Last updated: July 22, 2026

Lan Ha Bay is one of the better places to kayak in northern Vietnam because the water sits sheltered between limestone islands, so it stays calm most of the year. Kayaking here is almost always part of a boat tour rather than something you rent by the hour, and the paddle takes you into lagoons, caves and beaches the boats themselves cannot reach.

Written by the Beka Travel guide team on Cat Ba Island. We run boats out of Ben Beo most days of the week and walk the town beaches on our days off, so the notes below come from the water as much as from a map.

Last updated: 1 August 2026

Quick Summary: Cat Ba packs a wide variety of shorelines into one small island, from lively town beaches to quiet pools tucked between limestone cliffs. This guide ranks the best Cat Ba beaches by how easy they are to reach, from the busiest to the most secluded.