Untouristy Halong Bay Tour from Cat Ba Island | Vietnam

Untouristy Halong Bay Tour from Cat Ba Island, image of limestone casts emerging from the sea.

When I decided to visit Vietnam one of the main things on my to-do list, as it is for most visitors, was a Halong Bay tour. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Halong Bay in the Gulf of Tonkin is famous for its stunning natural beauty featuring around 1,600 rainforest-topped limestone karst islands and islets. Tourism has boomed in Halong Bay and the nearby fishing villages have become a hub for hoards of visitors who flock to see this natural wonder. When I first started my research I wasn’t aware there was an alternative – a Halong Bay Tour from Cat Ba Island, one of the best islands in Vietnam.

There are now hundreds of tour agencies in Halong Bay and Hanoi that offer everything from budget half or full-day trips to booze cruises, all the way through to five-star luxury multi-day Halong Bay tours. There’s also a large choice of vessels you could take your trip on, including amongst others: kayaks, junks, barges, yachts and cruise ships. There’s something for all budgets and tastes.

Affiliate Link Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you use them to make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more in our Affiliate Link Disclosure.

The Halong Bay Tour Dilemma

Untouristy Halong Bay Tour from Cat Ba Island, image of limestone casts emerging from the sea.

As I researched my Halong Bay tour I found the plethora of options available overwhelming. Should I do a day trip, an overnight cruise, or even longer; and as a private or group tour? Which agency or boat should I choose and what standard? 

In my state of choice paralysis and after my little foray into reliving my youth tubing in Vang Vieng, Laos, I even considered doing the infamous Castaway Tour. I was most put out to discover they have an age limit of 35, but in hindsight, I couldn’t have handled all that partying and it would have been too touristy for me anyway!

In addition to how touristy Halong Bay has become, there was also the environmental impact to take into consideration. The sheer numbers of visitors and tour boats cause huge levels of pollution in this fragile environment. The rubbish and oil dumped from the boats have rendered the water so filthy only the very brave swim; foul black smoke and noise from the engines fill the air.

Halong Bay Tour from Cat Ba with Cat Ba Ventures

Cat Ba Ventures Traditional Vietnamese Junk, in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

The more I researched, the more hesitant I became and I decided to look into less touristy alternatives. It became apparent that although Halong Bay was the most well-known bay for its stunning limestone karst scenery, it isn’t the only one. There are other bays nearby offering the same seascapes, just without the tourists. These include Lan Ha Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay, one of the prettiest places in Vietnam, which can be accessed via a Halong Bay Tour from Cat Ba, one of Vietnam’s hidden gems and also home to Cat Ba National Park.

My final decision was to take a tour from Cat Ba vs Halong Bay. I wasn’t too hung up on seeing THE Halong Bay so I decided on a Cat Ba Halong Bay cruise leaving from the island instead. I chose to do a tour with Cat Ba Ventures, a Vietnamese socially responsible travel company based on Cat Ba Island who kindly hosted me on a semi-complimentary two-day/ one-night tour.

Lan Ha Bay, Halong Bay, and Bai Tu Long Bay Tour

Before arriving at Cat Ba Island I had several email conversations with Mr Tung as he explained to me the Halong Bay tour options and answered all my questions. I found him helpful and patient. I was torn between doing a two-day/ one-night and a three-day/ two-night Haong Bay tour from Cat Ba Island. Both sailed from Cat Ba to Halong Bay (an untouristy part of it) and also took in Lan Ha Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay. 

I opted for the shorter tour as there was so much else I wanted to see in Vietnam and already not enough time to do it all.

Day 1 Cruising Lan Ha Bay and Halong Bay

The morning of the tour arrived and I packed up ready to head to the Cat Ba Venture office at 8:30 am. I left my bag at the hotel whilst I went to get water and snacks for the boat as I’d slept a bit too late for breakfast.

A Stormy Start

Flooded Road on Cat Ba Island , Vietnam

As I walked up the road the sky turned a dark, angry grey, the wind picked up and the sea turned choppy, the heavens opened and unleashed torrential rain on me. I didn’t even have the chance to get my trusty poncho out, which has been a lifesaver in Cambodia during the rainy season. 

I made a dash for the next shop and took shelter under their canopy for about 10 minutes, watching the road quickly become flooded. It was getting close to the time I was supposed to be at the office, so I made a run for my hotel.

