Visiting the limestones island of Halong Bay was one of my Bucket list destinations. Similar like visiting the Machu Picchu and the Great Wall of China. Halong Bay is an UNESCO World Heritage Site and known for its breathtaking scenery. The bay consist of around 2,000 limestone islands formed over millions of years through geological processes. The areas name “Halong” means “Descending Dragon,” about dragons sent by the gods to protect Vietnam from invaders, according to the locals.
Lan Ha Bay is located to the east of Cat Ba Island and it is said to be less crowded and but not less stunning than Halong Bay. Like the beautiful little sister of Halong Bay! Lan Ha Bay covers over 300 islands and limestone formations which are covered in jungle vegetation in emerald waters. After some research I decided to go Cat Ba and travel from here to the North instead of the more touristy base of Ha Long and sail south. I was happy with my decision, and I will tell you why below in my blog!
How to get to Cat Ba Island?
From Hanoi, you have a few options to get to Cat Ba Island. Cat Ba is the gateway to visit Halong Bay and the little sister Lan Ha Bay. The easiest and cheapest way is to take a bus or use a shuttle service, followed by a ferry. I booked my transport via 12GoAsia with Cat Ba Express, way in advance and they offer direct services from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island, including the shuttle bus with hotel pick-up and ferry transfer. At least that is what I thought I booked, but in reality I was offered to go by cable car instead of the boat. I’m afraid of heights and I didn’t want to go by cable car. So together with another passenger we went in a small boat and switched onto another bus. The bus dropped me off just in time at 11:30 AM at the Ca Ba Ventures office, where I booked an overnight Halong Bay and Lan Ha Boat Cruise. On my way back the bus to Tam Coc, Ninh Binh went on the ferry itself. So there are three ways to cross the river/sea: ferry, passenger boat and cable car.
Total time to get to the town of Cat Ba from Hanoi by shuttle took about 4 hours and cost about 10-15 USD
Overnight Cruise: A Magical Experience
When I arrived at Cat Ba Island, I checked in at the Cat Ba Ventures Office, paid the last outstanding bill in cash. The total price of the 2 days /1 night trip to Lan Ha and Halong Bay cost me ~207 USD in total without drinks but including a private room. We left the office at 11:15 AM in a shuttle (15 min) to the pier of Cat Ba where we embarked the overnight boat cruise. On this overnight cruise you’ll have the chance to fully immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay.
The itinerary of the cruise could vary due to tide and weather conditions; I was lucky that all were in our favor!
Room with a View
First of a short introduction of the crew, tour guide and my fellow travelers. A mix of nationalities ages and a couple with two kids. The cabins were appointed to each couple and we could bring our luggage to the room. I was surprised by the quality of the room! It was huge and neat and the view! The bathroom was ok too. Hot water after in the evening and morning and more on request. The room has an air conditioner, in my case in January I could even heat it up during the night. ensuring a restful night amidst the tranquil waters. The gentle rocking of the boat and the serene environment made me sleep like a baby. I already felt sorry that I booked only one night, the room view when waking up is amazing!
I booked a room for myself and paid 65 USD extra that was definitely worth the money!
Delicious Food
I loved the food! The family style meals are a very welcome change after eating by myself in Hanoi. The variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner are so good, you can even request vegetarian if you want as well. But I love seafood and it couldn’t be fresher than eating it here! The crew is friendly and very helpful. My mojito during sunset tasted so good!! But perhaps I was distracted by the view as well! In the morning I could even order a salted coffee and the breakfast pancakes with fresh fruits were just my thing, could it get any better?!
Comfortable Boat
The boat is perfect, it is not a mayor fancy luxury boat, but I preferred this and loved the people on board. Good mix between age and nationality and we laughed a lot. I think if you book a fancier cruise from Halong Bay with own balcony and private bath, the people would not be aligned like we were. Cat Ba is also the more backpack and easy going base I understood. So it’s up to you, there are many boats to choose from, but I was very happy with my boat, crew, itinerary and fellow travelers. The boat is comfortable with enough space in the common area and a great sundeck with lounge chairs. On the bow of the boat you can take your next profile picture! On one side of the boat you will have steep stairs to get on and off the boat after swimming. At the back of the boat there is an area for launching the kayaks.
I highly recommend to book an overnight cruise, instead of a day trip from Hanoi, too much travel and definitely not relax. The area is too beautiful not to spend more than a day!
Activities on the 2-day Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay Cruise
This cruise offered a good mix of relaxation and adventure, with various activities included in the tour. In our tour we went kayaking, swimming, fishing, explored hidden beaches and visited the floating fishing villages of Cat Ba. Next to the enjoying the sunset, watching the stars and amaze the stunning landscapes of Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay.
