CAT BA :2D1N Lan Ha bay-Ha Long bay with Plankton Excursion

The best part of this trip happens after dark, when you paddle across the quiet bay and stir the water into flashes of bioluminescent plankton. By day, you kayak through limestone islands, swim in a private lagoon, cycle through rice fields, and eat Vietnamese food on the boat. I especially like the peaceful route and the chance to see Viet Hai Village, not just scenery from a deck.

The main thing to check before booking is the overnight arrangement. The plan describes a floating homestay, but one visitor found the sleeping room was actually on the boat, down in a small lower cabin, with limited bathroom access. Weather can also change the second day’s route, so book this for the quiet bay experience rather than a rigid checklist.

Key points at a glance

• Night kayaking for plankton: Paddle in darkness and watch the water glow when your oar or hand moves through it.
• A quieter side of the bays: The route focuses on Lan Ha Bay and the southern part of Ha Long Bay, with a small-group feel and less noise.
• Two kinds of local life: Cruise past a long-established floating fishing village, then cycle to Viet Hai Village and meet people living among rice fields.
• Active but not extreme: You will kayak, swim, cycle, and climb in and out of a boat, but the schedule also allows time to nap and sit on deck.
• Food is part of the appeal: Meals include Vietnamese dishes, seafood, and vegetarian choices, with local-style cooking on the second day.
• A practical price check: The $110 cost includes transport in Cat Ba, meals, water, kayaking, plankton activities, and an English-speaking guide, but the $16 entrance ticket and drinks cost extra.

Why the night plankton is the real highlight

Many bay trips finish when the sun goes down. This one has a second act.

After dinner on the first night, you can either try squid fishing or kayak to look for bioluminescent plankton. The water may sparkle when your paddle cuts through it or when you move your hands across the surface. It is a simple natural effect, but in a dark bay it can feel wonderfully strange.

You should keep your expectations sensible. This is not a guaranteed light show with glowing water everywhere. The experience depends on conditions, darkness, and where the boat stops. Still, it gives the overnight stay a purpose beyond having another bed in another place.

That evening also gives you time to enjoy the fresh air on deck. If you prefer a quiet boat rather than music and crowds, this is one of the strongest reasons to choose the trip.

Guides B, Chilly, and Moka are each named in connection with this tour. Their roles include explaining the bays, Vietnamese life, and Cat Ba, while helping with the activities. The best feedback centers on their warmth, enthusiasm, and attention to the group. Chilly is described as especially energetic, while Moka is noted for a calm and thoughtful manner.

The 7:30 AM start from Cat Ba Town

Your morning begins at the Cat Ba Smile Tours office at 204, 1/4 Street, or at your hotel in Cat Ba Town. Pickup is scheduled for 7:30 AM, followed by a short transfer of about one kilometer to Beo Harbour.

That early start matters. You get more time on the water and reach the caves and swimming area before the day feels too hot. It also means you should have breakfast before pickup or be ready to eat later on the boat.

From Beo Harbour, the cruise begins through a floating fishing village. This is not a quick photo stop with a few boats. The guide explains how fishermen and their families live and work on the water, giving the scenery a human side.

The village is one of the oldest of its type in Vietnam, and it helps you understand why Cat Ba’s bays are more than scenic backdrops. Fish farming, boats, homes, and daily routines all fit into the same sheltered water.

Limestone islands and the first kayaking session

The boat then passes a long series of limestone formations, including Turtle Islet, Toad Islet, and Candle Islet. The names help you pick out the shapes, but the main pleasure is the changing view as the boat moves between them.

You continue toward the boundary between Lan Ha Bay and Ha Long Bay. Here, the first kayaking session lasts about an hour and a half and includes Bright Cave, Dark Cave, and Bat Cave.

These caves lead toward enclosed lagoons, so the kayak is the right way to see them. A large boat can show you the broad scenery, but it cannot take you into the tighter spaces. You will need to paddle, steer, and help keep your kayak stable, though the activity is presented as a standard part of the tour rather than a demanding expedition.

Bring swimwear underneath your clothes if you want to avoid changing in awkward conditions later. Sunscreen is also essential, as there is plenty of open water and time on deck.

Cam Lagoon, swimming, and lunch on the boat

After kayaking, the boat moves to Cam Lagoon, described as a private swimming area in the middle of Ha Long Bay. You get about half an hour to swim in clear water or jump from the deck.

This is a good pause in the morning. The cave visit uses your arms and attention, while the lagoon lets you cool off and relax. If you do not want to swim, you can stay on deck, take photographs, or simply enjoy the setting.

The schedule places lunch from noon to 1 PM. Meals include Vietnamese dishes, seafood, and vegetarian options. Food is one of the most praised parts of this trip, including for vegetarians, but drinks are not included. You will need to pay separately for beer, wine, soft drinks, or other beverages.

The $110 price becomes more attractive here because it covers all meals rather than leaving you to arrange food at each stop. Bottled water is also included.

An afternoon by bicycle in Viet Hai Village

After lunch, the boat continues toward Viet Hai Harbour. From there, you cycle across rice fields to Viet Hai Village, with time to walk around and meet local people.

This section changes the pace completely. The morning is about caves, cliffs, and water. The afternoon is about a small village setting and the daily life of Cat Ba’s interior. You can learn about local culture, and seasonal farm work may be available if you want to take part.

There is also a fish massage experience. It is an unusual little stop, not a major cultural sight, but it adds a bit of local character and humor to the afternoon.

The village visit is valuable because it prevents the tour from becoming only a boat ride. You see how the island feels away from the bay and get time to move your legs after several hours on the water.

Cycling is included in the planned route, so consider this when choosing the trip. You do not need to be a serious cyclist, but you should be comfortable riding across rice fields and walking around the village.

