Review Author: MQ94

Review Date: 01 May 2019

Review Body: Cat Ba islands Myself and three friends organised the Cat ba Islands tour with Smiley. And it was hands down one of our highlights from our 2 weeks in vietnam. In short I would HIGHLY recommend this tour to everyone on here with Smiley especially. Contact: Here is Smiley's number: +84971282362. Her responses are rapid and her English is very good. Was very easy to organise with her. Many friends will choose to do the day trips from Hanoi. My reservation with these is that you spend more time travelling than enjoying the sight. 8hours in one day was too much which is why we chose this tour instead. Secondly ha long Bay itself is filled with tourists; so much so you no longer enjoy it as much. This your answers both problems. Itinirary from Smiley is below; Day 1 : fishing village + Lan Ha bay + swimming at private beach + Viet Hai village + biking + trekking to Hai Quan peak to see the view of Ha long bay + sleeping at Whisper natural bungalow ¥ 7.30 am : pick up at your hotel in Ha noi Old Quarter ¥ 11.30 am : arrival in Cat ba Day 2 : Lan Ha bay + a part of Ha Long bay + kayaking through the cave + swimming at private beach + hiking at Monkey Island beach ¥ 3.30 pm : our boat will bring you back to Cat ba to take the bus to ha noi Travel: coaches are comfortable, AC, leather seats, snacks and water given. You take a coach for 2.5 hours with one break, a ferry to Cat Ba Islands and then another coach to the harbour or respective hotels. 3.5-4hours travelling in total. Smiley arranges a private tour for you. You have your own boat, your own tour guide and your own bungalows in Viet Hai village. This aspect was definitely a nice touch as you get to enjoy it amongst your own group rather than a boat filled with strangers. You'll ride through ha long Bay and Cat Ba and see more of it You'll then have lunch on the boat We opted for the veg option and it was just amazing how much food they managed to pull out from the boat. We had like 7 dishes in total in front of us with ample food and drink. They make it fresh on the boat which we found amazing. You arrive on the island and you'll take a 5km bike ride to the village where you'll be staying. This is a beautiful and scenic bike ride. Arrive at the bungalow to unpack and get comfortable. You'll then go for the hike which again is very nice and get to see the local village. Accommodation: for being in the middle of nowhere in a remote island off another island the bungalows were superb. Opt for the VIP room as its larger. AC, WiFi, toilet, showers bedding toothbrushes and toilet tries and towels all provided. Evening meal is given we had large grilled fish watermelon pineapples tofu and egg and drinks. Was very nice. You'll then have breakfast and omlettes and pancakes were given with more fruit.our tour guide took us to see more of lan ha Bay, we kayaked through for 1 hour which was beautiful as we saw some caves. This was all provided. We then went for a swim on a private beach and had lunch on the boat again. Again ample delicious food. We then visited monkey Island where our tour guide fed monkeys with peanuts. Swam on thi beach also. And then returned to the harbour to go back to Hanoi. Smiley's arrangements and organisation was perfect. Could not fault her. This private tour is a must if you really want to enjoy it. I'd suggest this over staying the night on a boat as I feel it's a much better experience and you see/do more.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: maybetravelling, Germany

