Things to do in Cat Ba
Sort
Cat Ba: Sunset Kayak Tour & Bioluminescent Plankton with DinnerYou’ll watch sunset from Cat Ba’s radio tower, share traditional Vietnamese dishes on a floating house with locals, then kayak at night through glowing bioluminescent plankton—each paddle lighting up blue swirls beneath you. Includes hotel pickup, all fees, dinner, and an English-speaking guide who knows these waters by heart.
Lan Ha Bay: Sunset Kayak & Bioluminescent Plankton BBQ TourYou’ll paddle through Lan Ha Bay as dusk falls, watch local life drift by from your boat, eat fresh BBQ on Van Boi beach, then kayak into darkness where bioluminescent plankton glow beneath your hands. Includes hotel pickup and an easy ride back after—a night you’ll probably replay in your head long after it ends.
Rock Climbing at Moody Beach: 22 Meters Above Lan Ha BayA half-day rock climbing activity at Moody Beach in Lan Ha Bay, Vietnam, where you climb up to 22 meters above the ocean with trained Western and Vietnamese guides and all gear provided. No previous climbing experience is required. The full-day option adds morning kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding through floating villages and a limestone lagoon, with lunch included before the afternoon climb.Is it for me?Book this if your group wants to climb instead of watch—the guides set up the routes and manage the ropes, so you focus on the vertical challenge and the view from 22 meters up, not on logistics or anchors. Full-day works best for groups that want morning water time before the afternoon climb; half-day suits climbers who came for the rock alone.
2 Days Lan Ha Bay Cruise: Kayaking, Village & Overnight BoatA two-day, one-night cruise through Lan Ha Bay departing from Cat Ba on a traditional wooden boat, with kayaking, a cycling or electric car tour of Viet Hai fishing village, and overnight cabin accommodation. The itinerary skips cave visits to give you more time paddling and exploring local life on the water. Cabin options range from twin with window to luxury double with balcony; bus pickup is available on some options.Is it for me?Book this cruise if you want to spend two full days on the water and in local villages rather than moving through multiple destinations in a single day. The overnight stay means you wake up in the bay and see it at sunrise, and the village visit happens on foot or by bike, not from the boat—that's how you actually meet the place and the people in it.
Cat Ba Cruise: Lan Ha Bay Kayaking & Viet Hai BikingA 2-day cruise departing Cat Ba Island explores Lan Ha Bay's hidden coves and floating fishing villages by kayak and swim, with an overnight stay on the boat and a sunset cooking class. Day two takes you inland by bike through Viet Hai village's rural roads and rice fields. An English-speaking guide leads both days; you pick up from Hanoi or Beo Harbour at the start.Is it for me?Book this cruise if you're arriving in northern Vietnam with a free couple of days and want to see limestone karsts and rural village life without the crowds of Ha Long Bay. The small-group format and mix of water and land activities—kayaking one day, biking the next—keeps the pace varied and the experience personal. If you prefer a single-day trip or a longer cruise, look at the 1-day or 3-day versions instead.
Lan Ha Bay & Ha Long: Full Day Boat Trip with Kayak & LunchYou’ll float through Lan Ha Bay past Cai Beo village, kayak under rock arches into quiet lagoons, swim at wild beaches and share a fresh Vietnamese lunch on deck. Expect laughter with your local guide and moments of real calm between adventures—this day trip leaves you lighter than you arrived.
Kayaking Lan Ha Bay: Hidden lagoons and limestone cliffsKayak through Lan Ha Bay near Cat Ba for a full day exploring hidden lagoons, limestone caves and quiet beaches in a double kayak with a guide. The boat picks you up from your hotel, takes you through the floating fishing village for 2–2.5 hours, serves lunch on board with traditional Vietnamese dishes, then moves to Ba Trai Dao in the north for a second paddling session in a self-contained area. Children from age 5 are welcome; the guide speaks English.Is it for me?Book this if you're staying in Cat Ba or nearby without a car—the pickup means you don't arrange transport to the bay, and the guide handles navigation so you can focus on paddling into the lagoons instead of finding them. The double kayak with a guide also works well if you want to paddle but aren't confident navigating limestone islands on your own.
Kayaking in Lan Ha Bay from Cat Ba: 3 caves and swimmingA full-day boat trip from Cat Ba takes you to Lan Ha Bay and the southern edge of Ha Long Bay, where you kayak through three tunnel caves, swim at multiple beaches, and dive to see coral reefs. The boat picks you up from your hotel at 7:30 am, returns you by late afternoon, and includes lunch cooked on board, all kayak gear, masks and dry bags, and entrance fees; an English or Vietnamese-speaking guide leads the group.Is it for me?Choose this tour if you want to visit multiple secluded beaches and paddle through caves in a single day—the itinerary combines both activities in one trip, whereas most options focus on one or the other.
Cat Ba to Hanoi: Fast Bus & Speed Boat with Hotel Drop-OffYou’ll travel from Cat Ba Island to Hanoi by speed boat and bus, guided by an English-speaking local who shares stories along the way. Enjoy hotel pickup in Cat Ba and drop-off right at your place in Hanoi Old Quarter. Expect quick transfers, working WiFi onboard, and small moments—like coffee breaks or local tips—that make the journey feel personal.
