From Cat Ba to Halong Bay Ferry. The first and foremost option is to take a ferry from Gia Luan port (Cat Ba Island) to Tuan Chau Island, and then Halong Bay. Cat Ba to Halong Bay Ferry â Tan Chau Island is the important and fastest seaway in the area. There are 5-7 ferries per day, which takes around 45 minutes per trip.
These include Lan Ha Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay which can be accessed via a Halong Bay Tour from Cat Ba, one of Vietnamâs hidden gems. My final decision was to take a tour from Cat Ba vs Halong Bay. I wasnât too hung up on seeing THE Ha Long Bay so I decided on a Cat Ba Halong Bay cruise leaving from the island instead.
Cat Ba Island is the biggest of the 367 islands that form the Cat Ba archipelago. Itâs approximately 32 miles (50 kilometers) from Hai Phong City, a trip which takes up to 1 hour to travel by speedboat. Cat Ba is also by far the biggest island in the whole of Halong Bay.
Recommended days to visit Cat Ba Island. Four days should be more than enough to do everything. One or two to do the boat tour around Halong Bay, which is the minimum, another day to visit around the island, the national park and the hospital cave, and another if you want to visit the beaches or the monkey island.
However, Cat Ba is also very beautiful with unspoiled beaches and stunning landscapes. If coming Cat Ba, you may visit Lan Ha bay, Monkey island. 3. Re: Ha Long Bay vs Cat Ba: where to start. A cruise seems to be suitable with traveling Halong bay. If you want to travel with a motorbike, you can visit Cat Ba island.
Dá»ch VỄ Há» Trợ Vay Tiá»n Nhanh 1s. Level Contributor 91 posts 22 reviews 4 helpful votes Halong Bay vs Cat Ba and Lan Ha Bay 6 years ago Any thoughts or reccomendations as to which option I should go with on the next few days? Either an overnight junk in Halong Bay or stay at Cat Ba and organise Lan Ha cruise from there. I like the sound of Cat Ba but am torn as have always wanted to see the famous Halong Bay. Is Lan Ha Bay just the same in terms of scenery/activities to do as Halong Bay? Is Halong Bay still busier at this time of year compared to Lan Ha? Many Thanks Level Contributor 2,494 posts 120 reviews 48 helpful votes 1. Re Halong Bay vs Cat Ba and Lan Ha Bay 6 years ago If you do overnight on boat some cruise still pass through Lan Ha Bay, it is small Bay. Overnight on boat is quite interesting, they do offer some activities as visiting famous caves, cooking class and kayaking. Cat Ba Island is worth to visit too, only crowed in summer holiday. If you stay in Cat Ba hotel, you can rent daily boat to Lan Ha Bay and do kayaking there. You can choose overnight on boat or stay at Cat Ba island, both are worth to visit 2. Re Halong Bay vs Cat Ba and Lan Ha Bay 6 years ago This post was determined to be inappropriate by the Tripadvisor community and has been removed. Level Contributor 9 posts 28 reviews 10 helpful votes 3. Re Halong Bay vs Cat Ba and Lan Ha Bay 5 years ago SelinaAlison Hello.....which cruise did you choose - and how was it? Lorraine 4. Re Halong Bay vs Cat Ba and Lan Ha Bay 5 years ago Tripadvisor staff removed this post because it did not meet Tripadvisor's forum posting guidelines with prohibiting self-promotional advertising or are forum guidelines? Level Contributor 9 posts 28 reviews 10 helpful votes 5. Re Halong Bay vs Cat Ba and Lan Ha Bay 5 years ago Level Contributor 13 posts 3 reviews 29 helpful votes 6. Re Halong Bay vs Cat Ba and Lan Ha Bay 5 years ago If you would like to have the peace of mind and stay away from touristic Halong, it's much more better to start your trip in Catba island. Most cruises here include the visit to both Lan Ha and Halong bays as well Level Contributor 167 posts 175 reviews 168 helpful votes 7. Re Halong Bay vs Cat Ba and Lan Ha Bay 4 years ago To have the peace of mind and stay away from the very crowded area, Lan Ha bay and Catba island are the best choice for now. All the best 8. Re Halong Bay vs Cat Ba and Lan Ha Bay 4 years ago Hello Travelers, I am travelling to halong Bay for one night. I cannot decide if I should stay in CAT BA Island for Halong City? Level Contributor 15,919 posts 40 reviews 32 helpful votes 9. Re Halong Bay vs Cat Ba and Lan Ha Bay 4 years ago Ankit, That would depend on what you plan/want to do, and also the time of your travel. Cat Ba is better off avoided during major holidays and summer weekends. Cheers, John 10. Re Halong Bay vs Cat Ba and Lan Ha Bay 4 years ago Tripadvisor staff removed this post because it did not meet Tripadvisor's forum guideline limiting each user to a single forums screen are forum guidelines? Get answers to your questions about Halong Bay Recent Conversations Peony cruises 756 am Halong Bay - Full Day Cruise or Less? Jun 07, 2023 Does anyone know the site ' Jun 05, 2023 Hanoi & halong