Things to do in Cat Ba
Sort
Ha Long Bay Cruise: Surprise Cave, Titop Island & KayakingYou’ll drift through Ha Long Bay’s limestone peaks by cruise ship, kayak beneath cliffs near Luon Cave, swim or hike at Titop Island, and explore Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave with a local guide. Enjoy sunset cocktails, cooking class fun, and sleep right on the bay before returning to Hanoi — it’s peaceful in ways you can’t quite predict.
Overnight Cruise Kayak Lan Ha Bay Cat Ba: 2 Days 1 NightYou start from Cat Ba island instead of the crowded Ha Long docks, kayak through hidden caves and lagoons for nearly four hours across two days, swim at deserted beaches, and sleep on a small junk anchored in a pocket lagoon. Meals, snorkel gear, headlamp, and entrance fees are included. The route shifts based on tide and weather, so flexibility is built in.Is it for me?A good fit if you want to kayak and swim in Ha Long Bay without the crowds of the main tour route, and if you're comfortable sleeping on a boat. The two-day format means more time in the water and less time sitting — it's what lets you explore the hidden lagoons and caves properly instead of just passing them on a larger boat.
Ha Long Bay: Cruise Day Trip with Kayak, Cave & LunchYou’ll float through Ha Long Bay’s limestone maze by boat, explore the vast Surprise Cave with a local guide, kayak calm lagoons where silence feels rare, then climb Titop Island for those wild panoramic views. Seafood lunch on deck brings everyone together before heading back to Hanoi—expect laughter, salty air, and memories that linger longer than you’d guess.
Cat Ba to Lan Ha & Ha Long Bay: Day Cruise, Kayak, SwimYou’ll slip away from Cat Ba for a full-day cruise through Lan Ha Bay and Ha Long Bay—kayak hidden caves, meet local fishermen at Cai Beo village, swim at empty beaches like Ba Trai Dao, and share lunch on deck with new friends. With a local guide handling all logistics (including pickup), you get time to just look up and breathe it all in.
Ha Long Bay Cruise from Hanoi: Sung Sot Cave & KayakingYou board a cruise in Ha Long Bay after a three-hour pickup from Hanoi, kayak through caves and around limestone islets, swim at Titop Island or Cat Ba, attend a cooking class, and sleep in a private cabin overnight. The next morning brings tai chi, breakfast, a visit to Sung Sot Cave or Dark & Bright Cave, and a return bus to Hanoi by mid-afternoon—all transfers, meals, and entrance fees included.Is it for me?Right for travelers leaving Hanoi without a car who want caves, kayaking, and an overnight on the water without arranging transport or meals separately. Expect an early 8am pickup and a return by mid-afternoon the next day—that schedule is what fits both the cruise departure and the Hanoi drop-off into a single overnight trip.
2-day Ha Long Bay cruise from Hanoi: Sung Sot Cave & Titop IslandA 2-day, 1-night overnight cruise from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay with cabin accommodation, all meals, activities and cave entry included. The itinerary covers Sung Sot Cave, Titop Island and Luon Cave, plus kayaking, bamboo boat rides, a Vietnamese cooking class and Tai Chi at sunrise. Choose between 4-star or 5-star cruise tiers and decide whether to add round-trip transfer from Hanoi or meet the boat at Tuan Chau port.Is it for me?Book the all-inclusive option with transfer if you're arriving in Hanoi without a car and want the whole trip arranged — pickup, port check-in, meals and activities are handled, so you only show up at your hotel in the morning. Choose the no-transfer option if you're already in the city or prefer to drive yourself to Tuan Chau port and skip the early pickup window.
Lan Ha Bay & Cat Ba: 2-Day Cruise with Kayaking, Less CrowdedYou kayak between limestone islets, swim at a quiet beach, sleep on a boat, and bike through a mountain village where fishing families still live as they have for generations. Transport from Hanoi, cabin, all meals, and a guide who knows which channels stay empty are included. Two days, one night, smaller groups than the main bay.Is it for me?A good fit if you want the limestone scenery of Halong Bay but without the crowded anchorages—the smaller group size and quieter bay are what make the kayaking and village visit feel less staged. Plan for an overnight boat stay and a full day of activity; that's the pace that lets you move between three different spots without rushing.
Ha Giang Loop 3 Days 2 Nights: Motorbike Tour from HanoiA three-day motorbike tour from Hanoi that loops through Ha Giang province, covering 310 kilometers of mountain roads including the famous Ma Pi Leng Pass. You ride with a local English-speaking guide, stay in homestays in ethnic minority villages, visit traditional weaving families, and see landmarks like Lung Cu Flag Tower and Tham Ma Road. Round-trip bus from Hanoi, dorm accommodation and all guide services are included.Is it for me?The pace is steady riding with long days in the saddle — 100 to 130 kilometers daily on mountain roads — so this suits travelers who are comfortable spending hours on a motorbike and want to cover serious ground rather than linger in one place. If you prefer shorter rides or more time on foot, look for a slower-paced alternative.
Ninh Binh Day Trip from Hanoi: Tam Coc Boat & Mua Cave ClimbYou get picked up at your Hanoi hotel and driven to Ninh Binh with a private English-speaking guide. The day includes entry to Hoa Lu ancient capital, a sampan boat ride through three grottos at Tam Coc, a countryside bike ride, and a climb up Mua Cave's 500 steps with a panoramic view. Vietnamese lunch is included, and you're dropped back at your hotel in the evening. Nothing extra to arrange, nothing to negotiate on the day.Is it for me?This tour suits travelers who want to see Ninh Binh's main sights without the pace and company of a group — the private guide and car mean you move at your own speed and eat where locals eat, which is what makes a two-hour drive feel like a real escape from Hanoi.