Lan Ha Bay Cruise & Viet Hai Village Biking from HanoiOn this Lan Ha Bay cruise with kayaking and biking from Hanoi, you’ll paddle emerald waters, swim at hidden beaches, try your hand at Vietnamese cooking, and cycle through peaceful Viet Hai village with a local guide. Expect real moments—like laughter echoing off cliffs or sunrise over Halong Bay—that’ll stay with you long after you’re home.
Cat Ba day cruise and night kayak: Bioluminescent paddleA 13-hour day and night tour of Cat Ba combines cruising through Lan Ha Bay's karst islands with kayaking into hidden lagoons, tunnels and archways, plus a night paddle where every stroke lights up the water with bioluminescence. The boat visits Cai Beo fishing village and less-touristed stops like Ba Trai Dao Beach and Vung Vieng; lunch and dinner with a fisherman are included, and groups stay small—maximum 30 on the day boat and 8 for the night kayak. A live English-speaking guide leads all activities.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want a small group—the night kayak caps at 8 people—and you're drawn to the bioluminescence more than the crowds. The 13-hour day is full, so it suits travelers with a single day to spend and the fitness to paddle, swim and sit on a boat without breaks. Skip it if you need a shorter outing or prefer to stay on land.
Lan Ha Bay Sunset Cruise with Kayaking & Monkey Island VisitIf you want an easy-going sunset cruise with real local flavor—kayaking calm waters, meeting playful monkeys on Monkey Island, and sharing snacks with fellow travelers—this tour’s got you covered. It’s all arranged for you from Cat Ba town so you can just show up and enjoy Lan Ha Bay at its best.
Cat Ba Island Tour from Hanoi: Small Group, Local GuideA two-day guided tour of Cat Ba Island and Lan Ha Bay departing from Hanoi, with a maximum of 12 travelers and an English-speaking local guide. The itinerary skips the crowded stops and instead moves through Cat Ba National Park to Butterfly Valley, a traditional village trek, and a boat day on Lan Ha Bay. Includes all park entry, meals, shuttle transport from Hanoi, and an overnight stay at a lodge on the island.Is it for me?Small groups under 12 people suit this tour best—the size is what makes it possible to move through villages and stop for tea with local families instead of following a fixed schedule past the main attractions. If you want to avoid the crowded tour-boat experience and spend time with a guide who actually knows the island, this itinerary is built for that.
Ninh Binh Day Trip: Bai Dinh Pagoda, Trang An & Mua CaveYou get picked up from your Hanoi hotel early morning and driven to Ninh Binh, where you visit Bai Dinh Pagoda (Southeast Asia's largest Buddhist complex), take a bamboo boat through UNESCO-listed Trang An caves, and climb Mua Cave's 500 steps for valley views. Lunch, all entry fees, bottled water and an English-speaking guide are included; the full day runs about 12 hours door-to-door.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Ninh Binh's three main sites in a single day without arranging your own transport, hiring a private driver or navigating entry fees separately — the shared transfer and fixed itinerary mean you leave Hanoi in the morning and return by evening with everything handled.
Lan Ha Bay 2-day cruise from Hanoi: Kayaking, cookingA 2-day cruise from Hanoi to Lan Ha Bay with overnight stay aboard a boutique boat, featuring kayaking around limestone karst, swimming in pristine waters, a hands-on Vietnamese spring roll cooking class, and meals made from fresh seafood. Pickup from Hanoi old quarter hotels is included in most options; you choose between family or double rooms and whether to depart from Hanoi or meet the boat at Cat Ba harbour.Is it for me?Book the 7:00 AM departure from Hanoi if you want the shuttle included and a full morning in the bay; choose the 11:30 AM harbour option if you're arranging your own transport to Cat Ba or prefer a later start. Family and double rooms are both available, so pick the one that fits your group size.
Cat Ba Island & Lan Ha Bay 2 Days: Kayaking Tour, High JumpingA two-day overnight tour based on Cat Ba Island with a full day exploring Lan Ha Bay by boat—kayaking through limestone caves, swimming in the bay, and high jumping from the deck when the tide allows. You arrive from Hanoi, check into a hotel in Cat Ba town, spend your first afternoon free at Cat Co beaches, then join the boat the next morning for the bay activities, lunch, and sunset celebration before returning to your hotel that evening. English-speaking guide and hotel pickup are included.Is it for me?Book this if you have 2 days and want to combine a night on Cat Ba island with full-day kayaking, SUP, swimming, and cliff jumping in Lan Ha Bay—the overnight stay lets you start water activities fresh the next morning rather than rushing from an afternoon arrival.
Hanoi to Lan Ha Bay: Luxury Cruise, Kayaking & Cat Ba BikingYou leave Hanoi before sunrise, spend the day on a luxury cruise through Lan Ha Bay with kayaking and swimming included, bike through a traditional village, and eat lunch on board. The fixed schedule means no arranging boats, tickets, or timing yourself — you just show up at the pickup point and the whole day is already planned around the tides and the light.Is it for me?Book this if you want a full day on the water with activities and meals included, without arranging transport, park entry, or timing the tides yourself — the shuttle and fixed schedule handle all of that, leaving you free to kayak, swim, and bike through a village without logistics getting in the way.
