Review Author: Georgie

Review Date: 28 Apr 2025

Review Body: Chans’ tour was exceptionally good. I thought it would be a small group and it turned out to be just my partner and I. The tour is well off the beaten path, away from tourists boats both big and small and you really feel you have the place to yourself for large parts of the day. We went around the fishing village on a small boat before transferring to kayaks and paddling around lan ha bay for about 4 hours exploring secret lagoons and hidden caves that only a local would know. It was a good mix of paddling, swimming and relaxing in the sunshine. Because you are away from other tourists it is very peaceful, we heard and saw lots of birds, and also saw little fish, crabs and even some little cuttlefish! We had draft beer and an excellent dinner on a floating homestay while the sun set and then went back out to another private lagoon to swim with the bioluminescent plankton, again completely on our own. A totally magical experience. And to top it off, a 10 min speedboat back to the mainland! At the risk of sounding hyperbolic, this was the best tour we have done in Vietnam, and one of the best things we have ever done. It is well worth booking if you want to experience the beauty and peace of the nature of Lan Ha bay at a relaxed and gentle pace.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Ashlin

Review Date: 20 Nov 2025

Review Body: 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!!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Chris Eeraerts

Review Date: 18 Jul 2026

Review Body: We had a fantastic day out on the bay. Chan picked us up by speedboat from the Ancient House in Viet Hai and took us to a floating kayak venue. Spending the afternoon enjoying a completely private kayaking experience was truly magical for our family of five. Having the bay all to ourselves, surrounded by such breathtaking scenery, made it an unforgettable experience. We ended the day with a visit to a floating fisherman's house, followed by a delicious seafood hotpot dinner near Cat Ba Harbour. A speedboatride in complete darkness back to Viet Hai Harbour and a nightwalk through the jungle back to the Ancient House was an unforgettable experience. Chan is a proud local with a relaxed attitude and an honest, thoughtful perspective on the evolution of Cat Ba. His knowledge, hospitality, and passion for the area made the day even more memorable. Without a doubt, this was one of the highlights of our trip. Highly recommended! — Chris, Barbara, Ava, Renee & Isaac

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Mish Jeff

Review Date: 01 Jan 2026

Review Body: Our family enjoyed our Cat Ba adventure with Chans. Chans was informative, friendly and accommodating throughout our tour. He was very passionate and knowledgeable about the Cat Ba area . He showed us beautiful places away from the busy tourist spots. Highlights of our day included foraging for mussels and crabs. We found an octopus and sea snails too. We enjoyed a gorgeous sunset while snacking on our seafood. We kayaked through a lagoon before any of the other tourists got there. We stopped in for a cup of tea at a floating fishing home with local fisherman. Chans helped us chat with the fishermen and we learnt about their daily life. We finished our day sharing a sensational seafood hot pot together. We recommend Chans’ tour for those who like to travel in a small group, and spend time seeing the details, and meeting the locals. Today it was a private tour for just our family. Thank you Chans for taking such good care of us.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Lewis

Review Date: 03 Nov 2025

Review Body: 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! 😄

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Sophia

Review Date: 30 Sep 2024

Review Body: I've taken a few boat trips in Lan Ha Bay, but this one was by far the best. We traveled with a super small group of just three people, and Chans ensured an incredibly intimate and personalized experience. He took us to spots where there were no other tourists, so we had these beautiful places all to ourselves! Learning to catch thunder crabs was a bit intimidating at first, but it turned out to be such a fun adventure. Later, we enjoyed the freshly boiled crabs with a few beers while soaking in the stunning views of Lan Ha Bay—it truly felt like paradise. Chans' hospitality, deep knowledge of the bay, and the hidden gems he shared made this trip unforgettable. I can't decide what I loved most—the warm welcome, the breathtaking locations, or the authentic local activities—but all of it made for an incredible experience. Thank you, Chans, for making this trip so special!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Thibault & Pauline

Review Date: 09 Nov 2024

Review Body: The entire tour with Tienh was absolutely incredible. After getting our gear ready we got into the kayaks and set off. It was very relaxed and there were some small breaks on the way to every place to rest and enjoy the beauty around us. We saw local fishermen harvesting the mussels that had been growing for 2 years, went to the dark cave and had a little adventure with headtorches searching for crabs in the dark before getting to the inner lake, went to the fishing village by night and had a self-caught dinner with fish, mussels and homemade food from Tienh on a bonfire on a deserted beach under the stars. It was back to basics and absolutely amazing (and delicious). Besides these ‘activities’ the views of Lan Ha Bay were stunning all day. Tienh is a top-notch guy, very nice and relaxed. We had a super day with him.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Suzan

