Kayaking Lan Ha Bay at sunset with bioluminescent waters

Paddle through waters that glow as the sun sets over limestone cliffs

Kayak Lan Ha Bay from Cat Ba in a six-hour afternoon and evening activity that includes a cruise past Cai Beo Floating Fishing Village, a swim in turquoise waters, dinner prepared on board, and a bioluminescent kayaking session after dark when dinoflagellates light up with each paddle stroke. Hotel pickup and life jackets are included. The guide speaks English or Vietnamese.

Step-by-step itinerary

Lan Ha Bay kayaking and dinner cruise

• Pick up from Cat Ba hotels
• Check in at Cat Ba Panorama cruise
• Cruise through Cai Beo Floating Fishing Village
• Swim in Lan Ha Bay
• Kayak in Lan Ha Bay
• Dinner on the boat
• Bioluminescent kayaking adventure
• Return to Beo Pier and transfer to hotel

The experience

The boat picks you up from your Cat Ba hotel between 2 and 2:30 p.m., then heads to Beo Harbor for check-in. The first stop is Cai Beo Floating Fishing Village, where roughly 7,000 years of heritage sits on the water in floating houses and fish farms that show how locals have lived on Lan Ha Bay. After that, you swim in the turquoise waters surrounded by limestone islets rising from the sea, then paddle your kayak through the heart of the bay at your own pace, navigating between the dramatic rock formations.

Dinner happens on board around 5:45 p.m. Local specialties prepared fresh in the galley while you watch the early evening light settle over the water. Once dusk falls, the real draw begins: bioluminescent kayaking. As you paddle, dinoflagellates in the water glow with each stroke, creating a surreal, sparkling effect that turns the bay into something you cannot see anywhere else. The boat returns to Beo Pier by 8:30 p.m., and your guide drives you back to your hotel in Cat Ba town.

The activity runs six hours total. You'll need to be comfortable in a kayak and entering the water. Life jackets are provided. Children from age one are welcome, and the pace is set by the group, not by a fixed schedule.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cat Ba town.
• a live guide in English or Vietnamese.
• kayak and life jacket for each person.
• a swim in Lan Ha Bay.
• dinner of local specialties prepared on board.
• entrance to Cai Beo Floating Fishing Village.
• insurance and service charges.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 4 Mar 2027

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (8 to 80 years) · Child (1 to 7 years)

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish and Vietnamese

Audio guideVietnamese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Cat Ba Panorama

Is this one for you?The activity spans six hours from mid-afternoon into evening, with time in the water and a full paddle in the dark, so you'll need to be comfortable in a kayak and entering the sea. The bioluminescent effect only happens after sunset, which is why the late timing matters. It's what makes the glow visible.

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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: Child (1 to 7 years).

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 is Cai Beo Floating Fishing Village like?

Cai Beo is one of Vietnam's oldest fishing villages, with roughly 7,000 years of heritage built on the water. The village consists of floating houses and fish farms where locals live and work on Lan Ha Bay, and you'll cruise past it early in the afternoon to see how the community operates on the water.

When exactly does the bioluminescent kayaking happen?

Bioluminescent kayaking runs from 6:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m., after dinner on board. The dinoflagellates glow as dusk falls and you paddle through the water, so the effect is strongest once the light fades.

Is the kayaking difficult, or can beginners do it?

The kayaking is suitable for all fitness levels. You paddle at your own pace through the heart of Lan Ha Bay, and life jackets are provided. The water is calm and the route is designed for the group to explore without rushing.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to bring?

Dinner, the sunset, kayaking, life jackets, the two-way shuttle from your Cat Ba hotel, a live guide, entrance tickets, and insurance are all included. Bring a swimsuit, a towel, and a change of clothes. The boat provides everything else for the water activities.