Feeling doubtful if the cruise would still take place I got the hotel reception staff to call Cat Ba Ventures for me. They said they expected the storm would be short-lived and the tour would go ahead, I was to wait until the rain eased off then walk to the office. They reassured me they wouldn’t leave without me. 

It turned out the guys at Cat Ba Ventures know their weather and within half an hour the torrential rain had slowed down considerably. I waded through the raging torrent that was once the road outside my hotel and got to the office at about 9:30 am.

Meeting the Tour Group

The tiny office was full of people when I arrived; I was to join two couples from the UK for the tour. Our guide for the next couple of days was a young Vietnamese guy who introduced himself to us with a big smile as Hang. 

Hang kept his eye on the weather for another half an hour or so then decided we were good to go. A five-minute mini-van shuttle later and we arrived at Ben Beo Port, from where our boat would depart. We hung out in the port waiting room whilst Hang communicated with our boat’s crew to make one final check on the weather and to tell them we were ready.

Dai Doung Cat Ba Ventures Traditional Vietnamese Junk in Ben Beo Port, Cat Ba Island Vietnam

Eventually, the rain slowed to a drizzle and we made our way down to the harbour. We scanned the bay with anticipation trying to guess which boat was ours. We were pleasantly surprised when a lovely traditional, wooden Vietnamese-style junk approached and Hang told us that it was ours, she was called Dai Duong. Her sails were down as there wasn’t enough wind, but I could imagine she’d look great with them up!

The crew met us with smiles and outstretched hands as they helped us board. We clambered down into the junk trying not to topple overboard. The engine fired up and we cast off towards Lan Ha Bay and Halong Bay from Cat Ba, as Hang showed us to our cabins.

The cabins were so much better than I’d imagined. They were spotlessly clean with big comfy beds (two in mine), air-conditioning, a fan, curtained windows, and an en-suite shower room and toilet. I’d almost go so far as to say they were borderline luxurious. After dumping our backpacks in the cabins we met Hang up on the top deck so he could brief us on the tour itinerary and housekeeping stuff. 

Cai Beo Fishing Village

Cai Beo Floating Fishing Village in Lan Ha Bay, Vietnam

A light drizzle continued as we began our exploration of Lan Ha Bay. The second we left the port we were surrounded by the spectacular limestone karst formations. Jungle-topped pillars, hills, mountains, and islets sprung out of the sea as far as the eye could see. Despite it still being very grey, damp, and slightly foggy the scenery was still amazing; in fact, the weather gave it a kind of mysterious air!

We cruised past a sprawling, floating fishing village, built in a valley with limestone islands on three sides. It was located here to protect it from the number of typhoons that batter the area each year. Hang explained it was Cai Beo Fishing Village, the largest in Vietnam. About 300 families live there and 1,000 people. They make their living through fishing, seafood farming, and tourism.

After this we passed a couple of islands; we were well out into the bay and saw hardly any other boats at all, except for the odd noisy fishing boat.

Visiting a Fish Farm

Floating Fish Farm in Lan Ha Bay, Vietnam

We sat up on deck and chatted for a while admiring the stunning views until it was time to visit one of the many fish farms that are dotted around. As we got closer I decided to pop to my cabin to use the toilet. A little too late I realised it wasn’t the best idea I’d ever had. The junk pulled up level with a platform giving the people on it a direct view into the porthole of my bathroom. I ducked and tried to (probably unsuccessfully) finish my toilet trip without flashing anyone!

The fish farm consisted of wooden platforms on pontoons. They served as houses, shops, restaurants, and, of course, a place where the fish farmers catch and farm fish. We had a quick look around balancing precariously on thin, slippery wooden walkways.

Around the edges of the living spaces were netted-off areas holding lots of fish. I can’t remember the name of the first type we saw but were told they grow up to 30kg and are sold for 400,000 dong (£13.35) a kilo. There was another area that held groupers which grow even bigger and sell for 500,000 dong (£16.68) a kilo. A woman started to throw food into the fish which sent them into a frenzy!

Just before we got back on the junk Hang lifted a floorboard of the restaurant area and told us to look in. Down below was a HUGE 80kg grouper; it was 30 years old and apparently a family pet that they would never eat or sell. It would live out its days underneath the fish farm.

Kayaking Around Beaches

We continued cruising quietly around the limestone karsts and past more fishing villages. The only noises were the gentle hum of the engine, barking dogs, and quiet chatter from the fish farmers. By then the rain had completely stopped and there was just a gentle breeze making it a lovely temperature up on deck.