Review Date: 22 Apr 2019

Review Body: Private boat trip from CatBa over Lan Ha Bay to Ha Long Bay on the small boat from a local captain We started from Ben Beo Harbor in Cat Ba going on board and then visiting his family on a floating house. There we had our first lunch on the boat. After that we went by boat to Viet Hai Village and stopped for biking and trekking throught the village to an amazing viewpoint. The village itself is not very interesting but the nature is beautiful. After that we went to the floating house where we were staying over night in the middle of the limestone mountains. That place has an amazing and probably romantic atmosphere. At night a group of rats swam over to the floating house trying to nibble their way into our room. It felt like being in a zombie horror movies where you are trapped and they try to get in. This was a funny but also terrifying experience :-D. Luckily they gave up after one hour... The next morning after the breakfest on the floating homestay day got back on the boat and had three stops until our way back to Cat Ba. We went kajaking, swimming at a lonely beach and hiking up to another viewpoint on monkey island. The captain always cooked very good food for us on the boat. The communication with Smiley was perfect via Mail and WhatsApp. She was always super friendly and even did the first day with us because the other guide could not come. She planned everything for us from Pick-Up in Hanoi until a private Taxi to Haiphong Airport. The timing of her plan was perfect. We didnt waste more than 5 minutes for waiting anywhere. We payed 150$ per person for Hanoi pickup, private boat with local captain, guide, one stay overnight on the floating house, bike rental, bike tour, Monkey Island, Kajaking, entrance fees, 2 x lunch, 1 x dinner, 1 x breakfast... You will probably get the tour cheaper in general and maybe more comfortable because of a bigger boat at some bigger company but if youre unlucky you will be stuck with a group of 20 - 30 annoying people. I am not sure whats better. Some small warnings: - The boat is pretty small and there is only a small toilette cabin. - The food is good but you may feel a little weird or even sick eating on a boat because of the waves and movement. - Staying at the floating house might include a rat attack :-). But obviously its built strong enough so they cannot come into the room. - The people on the floating homestay dont speak good english - The climb up to monkey island is not easy for everyone, you should be fit and have good shoes. - The trek on Viet Hai village is also slippery. Be careful.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Bokixz7

Review Date: 26 Feb 2019

Review Body: Amazing Private Tour First of all I'd like to thank Ms.Smiley for all the help organizing this private tour for me and my wife just as we wanted. The trip started by a private car ride for us to go to the marina from Halong to Cat Ba since we are based at Halong, and there was a speedboat ready for us and it took us 10 minutes approximately to arrive to Cat Ba. Our driver was there to receive us which was another private ride to Cat Ba marina and he spoke English and was super nice and helpful, we reached to the marina in 20 or 30 mins which was a very smooth ride. We enjoyed the views. Just as we arrived to the marina we met Ms.Smiley who came to receive us; our private boat and other things arranged just as we wanted and gave us all the instructions we needed for the ride. We absolutely love the way she looks after all her customers. The boat ride started with the boat captain who was very super nice and also a Chef! He drove us passed the beautiful fishing village and the islands which was breathtaking. We made a stop to the bay where we see the caves in the rowing boats and kayaks. There, a young man rowed the rowing boat through the island in and out of the cave, also was very friendly and entertaining showing his rowing skills and a bit of acrobatics I'd say. When we were back from the cave our captain had food prepared for us and trust me everyone whose reading this review, THE FOOD WAS AMAZING! Hats off to the captain. After we finished our food we headed back to Cat Ba marina where we met Ms.Smiley and I honestly told her how amazing it was and this is her words, Ò I am happy because you are happyÓ . This is what we all need. After a chat our driver came to take us back and we left to the other marina to get the boat where it was ready for us. Everything went so smoothly and I wish Ms.Smiley the best of luck and Thank you for a very well arranged private tour.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Diane G

Review Date: 10 May 2018

Review Body: Smiley took care of everything Although we booked the hotel ourselves we relied on Smiley and Cat Ba Package Tours for everything else. She arranged for our pick-up in Hanoi and transport via bus/boat/bus to Cat Ba town and back. She personally took us on a half-day trek through Cat Ba National Park. Although the trail was only 1000 meters long it was 200 meters up (the equivalent of a 66-story building). The uneven, slippery and often quite steep steps were a challenge for two 70+ travelers but Smiley was there to lend a hand when needed. Despite her offers to turn back we stuck it out and it was worth the effort. The following day she arranged for Cuong, a wonderful guide, to take my husband and me on the spectacular Halong Bay. It was just the three of us and the captain, who turned out to be a fabulous cook. We spent part of the morning cruising the bay, then stopped at a fishing village and picked up our kayaks. Kayaking, especially through the caves under some of the karsts (rock formations), gave a whole different perspective. While we were kayaking, the captain prepared our lunch, making from scratch 7 of the 8 dishes she served us, all delicious, beautifully garnished and served on china. Before returning to port we visited Monkey Island, walking the beach, climbing up the rocks for beautiful views, and observing the monkeys at play. Halong Bay was one of the highlights of our three weeks in VIetnam, made all the more so by Smiley's planning, Cuong's thoughfulness and sense of humor, and the captain's cooking skills.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Rachel F