bay Jun 02, 2023 Nostalgia Cruises Jun 01, 2023 Best 8 hours day cruise halong May 31, 2023 Real 3 Days - 2 Night Cruises May 30, 2023 Halong Bay / Lan Ha 1 nt/2d cruise May 28, 2023 Halong bay cruise full day trip or more? May 25, 2023 1N cruise May 20, 2023 Day Tour Halong Bay - Day trip from Hanoi May 19, 2023 Sun world tips/ reviews pls May 18, 2023 Small boat tour in Cat Ba May 16, 2023 hanoi to Halong May 16, 2023 More Halong Bay Topics Taxi fare between Hanoi and Halong Bay? When is the best time to visit Hanoi and Sapa? A Class Cruise Company Imperial Junk Cruise - some lessons learnt the cheapest decent Halong bay cruise? Galaxy Cruise Ha Long Bay - Ginger Cruise Halong bay by end December Golden Lotus Cruise Halong Bay Cruise, budget backpackers
ï»żCat Ba Island is one of the best places to visit in Vietnam in my opinion, but itâs also a spot many travellers miss off their itinerary in this country⊠and what a shame. 1 Because Cat Ba Island has a lovely national park at its heart â a great place to enjoy some nature time and day hiking And⊠2 Because itâs from Cat Ba Island that you can score the best deals for the perfect Halong Bay alternative! As Iâm sure you know, Halong Bay is the UNESCO-listed, insta-famous, jaw-dropping landscape everyone has on their Vietnam bucket list But did you know that it costs hundreds of dollars to enjoy a boat trip here? I know, crazy! If, like me, this mad price tag has you baulking at the idea of Halong Bay, then donât despair! Read on to learn how you can experience this magnificent scenery for a fraction of the usual price care of a trip to neighbouring Cat Ba Island. Related Posts 15 Things to Do in Vietnam You Canât Miss Top 17 Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City Your Complete Southeast Asia Packing List This page contains affiliate links meaning Big World Small Pockets may receive a small commission on any purchases at no extra cost to you. Why Visit Cat Ba Island? I think Iâve spelt it out pretty clearly in the title and the intro of this article but, in case you need a recap, the main reason to visit Cat Ba Island is that it makes for the perfect budget alternative to Halong Bay. If, like me, youâre horrified by the idea of paying hundreds of dollars for a crowded cruise in this part of Vietnam, then listen up, because you really need to start researching Cat Ba Island boat trips instead. Located right next to Halong Bay â itâs the next province along â Cat Ba essentially looks exactly the same as the UNESCO-listed version but just isnât as famous. If you want to kayak this countryâs most famous landscape without the crowds and half the trash, then you need to visit Cat Ba Island. If you want to tick a Halong Bay landscape off your bucket list, but donât want to pay hundreds of dollars, then you need to visit Cat Ba Island. And if youâre getting a bit tired of the hectic cities of Vietnam and want to escape the pollution and noise of Hanoi, then you need to visit Cat Ba Island. Because Cat Ba Island really is the spot to do all of those things and more, which certainly makes it one of the top places to visit in Vietnam! Where is Cat Ba Island? So letâs start with the obvious, where is Cat Ba Island? Essentially on the coastline closest to Hanoi â the capital of Vietnam â Cat Ba Island lies in the northeast of this country, in a province called Hai Phong, where it sits within Lan Ha Bay. Halong Bay is located in Quang Ninh province, which is just south of Hai Phong. Why Iâm explaining this is because, geographically, Lan Ha Bay which surrounds Cat Ba Island, is the same as Halong Bay â itâs just not called Halong Bay because of an arbitrary provincial border! But letâs be clear, the landscape looks exactly the same⊠because it is! The same dramatic limestone islands and aqua-turquoise waters. The same misty, ephemeral beauty. The same snap-tastic, dramatic, magical, spellbinding charm. Lan Ha Bay just happens to have a different name! And because of this, the price of trips to Lan Ha Bay from Cat Ba Island are less than half, actually make that less than a quarter, of what they are to Halong Bay. âWhatâs in a name?