Amazing Kayaking
We went kayaking through the serene greenish waters, exploring hidden lagoons and went in and through dark caves. Kayaking allows you to get up and close to the limestone karsts and discover areas that the larger boats cannot reach. Cat Ba Ventures, goes to other lagoons on different timings than many other boats. We had our own kayaks and didn’t have to rent them at designated areas’. This is a big advantage, compared to the tour operators.
Bring you Go-Pro or other underwater camera, to make unique shots from and in the water!
Kayaking was twice on the agenda in this 2-day cruise. First time on the first day for almost two hours at Bat Cave and Dark Cave in Lan Ha Bay to see the rock arch and hidden lagoons. The second kayak activity was the early in the morning before breakfast of the second day in Halong Bay. I loved this tour; it was so beautiful and quiet in the bay. We discovered three hidden lagoons called Ho Ba Ham. We even spotted a group of monkeys during this tour. The caves with hidden lagoons are so peaceful and stunning. The group dynamic is amazing too! Taken pictures from each other and laughing a lot. When returning to the boat, we saw another group coming to the area as well. Great timing!!
Warning: The tide is very important to get into the caves with the kayak and entering the lagoons. We were lucky that the tide was good at the right time and the sea was calm with not too much wind and clear sunny skies!
Refreshful Swim
On our 2-day trip we went swimming twice. The water temperature in January is fresh to cold. But warmer than I’m used to in the Netherlands; so I went for it! Loved to be in the clear waters, the water is more greenish than turquoise. Our first swim was at a secluded beach in Lan Ha Bay before lunch on the first day. But I loved our second swim even better at the second spot on the second day to Dau Be Island. There were three stunning deserted beaches to which we could swim. The outside temperature was warmer than the day before which made the swim more comfortable as well.
If you don’t like to swim you can take the kayak to the beach if you want, crew is very flexible.
What a unique place, which reminded me a bit of the sailing tour in the Philippines, between Coron and El Nido, check here. The vibe, food, accompany, landscapes all is perfect!!
You can take a snorkel set as well, but there is not really much to see, no corals in this area.
Squid Fishing
After dinner, we chilled at the deck with a drink and watched the clear sky full of stars. The crew showed us how to catch some squids with a simple stick and wire. But this was more difficult than it looked like. None of us caught any squid, only the crew got one. It was not high season we were told, perhaps that was the reason. We had fun anyways, after I went to bed early I was tired of a full day of swimming and kayaking. I love it here!
Visiting Floating Villages
On our way back from Lan Ha Bay to Cat Ba Island we sailed through the local floating fishing villages. The guide explained about the unique lifestyle of the local fishing communities in this area. These villages offer a glimpse into the traditional way of life on the water, where houses float and fishing is the primary occupation. Did you know you can book a B&B in one of these houses?!
Sunbathing and Chillin
We were lucky in January that there was no must in the area. The air temperature was around 20 degrees and full sun. This was unique the guide told us, the previous week was a lot colder and less sunny. The sun deck is perfect to heat up and working on your tan.
Watch the Sunset!
The setting for an amazing sunset is all here. Nice crew, great fellow travelers, cheap cocktails, stunning nature, comfortable boat and the clear skies made the sunset a real gift. Judge for yourself?!
Staying in Cat Ba Town
The boat returned to Cat Ba Town around 15:00 PM, some of my fellow travelers took the last bus back to Hanoi, but I booked an overnight stay in Cat Ba. I thought that was a good decision, chill a bit and sort out my 100 photos of the two days including Go-Pro.
I booked the well picked Cat Ba Eco Lodge Hotel in the center of Cat Ba. I loved the style of this brand new and eco-friendly hotel. The price was very good and the service even better. Check the booking link here to support me in maintaining the website.
Cat Ba is the largest Island in the Gulf of Tonkin, with Cat Ba Town as main as central hub to the beaches, national parks and cave and jungle adventures. The stretched town is still there, but I was shocked by the builds in front of the main street. Hundreds of meters of new housing, buildings and artificial beaches. It affected the whole view and future vibe of Cat Ba. The cable car and this, Cat Ba will grow!
Check Rustic House & Coffee: Loved the vibe and good cappuccino (50k VND / 2$)
Check the Night Market for last minute shopping for the trip or onwards travel
If you don’t have enough time to spend an extra day in Cat Ba you can book your transport directly after the cruise. I booked my bus to Ninh Binh for the next day already in advance via 12GoAsia with Daiichi. The bus picked me up at my hotel and went on the ferry! Up to my next adventure to the ‘Halong Bay on Land’ Ninh Binh!
Conclusion
A trip from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island, followed by this overnight cruise through Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay, offers an unforgettable adventure packed with stunning beautiful nature, fun experiences and a lot of activities. Whether you love to kayak through hidden lagoons, swimming in crystal-clear waters or visiting the floating villages, this overnight cruise promises to be your highlight on your Vietnam trip. I recommend to book the Cat Ba Venture tour, the value for money is perfect. So don’t hesitate and don’t skip Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay via Cat Ba!!
Where are you heading next; Hanoi or Ninh Binh?
