If you’re searching for Lan Ha Bay’s best overnight tour, you’re reading the right post! As a much quieter, less polluted and cheaper alternative to Ha Long Bay, let me give you a thorough rundown on the best things to do in Lan Ha Bay, and the tour that has so much to offer!

No doubt the UNESCO Site of Ha Long Bay may have been once the more spectacular destination in Vietnam. However, much seems to have changed.

I did extensive research online and have no regrets about avoiding this destination. Chocked full of boats (including massive cruise liners) and riddled with tourists, not to mention rubbish was everywhere!

From all the information I found online, Ha Long Bay wasn’t really what I was looking for. I wanted somewhere that I could relax and enjoy my time in nature, among the thousands of impressive limestone karts, of all sizes you can imagine.

With time a pressing issue, I did not have time to visit both, so I made the choice of the lesser visited area, just south instead of the Ha Long Bay.

This whole area of Vietnam is home to incredible limestone karts, quiet coves, beautiful open waters, and floating villages. If you’ve ever wanted to swim with luminescent plankton, it’s all in you’ll find it all in the quieter Ha Long Bay.

 

Where is Lan Ha Bay in Vietnam?

First of all, where is Lan Ha Bay? Located in the South China Sea and borders the well known Ha Long Bay to the north/east, the area of Vietnam is no stranger to tourism.

The closest city on the Vietnam mainland is Hai Phong and where most of the ferries depart from to the island of Cat Ba, the gateway to this unique land of karsts, floating villages and a whole lot of adventure.

If you’re coming from he capital, check out getting from Hanoi to Lan Ha Bay for all the information you need for an easy and comfortable journey.

You can find a map at the bottom of this post if you’d like to have a visual of where Cat Ba Island is located.

 

Cat Ba Island Tour Company

Note: As of March 1st, 2019, Asia Outdoors has permanently closed its doors. If you have alternative suggestions for a great overnight trip in Lan Ha Bay, Vietnam, please let me know in the comments section below!

While many tour operators offer overnight tours, one look at Asia Outdoors itinerary, and I was sold. Asia Outdoors offers a range of overnight tours depending on the activities you want and your time frame. Picking the best to suit you shouldn’t be hard at all.

I ended up taking their 3-day (2-night) adventure. The pricing depends on if others join you on the trip (you can have a private tour if you’d like!). If you decide to take a solo tour, the price is 5,500,000 VND ($324 AUD), but if even just one other person is on the tour, the price drops to 3,800,000 VND ($223 AUD). Definitely one of the more expensive tours I took throughout Southeast Asia, but I couldn’t be happier with my decision!

Just to be clear, this is not a sponsored post in any way, it was just that good!

Read on if you’re looking for things to do in Lan Ha Bay like rock climbing, kayaking, and swimming with plankton as they shimmer in the dark night-time waters.

 

Lan Ha Bay Overnight Tour Itinerary

Asia Outdoor’s 3 Day 2 Night tour was so packed full of things to do, I’ll give a short rundown on what to expect and why this tour should be on your list!

I suggest booking at least one day in advance. Even though Asia Outdoor was very efficient, these spots book out quickly! I visited in the wet season and we snagged the last couple spots on the tour the day before – let alone what it would be like in high tourist season!

These itineraries are available to be subbed out. There are multiple Asia Outdoors boats doing the different tours that meet up in the Bay, so to do another activity, you simply change onto another boat at the end of the day or even at lunchtime.

This means if there’s an activity that does not interest you, just speak with the staff when you book your tour, and they can help switch it up for you.

 

First Day Adventuring around Cat Ba Island

A late morning starts around 10:30 am from Outdoor Asia’s office on the main road of Cat Ba Island and you’re shuttled to Ben Binh ferry port on the East side of the island. From here it’s straight off into the emerald green waters and million-year-old limestone cliffs.

You will get your first encounter with the floating villages of Lan Ha Bay. Around 75% of Cat Ba Island’s population calls these villages home.