â, you might ask. Turns out, quite a lot! Because not only are trips to Lan Ha Bay from Cat Ba a mere fraction of the cost, they also boast a mere fraction of the crowds and a mere fraction of the chaos compared to Halong Bay too! An absolute win in my book! How to Get to Cat Ba Island? So, if this sounds like good news to you, then the first key bit of info youâll need to know, is how to get to Cat Ba Island. And the main thing to be aware of here is that the launch point for all transport to Cat Ba Island is Hanoi. So first, get yourself to Hanoi, either via international or domestic flight, or via local bus, which is a more economical and better environmental option and no hardship, because the buses in Vietnam are excellent. As always, I use Skyscanner to find the best flight deals and the excellent 12Go to book my buses in Southeast Asia, because you can directly compare services, journey times, prices and pay securely for your tickets all at once â simples! So once you get to Hanoi and I recommend Little Charm Hostel there if you need to spend the night FYI, I strongly suggest you use Cat Ba Express to get to Cat Ba Island. There are 2 companies that run the bus / boat service from Hanoi to Lan Ha Bay, but the Cat Ba Express is by far the better option. With better buses and organisation and no this isnât sponsored! Iâd definitely recommend going with them and not their competitors. A return journey from the Cat Ba Express office in Hanoi, via a bus, a boat and then another bus to Cat Ba island AND back cost me just $28 USD. Learn more including Cat Ba Expressâ departure times and how to reserve a place via their website here. Otherwise, if you want to compare journeys from Hanoi, check out the great travel site Bookaway, who will handily give you tons of options and times to get to Cat Ba Island, so you can make the best choice. Where to Stay on Cat Ba? I highly recommend basing yourself in Cat Ba Town when you stay on this island, especially if you are a solo or budget traveller. Thatâs because this town is where most amenities are, and where most other travellers stay, so you might feel a little isolated staying anywhere else. Plus, Cat Ba Express will ferry you straight to Cat Ba Town when you reach the island and then drop you off at the door of your accommodation â so it was a no brainer in my opinion! For budget travellers, Secret Garden Hostel is a great option here and I love their veggie cafĂ© and family dinner vibes. However, you canât book ahead and just have to turn up, so it can be a bit risky. As such, you may want to stay at Lunaâs House Hostel instead, which is just up the road and which you can book in advance â pretty essential during high season here. Lunaâs is where I stayed during my time on Cat Ba Island and the location, plus rooftop cafĂ©, made it a good solid option. Dorms are pretty cosy, but have privacy curtains and individual fans which are a blessing in the humidity let me tell you! Things to Do on Cat Ba So the main thing to do from Cat Ba Island, and why most travellers head there, is to cruise Lan Ha Bay⊠obviously! But first I want to tell you about the other things there are to do on Cat Ba Island, including the great national park that lies at its centre. I highly recommend spending at least 2 nights on the island if you can, 3 would be even better, because this will give you enough time to experience a day trip to Lan Ha Bay and a day in the national park here. I recommend the following itinerary as a good starting point⊠Day 1 Arrive on Cat Ba Island from Hanoi and prepare trips for the following days Day 2 Hike in Cat Ba National Park Day 3 Take a Lan Ha Bay day trip Day 4 Return to Hanoi When it comes to hiking in Cat Baâs National Park, you can either enjoy a self-guided day trip or take an organised excursion. The basic premise is the same, you take an early bus from Cat Ba Town to the western edge of the national park, walk across it, stop to enjoy the high lookout point in the middle, and then continue onto the coastal edge of it. From here you can pick up a boat, which will take you back to Cat Ba Town and give you a mini glimpse into the sort of scenery you can enjoy the next day of your boat trip. As always, I recommend you download the local resource onto your phone before setting off on any independent hikes. How to Score a Budget Halong Bay Trip? And now we come to the crux of it all, because thereâs no question that the best thing to do in Cat Ba Island â the reason most people come here and the whole reason I wanted to write this article â is to experience the ideal Halong Bay alternative! And I achieved it, hereâs how⊠Ok, ok, as weâve discovered, the offshore landscape here isnât technically Halong Bay, itâs Lan Ha Bay. But honestly, I challenge you to see a photo from both and to be able to tell the difference, aka you wonât be able! So now itâs time to call upon the services of good old Cat Ba Express again, who have a handily-located office right along the waterfront road in Cat Ba Town. Here you can book your day trip to Lan Ha Bay. Costing just $23 USD, yes you heard right, thatâs just $23 USD, you can spend an entire day in this famous landscape for an absolute steal of a price. Tours take place on local junk boats, which are a bit like large barges, and normally include a trip to see how locals live out here on their boats, as well as snorkelling opps, photo stops aplenty and, best of all, a chance to kayak in a part of the bay that forms a sort of