Cat Ba day cruise and night kayak: bioluminescent paddle

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Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/11

Duration13h

GroupUp to 30

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

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.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for 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.