Review Author: Elena

Review Date: 18 Aug. 2026

Review Body: Our cruise in Vietnam was an absolute highlight of our trip! The itinerary was perfectly paced, giving us just the right amount of time to relax and explore. The landscapes were breathtaking and activities like kayaking through the stunning waters were super fun and memorable. We even got lucky enough to spot some local wildlife along the way! Onboard, everything was top. The food was delicious (with many vegetarian options), and the entire crew was attentive and caring. A special shout-out to Hang, whose magic tricks kept us so entertained—he was such a warm, welcoming host and made the experience truly special. Highly recommended to anyone visiting Vietnam!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Maria

Review Date: 14 Jan. 2026

Review Body: We had the best experience! the program was amazing compared with other tours we had more time with water activities (kayak and swimming especially on the second day). The boat and the food were amazing!!! And our tour guide Ninh was very welcoming and friendly. he gave us interesting information about the area and also was very interested in talking to us 5stars 🌟🌟 We totally recommend this tour especially with Ninh!!!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Camille

Review Date: 14 Jan. 2026

Review Body: Great experience and beautiful sights. Small group during low season. As advertised, the wonderful crew took us to less crowded areas in Lan Ha Bay. Our guide Ninh improved our experience. On the water from ~12pm to 15pm the next day. Would recommend as we prioritized activities and time on the water > luxury. Room was clean and comfortable. Woke up to an incredible view of the bay. Weather cleared up during the day.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Sebastian

Review Date: 14 Jan. 2026

Review Body: It was a wonderful tour with Toni. We enjoyed the majestic landscape in the wonderful cabin with a big comfortable bed. They prepared creative vegetarian alternatives for every meal. Toni explained everything very good, gave a very good insight into local topics which was very interesting. And finally he presented his brand new and cool magic tricks. Thanks for everything!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Robert

Review Date: 14 Jan. 2026

Review Body: The tour was amazing. We were alone at moste of the spots and Hang showed us around and gave us plenty of information to all the places we went. We had a great time and Hang added the cherry on top with his energy. The were also very transparent about what is included and what not and how the next steps will be. On top of that we were also only a small group of 5 couples.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Den

Review Date: 14 Dez. 2025

Review Body: We had a great 2d1n tour. Hang was a very knowledgeable guide and definitely kept us on track with timings. We visited lagoons, swam off the boat and from a little beach on one of the islands. Most amazingly we had two sightings of the rare Cat Ba Langurs (only 70 left 😕) due to Hangs superb eyesight! A really enjoyable trip!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Rob

Review Date: 23 Sep. 2026

Review Body: Fantastisch! Geen 'fancy' feestboot met harde muziek, heerlijk relaxed varen met een kleine groep. Accommodatie niets op aan te merken en uitstekende maaltijden. De uitleg door en gesprekken met gids Jack Luon maakten mijn 2-daagse trip tot een geweldige herinnering. Zelfs bij regen.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: sophie

Review Date: 11 Juli 2026

Review Body: It was TOP! Ninh was a great guide…the crew was very friendly, Nice food, views amazing, good beds

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Rebecca

Review Date: 19 Mai 2026

Review Body: Had lots of fun, food was great, Ben was really nice. Would recommend.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Katharine

Review Date: 16 Okt. 2026

Review Body: Our guide Tony was fantastic, rooms were beautiful overall brilliant

Review rating: 5

Review Author: BettBi, Germany

Review Date: 16 Dez. 2019

Review Body: We went on a 2 day / 1 night tour. First of all I have to mention that our guide Tuan/Tony was absolutely fabulous - he spent a lot of time with us and even joined us for a chat in the evening not only explaining the science of high tide / low tide but sharing his personal story and some background on Vietnam which was extremely interesting and educational. Tony - you're the best, thank you for this fabulous trip - Cat Ba Ventures can be very happy to have you :) In general Cat Ba is beautiful and Cat Ba Ventures has the big advantage compared to other companies that they start off in the less touristy area of Cat Ba instead of Halong Bay. They let you Kayak in lagoons other companies can't even access so its very quiet which is a massive USP. As I'm vegetarian the food was ok'ish - we got the same food for lunch and dinner which was a little dissapointing...the meaty version was definitely more diverse and extensive. Don't expect too much in regards to the boat - it's absolutely safe and ok but the bedrooms incl bathrooms are not the cleanest. All in all a fabulous experience which is definitely worth a trip. On a side note - the guys working for the company are fantastic - they were very responsive and as we didn't want to stay on Cat Ba the night before even arranged for a complimentary speed boat to bring us to the boat an hour later once we arrived on Cat Ba.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: 611victorw

