Cat Ba day cruise and night kayak: Bioluminescent paddle

Paddle through glowing water at night while the bay sleeps around you.

A 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.

The experience

The day starts with pickup at the Cat Ba office and a cruise into Lan Ha Bay, passing working fishing villages where you see how people live on the water. By mid-morning you're kayaking through K.A Cave and Bats Cave, paddling under rock archways and into lagoons the bigger tour boats can't reach. A traditional Vietnamese lunch arrives on the boat at Ong Cam islet, then the afternoon pushes further south: past Dau Be Island and through less-crowded corners of the bay where the Kite arch and Le Virgin arch stand against the sky.

Ba Trai Dao Beach is where you stop to swim and kayak again, exploring a temple beach and more hidden passages by paddle. The sun sets from a floating homestay, and dinner happens with a fisherman, not a restaurant, but the actual person who works these waters. Then comes the night paddle. Every stroke of the paddle sends bioluminescent plankton scattering in blue light along the blade and the hull, a glow that only happens when the water is disturbed. The guide leads you out, and the bay becomes something else entirely in the dark.

Small groups (no more than 8 on the night kayak) mean you're not jostling for position or waiting for someone else to finish. The boat returns to harbor around 9 p.m. The whole day runs 13 hours from pickup to drop-off, and the physical demand is moderate: you're paddling, swimming and sitting, not climbing or hiking. Vegetarian and vegan meals are available if you request them at booking.

What’s included

• Pickup at the Cat Ba office.
• full-day boat cruise through Lan Ha Bay and southern Ha Long Bay.
• kayaking through hidden lagoons, caves and archways.
• swimming at Ba Trai Dao Beach.
• traditional Vietnamese lunch and dinner with a fisherman.
• night kayaking with bioluminescent plankton.
• live English-speaking guide for all activities.
• vegetarian and vegan meal options available upon request.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Youth (9 to 15 years) · Child (5 to 8 years) · Infant (1 to 4 years)

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go 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 or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Wow Cat Ba

Is this one for you?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.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (9 to 15 years); Child (5 to 8 years); Infant (1 to 4 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 exactly happens during the night kayaking with bioluminescence?

Night kayaking on Cat Ba happens after sunset, when you paddle into water full of bioluminescent plankton that glow blue when disturbed. Every paddle stroke lights up the water around the kayak, and the effect is strongest in complete darkness: the guide leads small groups of 8 or fewer, so you have room to move and watch the glow without crowding.

How much time do I actually spend kayaking versus sitting on the boat?

Kayaking happens in two main blocks: mid-morning through hidden caves and lagoons for roughly an hour, then afternoon swimming and exploring at Ba Trai Dao Beach for another hour or so. The rest of the 13-hour day is cruising on the boat, eating, watching the bay, and the sunset stop. You're not paddling the whole time.

Are the fishing villages and beaches we visit actual working places, or tourist setups?

Cai Beo is a real fishing village where people live and work. You pass it by boat and see the floating houses and daily life. Ba Trai Dao Beach is described as natural, remote and quiet: one of the less-touristed spots in the bay. Dinner is with a fisherman, not at a restaurant, so you're eating where locals do.

What's included in the meals, and can I request dietary changes?

Lunch is a traditional Vietnamese meal served on the boat at Ong Cam islet, and dinner is with the fisherman. Both are included in the tour price. Vegetarian, vegan and other special requests can be arranged if you mention them when you book.

How many people will be on this tour?

The day boat holds a maximum of 30 people for the cruising and afternoon activities. The night kayak is much smaller, 8 people maximum, so you paddle in a small group after dark.

What's the physical fitness level needed for this tour?

The tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness. You'll be kayaking, swimming and moving in and out of the kayak, but there's no climbing or strenuous hiking. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnant travelers.