Exploring Beaches by Kayak in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

We left Lan Ha Bay and entered Halong Bay passing a little temple where fishermen pray to the water god for safety from typhoons. Soon after we stopped for a spot of kayaking and snorkelling around a few small beaches. I found getting the double kayak up on the beach and back into the water quite a struggle on my own – where was Andy when I needed him? I was keen to go snorkelling but one of the others gave it a go and said the visibility wasn’t great, so I didn’t bother. 

Lunchtime Feast, Swimming and Boat Jumping

Lunch on Cat Ba Ventures Tour in Halong Bay, Vietnam. Squid, Clams, and Prawns

We worked up an appetite kayaking so were glad that lunch was ready by the time we’d dragged ourselves out of the kayaks and back onto the junk. And what a lunch it was…there were clams, prawns, squid, beef and vegetable stir-fries, stir-fried morning glory, and rice. Then we had dragon fruit for dessert. 

After lunch, we relaxed on deck some more whilst our food settled and watched the world go by. The waters seemed quite clean, there was the odd bit of rubbish and a hint of engine oil but on the whole, it really wasn’t too bad! Half an hour or so later we dropped anchor again so we could have a swim. The others took it in turns to jump off the roof of the boat but I’m not the most confident swimmer and got ‘the fear’ so I took the safer option and went down the steps. 

Exploring Caves and Deserted Lagoons by Kayak

Floating Mussel Farm made of bamboo floating on a pontoon in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

After our swim, it was back in the kayaks to explore some caves and their lagoons. I got lucky and Hang came in my kayak with me which was brilliant. He was a kayaking machine and we sped ahead of the others with little effort from me! Before we reached the first cave we passed by a big jellyfish, another fishing platform and a mussel farm consisting of mussel-covered ropes dangling from a bamboo frame on a floating pontoon.

We kayaked through three different caves into deserted lagoons surrounded by jungle-covered limestone karsts! The storm of the morning was now a distant memory, the sky had cleared and the sun beat down on us as we paddled around the lagoons.

Kayaking through Caves and Lagoons in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

Apart from us, the lagoons were completely empty and quiet except for the noise of birds and cicadas. We stopped paddling in the middle of each lagoon to take in our surroundings, watching colourful butterflies flitting about and the occasional jumping fish.  

Back on deck I chilled out with my book and lazed in the sun whilst the others took turns to jump and dive off the boat’s roof.

Dinnertime Seafood Extravaganza and Stargazing

Sunset in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

Late afternoon we sailed for a couple more hours, as the sun started to go down over the horizon we spotted several jellyfish just beneath the surface. We watched the sunset with a beer before dropping anchor in Bai Tu Long Bay for the night.

Seafood Extravaganza on Cat ba Ventures Tour in Bai Tu Long Bay, Vietnam

Dinner was a fantastic seafood extravaganza; we were thoroughly spoilt with oysters, crabs, seafood spring rolls, sea bass, rice, and melon for dessert. Afterwards, we all relaxed up on deck with a couple of beers chatting and stargazing. There was literally no light pollution as we were in a little bay surrounded by limestone islets so the stars were amazing.

Tired out from our kayaking and swimming we all got an early night with the hope of maybe waking up for sunrise.

Day 2 Cruising Bai Tu Long Bay 

Spectacular Limestone Karst Scenery in Bai Tu Long Bay, Vietnam

I woke up early at 5:30 am to be disappointed that I’d just missed the sunrise. Everybody else on board was still asleep so I read and lazed about for a while until they all woke up. We all went on deck for breakfast to be greeted by a beautiful, hot, sunny day, a complete contrast to the previous morning’s storm! We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast of pancakes with banana, mango, honey and coffee before starting our cruise around Bai Tu Long Bay.

More Kayaking, Caves, and Lagoons

Lagoon in Bai Tu Long Bay, Vietnam

After breakfast, it was back into the kayaks for a couple of hours, again Hang was my kayak companion and we raced ahead with the others following. We kayaked through four caves: Bat Cave, Secret Cave, Tonsil Cave, and Dark Cave, each led to lagoons surrounded by jungle-clad limestone karsts.

As you’d expect Bat Cave was full of bats hanging from the roof sleeping; Secret Cave was nearly impossible to find, Tonsil Cave – well, looked like tonsils, and Dark Cave was 250 metres long and the ceiling was very low.

We got our first glimpse of any mammalian wildlife that morning; a couple of very big black squirrels with long tails and a macaque monkey from a distance!