Review Date: 14 Jun 2025

Review Body: Had an amazing day! Initially we booked a trip in the bay but because of strong winds and an upcoming storm the bay was closed. Chans came up with an amazing alternative and we spent a whole day exploring Cat Ba island. We could help harvest rice which was so cool to experience! We went to see the mangroves and peddled around on our SUP boards. We looked for clamps in the water and went to the local market to buy food. After watching the sunset, all the food including the clamps where prepared and we had a super local dinner. If you want to see more of Cat Ba than just beaches and the bay, we would definitely recommend this tour! Chans really took the time to show us the local way of living, the hospitality, the beauty and variety of nature this island has to offer. Big thank you!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Jouke

Review Date: 26 Jul 2026

Review Body: We had an amazing trip with Chans. As a Cat Ba local he knew all spots in Lan Ha bay where tourists can’t come with the big cruise operators (of which there are a lot!). For us it was an amazing experience to paddle through the lagoons and relax at a private beach. Be prepared though, these places are remote and to get there you have to do quite some paddling in the kayak. During the tour, Chans explained about local life, fishing traditions and about the bay. After the time on the water we spent some time at a local fishermen’s house which is floating in the bay. To end the tour we had a delicious see food diner at a local restaurant. If you want to experience the beauty of the bay without being bothered by the tourists that flock the island, Chans is your guy!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Will L

Review Date: 13 Jan 2026

Review Body: Chan’s tour was amazing!! Went kayaking to an amazing lagoon and spent time there (we had the whole place to ourselves) before tourists from the boats arrived. Then went kayaking to a hidden area that was stunning. We finished kayaking at the perfect time to watch the sunset, then stopped by one of the fishing villages and spoke with several fishermen and their families, before finishing the day with hotpot Chan also helped provide a lot of context and information throughout and was really passionate and personable. One of the better tours I’ve had, and I thoroughly recommend if you want to experience Lan Ha bay in a less rushed way and have quiet time to take in its beauty

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Chans

Review Date: 01 Jul 2025

Review Body: Our tour with Chans was fantastic. It ended up as a private tour with just the two of us. Chans had a great knowledge of the best spots to visit in La Han Bay depending on the weather and tide. We ended up going to a secluded bay where we were able to kayak completely alone. We then went to get some fresh crabs from a fisherman’s boat which we then ate at a picnic on a private beach. We then also went for the bioluminescence plankton tour as well as having oysters for dinner. The tour was at a relaxed pace and while also seeing lots, and Chans was able to adapt to what we wanted to see. He was very knowledgeable and kind. Would thoroughly recommend his tour!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Otte

Review Date: 30 Nov 2023

Review Body: We had the best time doing the kayaking tour with Chans in Cat Ba. It was so special to do this tour with a local who knew all the facts and stories. Doing this tour it was just us, so we really experienced how the people are living in the floating villages in Lan Ha Bay. Also we went kayaking to some private beaches en caves which was very cool. Finding oysters, mussels and crabs during the day, we ended making a campfire a secret beach, bbqing all the seafood and drinking beers. Thanks to Chans, who was the most enthousiast tour guide I ever met, this trip will be unforgettable. Will definitely recommend to everyone who likes some adventure!! Thanks Chans!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Joe Bolton

Review Date: 15 Aug 2026

Review Body: A brilliant tour to see the more quite and unique places on Cat Ba island. Chan is a knowledgeable local expert and knew where the best places to go are based on weather and the time of year. He focuses on enjoying the beauty of the nature in more secluded areas away from the hustle and bustle of the large yachts. He gives you time to relax and shares knowledge that you would only know from living in a place all your life and having that true local knowledge. We couldn't recommend it enough, plus we also were lucky to enough to see Cat Ba langurs really close up which wouldn't have been possible on one of the larger cruises! A++ day out

Review rating: 5

Review Author: An-Sofie Lemmens

Review Date: 03 Aug 2026

Review Body: We had an amazing day with Chans! He knows the area really well and made a real effort to tailor the trip to what our family wanted. We were also lucky to end up with a private tour since there were no other guests that day. The kayaking was fantastic (about 4 hours in total, with plenty of breaks), and we loved the stunning scenery, the peaceful atmosphere, and swimming at the secluded beaches. The day started with some rain, but it ended with a beautiful sunset and a delicious seafood and fish hotpot, which was the perfect finish. Chans is definitely worth every penny. We would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the area!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Johanna

Review Date: 04 Apr 2026

Review Body: We had a great tour through Lan Ha Bay with Chans. It was only the three of us at that day, but that was no problem. He really showed us the hidden gems and made sure that we could enjoy the spots for ourselves offside the touristy areas. We had enough time to kayak, lay at the beach and explore a cave and view point. We even stopped at some fishermens boat and enjoyed some crabs in a very private and local way. At the end we had the best seafood hotpot at a local restaurant. Also Chans organized our complete way back to Hanoi. He was very helpful. We can only recommend the tour 😊

