What makes the night special
Sleeping on the water here is the whole point. As the last light fades behind the karsts, your boat anchors in a quiet corner of the bay where the only sound is the tide. After dinner, you can paddle out in a kayak to watch bioluminescent plankton glow beneath your oar — tiny sparks of blue-green light that flicker with each stroke. By morning, you'll wake to mist curling around limestone pillars and the low hum of a fishing boat somewhere in the distance. Two nights of this: no traffic, no alarms, just the bay and whatever pace suits you.
The trip begins with the journey from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island, where you'll board your boat and sail into Lan Ha Bay. You'll pass Cai Beo Floating Village and towering limestone karsts before sitting down to a freshly prepared Vietnamese lunch on deck. In the afternoon, kayak through the lagoons and caves of the Three Tunnels area, where steep cliffs rise on both sides while calm water reflects the rock above. There's time to swim at Ba Trai Dao Beach, visit a floating fish farm and join a Vietnamese cooking class as the sun drops. After dinner, paddle out into the dark to see bioluminescent plankton before the boat settles near Viet Hai Village for the night.
After breakfast on board, cycle through Viet Hai Village, a small community tucked away on Cat Ba Island, surrounded by rice paddies and jungle-covered hills. Back on the boat, the cruise continues towards Monkey Island. Spend the afternoon on the beach, swim in the bay or hike up for sweeping views across the limestone peaks. There's more time for kayaking before dinner is served on board, and another night anchored in the quiet of the bay.
Ease into the final morning with breakfast on deck as the boat cruises through more remote caves and rocky islets. After one last look across the emerald waters, you'll return to the harbour and make your way back to Hanoi or continue your travels through Vietnam.
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Receive a 100% refund if you cancel up to 72 hours before the experience begins., Receive a 50% refund if you cancel up to 48 hours before the experience begins.
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Meeting point:
Please meet your guide at the Beka Travel - Cát Bà office located at 168 on 1/4 Street, Cat Hai, Hai Phong, Vietnam. If you prefer hotel pick-up in Cat Ba Town (included in your ticket price), please indicate your hotel address and the local supplier will pick you up.
Beka Travel
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Yes. You'll be on a crewed boat operated by Beka Travel, an established local operator based in Cat Ba. The cruise follows well-known routes through Lan Ha Bay and Ha Long Bay with an English-speaking tour guide on board throughout. Life jackets and kayaking equipment are provided for all water-based activities.
You'll spend two nights on the cruise boat instead of your hotel. Let your hotel reception know you'll be away for two nights — there's no need to cancel your room, just inform them so they don't expect you back.
All meals on board (freshly prepared Vietnamese cuisine), kayak and paddle, bicycle for the village ride, entrance fees for Lan Ha Bay and Ha Long Bay, a tour guide, and hotel pick-up and drop-off from Cat Ba town are included. Accommodation on the boat for two nights is included. Drinks and personal expenses are not included.
Northern Vietnam's dry season runs from October to April, with cooler temperatures and less humidity making it comfortable for kayaking and cycling. March and April bring warmer weather and calmer seas. The summer months (May–September) are hotter and wetter, though the bay is still navigable — just expect occasional rain showers.
A moderate level of fitness is helpful. The trip includes kayaking through caves and lagoons, cycling through Viet Hai Village on flat terrain, and an optional hike on Monkey Island. None of these are strenuous, but you should be comfortable with light physical activity over three days. Swimming ability is useful for the beach stops but not mandatory.