Review Date: 27 Jul 2018

Review Body: The most exceptional tour and day we spent in Vietnam... by far!!! We had the most perfect day with this tour! Smiley is absolutely amazing. She is so kind and willing to help. We were coming from Tuan Chau island and staying in Viet Hai after the tour so Smiley helped us figure out a route to get the Harbour in Cat Ba to begin the tour and also had our tour driver drop us off at our corresponding Harbour at the end of the tour which was so nice after a long day out of fun in the sun. As soon as we began the day, Smiley was there each step of the way. Not to mention the tour is worth every. Single. Penny. It's maybe about $10 usd more per person for the tour than the average touristy one full of people but my boyfriend and I had the entire boat to ourselves which was so nice. Our boat Captain, Ching, was spectacular. He was so friendly and excited and engaged with us the whole tour. Not to mention he is an amazing chef, and whipped up a delicious spread of food that we could hardly finish (but did, because like I said it was all VERY delicious). We were able to take our time in the bay kayaking, swimming, and also on the beach and he was just waiting for us patiently. He would explain little tidbits here and there that we wouldn't have noticed otherwise which was nice. All in all, if there's anything you're going to do in Vietnam, I suggest booking a tour with Smiley. If you can, ask for our captain and new friend, Ching. They both made our Vietnam trip one that we will never forget.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Liam J

Review Date: 17 Nov 2018

Review Body: Unbelievable 2-day tour - must do! Where to begin... My girlfriend and I booked a two day tour for early November in Cat Ba which costed USD310. Smiley, the very kind lady that we booked it through, was extremely helpful and crafted a very personal experience based on which activities we wanted to do! The tour included fully organised transport to and from our hotels in Ha Noi, no drama! The tour itself: we were picked up from Cat Ba Town by a private long boat where we were taken around the stunning Lan Ha Bay and saw the vast fishing farms unique to Cat Ba. The boat stopped at small beaches and allowed us to swim around, when returning to the boat and incredible lunch was cooked for us! We then continued on to a isolated village island where we biked through gorgeous pathways. Then was a very very steep trek/climb to was was a breathtaking view 200m high. We were then taken to Monkey island resort (prebooked). The next day consisted of kayaking through stunning caverns and lagoons followed by a trip to monkey Island to see and feed some monkeys! (another amazing lunch was provided after kayaking). We then went back to Cat Ba for our 4pm departure. The experience and memories will be cherished forever and the tour guide and both skippers were extremely friendly. We will undoubtedly be visiting Smiley and co again in the future. 10/10 for everything, thank you for making it such a personal and priveleged experience. Liam and Louise x

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Raycheeryeoh

Review Date: 13 Oct 2019

Review Body: Cat ba island private tour - recommended It is def one of the best trips because we were able to trek and being rewarded with super amazing Halong Bay views, we were well taken care from the moment we were picked up from Hanoi to the part whereby we were dropped back at hanoi at the end of the trip. Not signing up for the usual touristy packages whereby you will stay in the cruise throughout was the best decision. You are at the right place if you dislike touristy packages and doing all the boring stuff. You should opt for this instead too! Meals prepared by captain were amazing, so homely! On the first day, captain and guide noticed that we don't eat prawns and hence they changed them to other dishes which were really thoughtful of them.;) Our trip itinerary in summary: Day 1: pick up from Hanoi to cat Bay island, lunch, Cycling and trekking with amazing Halong Bay view Return to monkey island resort plus dinner Day 2: great breakfast spread at monkey island resort, trek up monkey island with another great view, Canoeing, lunch, no private Swimming as we didn't want to swim Thanks smiley for arranging along with an amazing guide HIEU VIET NGUYEN :) making this one of the best trips!! Will recommend to friends because they've been asking us for contact too after seeing the pictures!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Tabitha

