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Cat Ba
Cat Ba
Halong Bay's rugged little sister. No luxe cruises here, just raw karst beauty, hidden caves and nature hikes.
Top Things to Do in Cat Ba
Go beyond the tourist checklist - into the hidden spots & heartfelt stories
01
Explore Lan Ha Bay: Ha Long’s Hidden Twin
Set sail from Cat Ba into Lan Ha Bay—like Ha Long, but blissfully uncrowded. Kayak, swim, and cycle through stunning karst scenery.
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02
Sleep Afloat in a Floating Homestay
Wake up on the water! Kayak at sunrise, swim off your doorstep & spend the night in a cozy floating home surrounded by calm, quiet bay views.
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03
Kayak Into a Sea of Glowing Plankton
Paddle under the stars as the water lights up with bioluminescent plankton. A magical night adventure that feels straight out of a fantasy.
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04
Stay Overnight on a Cruise in Lan Ha Bay
Trade hotel walls for gentle waves. This overnight cruise lets you fall asleep to the sounds of the bay and wake up surrounded by Lan Ha’s stunning limestone karsts.
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05
Experience Fishing Life
Dive into coastal life in Lan Ha Bay—join local fishermen, collect mussels at high tide, or hunt thunder crabs in sea caves at low tide. A rare, hands-on adventure few ever get to try.
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06
Climb Cat Ba’s Wild Limestone Walls
Test your nerves and climb sea cliffs with epic jungle views. Whether beginner or pro, this is Vietnam’s best outdoor rock climbing spot.
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07
Leap Into Deep Water Solo Adventures
Climb up and dive off. With no ropes or gear, it’s just you, the rock, and a thrilling splash into the sea. Pure, playful adrenaline.
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08
Rappel Down Hidden Jungle Walls
Gear up and descend vertical rock faces hidden in Cat Ba’s lush forests. It’s part hike, part adrenaline – all adventure.
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09
Trek Wild Trails in Cat Ba National Park
Hike through dense jungle, spot endangered langurs (if lucky!), and climb to panoramic island views. A wild and scenic adventure through Cat Ba’s rugged national park.
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Start Planning
We handpick every guide and adventure, so you know it's worth your time.
superhost
5.0 (21)
|8 hrs
|Up to 10 guests
“Uncrowded kayaking stunning views delicious bonfire dinner ”
5.0 (6)
|2D1N
|Up to 8 guests
“Amazing landscape would highly recommend”
5.0 (6)
|5 hrs
|Up to 30 guests
“It was so surreal. Very very very peaceful ”
Instant book
superhost
5.0 (20)
|4.5 hrs
|Up to 12 guests
“Fun safe lagoon adventure great guide great value”
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4.8 (50)
|2D1N
|Up to 16 guests
“The kayaking was beautiful and we enjoyed all the activities”
5.0 (38)
|6 hrs
|Up to 10 guests
“Amazing Ha Long Bay climbing with superb guides”
superhost
5.0 (21)
|8 hrs
|Up to 10 guests
“Uncrowded kayaking stunning views delicious bonfire dinner ”
5.0 (6)
|2D1N
|Up to 8 guests
“Amazing landscape would highly recommend”
5.0 (6)
|9 hrs
|Up to 25 guests
“our guide was so sweet and kind we had an amazing day ”
Instant book
4.9 (13)
|2D1N
|Up to 26 guests
“Morning activities with far fewer people around”
4.8 (50)
|2D1N
|Up to 16 guests
“The kayaking was beautiful and we enjoyed all the activities”
5.0 (38)
|10 hrs
|Up to 10 guests
“Some of the most enthusiastic guides”
4.9 (54)
|3D2N
|Up to 10 guests
4.8 (50)
|9.5 hrs
|Up to 16 guests
“Tour was extremely well organised”
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All Cat Ba Adventures
Itinerary Ideas
Use these as starting points, then sprinkle in your own travel magic.