The overnight question: floating homestay or boat cabin?

Dinner is scheduled for 6 PM to 10 PM on the floating homestay, with traditional Vietnamese food and the night activities afterward.

Here is the point that deserves a direct question before you pay: Where exactly will I sleep? The description uses the term floating homestay, but one person expected to sleep in a village-style setting and instead found a room in the lower part of the boat. The room was described as small, and bathroom access was not ideal.

That does not make the overnight stay unsuitable for everyone. If you care more about being on the bay at night than about a spacious room, you may be fine. But if you need a comfortable cabin, reliable privacy, or an easy shower, ask Cat Ba Smile Tours for the current sleeping arrangement and bathroom details.

This is also the part of the trip where a friendly group helps. The schedule creates plenty of social time, but the overall mood is intended to be quiet rather than a party cruise. You will have the option to sit outside, enjoy the night air, and watch the dark water.

Day two at Ho Ba Ham and Dau Be Island

Breakfast begins the second morning at 8 AM. You can watch the sunrise, breathe the cool bay air, and have a slower start before heading toward Ho Ba Ham at 9 AM.

At around 11 AM, the route is planned to reach Dau Be Island, where you can relax on a deserted beach and kayak toward Ho Ba Ham’s three hidden lagoons. This is another chance to see parts of the bay that larger boats cannot reach.

There is an important qualification here. Weather and local conditions can change the route. One person reported that the second day included kayaking but not the planned Dau Be Island visit or beach time. Another day may follow the full schedule, but you should not book this trip expecting every named stop to be guaranteed in all conditions.

Lunch follows at noon, prepared in a local cooking style. Then the boat returns toward Lan Ha Bay for more kayaking around limestone islands, swimming at quiet beaches, sunbathing, and time on deck.

This second afternoon is less tightly packed than the first day. That is useful because you have already done caves, cycling, swimming, and a night activity. You can choose how active you want to be instead of treating every minute as an obligation.

What the $110 price really covers

At $110 per person, this is not simply a transport ticket to see the bays. You are paying for a two-day combination of boat time, meals, a night on the water, several kayaking sessions, village activities, swimming, and an English-speaking guide.

Included items are:

• Hotel pickup and return in Cat Ba Town
• All meals
• Bottled water
• Kayaking
• Squid fishing and the chance to see bioluminescent plankton
• English-speaking guide

You must add the entrance ticket, listed as $16 or 400,000 Vietnamese dong. Drinks are also extra. That means the real cost is higher than the headline amount, though the package still offers solid value if you plan to use most of the included activities.

The value is strongest for you if you want variety. A simple one-day cruise may cost less, but it will not give you the floating village, Viet Hai Village, an overnight stay, or a second morning on the bay. The value is weaker if you dislike shared boat accommodation or would rather spend your time on one quiet beach.

Who will enjoy this trip most?

I would choose this excursion if you want an active trip with plenty of changes in scenery. You will kayak, swim, cycle, explore caves, and spend time outdoors, but you will also have a deck for naps and photographs.

It suits couples, friends, and solo visitors who enjoy a small group and easy social contact. The guides are part of the experience, and the English-language explanations cover the bay, Cat Ba, Vietnamese culture, and local life.

It is also a good choice for vegetarians, since vegetarian food is available alongside seafood and other Vietnamese dishes.

I would hesitate if your top priority is a polished cabin or a strict schedule. The overnight setup may be more basic than the wording suggests, and weather can remove stops from the plan. People over 95 are not accepted, and anyone with serious difficulty swimming, kayaking, or cycling should ask questions before reserving.

The tour finishes back at the office around 3:30 PM. You can book onward bus tickets to Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Ha Giang, or Sapa for around 4 PM, but leave yourself some breathing room if your plans are important.

What to pack and what to ask

Pack swimwear and sunscreen, as both are specifically useful on this route. You should also have your phone number and email available when booking.

I would ask these questions before departure:

• Is the overnight room on a floating homestay or on the boat?
• How many people share the group?
• Is there a private bathroom or a shared bathroom?
• Is the $16 entrance charge paid in Vietnamese dong or another currency?
• What happens to the second-day route if weather blocks Dau Be Island?

These questions do not take long, and they will tell you if the comfort level matches your expectations.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

It starts at the Cat Ba Smile Tours office at 204, 1/4 Street in Cat Ba Town, with hotel pickup available in Cat Ba Town.

What time does the first day begin?

Pickup is scheduled for 7:30 AM, followed by a short transfer to Beo Harbour at about 7:45 AM.

What activities are included?

The tour includes kayaking, swimming, cycling to Viet Hai Village, squid fishing, and the chance to see bioluminescent plankton at night.

Are meals included?

Yes. All meals are included, with Vietnamese dishes, seafood, and vegetarian choices. Drinks such as beer, wine, and soft drinks cost extra.

Is the entrance fee included?

No. The entrance ticket is listed separately at $16, or 400,000 Vietnamese dong.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear and sunscreen. Your phone number and email are also required when booking.

When does the tour finish?

The tour returns to Cat Ba Town at about 3:30 PM on the second day, ending at the meeting point. Bus tickets to Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Ha Giang, or Sapa can be booked for around 4 PM.

Should you book the Cat Ba plankton excursion?

Book it if you want a quiet, active two-day bay trip with more than a cruise past cliffs. The night plankton, Viet Hai Village, cave kayaking, and included meals give the tour a good range, and the guides add useful local context.

Before booking, confirm the sleeping setup and accept that weather may alter the second day. If you can handle basic accommodation and want a calm alternative to loud, crowded bay cruises, the $110 package is a strong choice. If you want a roomy cabin and guaranteed beach stops, choose with more caution.