Review Date: 14 Nov 2018

Review Body: Amazing private trip We booked a private tour of Lan ha bay and Ha long bay with Smiley. She was really helpful and got back to us very quickly as we booked it very last minute. As it was a private trip we were able to choose when it started, and we took Smiley's advise of starting early to beat the crowds which totally worked. Every stop we made (ie kayaking, monkey island) we were the first people there and therefore spent most of the day in total privacy! Also because it was private there was no schedule to keep to so we could spend as long as we liked at each stop without rushing. During one of our stops at a deserted little beach the captain cooked us what was honestly one of the best meals we've had in Vietnam. The whole day was amazing, definitely the highlight of our trip so far. Although I'm sure we would have enjoyed it if we went on a group trip as the sights are still beautiful, it being just the two of us and arriving at all the stops before everyone else made it so incredible, so I would definitely recommend doing the private trip if possible. It was the cheapest quote we heard for a private trip despite having more activities than some of the other ones (a lot of the other trips don't stop at monkey island) and considering how amazing the day was, it was well worth it!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: rk_discovering_india, India

Review Date: 01 Jul 2018

Review Body: Best one day trip from Cat Ba So I was on my Solo trip to Vietnam & didn't have enough time to go and check every travel agent for prices & other things. Meanwhile I was looking for the same on TripAdvisor & found this one. One of the guy in review mentioned a whatsapp number to contact & without wasting any second I dropped a message on +84971282362 & received a prompt revert from Smiley. She send me the complete details with in 2 minutes of message & the prices was best. When I checked in my hostel & got to know that one of fellow traveller booked the same trip with high price. I immediate booked my trip on whatsapp & share my hostel name. In the morning I received the details of pickup cab & time of pickup. It's seems like super easy. Pickup was fast, boat was good with proper dining tables to seat, on board staff was also very helpful. When I asked the staff to provide me Veg food only as I am a vegetarian & with a smile he said ' Don't worry sir, we have veg options as well'. On board lunch was also very delicious. Kayaking & swimming was perfect. Overall I had a good time with them. Without any hesitation you can go with them. Alot of loves from INDIA.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: goldad04, Vietnam

Review Date: 11 Jul 2018

Review Body: Best way to see Lan Ha Bay/Halong Bay!!!! Smiley organized the best possible trip for me and my friend! We knew a couple of days in advance that we wanted to see Halong Bay but we wanted to be active for most of the time that we were there (biking, kayaking, swimming, snorkeling, hiking, etc.) and wanted to avoid as many other tourists as possible. She listened to all of our requests and carefully organized the best trip possible!! Our itinerary included multiple hours of all of these activities and we really got to enjoy the water and the cliffs up close. One of the highlights of the trip was hiking up monkey island before the crowds got there. The monkeys were charming and we were able to get there before the island was packed. An overall theme of the trip was getting to amazing sites right before the masses arrived. All of our tour guides were also friendly and fun. Finally, we had strict dietary needs and Smiley was happy to accommodate all of them! It was a pleasure booking through Smiley and I would highly recommend this tour to anyone!! Definitely one of the best experiences of my life!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: soy c

Review Date: 10 Nov 2018

Review Body: Unforgetable visit around Halong Bay !!! To get in touch with Smilie supposed to have Halong Bay for us ALONE !!! Can you imagine that ?? Yes !! This is possible !! I can say it was one of the best experiences of our whole trip along Vietnam. When we arrived at the pier to get our kayak , there were only few people rowing around the place . We could admire that beauty peacefully, rowing along hearing birds and watching without believing our eyes !! After an hour , we decided it was time to go back and started to see dozens of kayaks around. When we arrived to our starting point to leave the kayak , we saw a long queue waiting for a free one and that paradise now was like Disneyland , having lost all its beauty !! But we had already seen it as we wanted. By then we were again in our boat ,with our pr’vate captain , who took us to a pr’vate beach, were we could swim and snorkel while he cooked lunch for us . Could we ask more ?? Yes !! That the meal was delicious !!! Thank you Smilie for a day we will always remember __