Review Date: 10 Feb. 2020

Review Body: We can only recommend booking a trip with Cat Ba ventures. In short: - Short term booking via mail - two great guides Hien and Ben - very dedicated staff - great boat with lots of privacy and small group (approx. 15 people) - "off the beaten paths"-feeling - bit pricey but worth it because of privacy We booked just one day in advance via email - very easy communication. We selected the 2D/1N trip, first day with cycling and hiking, second day with kayaking and swimming. The first day, it was only our lovely guide Hien and us. We cruised the bay on a speedboat and went cycling to our hike. Hien was so dedicated explaining everything to us and to show us around "his island" (as he is a former fisherman). We had a great hike with good view. We then re-united with the group on the bigger boat for the night and next day. Here, a second guide Ben also supported the tours. We can only recommend booking this tour as it had everything but not only sitting on the boat. By hiking, you could really experience the bay from different angles. What it is not: - party tour

Review rating: 5

Review Author: SteveK447, Pennsylvania

Review Date: 15 Nov. 2019

Review Body: We did the early trip down from Hanoi - left on the boat around 10 am and left Cat Ba around 4 pm the next day to return to Hanoi. This trip was one of the best in our 20 days in Asia. We hired out the full boat for family with 5 adults(3 20+ kids) included a tour guide, Captain, and cook. We booked the NGOC 10 which had 4 cabins. The food was excellent (we had 2 vegans which they customized their food). Picture of the deck which was perfect for relaxing. If you can fit this into the middle of your trip it is a great way to catch your breath and relax. Of course plenty of activities as well with the kayaks. Our tour guide was excellent. I would have no issue spending several days on the boat. Sure depends on the boat (seems there is a pool of them which various tour agencies subcontract) so pay attention to that when booking. Of course in the area you also need to recognize not everything is going to be perfect on the boat (shower needed some work - but used one in different cabin) but overall we felt it was very nice.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: fnerini, United Kingdom

Review Date: 20 Jan. 2020

Review Body: We did the 2 Day 1 Night cruise around Lan Ha and Ha Long Bays. Fantastic. Our guides Tuan and Hieu were incredible fun. Both had a brilliant sense of humour and were full of useful information. They were safety conscious and very supportive. We started the day on a smaller boat and were able to visit a floating fishing village, swim and kayak in Lan Ha Bay. We transferred to a larger boat (very decent for the price) and stayed overnight in Ha Long Bay. In the morning we explored the larger bay by kayak again. The food provided was great; lots of fresh seafood. And the bedrooms were surprisingly good. Would highly recommend the cruise and especially the stay at sea as the hotels on Cat Ba island are not good. Bring some warm clothes if it's looking overcast. The weather was miserable for us and it gets cold out in the bay. The Cat Ba Ventures team in the booking office were incredibly helpful and also helped us book other travel including the excellent Cat Ba Express back to Hanoi and onward train tickets.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: lauradL2808TB

Review Date: 20 Jan. 2020

Review Body: I went on a 2D/1N boat trip in the beginning of january. The scenery is beautiful and the places to kayak were great. The atmosphere on the boat was very nice and everyone had a good time together. Our group were small, which probably made the experience even better. The rooms were nice and the vegetarian food was good. The night was spent in a bay close to other boats, but with no noise from them. The guide, Cong, was very friendly, spoke very good English and told a lot of interesting things about Vietnamese culture and history. If you can, ask to get him as your guide. I would recommend going on this trip! However, I drove with the CatBa ventures bus from Cat Ba to Ninh Binh. The bus was good and the staff friendly, but driver drove very bad and were in the other side of the road most of the time to overtake. He made the cars in the opposite direction stop completely, because they would otherwise crash. So I cannot recommend the busses.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Penny088, Australia

Review Date: 27 Jan. 2020

Review Body: Our family of 3 did the 2D/1N tour of Halong bay, leaving from Cat Ba. Everything was superbly well organised for us, from our hotel pick up in Hanoi, to our bus trip back to Hanoi and drop off right near the hotel. There were about 10 other people on our trip, they were all so lovely. We had a huge room on the boat, very comfy beds. The cruising around the bay was really extensive, we covered a lot of ground, the scenery absolutely stunning. We loved the kayaking, going through caves and finding beautiful lagoons. We spotted squirrels and golden monkeys surrounding one lagoon., very exciting. Although it was quite cool, many of us went swimming, I'm so pleased we did. The places they took us were not crowded at all, in some places our was the only boat there. The food was plentiful and delicious. Finally, our guides Ben and Tomas were lovely, full of information and enthusiastic. I would highly recommend this trip. Thank you Ben and Tomas!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: DrewD_12, London

Review Date: 20 Jan. 2020

Review Body: Firstly, great communication. All my emails were answered quickly and thoroughly. Cat Ba Ventures was recommended to me by a good friend, and they didn't disappoint. They helped with transportation and were fine with me being vegetarian. It really was an ease to organise. The tour was excellent. We had a three day tour on a private boat, with a great guide (Ian). Ian was good humoured and knowledgable. The captain was also the cook, and made us lots of delicious food Ð there was plenty for me to eat (as the vegetarian). As a gay male couple, we were made to feel very welcome on board. We covered a large distance on the boat, but avoided a lot of the busier touristy areas which I really appreciated. Kayaking was amazing, but it was just as fun sitting on the deck with a hot coffee watching the (breath-taking) world go bye. Overall it was a much more chilled out, relaxing experience than I anticipated, and one I would definitely do again.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: broadstairs70, United Kingdom