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Marriet

Review Date: 08 Dec 2024

Review Body: We had an excellent time with Chans during our tour. We were lucky enough to be just by ourselves, which made it even more special. The largest part of the trip you'll be kayakking at a leisurely pace from bay to bay, away from the larger cruise ships. This was a great way to enjoy nature without being disturbed by tons of people. It was so much fun catching crabs and later eating them on the beach. Chans is very knowledgeable and shows great respect for the surroundings and local fisherman's families trying to make a living on the water.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Cody

Review Date: 31 Oct 2023

Review Body: Amazing tour of Lan Ha Bay. Our tour guide, Chanc was seriously so good. He is a local and has been in this area for years so he knew the ins and outs of the bay. He took us to areas where no other tourists were and we had the entire area to our selves for the duration of the tour. He was so knowledgeable and took great photos/videos of us too. If you’re looking for a kayak tour of this area, you have to book it because he took us where other tours do not take you. Definitely worth the price!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Lauren

Review Date: 04 Aug 2026

Review Body: This is the tour to book if you want to see some really cool places in lan ha bay! For most of the tour we felt like the only ones there! Chans tailored the trip based on the weather and showed us some stunning areas that we would otherwise never have known about! There was plenty of time to enjoy the scenery and nature. Afterwards we enjoyed a seafood hotpot dinner; Chans showed us the proper way to eat hotpot (we would’ve been lost without him!) Thank you so much for a memorable trip!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Felix

Review Date: 11 Aug 2026

Review Body: This kajak trip is the best way to experience lan ha bay, period! Chans takes you to all the special places and little lagoons you wont find on your own. No tourist crowds, No noisy party ships! He knows the bay like the back of his hand and has seen all the spots already a thousand times so he goes fishing, and leaves you space to enjoy the scenic beaches on your own! If you dare you get a private lesson in vietnamese seafood hotpot cooking at the end of the tour!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Makiatoz

Review Date: 30 Sep 2023

Review Body: The most amazing experience tour I have ever had! Chans our guide makes everything magic, we enjoy the real living of local people from halong bay. We discovered so many secret spots and went to beautiful places. Chans was very helpful and you feel he enjoy his job making sure you are satisfied all the time. The activities, the menu he choose, the experience, i can just say WONDERFUL. Thank you Chans you turn your tour to an authentic experience. 100% recomended

Review rating: 5

Itinerary Day 1

Itinerary Summary: Sunset cruise, Kayaking, Swiming, seafood hotpot dinner

Itinerary Description: Don’t just visit Lan Ha Bay — slow down, explore, and experience it like a local. 11:30 – 11:45 | HOTEL PICK-UP – CAI BEO PIER Pick up at your hotel/homestay in Cat Ba Town and transfer to Cai Beo Harbor. Board the boat and cruise through Cai Beo Floating Fishing Village. 12:00 – 12:30 | LAN HA BAY CRUISE Cruise through the stunning limestone islands and enjoy views of secluded beaches, including Cat Dua Island (Monkey Island). 12:30 – 14:30 | KAYAKING & BEACH TIME Kayak with a local guide to a quiet, secluded beach. Enjoy time to swim, relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. 14:30 – 15:30 | AMAZING HIDDEN LAGOON Kayak through Amazing Hidden Lagoon – Paradise Lagoon, surrounded by limestone cliffs and crystal-clear water. 15:30 – 17:00 | SEA CAVE EXPLORATION Explore a beautiful sea cave by kayak or swimming, depending on the daily tide and water level. 17:00 – 18:30 | SUNSET & CAI BEO FLOATING VILLAGE Enjoy the sunset on the way back. If you're lucky, you may spot the rare Cat Ba Langur. Cruise around Cai Beo Floating Fishing Village and visit a local family to experience their authentic life on the bay. 18:30 – 19:30 | SEAFOOD DINNER EXPERIENCE Enjoy a delicious fresh seafood hot pot with local ingredients, shared together in a warm and relaxing atmosphere. Please let us know in advance if you have any food allergies or dietary requirements, including vegetarian meals. 19:30 - 19:45 | RETURN TO CAT BA TOWN Transfer back to your hotel/homestay. End of the adventure. IMPORTANT NOTE - TIDE-DEPENDENT EXPLORATION Low tide: Explore Co Do Cave, about 300m long, leading to a beautiful saltwater lagoon and a local oyster-farming area. Medium tide: Explore a coastal cave about 50m long, with a peaceful saltwater lagoon inside. High tide: Enjoy swimming through a sea cave and exploring a beautiful natural valley. The itinerary is flexible depending on the daily tide and weather conditions. Your local guide will update you on the most suitable itinerary before the tour. Special tide-dependent exễprience For around 4–6 days each month, depending on the tide and weather, you may have the opportunity to catch crabs, clams and shellfish, or snorkel to explore coral reefs. Free snorkeling masks, snorkels, and water shoes are provided. Please bring: Mosquito repellent, Sunscreen, Change of clothes, Towel, Hat, Some light snacks, Beach sandals or water shoes, Personal medication.