Cat Ba to Lan Ha & Ha Long Bay: Full-Day Cruise with KayakingYou start with hotel pickup from Hanoi at 6am, reach Cat Ba by 8:30am, then spend the day on a small-group boat moving between two UNESCO bays. Kayak through three caves, snorkel in calm lagoons, visit a working fishing village and fish farm, and eat fresh seafood lunch on deck. Life jackets, snorkel gear, and all entrance fees are included. The boat returns to Cat Ba in the late afternoon.Is it for me?A good fit if you want to see both Lan Ha and Ha Long in one day without arranging boats, gear, or meals yourself — the fixed schedule and inclusions handle all of it. Plan for a full day out from 6am to evening, which is what makes covering two bays and three caves possible.
Lan Ha Bay: Full Day Boat Tour with Kayak & Cooking ClassYou’ll travel from Hanoi or Cat Ba to Lan Ha Bay by bus and speedboat, kayak through silent caves, swim off white beaches, visit a floating village, then roll your own spring rolls as the sun sets over limestone peaks. It’s a day you’ll remember for its small moments—like laughter with locals or salt drying on your skin.
Lan Ha & Ha Long Bay: Kayak, Fishing Villages & LunchYou’ll paddle through Lan Ha & Ha Long Bay’s quietest corners with a local guide, visit Cai Beo fishing village, kayak hidden caves, swim at remote Ba Trai Dao Beach, and share lunch on deck as the bay glows around you. Expect laughter, salt spray, and moments you’ll replay long after you’re home.
Cat Ba Day Cruise: Lan Ha Bay, Kayaking & Monkey IslandYou spend a full day on the water exploring Lan Ha Bay and Ha Long Bay, kayaking through caves, swimming at a secluded beach, and hiking to the top of Monkey Island. Lunch and all gear — kayak, snorkel, entrance fees — are included, and your guide speaks English throughout. The boat picks you up from Cat Ba and returns you by late afternoon.Is it for me?Pick this tour if you want the main Lan Ha and Ha Long Bay highlights — kayaking, swimming, caves, and wildlife — without arranging transport, gear, or a guide yourself. The fixed itinerary and included lunch mean you show up at the harbor and spend the day on the water instead of planning logistics.
Cat Ba: Lan Ha Bay Luxury Cruise with Kayaking & Water SlideYou board a luxury cruise at 8am from your Cat Ba hotel and spend nine hours exploring Lan Ha Bay's limestone islets, kayaking hidden lagoons, and swimming in clear water. Lunch and afternoon tea are included, as are the jacuzzi and water slide if you want them. The boat returns you to your hotel by 5:30pm, with all transport, entry fees and equipment handled.Is it for me?Book this if you want a full day on the water without arranging transport, tickets, meals or equipment yourself — the fixed schedule and all-inclusive pricing mean you show up at your hotel at 8am and don't think about logistics again until evening.
Halong Bay, Lan Ha & Bai Tu Long: 3-Day Cruise with Caves & Cat BaYou’ll float between limestone peaks in Halong Bay, kayak into hidden caves in Lan Ha Bay, bike through Cat Ba Island’s jungle paths, and meet locals in small villages. With all meals included and a guide who feels more like a friend than a tour leader, this 3-day cruise lets you slow down and soak in northern Vietnam’s rhythms.
Cat Ba Island: Trek, Cycle & Kayak to Viet Hai VillageYou’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.
Ha Long Bay Cruise: Private Balcony, Cave & Island TourYou’ll float past limestone islands from your own balcony cabin, kayak into Luon Cave’s calm waters, share stories over sunset BBQ on deck, and wander through Sung Sot Cave’s echoing chambers—all with pickup from Hanoi and a local guide who brings Ha Long Bay’s legends to life. It’s more about slowing down than ticking boxes.
Cat Ba, Lan Ha Bay & Monkey Island: Full-Day Boat TourYou’ll float through Lan Ha Bay’s maze of limestone islands by boat with a local guide, kayak into quiet corners near Tai Keo Cave, bike into Viet Hai Village for a quirky fish foot massage, then end your day swimming off Monkey Island or sipping tea as sunset colors shift around you. It’s equal parts adventure and slow moments you’ll want to hold onto.
Cat Ba & Lan Ha Bay: 3-Day Kayak, Trek & Boat Tour Quiet AreasYou’ll paddle under rock arches in Lan Ha Bay, cycle through rice paddies to Viet Hai village, sleep on a boat in silent lagoons, and share home-cooked meals with locals. The days are full of small surprises—like squid fishing at night or misty views from Navy Peak—and you’ll leave feeling like you’ve actually lived here for a bit.
Lan Ha Bay Cruise: Kayaking, Floating Villages & Cooking ClassYou’ll glide through Lan Ha Bay by kayak past floating villages, try your hand at making spring rolls during an onboard cooking class, swim off remote islands, and wake up to sunrise Tai Chi on deck. With hotel pickup from Hanoi included and plenty of time to just drift or chat with locals, this cruise leaves you with more than just photos.
