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Ha Long & Cat Ba

Best season Mar–May & Sep–Nov · 24 tips · 11 checked by a local · counted from 2,828 traveller posts & comments

What to eat

Eat
Meals come included on the cruise
Food is part of the cruise package; quality is what people judge.

Where to stay

Stay
The Bai Chay side
The tourist side of the bridge, easier for tour pickups
13 travellers mentioned local-checked
Stay
Hostels and homestays on the island
Sleeping on Cat Ba, cheaper than a cruise berth
11 travellers mentioned local-checked
Stay
Near the cruise harbour
Hotels and hostels, easy to get on your boat.
Stay
Family guesthouses
Cheap, and the owners usually sort your boat ticket.

What to do · more

Do
Overnight bay cruise
The usual way people do it — one night sleeping on the boat
916 travellers mentioned local-checked
Do
Cat Ba Island
Base yourself on the island for a few days instead of taking a day tour
709 travellers mentioned local-checked
Do
Lan Ha Bay
The bay next door — same karst scenery, far fewer boats
410 travellers mentioned local-checked
Do
Bai Tu Long Bay
The bay to the northeast, same karsts, far fewer boats
56 travellers mentioned local-checked
Do
Kayaking in the bay
Paddle around the karsts and through the tunnel caves
39 travellers mentioned local-checked
Do
Renting a motorbike on the island
A day looping around Cat Ba
11 travellers mentioned local-checked
Do
Cat Ba National Park
Forest walks on the island, with a climb to a lookout
5 travellers mentioned local-checked
Do
Rock climbing
Limestone walls around Lan Ha Bay
3 travellers mentioned local-checked

Day trips

Day trip
Ferry and speedboat to the island
How you get out to Cat Ba from the mainland
5 travellers mentioned local-checked

After dark

Night
Cat Ba island as a base
Cheaper base for bay tours, hiking, kayaking and climbing.
Night
Day cruise instead of sleeping on board
Many say a day boat covers the same sights for less.
Night
Overnight cruise (2d1n or 3d2n)
Sleeping on the boat; rooms, sunset and sunrise are the draw.

Worth knowing · more

Worth knowing
Kayaking is in most itineraries
Nearly every cruise or day tour includes kayaking among the karsts.
Worth knowing
Crowds and boat traffic on the bay
Popular stops fill with boats; expect company, not quiet.
Worth knowing
Construction and land reclamation on Cat Ba
Building works cover the waterfront and can be noisy at night.
Worth knowing
Weather swings by season
Winter can be cold and overcast; June brings rain and humidity.
Worth knowing
Cruise itineraries are near identical
Most boats run the same route, so paying more adds little.
Worth knowing
Crews expect tips at the end
Companies suggest tip amounts at checkout; some travellers find it pushy.

Traps to avoid

Careful
Cheap boats with poor standards
Read recent reviews; go with a known operator.
Heads-up

Nearby — often compared

Deciding where to go? Travellers often weigh Ha Long & Cat Ba against nearby: Hanoi · Ninh Binh · Sapa · Ha Giang · Cao Bang