Review Date: 12 Feb. 2020

Review Body: We did an overnight trip starting from Cat ba Island and chose this company due to recommendations in Lonely Planet. We were keen to avoid the crowds and the negative reports of over tourism reported with trips starting from Halong Bay. This was definitely the right choice . The transfer was easy due to the company arranging all for us. The rooms on the boat were lovely and spacious, we had a top cabin and these are the largest with 2 double beds. The food throughout the trip was all lovely and freshly prepared. We were taken off the beaten track and very much avoided the crowds. Cave kayaking and swimming from the boat were energetic and fun , despite the slightly chilly conditions in Feb. However what made the trip for us was the warm welcome we received from the Cat Ba Team Ben and Kong. They were very knowledgable about the area and able to provide invaluable insights throughout our trip. Thank you to both

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Feenixwest

Review Date: 03 Feb. 2020

Review Body: We interviewed three tour companies and picked this one for excluding Monkey Island, which is out of control and potentially dangerous, to spend more time cruising around more remote areas of Lan Ha Bay and because of their good business practices. It was better than we ever anticipated. Office personnel sent us off and welcomed us back with questions at the end. All the segments were well coordinated. The ship was clean with clean restrooms through nine hours. We had two guides, Tom and Huein (sp?), who were ever enthusiastic and very much in control of the trip in terms of predicting and timing. Our lunch was fabulousÑbest one in the three weeks we've been in Vietnam according to my husband. Regarding safety, there were plenty of life jackets stored under the tables and we were required to have life jackets on for the kayak portion (optional) of the trip. Highly endorse this trip!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: LauraOona, Austria

Review Date: 13 Feb. 2020

Review Body: We did the overnight boat trip visiting Lan Ha Bay and Halong Bay. The boat was very clean and comfortable (had the best sleep of my journey there!) Also there is friendly staff to serve you very delicious vietnamese food - also vegetarian options. The kayaking was also fun and it was fascinating to discover the caves and the hidden lagoons behind. The best thing about Cat Ba Ventures is, that they do not take you to the center of halong bay, which already suffers from overtourism, but you discover more remote places, where we often were the only boat in sight. This made enjoying the stunning nature of the bay even better! Ben, who was our tour guide, accompanied us in his funny and friendly way and whats more he is extrememy knowledgable about the bay and vietnam in general. He even dealt well with our political questions thank you Ben for making those days so special!

Review rating: 5

Itinerary Day 1

Itinerary Summary: Lan Ha Bay cruise with swimming kayaking and sunset views

Itinerary Description: 10:00–10:45 Complimentary hotel pick-up (for hotels within 10km of our office) 11:00–11:30 Arrive at our office → short 5-minute minibus transfer to the pier Set sail into Lan Ha Bay, cruising past dramatic limestone karsts and a floating fishing village. Learn about local life on the water as you glide through the bay. Stop at a quiet, secluded beach for a swim. (Snorkelling is optional — equipment provided.) 12:30 Lunch served onboard Afternoon Kayaking (1.5–2 hours) through rock arches into hidden lagoons and tunnel-like passages — a beautiful, peaceful way to explore the bay up close. Continue cruising toward Ha Long Bay, focusing on scenic, less-crowded areas for sightseeing and photo stops. Sunset Golden-hour cruising — enjoy the changing colors over the limestone islands 19:00 Dinner onboard & overnight on the boat Evening (optional) Squid fishing under the night sky

Itinerary Day 2

Itinerary Summary: Cruise Ha Long Bay: visits to Cong Tau Lagoon, Dau Be Island, kayaking, scenic sightseeing

Itinerary Description: After breakfast, we continue cruising to discover a different side of Ha Long Bay, including Cong Tau Lagoon — a quieter, less-touristy area where you can soak in sweeping views of hundreds of limestone islands. Stop at Dau Be Island, then unwind with some free time on a secluded beach. Kayaking to explore Ho Ba Ham — a route through three hidden lagoons tucked between limestone cliffs. After lunch, we cruise onward to another section of Lan Ha Bay for more scenic sightseeing. 15:00 Return to Cat Ba and end the trip at our office. (If you’re heading onward, you can catch the last bus at 15:30 to Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Sa Pa, Ha Giang — or stay an extra night on Cat Ba.) From May 1, 2026 onwards (updated timing): 11:00 Check out of your cabin/accommodation 11:05–11:40 Early lunch onboard (shorter than before) ~11:50 Arrive back at the harbor 12:00 End the trip at our office Note: The program/route stays the same, but due to new regulations requiring overnight boats to be back by 12:00, lunch will be served earlier and in a shorter window. Please note: The itinerary may be adjusted to suit guest preferences and depending on weather and tide conditions.