lagoon and had not another tourist in sight. Thatâs right, not another tourist. Put that in your pipe and smoke it Halong! Thereâs also lunch and morning tea included in your Lan Ha day trip too. Sound like a bargain? I think so friends! And even more so, when I heard horror stories about the insane boat crowding, horrendous amounts of trash and generally awful experiences from everyone I spoke to who had sailed Halong Bay instead. Annnnnd, letâs not forget, paid ridiculous amounts for! In contrast, day trips to Lan Ha Bay from Cat Ba Island are relaxed, affordable, accessible and short. You get to see and snap those amazing limestone islands without the hordes of people, or the tragic trash levels, and you even get to kayak and snorkel in and around them too. What a result! If you want to know more about how I budgeted, and how much I spent on my trip to Vietnam, then check out this post I wrote that details all my costs and expenses over 2 weeks. Things to Know About Your Trip⊠Itâs important to know that in this tropical country of Vietnam it can be cloudy and rainy at almost any time of the year. I visited Cat Ba Island and Hanoi during April â technically one of the few months in which it is meant to be dry weather in both the north and south of Vietnam â but let me tell you, it was not dry in Cat Ba Island or Hanoi! In fact, it rained heavily most days I was there and, from what I could tell, this actually seems to be pretty common! Dry season tch! As such, youâll def want to come prepared when you visit Cat Ba Island with a thin light rainjacket and some warm layers and long-legged pants. Sunscreen, sunglasses and insect repellent would also be good things to pack, as would some swimwear, towel and a dry bag. There are ATMs on Cat Ba island, but itâs probably not a bad idea to bring what you need money-wise with you from Hanoi too. Book your transport to the island with Cat Ba Express at least one day in advance and reserve your accommodation and boat trips in advance too during the high season. Finally, bring a big smile safe in the knowledge you will have saved yourself a fortune on visiting and seeing one of the worldâs most iconic landscapes! Youâre welcome! Get Your FREE Checklist Now!ULTIMATE FEMALE SOUTH EAST ASIA PACKING LISTJust enter your details below and I'll email it you - simple!Information will be sent to the email provided above Mini Travel Guide to North Vietnam When to Visit North Vietnam? Vietnam is a pretty tricky country to get right climate-wise! For a start, it has several of them! And the north is an especially precarious one to nail! The spring months of March and April are meant to be the best ones to visit north Vietnam but, as I mentioned in this article, when I visited at this time of year it rained every day, so yâknow⊠The other best time to visit this part of the country is during the autumn season between September and October, so thatâs worth giving a go! The months Iâd avoid heading to the north of Vietnam in would be the mega-humid summer from May to August, and the cold wet winters from November through February â donât think theyâd be very fun at all! Best Travel Insurance for North Vietnam Iâd never even consider travelling to Vietnam without proper coverage and always recommend travel insurance from World Nomads who Iâve used throughout my time in this country and beyond. I love that they cover a wide range of adventure activities â which is definitely needed for a country like Vietnam â as well as their great customer service and the fact that you can easily claim or extend your coverage while youâre still abroad, online. Alternatively, if youâre a remote worker or digital nomad seeking travel health insurance, look no further than Safetywingâs great Nomad Insurance policies. These guys will cover you at some seriously great prices. 5 Packing Essentials for North Vietnam 1 Lonely Planet Guidebook â The Vietnam Lonely Planet is excellent and very helpful for any trip to this country with lots of top tips and recommended places to eat. 2 Walking Shoes â Thereâs likely to be a lot of walking in Vietnam, especially around those temples and cities. As such, I advise packing a pair of good runners, like these New Balance trainers, which were perfect for my time here. 3 European & British Power Adapters â Vietnam has a mix of power outlets, but generally opts for a mix of the European and British ones, so make sure you come prepared with a Skross world adapter. 4 Camera and Lens â I love my Sony A6000 mirrorless, which was ideal for capturing the colour, chaos and cuisine and charm of Vietnam. 