Halong Dolphin Travel · Ben Beo harbour, Cat Ba
A nine-hour day boat from Ben Beo harbour on Cat Ba that packs in a floating village, three cave tunnels, a swim stop and a bike ride through Viet Hai. Pick it if you are already sleeping on Cat Ba and want the most variety for the least money.
This is the day trip for people who are already on Cat Ba. A minibus collects you from your hotel between 8:00 and 8:30, drives about ten minutes to Ben Beo harbour, and the boat is in Lan Ha from the first minute. No Ha Long crossing, no cruise-ship traffic jam at the pier. You are back on Cat Ba around 17:00 to 17:15, which makes it a real nine-hour day.
The route runs past the floating fishing village, into the kayak area for Bright, Dark and Bat caves, out to the Ba Trai Dao beaches for a swim, then to Viet Hai harbour for a bike ride through the rice fields inside Cat Ba National Park and a fish massage. If cycling is not your thing, a green electric car does the same road. Kayaking is on the itinerary; on some days crews switch to a rowed bamboo boat at the caves, because Lan Ha's kayaking rules have changed several times since late 2024.
Groups go up to 30 on the standard option, so this is a shared day boat, not a private one. Lunch, water, entry fees and the Viet Hai village ticket are covered; drinks and tips are not. Coming from Hanoi? The tour itself starts on Cat Ba, so you need to get there first (4 to 5.5 hours by bus and car ferry). The operator sells a seat on a bus back to the Hanoi Old Quarter for USD 12, booked the day before and paid at check-in.
The guide collects you by minibus and drives about ten minutes to Ben Beo harbour for a briefing.
The boat cruises through the floating village while the guide explains how families there live on the water.
Kayaking through Bright Cave, Dark Cave and Bat Cave into lagoons. Langurs live on these cliffs, so keep looking up.
Swim, jump off the deck or sit on the sand at the Three Peaches beaches.
Vietnamese lunch with seafood and vegetarian dishes, then deck time while the boat heads to Viet Hai.
Cycle across the rice fields to Viet Hai village, try the fish massage, then a sunset party on the boat. Farewell at the port at 17:00, drop-off on Cat Ba around 17:15.
★★★★★A very comprehensive activity to spend the day in Cat Ba. Honestly, everything was great, and we really enjoyed the scenery, the sea, and the activities. Tony, our tour guide, explained everything really well and was very lively.
★★★★★Plenty of food for lunch, we got to have different types of “happy water” I had cobra happy water. Monkey jumper on the boat and it was hilarious. The water was perfect too.
★★★★★A wonderful experience, and Tony's explanations about the island's culture and life were especially interesting! Highly recommended.
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At Ben Beo harbour, about ten minutes from Cat Ba town. Pickup from your Cat Ba hotel or bungalow between 8:00 and 8:30 is included.
Only if you get to Cat Ba first. The tour has no Hanoi pickup; the bus and car ferry take 4 to 5.5 hours. The operator sells a USD 12 bus seat back to the Old Quarter after the tour.
No. Kayaking through Bright, Dark and Bat caves is on the itinerary, but on some days crews use a rowed bamboo boat instead because local rules have changed several times since late 2024.
No. A green electric car is included for anyone who prefers not to bike the road to the village.
Ready to book
A full day from Cat Ba: kayaking through three caves, a swim at Ba Trai Dao, a bike ride in Viet Hai village and lunch.
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