As we were about to leave the second lagoon some other kayakers started to arrive from day boats. It was lucky we’d made an early start as we were always in front of them so we got to each cave and lagoon first so they were always deserted for us.

Dark Cave and its Lagoon in Bai Tu Long Bay, Vietnam

Once we came out of the long, low Dark Cave into a gorgeous sun-drenched lagoon Hang told us how you have to be very careful because at high tide the water is up to the roof so if you time it wrong you could get trapped in the lagoon for six hours until low tide. I must say I can think of worse places to be stuck.

Lunch and Ba Trai Dao Island Beaches

Back on the junk, which was now in her full glory with her sails up, we had a final delicious meal for lunch. This time it was little fish cakes, stir-fried squid, chicken and lemongrass, pork, stir-fried cabbage and rice, with apple for dessert. 

After lunch, we had some free time so I just sunbathed on deck with my book whilst the others jumped off the boat again and we cruised back to Lan Ha Bay. Once there we dropped anchor a short way from Ba Trai Dao Island and had some time to spend kayaking around its three picturesque sandy beaches.

Ba Trai Dao Beaches in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

I took my book with me and spent a peaceful halfhour reading on the shore of one of the beaches, for once I actually took some time to relax! We took snorkels with us but unfortunately, again, there still wasn’t any good snorkelling to be done so I passed on it again.

From Ba Trai Dao Island it took us another couple of hours to cruise back to Ben Beo Port where the mini-bus was waiting to take us back to town in time to catch the hydrofoil to Hai Phong for my onward journey to Tam Coc. 

Cost of a Tour with Cat Ba Ventures

The price of a Cat Ba Island Halong Bay Tour with Cat Ba Ventures differs depending on the length, the number of people in the group, the type of sailing boat used and which activities are included. It’s best to contact them for a quote. The prices include a guide, transport, equipment for kayaking and snorkelling, life jackets and dry bags, plus all food and water.

The two-day/one-night Lan Ha Bay – Halong Bay – Bai Tu Long Bay Tour with kayaking that I did, cost $128 USD (£97). Check out their website for up-to-date prices.

Alternative Tours From Cat Ba Island

If you’re looking for something different out of your Halong Bay Tour from Cat Ba Island there are lots of other cruises and trips you could consider.

How to Get From Hanoi to Cat Ba Island 

Most people travelling to Cat Ba Island come from Hanoi and the journey consists of three stages, by road, by boat, and by road. There are several ways to get there, however, not many of these are direct and you have to arrange each part of the journey yourself.

One of the few companies that I could find that offered a direct transfer to Cat Ba Island from Hanoi was Good Morning Cat Ba, who kindly provided me with a complimentary transfer. Just to be clear when I say direct, I mean the three stages all organised by the same company, not one continuous journey.

Direct Transfer from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island 

Good Morning Cat Ba offers an all-inclusive daily transfer package that includes pick-up from your hotel in Hanoi, a bus to Hai Phong, a speedboat to Cat Ba Island, and finally a bus to your hotel.

Hanoi Hotel Pickup

I got off to a slightly shaky start the morning I went from Hanoi to Cat Ba where I was due to be picked up from my hotel at 7:15 am by Good Morning Cat Ba. Somehow I managed to hit snooze on my alarm and didn’t wake up again until 7:13 am, giving me exactly two minutes to finish packing and get downstairs in the lobby.

I’ve never dressed and packed so quickly in my life, however, to my relief it turned out that my hotel wasn’t the first on the pickup list. In the end, I had fifteen or twenty minutes spare to quickly eat some breakfast before a man on a motorbike from Good Morning Cat Ba turned up to get me. He showed me to the bus that was waiting at the end of the road as it was too big to get down the narrow roads of Hanoi Old Quarter.

Bus from Hanoi to Hai Phong 

Good Morning Cat Ba Bus Transfer from Hanoi to Cat ba Island, Vietnam

Once settled in my comfy seat on the bus I was given a bottle of water and a packet of Oreos which was a nice touch. The bus made its way through Hanoi collecting people from various hotels; the motorbike guys went ahead to organise the pickups and people to the bus. There was also air-conditioning and wifi, although I didn’t use it as I made use of most of the journey to catch up on some sleep. About halfway through the journey, we stopped for a short break to give people a chance to use the toilets and buy a drink or snack.

Speedboat and Bus to Cat Ba Island

Good Morning Cat Ba Speedboat Transfer from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island, Vietnam

We arrived at Got Harbour at about 10:15 am and waited a short time before boarding the speedboat with our bags. There were seats inside and outside in the shade to choose from. The guide went around everyone on the boat and asked our names and which hotel we were staying at. He also gave us a map of Cat Ba Island which was really useful. Within 20 minutes we arrived on Cat Ba Island.