5 Travel Scarf â A great multi-purpose travel item that can be used to safely store valuables, as well as cover your shoulders while you explore many of Vietnamâs top sights, a travel scarf is a must for me! How to Save When you Spend in North Vietnam When it comes to paying for things in Vietnam, you want to ensure youâre not being charged overseas transaction fees or getting poor exchange rates when using your card abroad, which is why I always take my Wise Card away with me wherever I travel. The easy way to spend abroad with real exchange rates, no markups and no sneaky transaction fees, you can use your Wise card just like a debit card in Vietnam⊠and it links easily with Google and Apple pay â sold! Get yours here. SAVE IT TO PINTEREST! And there you have it, my full travel guide to Cat Ba Island â the spot to head to if you want to experience Halong Bay for a fraction of the price. Is this great budget travel alternative now on your list? Tell me all in the comments belowâŠ
Level Contributor 91 posts 22 reviews 4 helpful votes Halong Bay vs Cat Ba and Lan Ha Bay 6 years ago Any thoughts or reccomendations as to which option I should go with on the next few days? Either an overnight junk in Halong Bay or stay at Cat Ba and organise Lan Ha cruise from there. I like the sound of Cat Ba but am torn as have always wanted to see the famous Halong Bay. Is Lan Ha Bay just the same in terms of scenery/activities to do as Halong Bay? Is Halong Bay still busier at this time of year compared to Lan Ha? Many Thanks Level Contributor 2,494 posts 120 reviews 48 helpful votes 1. Re Halong Bay vs Cat Ba and Lan Ha Bay 6 years ago If you do overnight on boat some cruise still pass through Lan Ha Bay, it is small Bay. Overnight on boat is quite interesting, they do offer some activities as visiting famous caves, cooking class and kayaking. Cat Ba Island is worth to visit too, only crowed in summer holiday. If you stay in Cat Ba hotel, you can rent daily boat to Lan Ha Bay and do kayaking there. You can choose overnight on boat or stay at Cat Ba island, both are worth to visit 2. Re Halong Bay vs Cat Ba and Lan Ha Bay 6 years ago This post was determined to be inappropriate by the Tripadvisor community and has been removed. Level Contributor 9 posts 28 reviews 10 helpful votes 3. Re Halong Bay vs Cat Ba and Lan Ha Bay 5 years ago SelinaAlison Hello.....which cruise did you choose - and how was it? Lorraine 4. Re Halong Bay vs Cat Ba and Lan Ha Bay 5 years ago Tripadvisor staff removed this post because it did not meet Tripadvisor's forum posting guidelines with prohibiting self-promotional advertising or are forum guidelines? Level Contributor 9 posts 28 reviews 10 helpful votes 5. Re Halong Bay vs Cat Ba and Lan Ha Bay 5 years ago Level Contributor 13 posts 3 reviews 29 helpful votes 6. Re Halong Bay vs Cat Ba and Lan Ha Bay 5 years ago If you would like to have the peace of mind and stay away from touristic Halong, it's much more better to start your trip in Catba island. Most cruises here include the visit to both Lan Ha and Halong bays as well Level Contributor 167 posts 175 reviews 168 helpful votes 7. Re Halong Bay vs Cat Ba and Lan Ha Bay 4 years ago To have the peace of mind and stay away from the very crowded area, Lan Ha bay and Catba island are the best choice for now. All the best 8. Re Halong Bay vs Cat Ba and Lan Ha Bay 4 years ago Hello Travelers, I am travelling to halong Bay for one night. I cannot decide if I should stay in CAT BA Island for Halong City? Level Contributor 15,919 posts 40 reviews 32 helpful votes 9. Re Halong Bay vs Cat Ba and Lan Ha Bay 4 years ago Ankit, That would depend on what you plan/want to do, and also the time of your travel. Cat Ba is better off avoided during major holidays and summer weekends. Cheers, John 10. Re Halong Bay vs Cat Ba and Lan Ha Bay 4 years ago Tripadvisor staff removed this post because it did not meet Tripadvisor's forum guideline limiting each user to a single forums screen are forum guidelines? Get answers to your questions about Halong Bay Recent Conversations Peony cruises 2156 Halong Bay - Full Day Cruise or Less? 07 June 2023 Does anyone know the site ' 05 June 2023 Hanoi & halong bay 02 June 2023 Nostalgia Cruises 01 June 2023 Best 8 hours day cruise halong 31 May 2023 Real 3 Days - 2 Night Cruises 30 May 2023 Halong Bay / Lan Ha 1 nt/2d cruise 28 May 2023 Halong bay cruise full day trip or more? 25 May 2023 1N cruise 20 May 2023 Day Tour Halong Bay - Day trip from Hanoi 19 May 2023 Sun world tips/ reviews pls 18 May 2023 Small boat tour in Cat Ba 16 May 2023 hanoi to Halong 16 May 2023 More Halong Bay Topics Taxi fare between Hanoi and Halong Bay? When is the best time to visit Hanoi and Sapa? Ha Long Bay - Ginger Cruise Booking with Indochina Legend Travel online Halong Bay late September, early October, weather condition Looking into cruise. Anyone done V spirit? Pelican Junk Cruise, Halong Bay Pricing for Dragon's Pearl Indochina Junk Halong Bay to Hanoi Airport ???? sea sickness on halong bay cruise?