After a buffet-style lunch on the larger Outdoor Asia junk boat it’s time to begin the activities. Depending on what tour you picked and what day number of that tour you’re on, the boats split up after lunch accordingly.

 

Climb Limestone Karsts at Moody Beach

One activity I wasn’t expecting was rock climbing. Climbing these ancient limestone cliffs is a very different way to experience the beauty of the area.

From the lunch spot, it was only a few minutes away to Moody Beach on a small villager’s boat where the first lines were set up by a guide that made it look all too easy. Being a novice rock climber (this was my first time ever), and knowing I was going to try and climb this same route, my anxiety levels went up and up with every effortless step he made up the wall to show us the route.

In the end, my shaky legs somehow reach the top of all four pitches – the tallest being around 25m in height. I need to make sure my skill level of a novice is understood, these guys yelling encouragement from the ground was the only thing that kept me going.

Another great aspect of Asia Outdoors is that they are welcoming of any skill level. From a regular rock climber to me, they accommodated both. I needed a little bit more coaching to reach the top of each line.

I definitely didn’t expect to climb any rocks in Lan Ha Bay (indeed all of Asia) but I’m glad I did and I suggest giving it a try! The views from up top were unbelievable.

My first reaction to learning rock climbing was available in Han La Bay –  “Wouldn’t that cause significant damage to these ancient massive chunks of limestone?”  It is all heavily regulated. Only a few companies have the rights to certain routes and styles of climbing, reducing the wear and tear of these natural environments.

Please be aware that throughout this popular bay in Vietnam, there are companies that take climbers out for climbs that they are legally not allowed to. This can be unsafe for many reasons. Before you decide on climbing, make sure you go with a regulated company!

 

Explore Cat Ba Island’s Floating Villages

One of my favorite parts of the 3-day trip was just sightseeing from the boat. Around 3/4 of the local population live on the water on what’s known as “floating villages”. These houses are kept afloat by either Styrofoam (which unfortunately isn’t uncommon to see as trash) or giant blue barrels. They often have fish farms suspended and attached to them as well.

This unique way of life was constantly on show. They were everywhere. Some homes were isolated, but usually, they were grouped together. Some even had guard dogs that the guides warned us to not get too close. Apparently, they are known to jump at kayakers!

Restaurants and even a town hall are built within these villages. However, there are no schools, and children travel to Cat Ba Island to go to school.

 

Whisper Nature Bungalows – Sleeping in Cat Ba Island’s Jungle

The tour’s first night’s sleep was organized, deep in the jungle of Cat Ba Island, at Whisper Nature Bungalows and it was a short but scenic ride through the most beautiful scenery I’ve seen on the trip. Another boat was a rare sight.

Since all was dealt with by Asia Outdoors, it was incredibly easy. An electric car picked my group up at the dock and a short drive later we were checked in and settled in the bungalows.

Don’t get me wrong, Whisper Nature Bungalows were basic. There were hot showers and lights, and that was the height of the luxury. Not that I think that’s a bad thing at all. Sights to see in this tiny town are limited. A short walk into “town” and a lookout are the only real things to do in the short time frame I had.

If it has been raining I would suggest against the rocky lookout – I took the local bungalow owner’s word for it that the rocks would be incredibly slippery after the downpour of a day we had.

In saying all that, if you get the chance to stay at Whisper Nature Bungalows, go for it. It’s a perfect place to escape everyone else and unwind. So peaceful.

Dinner at the little restaurant bungalow on the property is also basic, but very nice – and cheap. While I was there, the owner’s probably 7-year-old daughter played a game with everyone. Just when you thought you’d got the rules down, she’d go and change them! All while giggling at the silly, confused tourists who couldn’t keep up.

 

Second Day Adventuring on the South China Sea in Vietnam

The second day of the tour was much the same, lunch included and this time kayaking was on the agenda. This allowed a closer look at all the floating villages and the impressive limestone karsts  – remember the guard dogs and stay your distance.

 

Kayak around Lan Ha Bay’s Floating Villages and Limestone Cliffs

Getting closer to the villages suspended on the water’s surface, seeing in more detail how they are constructed and how they are turned habitable is a great experience. Not to mention the constant cliff edges soaring high above. It is an impressive thing to witness.

