The place was lovely, a beautiful garden in the middle of nowhere. I preferred this to Cat Ba city, since there are big works happening there. It’s not super easy to reach, and apparently the Homestay suggested against the public boat that passes twice a day (I didn’t really saw it actually). However, even if more costly, the speed boat was nice. I told Chilly my plan was to take the public boat to have a longer trip across the islands and he extended the speedboat trip to give me the same experience, which was really nice! The food was very good and I took the day long trip in the boat. The guide was amazing and the cocktails too. I also went for a night trip with the kayak to see the bioluminescence, and it was far more beautiful than I expected. Even if I was on a budget, I’m happy I spent some more money for that, these are great memories.

The room was really clean and spacious and you have a private terrace with a hammock and seat to use. The gardens of the accommodation were very pretty and we could definitely have spent a whole day there relaxing. The breakfast had a number of different options and was okay.

The cleaning staff get very prepared for cleaning the rooms so in the morning of check out we had a bin bag, mop and other cleaning supplies on our terrace before we had check pout which made us feel unwanted and uncomfortable in the morning before check out. The dinner option is a ‘family style’ shared buffet meal with other customers staying at the homestay so you’re forced to be sociable with random people. For the price of 150,000 Dong per person, the quality and quantity of the food didn’t match the price. If we stayed there again we’d probably eat elsewhere in the village. They only turn the hot water on from 6pm for a few hours and it doesn’t last that long so you have to be quick with your showers.

Remote guest house in a peaceful village. Spacious rooms in a very nice location. Easy to combine with all the same activities you would get from Cat Ba, but without the crowds.

While the village has some facilities, what is not obvious is that they all cater to the Cat Ba day trip crowd. So it's pretty busy during the day, but deserted in the evening. The other thing is access, as there's no road. You'll either need to take the public ferry (which the owner conveniently forgot to mention), get them to arrange a private boat transfer or hike in through the park (what we did), which is a little strenuous with all your bags (about a 4h walk).

The value for money is great because the stay is a protected heritage resort. The garden is beautiful, the rooms offer a good deal of comfort given they are quite literally in the jungle. The staff gave us very precise information about the transport, the village, the facilities and the food options there. They were also very friendly and helpful. The extra services offered such as a boat ride, kayaking are quite worth it. The restaurant right next to the stay is very good.

Pay attention to your diet and perhaps bring specific food with you to the village/stay, because there is only a restricted amount of meals you can order/find.

Viet Hai Village was in the middle of beautiful mountains and Lan Homestay was extremely clean and comfortable. Hái and Chilli were both very helpful with transportation accommodations so getting there was extremely easy. We did the sunset tour, hiked through Cat Ba National Park, and hiked to Navy peak. The views at Navy peak were phenomenal and the hike through the park was challenging and fun (if you like scrambles)

We liked it all! Thank you again Chilli, Hái and all the staff that make this homestay possible

We had the absolute best time. We stayed for 4 nights which was just enough - the staff were exceptional the whole way through and so kind. They even arranged to have a birthday cake made and collected from Cat Ba town for my boyfriends birthday as a surprise for him (complete with public embarrassment singing accompanied by guitar). We did the boat trip and the night bioluminescent kayak trip & we really enjoyed both - the evening trip was especially cool. The homestay is quiet but we appreciated that. The room was clean and comfortable, food was nice and we had dinner most nights. Had a good and varied vegetarian selection which I was grateful for. We were a bit worried about the transfer from Hanoi but it was all smooth and they made a couple of changes for us on the morning we left so we could leave our bags in the tour office and explore Cat Ba town for a few hours. We would definitely come again if ever had the opportunity, and really reccomend booking :)

Nothing

Gardens were just beautiful (!!!) and could be enjoyed in hammocks, outdoor chairs and communal areas. The transit to and from the homestay from Cat Ba is as much a part of the experience as the staying there. The public ferry is a great way of experiencing the bay, it's beauty and the local culture. If on a tight budget, it really would be enough to just do this ferry back and forth and skip a "cruise" in my opinion. The speedboat option is also a very fun way to experience the bay in a different way if you've done enough of lapping up the beauty in the slow way. The electric buggy back and forth from the pier is amazingly fun and beautiful. We hired the local (no geared) bikes from the homestay and repeated the route on bikes. The best bike ride we've done in terms of beauty and interest! The village is tiny bit fun to stroll around and feels very safe. Ancient house and Bat Cave were great destinations for a walk in the jungle.. We happened to come across a guided group at the Bat Cave and were told that the village people hid in the cave during the war. There is some writing on the wall of the name of a General who was there at the time. Navy Peak was very steep. It was slippery when we did it. An adventure in those conditions. Impressive views if you make it. We did a short night speedboat and kayak at night to see the bioluminescent plankton. Fun to experience it all at night but not an essential part of the experience. Communal meal has a nice atmosphere and nice to meet some other travellers and get their stories and recommendations. Ryan was a great, relaxed, friendly, helpful host. Always there for us but not pushy in any way.

Would 100 percent recommend this place if you are into nature and adventure!!!!!!! It was perfect for us but might not be the place for you if long hot showers and fancy food/coffee are important to you. Also, one of our rooms did have a bit of a damp smell. As noted by others, while accommodation is good value for money, items on top of your accommodation (tours, food, drink, transport) are quite costly.

The location and property is gorgeous. There are an abundance of flowers and plants that are growing everywhere and are meticulously tended. Our bungalow was quiet and clean, the AC worked well and the bed was large and comfortable. Our host, Hai, was an enthusiastic and friendly person who went above and beyond to make our stay extra special. He arranged tours, transportation, meals and good spirit! Hai gives individualized service and recommendations. He is attentive and kind.

It was great!!

We really enjoyed our time at Lan Homestay, it is a beautiful place to stay on Cat Ba. Getting there is fun: a speedboat through Lan Ha Bay then an electric buggy ride through the forest. The accommodation itself is simple but beautiful, surrounded by nature. Our rooms were spacious and clean, with powerful air con that was much appreciated. The staff were very friendly and good fun, and helped us organise various activities including kayaking, hiking etc.

5he property is in the quiet village of Veit Hai which is a sleepy little place. We were staying there when the super typhoon Yagi hit and the staff went out of their way to make us feel safe. With loss of power and internet they kept us updated as much as possible and Hai in particular was very helpful. The home stay provided meals at this time and we felt very safe and well looked after. Thank you to all the staff.