Cat Ba Island in Vietnam is the perfect place as a stopover for a Halong Bay tour. You will escape Hanoi and have the possibility to arrange a cheaper Halong bay tour. Cat Ba island is a chilled-out place with a few small, though nice beaches, a rich history, and there are some spots with good nightlife, which are pretty cheap! Things to do How to visit Where to stay Hi, we're Nick & Hannah!We hope you're enjoying our free travel guides & tips! If so, please consider supporting our work. đ€ Click here During the wars, the island was a strategic lookout point. During the bombing, local residents hide among the islandâs many caves. The cave hospital is one of the impressive Halong Bay tour from Cat Ba IslandWeâve booked a day tour at Cat Ba Ventures $25, lunch + water, which was a good company. They will visit less touristy areas that are maybe even more beautiful than the famous part of Halong 8 AM, youâll take the boat from Cat Ba town through the floating villages, cruise through Lan Ha Bay, and enjoy the hundreds of limestone Halong Bay tour includes snorkeling gear, dry bags, kayaking, a great lunch and swimming at a deserted beach, all entrance fees into Halong Bay, and an English-speaking local to do on Cat Ba IslandBesides from the Halong Bay tours, Cat Ba Island has some more things to offer Visit a pearl farmRent a scooter and explore the the Canon fort the old defense baseGo get the cheapest food at a market in townChill at the few beachesVisit the cave hospitalHave a great night outFrom Hanoi, you will have to take the bus to Haiphong, which takes around hours. From there, take the ferry to Cat Ba and the bus to Cat Ba town 1 hour. The ferry costs you 70K Dong ~ $3 for a one-way ticket. The boat timetable will change so now and to stay on Cat Ba islandMake sure to stay near the pier in Cat Ba Town; this is where the food and drinks are in Cat Ba. Weâve picked our two favorite places. Did you know that ⊠When you purchase something through our links we earn a small fee. However, you still pay the same. Win-win! 20/02/2023 Last updated February 20, 2023
After Halong Bay on land, itâs time for us to go to its maritime counterpart, especially in Cat Ba! You will hear about it as soon as you arrive in Vietnam⊠Wherever you are, even in the south towards Saigon, you will be offered the famous Halong Bay cruise! This phenomenon reaches its paroxysm in Hanoi where the numerous travel agencies are really ready to sell you one of the different formulas to visit the bay. From the one-day excursion from Hanoi to the 4-days luxury cruise, the possibilities are numerous and the scams are all the more present! Exasperated by the constant solicitations of the agencies, we set out to find an alternative way to visit Halong Bay. Ready to enjoy this Vietnamese must-see without too many tourists đ? Table of contents Presentation of Halong BayCruises in Halong BayCruise in Lan Ha BayCruise in Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long BayCat Ba IslandGetting to Cat Ba IslandFrom HanoiFrom Ninh BinhAnother option the cable car!What to do in Cat Ba?Cruise in Lan Ha BayTrekking in Cat Ba National ParkDiscover the island by scooterEnjoy the beachesVietnamese New Year or Tet in Halong Bay Update 2022We took this trip in 2014, but the article was completely revised and updated in November 2022. If you see any price changes or have additional information that might be relevant, please feel free to leave us a comment! Presentation of Halong Bay Halong Bay, a must-see in Vietnam, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, visited by more than 10 million tourists every year! In all, there are more than 1600 islands and islets spread over 43 000 hectares that form this sublime landscape! Did you know that Halong Bay is actually 3 bays? Thatâs right! It is wrongly called Halong Bay but the ârealâ Halong Bay is a geographical area wedged between the two others. Here is a small map to help you find your way Cruises in Halong Bay Going on a cruise is the number 1 activity to discover Halong Bay or rather the 3 bays. We give you all the practical information for each of them. Important point it is impossible to make a cruise that passes through the 3 bays. Indeed, it is necessary to plan a very nice budget and it is not practical as you will quickly notice it⊠And then, I think that the landscapes end up being similar in the end⊠Cruise in Lan Ha Bay To enjoy Lan Ha Bay, you have two possibilities arrive directly to Cat Ba to explore the island and take a cruise;to take an organized tour from Hanoi for one or two days in junk in the bay; So we opted for the first solution and detailed a little further down in the article all the necessary info if you want to discover Cat Ba island đ. For organized tours, this is where it gets complicated⊠As written previously, there are many tours! It is difficult not to be ripped off⊠For a 2 days cruise in Lan Ha Bay, count 170 euros per