Lan Ha Bay 2 Days 1 Night Adventure 2026 – Night Kayaking & Jungle Bungalow
Monkey Island Cat Ba: What to Know Before You Go
A trip to Monkey Island Cat Ba is often a major highlight for travelers exploring the beautiful archipelago in northern Vietnam. Located just a short 20-minute boat ride from the main town, this unique spot offers beautiful beaches, a challenging viewpoint hike, and unpredictable wildlife encounters. If you are planning to visit, knowing exactly what to expect from the famous resident monkeys will ensure a safe and memorable experience.
Night Kayaking and Bioluminescent Plankton in Cat Ba Guide
Last updated: July 16, 2026
Quick Summary: Bioluminescent plankton glow in the water when disturbed by a paddle or a passing fish, and Lan Ha Bay near Cat Ba is one of the best places in northern Vietnam to see it on a night kayak. Sightings are most likely on dark, moonless nights, and never guaranteed.
Halong Bay vs Lan Ha Bay: Which Should You Actually Book?
Last updated: July 2026
Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay sit on the same stretch of coastline, separated by an administrative border rather than anything you could see from a boat. The limestone towers are the same rock, the water is the same colour, and the two bays are close enough that a fast vessel crosses between them in under an hour.
Ask ten travel agents which one to book and you will hear ten versions of the same line: Lan Ha is the quiet one. That is broadly true today. It is also becoming less true each season, and very few operators will explain why.
Cat Ba Island Travel Guide 2026
Last updated: 31 July 2026
We have been running boats out of Cat Ba since 2017, and in that time we have seen the island at both extremes. We have watched the 7am ferry queue stretch back a kilometre on a public holiday, and we have had the whole of Lan Ha Bay to ourselves on a grey Tuesday in November.
This Cat Ba Island travel guide is written from that side of the water rather than from a desk in Hanoi.