Review Author: Ben Trotter

Review Date: 10 May 2026

Review Body: This was an incredible experience. Chans took us to a very beautiful, secret spot (with literally no other people there) to fish on a kayak for the day, and go for a little swim when we wanted. We got to try both lure fishing and bait fishing. After we’d caught a good amount of fish we went to a local restaurant where we cooked our whole catch with a hotpot. I would definitely recommend this experience, it was so unique and Chans is really knowledgeable about local fishing so we learned a lot!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Ariana & Quinn

Review Date: 28 Jan 2026

Review Body: This tour was absolutely incredible—by far our favorite experience in Vietnam. Chan and Bruce were outstanding guides who made the day both fun and informative. Their deep knowledge of local fishing traditions added so much value to the experience. Meeting local fishermen and getting a firsthand look at their daily lives was truly meaningful and offered an authentic way to explore Vietnam. We would highly recommend this tour to anyone and everyone.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Marco

Review Date: 01 May 2026

Review Body: Super experience with Chans !!! We were the only one booked for the day so he waited for us because our bus was late The experience was really nice we caught différent Fishes. We tried several fishing technics, We came back by boat to the harbor passing in front of the fisherman floating village and the restaurant cooked our fresh fishes

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Luke

Review Date: 19 Mar 2026

Review Body: Great day fishing, and Chans is a fantastic host! He told us all about the local fisherman culture while we caught a bunch of fish at various spots around the bay. Perfect for both beginner and experienced fishers. The meal at the end including our catch was the best meal of the trip so far, 10/10.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Daniel

Review Date: 07 Sep 2026

Review Body: Was an amazing experiance , Chan taught me how tp use lures and after we also went to fish using bait and had a great meal. If i had the time would have done it again

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Fred

Review Date: 02 Feb 2026

Review Body: I just took part in a fishing tour in Lan Ha Bay, starting from Cat Ba Island with Chans Tien Anh. It was really enjoyable. Chans is a fishing enthusiast who first took me to a kind of lake in the bay, nestled between karst rocks. At high tide, the bay fills the lake; at low tide, the lake drains back into the bay. Chans’s favorite fishing spot is right at the intersection. At high tide, you fish in the lake where the bay water rushes in. At low tide, you fish on the other side of the intersection, where the lake water flows out into the bay. This spot is teeming with small fish—we caught a good dozen. Chans also took me to the inner lake in search of bigger fish, but none showed up. According to him, fish are less active in winter (it was around 22–23°C), but when it’s warmer, it’s apparently crazy—he reels in a fish almost every cast. Once the fishing session was over, Chans took me to a floating restaurant near the fishermen’s village, where they prepared a local specialty with our catch of the day—an incredibly delicious fish soup. All in all, it was a really pleasant activity.

Review rating: 4

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

Itinerary Day 1

Itinerary Summary: Fishing & cooking in Cat Ba: catch local fish, explore Cai Beo & cook seafood hotpot

Itinerary Description: 07:30 Pick-up at hotels in Cat Ba Town and transfer to the pier. 07:50 Board a local wooden boat, visit Cai Beo Floating Village, then cruise to Hang Vem area or a quiet coastal island. 08:30 – 12:00 Enjoy a peaceful fishing experience in calm waters, guided by a local fisherman. 12:30 Lunch at a floating restaurant featuring seafood fried rice, seasonal stir-fried vegetables, grilled oysters, and dishes prepared from your own catch. 13:00 End of the fishing experience tour.