose a licensed operator, follow safety rules and leave no litter on the islands or in the bays. Before setting out, check the weather, departure point, ticket inclusions and possible cancellations.
The property lies between Quang Ninh and Hai Phong; the departure point varies by itinerary. Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY 4.0; resized and converted to WebP. Photo source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cat_Ba_Island,_Vietnam,_20240131_1431_4699.jpg . License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ . World Heritage status and boundaries: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/672 . Inter-bay route information (April 2026): https://www.quangninh.gov.vn/Sites/en-us/Trang/ChiTietTinTuc.aspx?nid=7215 .
Choose a specific way to explore it: a cruise on Ha Long Bay, a Lan Ha Bay trip beside Cat Ba, or an itinerary connecting the bays. In April 2026, Quang Ninh authorities reported the launch of Ha Long–Lan Ha inter-bay cruises. Availability, departure port and itinerary depend on the operator, so confirm them before paying. There is no single schedule or ticket price for the entire area; cost and duration depend on the route, season and included stops.
Choose a licensed operator, follow safety rules and leave no litter on the islands or in the bays. Before setting out, check the weather, departure point, ticket inclusions and possible cancellations.
The property lies between Quang Ninh and Hai Phong; the departure point varies by itinerary. Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY 4.0; resized and converted to WebP. Photo source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cat_Ba_Island,_Vietnam,_20240131_1431_4699.jpg . License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ . World Heritage status and boundaries: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/672 . Inter-bay route information (April 2026): https://www.quangninh.gov.vn/Sites/en-us/Trang/ChiTietTinTuc.aspx?nid=7215 .