Day number two was divided into two kayaking sessions, one before and one after lunch. By mid-day the sun was blistering and with little shade, it did get to be exhausting, but surrounded by Lan Ha Bay’s scenery there’s not much to complain about! There’s even a shipwreck in the afternoon you get to visit.

On top of the floating houses and cliffs, there are many other notable things to see in this spectacular area. We were guided to a little cove that housed a temple – built by three fishermen who took refuge here from a storm in the cove.

Interestingly, a cheap and easy to construct boat which I’ve never seen before was a thing in Lan Ha Bay. It was made entirely out of concrete! These concrete boats are brittle tough and can be seen snapped in half dotted around the day when they break they are done for!

A small warning, marine life is present in the bay. Swimming in certain parts of the bay is allowed (guides know all about this stuff) and the Big Lagoon is where I encountered a large jellyfish.

I was swimming under the water in this secluded little lagoon (we had to duck under a rock archway through the cliffs to get here!) and as I surfaced I smacked right into it! Luckily, I didn’t get stung in the face (getting stung in the eye sounds awful) but my entire right arm and knee hurt for hours after.

Another point I would like to bring up is that there is trash. It is extremely disheartening to see, especially along the shore and in lagoons where it piles up. Being in a kayak it is much more noticeable, especially just how much Styrofoam has broken off into the water!

Asia Outdoors perform clean up operations and if you ask you might be able to get a garbage bag to help out as you venture around Lan Ha Bay. Thankfully, the importance of keeping the environment clean is slowly gaining traction in the area!

 

Staying Overnight on Lan Ha Bay

If you only have one night to spend in the Cat Ba Island area, sleeping out on the water of Lan Ha Bay is something not to miss. This is where luminescent plankton is visible. The darker the water, the better. This means that if you want to see them, it’s time to jump into pitch-black water! I wasn’t super confident in it all after my run-in with that jellyfish, but I’m glad I took the leap off the boat.

These plankton are visible from just treading water on the surface of the water. As you move your arms and sometimes even feet, tiny little sparks shoot out, that vanish as quickly as they appear. To get an even better look at them, take goggles. They will be right in front of your eyes as you glide through the water!

Sleeping under the stars (or in the cabin if you visit in the monsoon season – whoops) is another great highlight. Staying in the pitch-black reveals so many stars! Jumping off the boat is allowed through a lot of the tour, but jumping off at night is a totally different, eerie feeling.

 

Third day adventuring on Cat Ba Island

This was the final day of this amazing tour, but there was still so much more to see coming our way!

This was the only day I was lucky enough to spot the massively endangered Cat Ba Langur – close resemblance to a monkey! With these beautiful creatures being hunted to almost extinction due to Chinese medicinal beliefs, there are only an estimated 68 left! They are fiercely guarded by both locals and police and no one is allowed to step foot on their protected habitat located on Cat Ba.

But sometimes, they do come to the cliff’s edge for a visit and you can spot them while passing in your boat or kayak! Keep an eye out for reddish-orange swinging and noise. They only reside in a very specific section of the bay in Vietnam, get your guide to point out where they might turn up!

 

Hike through the dense Cat Ba jungle

A 6.5km, extremely challenging hike was the only tour-operated activity for the third and final day. After heading back to Cat Ba Island in the morning, we set off with a local, Troan, to his family’s cafe in the National Park. He also doubled as a wonderful hiking guide for the trek.

This jungle trek would have been impossible without a guide, as there was no trail. Troan explained that each time he takes people on this trek, the path changes, as he must accommodate for conditions and trekker abilities. At times a scramble up a sheer rock face was the only way forward. This relatively short hike was incredibly exhausting. Every step took concentration, so it was not only physically challenging but a mental challenge as well.

While this bush was intense for me, many creatures, mainly bugs, flourished. A centipede-looking insect that turned a bitten limb blue for a week and tiny black and white wispy spiders that glided around the track seemed to be the most intimidating here, there was, however, another resident that took me by surprise.

