Cat Ba National Park trekking tour: Hike, bike and kayak

Hike through jungle to a freshwater lake, then bike down to a village and paddle out to sea

A full-day trek through Cat Ba National Park starting from Cat Ba Town, combining hiking, biking and kayaking across the island's protected landscape. You trek 2.5 hours through primary forest to Frog Pond, the largest freshwater lake on Cat Ba, then bike 4 km downhill to Viet Hai village for lunch with locals. After exploring the ancient village, you kayak Lan Ha Bay and return by boat, with hotel pickup, entrance tickets, guide and lunch included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Cat Ba Island3h · entry included
2. Lan Ha Bay2h · entry included

Trekking and exploring Cat Ba Island

• Pick up from hotel in Cat Ba town
• Hike through Cat Ba National Park
• Take breaks at Ang Vat, May Bau, Ang Phay peaks
• Arrive at Frog Pond and enjoy nature
• Continue hiking to Viet Hai village
• Lunch at local house in Viet Hai village
• Cycle around Viet Hai village and try fish massage
• Cycle from Viet Hai village to Viet Hai harbor
• Boat trip to floating house on Lan Ha Bay
• Kayak and explore Lan Ha Bay
• Visit Cai Beo Floating Village
• Return to Ben Beo harbor and transfer to hotel

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your hotel in Cat Ba Town and a drive to the national park entrance. Your guide leads you into the forest on foot, passing three named peaks (Ang Vat, May Bau and Ang Phay), where you pause for photos and to take in the views across the landscape. The trek to Frog Pond takes around 2.5 hours through primary forest where you watch for birds and encounter the park's wild animals in their habitat. Frog Pond itself is the largest freshwater lake on the island, ringed by hundreds of Va Nuoc trees that grow only here in Cat Ba's national park, and surrounded by 400 small islands and 130 golden sand beaches visible from the water's edge.

After a 30-minute rest, the route to Viet Hai village flattens out: no more uphill, mostly downhill and level ground for the remaining 4 km. You arrive at the ancient village, nearly 100 houses built inside the national park, and eat lunch cooked at a local house. The afternoon is yours to explore: cycle through the village, try a fish massage in the cool stream, or simply walk the quiet paths. Then you bike 5 km to Viet Hai harbor on what the operator calls the most beautiful cycling road, arriving at the water's edge.

A boat takes you across Lan Ha Bay, one of the world's most beautiful bays. You stop at a floating house to watch local life on the water, then get into a kayak to paddle the bay itself. On the return to Cat Ba Town, the boat passes Cai Beo, Vietnam's oldest floating village, with hundreds of houses built on the water. You arrive back at Ben Beo harbor around 5 p.m. and return to your hotel by car.

What’s included

• Professional English-speaking guide.
• hotel pickup from Cat Ba Town.
• national park entrance tickets.
• bicycle for the village section.
• one bottle of water per person.
• lunch cooked at a local house in Viet Hai village.
• kayak access to Lan Ha Bay.
• boat ride back to Cat Ba Town.
• visit to Cai Beo floating village on the return.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to6h before

AgesAdult (5 and older) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Vietnamese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Authentic Hanoi Homestay & Travel

Is this one for you?This tour combines steady hiking, downhill biking and kayaking across a full day, so it suits travelers comfortable with several hours on foot and ready for an early 8 a.m. start. The trek to Frog Pond is the most demanding stretch. The bike ride to the village and the water sections are easier paced.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Vietnamese.

What is Frog Pond and why does it matter on this trek?

Frog Pond is the largest freshwater lake on Cat Ba Island, surrounded by 400 small islands and 130 golden sand beaches. It sits on the forest route between the national park center and Viet Hai village, and is the only place in Cat Ba where you'll see Va Nuoc trees, which grow naturally only here.

How much of this day is spent actually walking versus biking or on the water?

The trek to Frog Pond takes around 2.5 hours on foot through the forest. After a 30-minute break, you bike 4 km downhill to Viet Hai village, then bike another 5 km to the harbor. The rest of the day is spent by boat and kayak exploring Lan Ha Bay and returning to Cat Ba Town.

Do I need to arrange my own lunch or is it provided?

Lunch is included and served at a local house in Viet Hai village, cooked with home-made food. The operator can accommodate dietary needs such as vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free meals if you note them at booking.

What is included in the price for this full-day tour?

The tour includes hotel pickup from Cat Ba Town, a professional English-speaking guide, entrance tickets to the national park, a bicycle or golf car, one bottle of water per person, lunch in Viet Hai village, and the boat ride back to Cat Ba Town with kayaking in Lan Ha Bay.

Can I see wildlife or unusual plants on this trek?

Yes. The trek passes through primary forest where you can see wild animals in their natural habitat and watch for birds. Along the route you encounter unique flora and fauna, hidden caves, cascading waterfalls and pristine forest. Frog Pond is surrounded by Va Nuoc trees found nowhere else in the national park.