Lan Ha Bay kayaking tour: Bioluminescent night paddle

Paddle glowing plankton at night, then cycle through a mountain village at dawn.

A 2-day kayaking trip from Cat Ba town into Lan Ha Bay's quieter lagoons, with a night paddle through bioluminescent plankton, a stay in a jungle bungalow in Viet Hai Village, and a second day of cycling, swimming at Monkey Island, and boat cruising. Small groups of up to ten on the kayak and hiking portions. Hotel pickup and all meals are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Cat Ba to Lan Ha Bay cruise and activities

• Pick up from hotel in Cat Ba town
• Board boat and cruise Lan Ha Bay
• Enjoy Vietnamese lunch onboard
• Kayak in Lan Ha Bay lagoon
• Swim and jump at Ba Trai Dao Beach
• Visit floating fish farm and cooking class
• Arrive at Viet Hai Village

Day 2: Viet Hai Village and Monkey Island

• Have breakfast at restaurant
• Cycle around Viet Hai Village
• Check out and sail to Monkey Island
• Relax, swim, and trek on Monkey Island
• Lunch onboard while cruising back
• Arrive at Cai Beo Harbor

The experience

The trip starts with an 11:15 pickup from your Cat Ba hotel and a boat ride into Lan Ha Bay. After lunch onboard, you kayak the lagoon areas, the location shifts with the tides, then swim and jump from the boat at Ba Trai Dao Beach, a remote spot ringed by rock arches and temple beaches. The evening brings a visit to a local floating fish farm, where you watch fishermen work the water, then join a hands-on cooking class onboard to prepare traditional Vietnamese dishes. Dinner happens on the boat before you arrive at Viet Hai Village, tucked into jungle and surrounded by forest and mountains.

The second morning starts early with breakfast, then a bicycle ride around Viet Hai Village through fresh mountain air. You can stop for a fish massage in the natural stream if you want. After checking out, you head back to the pier and sail to Monkey Island, where you swim on the sandy beach, watch the monkeys, or hike up to the viewpoint for a panoramic view of Lan Ha Bay. Lunch is served onboard as you cruise back to Cai Beo Harbor, arriving around 11:30.

Groups stay small on the kayak and hiking portions, a maximum of ten people, so the lagoons and trails don't feel crowded. The boat carries around 25 on the second day. The bioluminescent night kayak is the signature moment: paddling through water that glows with plankton when you move through it. A jungle bungalow in Viet Hai Village is your accommodation, shared between two or three people per room.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cat Ba town.
• kayaking in Lan Ha Bay's lagoons.
• swimming at Ba Trai Dao Beach.
• visit to a floating fish farm.
• hands-on Vietnamese cooking class onboard.
• jungle bungalow accommodation in Viet Hai Village (2–3 people per room).
• bicycle ride around Viet Hai Village.
• Monkey Island beach time and viewpoint trek.
• all meals (lunch and dinner day one, breakfast and lunch day two).
• boat transport throughout.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 11:30

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (8 and older) · Child (4 to 7 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Vietnamese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “Our trip will pick up and drop off all guest at the hotel in Cat Ba town, for the other area, please contact us.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Beka Travel

Is this one for you?The 2-day length means you leave Cat Ba in the late morning and return by midday on day two, so the rest of your day is free, but it also rules out a same-day return to Hanoi or other northern destinations. If you're based in Cat Ba for at least two nights, this trip fits neatly into your schedule.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Vietnamese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 7 years); Infant (under 4).

What's the bioluminescent kayaking actually like on this trip?

The night paddle happens on the first evening after dinner, when you kayak through Lan Ha Bay's lagoons and the plankton glow as your paddle moves through the water. The effect is strongest on darker nights and depends on plankton activity, which varies seasonally.

How physically demanding is this 2-day kayaking trip?

You need at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The kayaking is the main activity, plus a bicycle ride around Viet Hai Village on the second morning and a short trek up Monkey Island's viewpoint. It's not recommended for children under 7, travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnant travelers.

What meals are included and are vegetarian options available?

Lunch and dinner are included on day one, and breakfast and lunch on day two: all prepared onboard or at the village restaurant. Vegetarian options are available for the freshly cooked Vietnamese meals.

Does the trip include hotel pickup in Cat Ba, and what time does it start?

Yes, pickup from your Cat Ba hotel is included at 11:15 on day one. You board the boat at 11:20 and return to Cai Beo Harbor around 11:30 on day two, then transfer back to Cat Ba town.

What's Viet Hai Village like, and why stay there instead of on the boat?

Viet Hai Village sits deep in the jungle, surrounded by forest, mountains, and natural streams. A jungle bungalow there gives you a night on land and access to the village itself on the second morning: the bicycle ride and fish massage in the stream are part of the experience, and it's quieter than staying on the water.