Lan Homestay

We really enjoyed our full-day boat trip, with fun activities, some quiet time on the water, tasty food, and a great guide. I hope I’ve spelled his name right: Num Bek. I’d definitely recommend it! Communication was great all the way from booking the bungalows to leaving. They made things easy, including pickup and trips, and could answer all the information we needed. The location takes one extra speedboat ride to reach another harbor, but it’s worth it for the quieter, more secluded setting. There are small shops nearby. The food selection is small but good, and tasty, with good coffee. The bungalow is a good size and very simple.

The bathroom was disgusting. The sink was clogged, and later the toilet clogged too. Hygiene and guest comfort clearly didn’t seem like priorities. My husband and I had a terrible stay here. During the night, we both developed severe vomiting and nausea that lasted over 12 hours. We believe it was food poisoning from the dinner at the property: we hadn’t eaten lunch, and the only water we drank was bottled, so we can’t see a plausible alternative. We had to cancel a tour booked for the next day because we were unwell, and lost the money. It ruined an important part of our vacation. The dinner had already been very poor quality. We were also called twice about meal times, which made for a rigid, unwelcoming atmosphere when we were on vacation. The owner didn’t apologize. Instead, he blamed supposed allergies or intolerances, which neither of us has, and rejected the possibility that the food caused the problem. The owner seemed interested only in his own interests, with no concern for guests’ well-being or satisfaction. This was the most inhospitable and unpleasant place we’ve ever stayed, and it doesn’t deserve its Booking or Google rating. Highly NOT recommended.

Chilly and the team made our honeymoon special, taking care of everything and arranging transport from Hanoi and back. A storm cancelled the ferry, but they still looked after us, and we enjoyed a full day of experiences on a boat tour around the bay. We’d researched where to stay to see Ha Long Bay and found quieter, less touristy Lan Ha Bay and this homestay. It was the highlight of our honeymoon. The homestay is a beautiful, rustic take on traditional Vietnamese style, set in Viet Hai village amid the Cat Ba national park jungle. The garden, rooms, ponds, and cute cats and kittens all made it a stunning place. We had a king room with a mountain view. It was spacious, with an enormous bed, aircon, a roomy wet room, and a balcony that was lovely to relax on. It was very clean and tidy, with a big cozy bed, though the amenities aren’t 5-star. That’s not what we expected on a jungle island. If you want a retreat from city bustle and access to incredible trekking trails through a national park, I can’t recommend Lan Homestay enough. Chilly and the team are happy to organize everything.

The village was very quiet, rural, and laid back, which we really liked. There was a lovely garden around the well-kept homestay, with lots of cats and frogs about. We stayed in the bungalow complex during a group cruise tour, where you sleep on land instead of overnight on a boat. The rooms were big and clean, and the shower was warm. Breakfast and lunch were very good. Transport to the ferry pier was arranged by electric open taxi.