A bright red jungle crab. I thought the poor little thing was lost until I noticed many others throughout the trek. I definitely wasn’t expecting a jungle crab before I began the hike!

 

Cat Ba Island – Restaurant and Attractions

If you have a bit of time to spend on Cat Ba, I suggest visiting Fort Cannon Lookout. A steep, asphalt paved road is the only way up and down and is definitely walkable. Visiting for sunrise/sunset is a great idea, although does get a little busy. Walking around the Fort’s military installations, including an underground bunker, is another great past time.

If you are looking for a great restaurant, check out Buddha Belly Restaurant! This typically vegetarian restaurant was so tasty I couldn’t stop eating! One of my favorite meals of my entire time in Asia.

 

How to get to/from Cat Ba Island

Most traffic to Cat Ba Island comes through Hanoi (if you’re spending time in Hanoi, don’t miss out of any of this!). Many bus services run frequently to and from Cat Ba Island. Most of these services are early morning. If you’re coming from Ha Long Bay there is a ferry that takes around 2 hours to arrive directly from there.

Most transports to the island I found was poorly organized. My shuttle bus leaving from Hanoi to Cat Ba was over 3 hours late…even though there were free spots on shuttles that left before it. I don’t know but it was frustrating. If you’re traveling from Hanoi, be prepared for long wait times.

Make sure you check out the best hostels in Hanoi to make your stay in the capital even better.

 

Map of Cat Ba Island and Lan Ha

Getting to Cat Ba Island is super easy and most make the journey from Hai Phong, where ferries leave from. Have a scroll around the map below for a better idea of the area.

 

Cat Ba Tour – Information

For my Lan Ha Bay tour, Asia Outdoors was the third company I considered. But upon talking to them immediately booked. They were incredibly professional and well organized, but I also loved how easy they all were to get along with. I never felt like their customer, more of a friend. This was refreshing after traveling a lot of Asian busy hotspots.

This 3 Day 2 Night Adventure will set you back either 5.5 million VND if done solo, or 3.8 million VND ($324 and $223 AUD respectively). While it’s a large figure by SE Asian standards, it is worth it. This price includes all lunches. One breakfast and one dinner are also included.

For the other meals and drinks make sure you bring cash as settling up your tab usually happens at the end of every night. You most likely won’t be on the same boat the entire tour.

Vietnam’s currency is the Vietnamese Dong (VND) and for $1 Australian Dollar, you get approximately 17,000 VND at the time of writing.

I chose Asia Outdoors after shopping around for other options. I highly suggest them (obviously). I found comfort in their safety standards and enjoyed my time with their down to earth and professional guides. However, it doesn’t hurt to shop around yourself – you might find a tour more suited to you.

 

Cat Ba Tour – Tips

The Vietnamese sun can be unrelenting. Seeing are you will be spending most of the three days on or around the water, be mindful that the sun’s reflection from the glassy surface can increase your chances of burning. Water, sunblock and appropriate clothing are essential, and bug spray wouldn’t be a bad idea either!

Be careful of all animals while on the tour, wild and domesticated. While I only got stung by a jellyfish, other potential threats come from jungle bugs and guard dogs on the floating villages.

If you’re looking for more generic travel tips (especially if you haven’t traveled much before) check out my massive travel tips post here!

I ended up catching an overnight service from Phong Nha (which made an early morning stopover in Hanoi). If you’re traveling through central Vietnam, I highly suggest both going trekking through Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park and also spending time in Phong Nha town itself!

 

Cat Ba Tour – Highlights

• Staying overnight on a junk boat and swimming with luminescent plankton under the stars is unforgettable
• Kayaking around floating villages and amazing limestone cliffs
• As Lan Ha Bay is much less touristy than Ha Long Bay it will be much quieter for you to enjoy the scenery

 

Have you visited Lan Ha Bay? Or are you thinking about it? Leave a comment below and tell me about your experiences/questions/concerns! 

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Thanks for reading!

Happy and safe travels,

Ben – Horizon Unknown