person. Everything is included except drinks most of the time. If you find a cheaper price, chances are that it is a scam and that the experience is not as good as expected. Otherwise, one solution is to use Getyourguide. The proposed cruises have been tested and approved and you will be sure to follow the established program. Halong Bay, the real one Cruise in Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay To discover Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay, you also have two solutions join Ha Long city from Tam Coc or Hanoi and take a cruise from the city;take an organized tour from Hanoi for one or two days by the junk in one of the two bays. For the first option, you can easily find public transportation from Hanoi or Tam Coc starting at 400 000 dongs. Be careful, check that the bus or van arrives in Ha Long city on the map when booking! To take a junk cruise in one of the two bays from Ha Long, you can book on the spot. Some hotels offer tours, so you can judge if there is a scam. To give you an idea of the price, a 2-day cruise in Halong Bay costs a good 200 euros per person. If you want to book in advance of your stay, Booking also offers junk cruises from Ha Long. As far as organized tours are concerned, you are spoilt for choice! As for the prices, beware! From Hanoi, a 2 days cruise in Bai Tu Long Bay is around 150 euros. To see all available cruises in Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay, please visit Getyourguide. To know more about cruises in Bai Tu Long Bay, we recommend you to read Oli & Katieâs article. This article contains affiliate links to partner sites. When you use our links to book accommodation, a car, or an activity, you donât pay anything extra, but we get a small commission. This helps us to offer you free, independent, and ad-free content. Thank you for your support! Read more Cat Ba Island can be considered the largest island in Halong Bay. Located in the southwest of the bay, it is 260 kmÂČ and is a little less popular with tours because it is located further away than the other two. Cat Ba has more than one trick up its sleeve! You will also find a beautiful national park more than 1/3 of the islandâs surface, some very nice beaches as well as Lan Ha Bay. The latter has nothing to be ashamed of in comparison with its big sister, Halong Bay! For us, it is the ideal destination! Beautiful possibilities for walking, seeing Halong Bay from a less touristic point of view, enjoying the sun⊠Moreover, the period between January and February represents the low season on the island! In short, all the elements are gathered so that we take our time in this small corner of paradise. Besides, we will stay there for 6 days while passing the Tet or the Vietnamese New Year or Tet on January 30th. Getting to Cat Ba Island From Hanoi From Hanoi, it is extremely easy to get to Cat Ba. In our opinion, the best way is to take a combined bus to Hai Phong city-boat to Cat Ba island-bus to Cat Ba village ticket. If you donât want to bother, you can book your tickets online on 12 go, from 276 000 dongs from Hoan Kiem, the center of Hanoi. The trip is about 4 hours. Make sure the bus or van arrives at Cat Ba Island by clicking on the map đ. Otherwise, you have plenty of agencies in town that offer a cruise with transportation included to Cat Ba. From Ninh Binh If you come from Tam Coc, Halong Bay on land, donât do like us and take a combined ticket to Cat Ba prices start at 345 000 dongs! It was a shame because we finally paid twice the normal price after many difficulties. The local bus from Ninh Binh first dropped us off outside the city of Hai Phong. So we had to take a bus and then a cab to the port where nobody wanted to sell us a boat ticket for less than 200 000 dongs while the real price is a maximum of 130 000âŠ. In short, if you leave Tam Coc, we advise you to buy one of these combined tickets and leave from Ninh Binh to Cat Ba. The trip takes a little less than 4 hours. Another option the cable car! Since 2020, it is possible to take the Sun World Cat Ba cable car from Hai Phong to Cat Ba Island! Well, the price is not the same as a bus ticket that takes you directly to the center of Cat Ba, eh! In addition to the bus ticket to Hai Phong 135 000 dongs from Hanoi, count 95 000 dongs per person and a bus ticket to the south of the island. When we tell you that tourism is growing fast! Hotels in Cat BaWe stayed in the south of the island, in the main village of Cat Ba, the bus terminal. We donât give you an address in particular for the village of Cat Bat because, with growing tourism, hotels have developed and you will find very easily a double room close to the port for 10 euros. We chose a room for 20 euros because we had a private balcony with a view of the harbor⊠Very nice to drink a beer at sunset! The rooms at 10 euros donât have a view of the harbor but you canât have everything for this price! After that, if arriving