Snorkeling Lan Ha Bay from Cat Ba: Kayaking and lunch included

Kayak through limestone, snorkel the clearest water, watch the sunset from the boat

A full-day snorkeling tour from Cat Ba to Lan Ha Bay combines kayaking through Dark Cave and Bright Cave, swimming and snorkeling at Ba Trai Dao Beach, and a Vietnamese seafood lunch onboard, with hotel pickup and an English-speaking guide. The itinerary avoids the crowded Halong Bay routes and anchors at quieter sites where you spend one and a half hours paddling through limestone formations and another stretch in the water before the return journey includes a sunset party on deck.

Step-by-step itinerary

Boat tour exploring Lan Ha Bay

• Pick up from hotel area
• Check-in cruise and receive briefing
• Cruise past Cai Beo fishing village
• Kayak at Dark Cave - Bright Cave area
• Lunch with fresh seafood onboard
• Swim and snorkel at Ba Trai Dao Beach
• Return cruise with sunset party
• Arrive at Beo wharf and transfer to hotel

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your hotel in Cat Ba Town Center and a check-in onboard with welcome drinks. The boat then moves slowly through Cai Beo, a 7,000-year-old fishing village with floating houses built into the mountainside, where your guide explains the daily life and traditions of local fishers. From there the cruise heads into the core of Lan Ha Bay, where hundreds of rocky islands rise from emerald water in different sizes and shapes.

At Dark Cave and Bright Cave, you spend one and a half hours kayaking to explore the limestone structures and natural habitats along the border between Halong and Lan Ha bays. Lunch follows onboard with fresh Cat Ba seafood and traditional Vietnamese dishes (vegetarian options available on request). The boat then anchors at Ba Trai Dao Beach, where you swim and snorkel in the cleanest part of Lan Ha Bay. Snorkeling conditions depend on tide level and weather. On the return to Beo wharf by a different route, you watch the landscape from the deck during the sunset party before the bus brings you back to your hotel.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cat Ba Town Center.
• one and a half hours of kayaking through Dark Cave and Bright Cave.
• swimming and snorkeling at Ba Trai Dao Beach.
• fresh Vietnamese seafood lunch served onboard with vegetarian options available.
• entrance fees and sightseeing tickets.
• English or Vietnamese-speaking guide for the full day.
• sunset party on the return journey.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

Book up to9h before

AgesAdult (5 and older) · Child (3 to 4 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Authenitc Travel DA NANG

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup in Cat Ba Town means you don't need a car or separate transport to the boat. The schedule collects guests from the town center and returns them the same way, so the full day fits whether you're staying in the center or elsewhere on the island.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 4 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What's included in the snorkeling tour from Cat Ba?

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cat Ba Town, kayaking at Dark Cave and Bright Cave, swimming and snorkeling at Ba Trai Dao Beach, Vietnamese seafood lunch onboard, entrance fees, sightseeing tickets, and an English or Vietnamese-speaking guide for the full eight hours.

How long does the kayaking part last?

You spend one and a half hours kayaking through the limestone formations at Dark Cave and Bright Cave, exploring the natural habitats in that area before returning to the boat for lunch.

What is Cai Beo fishing village like?

Cai Beo is a 7,000-year-old floating village where fishers live in houses built along the mountainside. Your guide shares details about their daily life and the cultural traditions of the community as the boat passes slowly through the area.

Does the snorkeling happen every day?

Snorkeling at Ba Trai Dao Beach is included in the itinerary, though the activity depends on tide level and weather conditions on the day you go.

Can I request vegetarian meals?

Yes, the lunch onboard features fresh seafood and Vietnamese traditional food, and you can request vegetarian options by informing the operator in advance.