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Cat Ba Island: Trek, Cycle & Kayak to Viet Hai Village

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Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/18

Duration7h–8h

GroupUp to 15

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Forest trails, village rhythms & Lan Ha Bay by kayak on Cat Ba

You’ll trek through Cat Ba’s wild forests spotting rare wildlife, rest by Frog Pond under unique trees, share a local lunch in peaceful Viet Hai Village (with a fish foot massage!), then cycle and kayak across Lan Ha Bay’s calm waters before returning by boat—leaving you with muddy shoes and a head full of new stories.

7h–8h

Step-by-step itinerary

Trek, village visit, cycling, and kayaking

Arrive at National Park entrance
Pay entrance fee and start trek
Explore tropical forest and wildlife
Climb three mountains: Ang Vắt, Mây Bầu, Ang Phay
Reach Frog Pond and rest 30 minutes
Ascend Doc Dài mountain to Viet Hai village
Enjoy fish spa foot massage
Have lunch at local restaurant
Cycle to Viet Hai harbor
Board boat for Lan Ha Bay cruise
Stop at floating home for kayaking
Return boat to Cai Beo Wharf
Visit Cai Beo Fishing Village

The Experience

Someone’s handing me a bottle of water before I’ve even finished tying my laces — turns out our guide Minh has already spotted the sweat on my forehead. The forest at Cat Ba Island is louder than I thought: birds calling overhead, something rustling in the leaves (Minh says it’s probably a squirrel but I’m not so sure). We start climbing Ang Vắt, which is steeper than it looks from below. My legs are burning by the time we reach the top, but then Minh points out a yellow-headed langur far off in the branches — he grins like he’s found treasure. I can still smell the damp earth from that climb.

After about two hours (and three mountains — I lost count honestly), we stop at Frog Pond. It’s quiet here except for frogs plopping into the water and those weird Va Nuoc trees sticking straight up like antennae. Minh tells us they only grow here. My shoes are muddy and my shirt’s stuck to my back but sitting there with everyone just listening to the pond felt... grounding? Not sure how else to say it. Lunch comes later at Viet Hai Village — rice, fish, something green and spicy that made Li laugh when I tried to say it in Vietnamese (I absolutely butchered it). The foot massage with tiny fish nibbling my toes was both hilarious and ticklish; never thought I'd try that.

Cycling from Viet Hai down toward the harbor is easier than trekking but my legs are jelly anyway. The road cuts through rice fields where old women wave as we wobble past — one of them shouts something encouraging (I think) and Minh just laughs. The air smells like wet grass after rain. At Lan Ha Bay, we swap bikes for kayaks and paddle between floating houses and limestone cliffs. There’s this moment where everything goes quiet except for our paddles dipping in the water — no engines, no city noise, just wind and salt air. On the way back by boat, Minh points out Cai Beo Fishing Village and tells us stories about people moving from forest to sea life generations ago. I’m tired but kind of wish it wasn’t over yet.

What’s included

Your day includes entry to Cat Ba National Park, a guided trek across three mountains with stops like Frog Pond, cycling through Viet Hai Village with all bike use covered, a local lunch (vegetarian options available if you ask), a quirky fish spa foot massage experience, kayaking gear for Lan Ha Bay exploration, bottled water throughout—and ends with your return by boat via Cai Beo Fishing Village.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

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