On arrival at Cat Ba Island, we just had a five-minute wait for another air-conditioned bus to take us on the 20-minute trip to Cat Ba Town. We were then all conveniently dropped off at or near our hotels.

The journey took about four hours in total and cost $26 USD (£19.71). It may be more expensive than arranging everything yourself but for a comfortable and stress-free journey, it’s worth every cent. I think it’s the best way to get to Cat Ba Island from Hanoi.

Another option is to book your transport to Cat Ba Island online via Bookaway.

BOOK TRANSPORT TO CAT BA ISLAND HERE

Where to Stay on Cat Ba Island

Ideally located directly opposite Cat Ba Port overlooking the sea is the aptly named Aroma Cat Ba Sea View Hotel, where I was kindly hosted for a one-night stay.

Aroma Cat Ba Sea View Hotel

Cat Ba Sea View Hotel in Cat Ba Island, Vietnam

Aroma Cat Ba Sea View Hotel’s great location is also only 400 metres from Cat Co Beach and Cat Ba Market.

The staff were welcoming and more than happy to help when I asked them questions about what to do on Cat Ba island and how to get there. They also had a money exchange which was really handy as the ATM wasn’t working the whole time I was on Cat Ba Island.

I had a spacious room at the front of the hotel with a shared balcony offering wonderful views of the bay. It had two comfortable queen-sized beds, air-conditioning, a fan, a widescreen TV, tea and coffee-making facilities, a mini-bar and a private shower room and toilet with free toiletries.

There’s a restaurant attached to the hotel but I didn’t get a chance to eat there, The menu looked good though and was comprised of a selection of Asian and Western dishes. I did try one of their Vietnamese coffees though and that was great.

Rooms are priced depending on the standard and occupancy but overall were good value for money.

BOOK CAT BA SEAVIEW HOTEL HERE

If you’re looking for accommodation to suit a different budget or taste, or in a different location, there are plenty of other accommodation options on Cat Ba Island to consider.


I was extremely pleased I did a tour from Cat Ba Island rather than Halong Bay, it has the same wonderful scenery just without the tourists and pollution. Cat Ba Ventures far exceeded my expectations. The standard of the junk was great, Hang, our guide was friendly, helpful and knowledgeable, and the crew were brilliant, without them, it wouldn’t have been possible. 

What I loved about the tour was how it focused on the more secluded areas of each bay and endeavoured to avoid the tourist crowds; which made it a really special experience. It may be slightly more expensive than some tours but in my opinion, the quality and value we got made it well worth it.

If you’re wondering whether to do a tour from Cat Ba or Halong Bay I’d highly recommend choosing one with Cat Ba Ventures, starting on Cat Ba Island. 

Have you been on a tour from Halong Bay or Cat Ba Island? If so tell us how you got on in the comments below.


Planning Your Trip to Vietnam?

Planning your trip to Vietnam? Here are some of our recommended useful resources to help you have the best time possible.

TRAVEL INSURANCE IS AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION! World Nomads offers cover for travellers in over 100 countries and True Traveller is a great option if you’re from the UK or EU.

SafetyWing is another solution, particularly for digital nomads and long-term travellers.

● Use Wise (formerly Transferwise) for sending or receiving money internationally. It’s cheap, easy and transparent.

● Find amazing flight deals on SkyscannerKayak, and AirAsia

● Compare rental car prices on Rentalcars.com.

Book buses, taxis, ferries and trains with Camboticket, 12Go, and Bookaway.

● Booking.com usually have the best hotel prices.

● Our go-to for self-catering accommodation is Vrbo.

● Discover fantastic trips and activities with Klook, Viator and GetYourGuide.

● Check out Bookmundi, G Adventures, and  Intrepid Travel for group holidays and tours.

Partnership Disclosure: Cat Ba Ventures provided me with a partially complementary 2-day/ 1-night Halong Bay tour, and Good Morning Cat Ba provided me with a complimentary transfer from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island. My one-night stay was hosted by Cat Ba Sea View Hotel. This did not influence my post in any way, and as always I’ve provided balanced and honest reviews. Read more in our full Partnership Disclosure.

