Kayaking in Lan Ha Bay from Cat Ba: Limestone caves and swimming
Paddle between limestone cliffs, then drift through the bay at sunset
A full-day kayaking tour from Cat Ba takes you by cruise to Lan Ha Bay, where you paddle through emerald waters between limestone mountains and hidden caves, swim in the bay, and return via Viet Hai Village at sunset. A local English-speaking guide leads groups of up to twelve, and equipment, lunch and hotel pickup are included.
Options for this experience
2 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Cat Ba Island and Lan Ha Bay tour
- Pick-up from Cat Ba hotels
- Transfer to Cai Beo Pier
- Board cruise and view fishing village
- Cruise to Ha Long Bay
- Kayak through limestone mountains
- Swim in Lan Ha Bay
- Enjoy seafood lunch on board
- Visit Viet Hai Village and cycle
- Experience fish massage
- Relax and watch sunset in Lan Ha Bay
- Return to pier and transfer to hotel
What’s included
- Local English-speaking guide.
- kayak, paddle, dry bag and towels.
- seafood lunch served on board.
- hotel pickup and transfer to the pier.
- travel insurance.
- vegetarian menu available on request.
Times
- Every day 08:00
Before you book
Operated by Cat Ba Golden
Prices and times updated 3 days ago
Traveler reviews
The experience
The day starts with pickup from your Cat Ba hotel or from the meeting point at 175 1/4 Street, then a short transfer to Cai Beo Pier. At 9am you board the cruise and head toward Ha Long Bay, passing the ancient floating fishing village on the way. The boat carries you through a UNESCO World Natural Heritage seascape of hundreds of limestone islands rising from the water.
At 11am you get into a kayak and paddle through the emerald waters of Lan Ha Bay, weaving between the limestone mountains and ducking into hidden caves. After an hour on the water, you have free time to swim in the bay. Lunch, fresh seafood selected each morning, is served on board at 1pm, eaten on deck surrounded by the bay's scenery. A vegetarian menu is available if you request it when booking.
The afternoon takes you to Viet Hai Village, a quiet eco-village tucked into the island's interior, where you cycle through untouched mountain landscapes. On the return journey, you drift through the heart of Lan Ha Bay as the sun sets, then head back to the pier and your hotel. The whole day runs from 8am to around 5pm.
Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to paddle through the water yourself rather than watch from a boat. The kayaking sits in the middle of the day, so you get the limestone scenery and the swimming both, and the full-day format lets you also visit Viet Hai Village and catch the sunset on the way back: three different parts of Lan Ha Bay in one trip.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and Vietnamese.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Youth (6 to 9 years); Child (3 to 5 years); Infant (under 3): free.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What's the difference between the kayaking option and the one without?
The standard tour includes two hours of kayaking through Lan Ha Bay between limestone islands and caves. The non-kayaking option replaces that paddling time with additional time in Viet Hai Village, so you still visit the bay by cruise but don't operate a kayak yourself.
Do I need kayaking experience to join?
No. The tour suits all physical fitness levels, and a guide leads the group through the water. Equipment (kayak, paddle, dry bag and towels) is provided, and the paddling happens in calm, sheltered waters between the islands.
What happens if I want to skip swimming or kayaking on the day?
Swimming and kayaking are both built into the itinerary, but you're not forced to participate. Free time at noon gives you the choice to swim or stay on the boat, and you can sit out the kayaking if you prefer to stay aboard during that hour.
Is the Lan Ha Bay entrance fee included in the price?
No. The government-regulated Lan Ha Bay entrance fee is charged separately and collected on the day. Drinks on board are also charged separately. The tour includes lunch and water but not alcoholic or soft drinks.
What's Viet Hai Village like, and how much time do you spend there?
Viet Hai is a peaceful eco-village hidden deep in the island, away from the main tourist areas. You spend about two hours there in the afternoon, cycling through untouched mountain landscapes and experiencing a fish massage, a local tradition, before heading back to the bay for sunset.
Kayaking in Lan Ha Bay from Cat Ba: Limestone caves and swimming
8h · EN +1 · at your hotel
from US$ 19.49 per person
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