What other guests say
4.9
|
325 reviews
Very authentic experience. Chans has a great depth of experience and knowledge about the area, after growing up kayaking and fishing alongside the local fisherman. We kayaked through hidden lagoons only accessible by cave, where no other tourists were. We dug for saltwater muscles, collected oysters and tried our hand at fishing (no bites today). We prepared the muscles on our campfire on a secluded bay as the sun set and Chans (luckily) had bought some home cooked rice, pork and spring rolls so we didn’t go hungry. We kayaked after the sun went down through bioluminescent plankton and returned to cai beo village for a pot of tea with the local fisherman. Before we set off for home we stopped in at a local restaurant on the pier and sampled sashimi and oysters washed down by a few beers. It was the most perfect day, and an experience not many tourists would have the pleasure of experiencing in lan ha bay. I recommend this tour to everyone. It’s so important as tourists we see and experience the life of the people who inhabit and work the land we are coming to see. Loved every minute and would highly recommend Chans tours to anyone. Infact we have booked another one today!!
Ashlin
This tour is an absolute MUST for anyone visiting Cat Ba. Chans curates the tour to maximize the tides, time of day and boat traffic, giving you an opportunity to experience Lan Ha Bay in a completely unique way. You will see beautiful places, meet lovely locals and eat tasty food under the stars. We could not have enjoyed this experience more!
Andrea
Everything. I did the half day trekking and kayaking. The lagoon they bring you is beautiful and you’re pretty much alone.
The guides are kind, interesting and helpful.The nature is beautiful. I highly recommend Pathfinder Cat ba!
Nicolas Tran
The tour was amazing. Chans knew a lot about the surroundings. He really engaged with the locals. And he is also an amazing cook, make sure to try his springrolls if he brings them!
Roy
Brilliant experience of another world
Excellent adventure kayaking through the bay between limestone monuments, going through spectacular caves into hidden lagoons!! We spent the night floating on the water
The most serene tranquil experience
Our guide Mocha was super friendly and helpful as were all the staff
Julie alvarey
Booked: 2D1N Cat Ba Cruise
If your looking for a unique tour with one of the nicest and most knowledgeable locals of cat ba and lan ha then book with Tien.
Tien's tour is flexible, as it also depends on weather/tides/fitness level and can be tailored to the guests needs, which we loved.
This is the only tour that will take you to secret spots and beautiful escapes only someone with a lifetime of knowledge of the area would know.
Some of the highlights of the tour were joining a local fishing family to eat crab with them on they're fishing boat. Adventuring into secret caves on kayak. Seeing the beautiful nature the area has to offer in a small group. Tien picked times and places to visit certain areas in a way that avoids other tour groups and tourist. Which gave us a much more peaceful and enjoyable experience.
We highly reccomended this tour. No other tour offers what tien can, book it now! 😄
Lewis
We did this trip as a family of four (kids ages 12 and 9). We were on the only guests on the tour. The tour is very heavy on the kayaking, so be prepared for 3 hours of significant paddling. We did not realize the amount of kayaking. As it was low enough tide, we went through a cave to a secret lagoon. This required us to get out of the kayak and a walk a bit on very sharp rocks. He did ensure we had shoes that could get wet, but didn't specify ahead of time the level of uneven and sharp walking we'd do. My shoes in particular can handle the water for getting in and out of kayaks for example, but did not protect my toes or ankles as I didn't know that would be happening. We took three main breaks and two of those were floating in lagoon areas where you could swim (deep water). The final break was the dinner at sunset on the beach. While the views were gorgeous, the beach itself was a former resort site and the beach was littered with construction rubble. It was very private and we had low tide, which meant we got to walk out in the water to search for sea life. We were not interested in catching any of it permanently and/or eating it, but the kids had a blast catching and releasing. We caught 2 octopi, shrimp, sea cucumber, crabs, and more. They also enjoyed looking for bioluminescent plankton while kayaking. Also, all of your belongings you need to carry with you in the kayak if you want them during the day. The wet bags provided are not enough for all your items, particularly if the weather is a bit chilly and you're bringing towels, jackets, etc. Bring minimum items and be prepared for heavy kayaking and long periods sitting in the kayak. For dinner, we had fried rice, spring rolls, fried pork, and squid that he made ahead of time and brought. We heated food by the driftwood fire. My kids, particularly my 9 year old, had a blast. The landscape was great and Tien was very nice.
Carrie
The boat was clean and confortable. The crew very friendly. Had a wonderful time kayaking and swimming. The food was OK. It wasn’t always served hof. It was tasty though. The bike trip to the village was a very touristy expwrience. Not very authentic but the fish massage was great. Had lots of laughs. All in all it was well worth our money.
Weijenberg
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