Review rating: 5

Review Author: westcoastwanderer, Canada

Review Date: 10 Dec 2019

Review Body: Smiley at Ben Beo harbour This should not have worked if you believe travelers instinct...a woman aproaches us as we step out of our taxi and sells us a tour. It was great! 15 CDN per person had us on her father's little boat (not luxury but what we wanted) for over 3.5 hours. Cruising the Karst formations checking out a floating fish farm/cottage, over to Monkey Island where the only problem was tourists giving baby monkey plastic wrapped after dinner mints (ya she got told) A nice swim on the beautiful beach and then another boat ride home. Thought we were done but the captain knew we were hungry so he stopped off at a floating fishing village where our hosts stufed us full of rice, cabbage and a kilo of crustaceans (language barrier left it at prawns but they looked more like crayfish to me) with drinks for 40 CDN. So good. Father/captain could not have been more accommodating for our family if 4. Life jackets a plenty. This one checks all the boxes.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Maci X

Review Date: 29 Oct 2018

Review Body: An unique experience visiting Halong Bay in a private boat No doubt that this is the best way to enjoy yourself the Bay. Smiley is very thoughtful and she takes on all things: from picking up to you early in the morning at your hotel, and bringing you to a very good captain and his private boat, until calling a taxi after the trip yo bring you back to the hotel in the afternoon. Super! About the trip, a very helpful captain brings you in his private boat to see some of the best places into the bay. Since is early,you can see the bay without people and any other tourisc ships, only the real fishermen, and enjoy the bay un a very unique experience. That is amazing! We have made kayak into a lonely cave, snorkelling and swimming on a idyllic beach, and the food, made by the captain, was very delicious. No doubt, best way to enjoy one of the Wonders of the World.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Timur_Nevermind, Russia

Review Date: 19 Jan 2020

Review Body: Have found Mrs.Smiley on Tripadvisor and she was able to organize a private tour for our family in a very limited time. She's a nice person, very professional and speaks good English - highly recommended! The boat was very OK, Captain is friendly and can speak some English too. He's also a really great cook - the food was delicious! Tour itself is so interesting, but please try to choose a good weather (we had to wait one day to have it sunny and warm). During the kayaking part you can find one more "hidden" cave (very tight and dark!) - just follow the other kayakers! Please be aware that Monkey Island has two trails on it's hill - one will take you to a very safe viewpoint with a tent, but the other one (most people take) will lead you to the top of the hill and it's REALLY DANGEROUS unless you're in a good shape and wearing trekking boots.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: GillianSiddle

Review Date: 22 Apr 2019

Review Body: Smiley is AMAZING We had read good reviews about Smiley online and set about finding her. We rang her number and headed to the small port where the Halong Tours on Cat Ba depart from. Suddenly she appeared - she is a whirlwind of positive energy and seems to be running the island from the pier itself, ha ha. We hadn't booked and wanted to tour the next day - unfortunately her tour was full but she immediately rang her friend at Cat Ba Local and booked us on. The tour was amazing and what was more amazing was how helpful Smiley was despite not being able to take our business - she didn't try to convince us to sail with her the next day, she simply did all she could do to help us have a great experience. So, if you arrive in Cat Ba and aren't sure of where to book a tour - just ring Smiley and she'll sort you out. Thanks Smiley!!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: John P

Review Date: 11 Jan 2019

Review Body: Private Han La Bay Tour (& More) We booked a private tour through our hotel, Hoi Lake Farmstay, and Smiley met us at the docks the next morning. The boat captain (Smiley's father) took us around Monkey Island, Han La Bay, and the floating fishing village. It was a magical way to see the area, and the fact that it was private was really nice! It was the highlight of our time in Cat Ba! Smiley and her father went above and beyond to accommodate us. Case in point: we mentioned to Smiley that we were interested in taking some local seafood back to Hanoi, and after the tour Smiley took us to a buy a tasty fish and helped us find a cooler and ice. We cleaned and cut the fish back in Hanoi and had a few delicious dinners, which made for a great memory of the trip to Cat Ba! Highly recommend Smiley and her father!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: matthewhinkly