at the last minute is not your thing and you prefer to book something, we recommend you to have a look at Booking. What to do in Cat Ba? We were in Cat Ba at the end of January during the Tet festival, and there were extremely few tourists. No matter when you are in Vietnam, you will find fewer tourists than in Ha Long! Just avoid weekends in summer between June and August when Vietnamese come to enjoy the island we understand them! as well as national holidays April 30 and September 2. Cruise in Lan Ha Bay Obviously, the main reason for our visit was to see the famous karst landforms. Unfortunately, we couldnât go on a junk boat tour because of the Vietnamese New Year. But as you can see in the pictures, we were not unhappy! Nevertheless, we had quite a lot of feedback about the one-day or more cruises in Lan Ha bay, proposed by Luu Toan Taxi Boat Cat Ba. You can contact him here or by phone 0974429086. Here are some of the highlights of a cruise in Lan Ha Bay discovering the floating village of Cua Van, the fishing village of Viet Hai, the island of Cat Dua or Monkey Island, kayaking in the creeks, witnessing a memorable sunset, if the weather is good, etc. We combined a trek of 18 km in the national park of Cat Ba with a boat tour of the bay. We found this combination rather nice because we crossed the park to return by boat to the village in 3 hours through these incredible landscapes. Trekking in Cat Ba National Park The trek in the park was really pleasant even if it is necessary to have a rather good physical condition to support the successive ascents and descents through the jungle. The highlight of the walk was the climb to the highest point of the island. A piece of advice if you are already tired before this climb, skip it itâs a steep climb⊠From there, we have a breathtaking 360° view. We arrived at the end of the morning and as often, the fog is quite persistent⊠No doubt that if the sky had been uncovered, the view would have been simply incredible! Discover the island by scooter Cat Ba is crossed by two very good paved roads and it would be a shame not to devote a whole day to discovering the island by scooter. The pleasure of riding through such scenery is hard to describe⊠You just feel free⊠You will easily find in town a bike to rent for 5 $ and half a tank will be enough to ride every km of paved road. As you will inevitably pass by, stop at the hospital cave, a cave that served as an HQ and hospital for the Vietnamese during the war⊠In itself, a cheap 40 000 dongs and a nice little visit. Enjoy the beaches At only 1 km from the village, you have access to 3 beautiful beaches Bai Tam Cat Co 1, 2, and 3. No doubt, they are the most beautiful we have seen in Vietnam so far. As we were in low season, we had the beach to ourselves. A small path goes along the coast and connects the beaches between them. From the path, you will have a simply magnificent view of the bay. You will have understood it, we appreciated a lot the island of Cat Ba! With the expansion of tourism in Vietnam, the beaches are likely to be a little more crowded than during our visit. Prefer the week to avoid the crowds đ. Vietnamese New Year or Tet in Halong Bay As I mentioned above, we spent Tet or Vietnamese New Year on Cat Ba Island. You should know that in the weeks before this date, there is already excitement in Vietnam. Everyone is stocking up on food and cooking New Yearâs rice cakes or banh chung before going home to their families. Itâs a very hectic time, a bit like Christmas at home! On New Yearâs Day, itâs a family feast. The children receive red envelopes with money and in the evening, there are shows and fireworks⊠Itâs a very nice atmosphere! As there were very few tourists in Cat Ba, we were mainly with local families. We even had the right to very nice fireworks! In short, it was a very good evening! Halong Bay and TetBe aware that it is impossible to organize a cruise in Halong Bay or to leave the island the day of the New Year and the day after. You should also stock up on food as most stores and restaurants are closed. Be aware that after Tet Day, people may still be on vacation for up to 2 weeks and mainly go to the countryside. So traveling during this period requires a bit more organization, but itâs still doable đ. You will have understood, Cat Ba Island is one of our big favorites in Vietnam. You can do everything there trekking, boating, kayaking, climbing, and beach, all for very affordable prices. Add to that the simply exceptional setting of Lan Ha Bay and youâll get a perfect place to spend a few very pleasant days đ. So, ready to discover the beauty of Cat Ba? After, the different versions of Halong Bay, we continue to explore the north of Vietnam. Next destination Babe Lake! Pin it Novo-monde in your inbox Receive the latest news from the blog directly in your inbox! Guaranteed 100% Travel and 0% Spam !
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