Day trips from Cat Ba Island

Cat Ba to Lan Ha Bay: kayak, swim and cycle day trip

4.8/5

1,723 reviews on GetYourGuide

If you are staying on Cat Ba, this is the day on the water to book: a floating fishing village, kayaking through Bright, Dark and Bat caves, a swim off Ba Trai Dao, lunch on board and a bike ride to Viet Hai village with a fish massage. Rated 4.8 from more than 1,700 reviews, from €25.67 (GetYourGuide, 15 Nov 2026), much less than any day cruise from Hanoi.

Starts inCat Ba Island

A minibus collects you from your Cat Ba hotel at 08:00 to 08:30 for the ten-minute drive to Ben Beo harbour. The boat first threads through the floating fishing village, and the guide explains how families have lived on the water for generations, among islets named for turtles, toads and candles.

The kayaking area spans Ha Long and Lan Ha Bay, and you paddle through Bright Cave, Dark Cave and Bat Cave into hidden lagoons; with luck you may glimpse the Cat Ba langur. Then the boat anchors off the Ba Trai Dao beaches to swim and jump from the deck. Lunch from 12:00 is Vietnamese, with seafood and vegetarian dishes.

After time to rest on deck, you land at Viet Hai at 14:30 and cycle across the rice fields to the village to meet the fishing families and try the fish massage. The sunset party is at 16:00, and you are back at your hotel at about 17:15.

What guests love

Our summary of the reviews GetYourGuide shows on the product page.

Fun activities without feeling rushed
An excellent guide
A boat with two decks to spread out

Good for

Travellers staying on Cat Ba
Budget travellers
Active travellers who like kayaking and cycling

Not for

Day-trippers from Hanoi

How the day goes

08:00Cat Ba Town
Hotel pick-up 08:00 to 08:30.
08:30Floating fishing village
Cruise through the village.
Bright, Dark and Bat caves
Kayaking into the lagoons.
Ba Trai Dao
Swimming and jumping from the boat.
12:00On board
Lunch.
14:30Viet Hai village
Cycling and a fish massage.
16:00On deck
Sunset party.
17:15Cat Ba Town
Back at your hotel.

Included

Guide
Hotel pick-up and drop-off on Cat Ba Island
Entrance fees in Lan Ha and Ha Long Bay
Waterproof bag, kayaking, swimming
Bike tour and fish massage at Viet Hai, village tickets
Full lunch and a bottle of water
Travel insurance
Electric car if you would rather not cycle

Not included

Drinks
Tips
Bus to Hanoi (US$12, book the day before)

Why this one

The most reviewed and among the cheapest days on Lan Ha Bay, with a full set of activities. The small-group kayak day keeps the boat smaller; the kayak and snorkel tour adds Monkey Island.

The facts

Where it starts: Cat Ba Town hotel pick-up, 08:00 to 08:30
Duration: 9 hours
Road transfer: 10 minutes to Ben Beo harbour
Bay: Lan Ha Bay and southern Ha Long Bay
Guide: English; audio guide included
Price: From €25.67 per person (GetYourGuide, 15 Nov 2026)
Cancellation: Free up to 24 hours before

Checked against the GetYourGuide listing on 15 November 2026. Prices and options change: the calendar shows the current ones.

Before you book

You need to be on Cat Ba
Pick-up and drop-off are at hotels on Cat Ba Island; there is no transfer from Hanoi in the price.
What to do. Stay a night on Cat Ba, or add the US$12 bus to Hanoi for the return.