Review Date: 17 Jun 2018

Review Body: Reliable and honest ! Highly recommended We were worried when it came to picking the right agency for our tour in Vietnam because we've read many other reviews on Tripadvisor .Smiley knew our worries and was very patient in explaining things to us .Before coming to Smiley , we had been to many other agencies.Honestly speaking, many were not honest and we felt insecure with these travel agencies. BUT this is not the case at Cat ba package tour ! Smiley was very helpful and friendly .We wanted to avoid the super packed cruises on this area so we booked a private tour . I totally recommend it! Most of the trip was just us on the bay and we were getting to the stops before the big boats were coming.The meals was amazing and it was the best food I have ever had!! Definitely recommend! Great experience!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: travelwithchristan

Review Date: 26 Oct 2019

Review Body: Tour Lan Ha bay - HaLong Bay We were looking for a tour through Ha Long Bay area.The most important thing for us was that it is not too touristy.After a short research, we found Cat Ba Package Tour because they have great recommendation on TripAdvisor We booked the tour before we finally arrived at Cat Ba and everything worked out perfectly , especially the communication with Smiley. Smiley advised us to start early to have the bay to our selves.This turned out to be a great trip .We arrived everywhere before the masses of other tourists.Everything was great on the tour.The caption was very nice and the food he cooked was more than good For us it was totally worth the money enjoying the quietness of surrounding nature without other tourist group.All in all we can recommend booking with Smiley !

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Travellers82381

Review Date: 26 Dec 2018

Review Body: 2 day 1 night private tour of cat Ba and halong Bay awesome. We have just finished a 2 day 1 night tour with smiley which involved a guided kayak, plenty of swimming which both my teenage boys loved jumping from the boat, a freedom kayak, walking on monkey Island and relaxing on the boat. Smiley's organisational skills meant that everything ran like clockwork. Lunch was fresh food cooked on the boat - fantastic. Because it was a private tour we were able to kayak for as long as we wanted no time pressure. We stayed overnight on a floating house which gave us an appreciation for life living on the water. Smiley is incredibly accommodating and a very cheerful lady. Guides spoke good English. I would recommend smiley's tours to anyone that wants a more personalised experience

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Fernando D, Spain

Review Date: 16 Sep 2018

Review Body: Smiley will make your trip unforgettable Contacted through some travelers experience in some forums, she prepared an exclusive trip for my family (2 adults + 3 teens), picking us up in Hanoi. 2 hour bus trip, ferry to Cat Ba, and another bus to the port. There she was waiting and introduced us to Phuc, the local guide that stayed with us for two days. Everything was organized only for us: small boat that took us around the isles, the house in the Viet Village (only accessed by bicycle), trekking, kayaking, snorkel, Monkey Island... apart from the crowded tours. Huge surprise when the boat pilot had prepared a wonderful lunch once we came back from kayaking. Talk to her and she will arrange your visit according to your schedule, budget and preferences.

Review rating: 5

Itinerary Day 1

Itinerary Summary: Today you will kayak through water caves, hidden lagoons, swim and relax in Three Peaches Island.

Itinerary Description: 7.30 am: Get on the boat, the boat will start cruising towards Lan Ha Bay, visit a fishing village where you can see the local way of life on floating houses on the sea. See limestone islets of different formations- candle, toad islets. 9 am: Arrival at the kayaking spot. Kayak through caves. 11 am: The boat will drop its anchor at a quiet lagoon. Enjoy freshly cooked Vietnamese lunch. 12 pm: The boat will stop around a secluded beach. Feel free to take a dip or kayak around Three Peaches Island. 2 pm: On the way back, you will visit Monkey Island. Hike up to the top for a panoramic view of the bay. 3.30 pm: Return to the harbour.