Tanya Korteling

Tanya is the founder and head content creator for Can Travel Will Travel. She combines freelance SEO, CRO, Data and Marketing consultancy with exploring the world. Passionate about adventure, nature, wildlife and food, she incorporates these in her travels as much as possible. She also loves immersing herself in new cultures. She's visited hundreds of destinations in 50+ countries and lived in 4 countries. Tanya worked as a Data Planning Manager and Digital Marketing Strategist before leaving the UK in 2016 with her husband Andy, to travel, live and work abroad indefinitely. Together they share their experiences and useful information to inspire and encourage others to do the same.

This Post Has 20 Comments

  1. Matt

    Super detailed post. Really can’t wait to explore Vietnam. Hopefully when the situation get better later this year. Thanks for sharing.

    1. TanyaKorteling

      Thanks so much for reading and commenting. It means a lot – as you
      can imagine the website is getting very few visitors at the moment!

      I hope you find it helpful and get to travel again soon!

      Stay safe ?

  2. Indochina Trends

    Well, the scenes of these bays look all beautiful. Tourists flock to Halong Bay because it is the most famous bay. However, yes, I agree that the other ones are great and less crowded.

  3. John

    Thank you for sharing this information. Question; what time were you back at Cat Ba Island and is it possible to make it back to Hanoi after? Or do you recommend staying another night on Cat Ba Island? With the time constraints, we prefer to be back in Hanoi as soon as possible.

    1. TanyaKorteling

      We got back to Cat Ba about 1 pm I think, I continued onto Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park and I had enough time to get there so you should have plenty of time to get to Hanoi.

  4. crystal

    Wow! What a seriously incredible trip. Some of my relatives way back were fish farmers, so it was incredible seeing some of your photos and hearing about your experience. I’m glad you did different travel options, I always try to do as eco conscious explorations as possible

    1. TanyaKorteling

      It was a fantastic trip. So interesting to hear about your relatives 🙂

  5. Alizon Robertson

    this looks amazing. Going to add it to my Vietnam itinerary for my trip next year!

    1. TanyaKorteling

      That’s great – you’ll have a fantastic time 🙂

  6. Elena

    Glad I found your post. We are going to stay in Hanoi for 4 months, so I am trying to collect as many reliable sources for things to do on weekends as possible. Naturally, Ha Long Bay can’t be missed, but I always wanted to do it in a bit more creative way. Just a quick question about your experience – what time the year was it? Did I miss it somehow or you didn’t mention? Thanks, Elena

    1. TanyaKorteling

      Hi Elena, I did my tour at the end of September which probably isn’t the best time of year as there’s always the risk of rain. We had torrential rain the morning of the tour and it
      was nearly cancelled. Luckily it eased off just in time 🙂

  7. Elliot

    I loved Cat ba island and I really enjoyed this trip
    Thank you so much your infomation

    1. TanyaKorteling

      Glad you enjoyed it – and the information was helpful! Thank you! 🙂

  8. Chris

    Thank you very much TanyaKorteling,

  9. Chris

    From 2017 Good morning Cat Ba is NOT only bus company which organize directly bus to get to Cat Ba. Full moon party bus, Daiichi bus, inter bus line. Among of them, CAT BA EXPRESS (catbaexpress.com) is one of the best choice with most of new and larger buses, exprience tour guide, and fastest with speed boat.

    1. TanyaKorteling

      Thanks for advising of this, when I did my research no other companies were appearing in the search results on at least the first to pages…hence why I thought Good Morning Cat Ba was the only company that offered such a service. I have edited the post slightly to indicate this isn’t the case.

  10. Sheree

    This is such an awesome insight into a path less travelled! Thank you for sharing. It all looks gorgeous, and it sounds like you had a really great time 🙂 Quick question: do you think there’d be options available for travellers who can’t eat shellfish, or might they have to make alternative arrangements? (I know someone travelling to Vietnam soon who would love an experience like this, but they’re allergic to shellfish – wouldn’t want to recommend it only to have them starve! Hahaha)

    1. TanyaKorteling

      Thankyou!Im 95% sure if your friends contacted Cat Ba Ventures they can arrange food to suit dietary reqs 🙂

  11. Sara

    Ah this is amazing. I have been trying to decide when to get up there, as I live in Saigon and want to see Ha Long Bay so bad! It looks so beautiful. I will keep in mind the companies you used, cause there are so many to choose from I feel.

    1. TanyaKorteling

      Thanks. It was amazing and I think Cat Ba is definitely the place to start a tour from. Much less touristy! Didn’t make it to Saigon which was a shame! Hopefully one day!

Leave a Reply