Cat Ba Nomad

Departures from Cat Ba Town

Cat Ba Island & Lan Ha Bay tours, run by locals who live here.

Tomorrow.

Day trips and one after dark, with pickup from your hotel in Cat Ba Town. Message us the trip and your hotel, and we confirm tomorrow’s seats on WhatsApp.

Book on WhatsApp

Locally run on Cat Ba Island. New, and proud of it.

SeaThe captain’s call each morning. If the sea says no, you move to another day or a land trip.Replies07:00 to 23:00, Vietnam timePickupYour hotel in Cat Ba TownMoonChecked before we confirm the night trip
LengthTripGroupSeatsFrom

Half dayA limestone cliff with a walkway into a cave, above the jungleCat Ba National Park Trekkingmax 8Ask us$35Book1 dayKayaks between limestone cliffs on Lan Ha BayLan Ha Bay Cruise & Kayakingsmall groupAsk us$55Book1 dayCruise boats among the limestone islands of Ha Long BayHa Long Bay Day Cruisemax 16Ask us$45Book1 dayA local woman in a conical hat cycling a quiet village roadViet Hai Village Cycling & Boatmax 10Ask us$49Book2 daysFloating village houses on Lan Ha Bay2D1N Cat Ba & Lan Ha Bay Combomax 10Ask us$119BookFull dayRoped climber on a limestone wall near Cat BaCat Ba Rock Climbing Daysmall groupAsk us$102BookHalf dayClimber on an overhang above the water in Lan Ha Bay, with the boat nearbyDeep Water Soloing in Lan Ha BayBest from May to October, when the water is warmsmall groupAsk us$45Book4 hoursLan Ha Bay islands at duskLan Ha Bay Plankton Night TourCruise out for sunset, swim off the boat, then watch the water light upsmall groupAsk us$45Book

Prices per person. Want another day? Message us the date you have in mind.

Not on the board

Private trips and transfers, any date. Ask us with your dates.

Any day3D2N Ultimate Cat Ba Experienceprivate, 3 days$229AskAny dayPrivate Overnight Cruise, Lan Ha Bayprivate boaton requestAskAny hourPrivate Taxi & Airport Transfersdoor to dooron requestAsk

This month

When to come for what

Each activity has its sweet spot. Typhoon risk peaks in July and August; the driest stretch runs November to April.

Best time to visit, month by month

Activity Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Avg high 19° 20° 22° 26° 30° 34° 34° 32° 30° 28° 25° 22°
Bay cruise & kayak Good Good Good Ideal Ideal Ideal Good Good Ideal Ideal Ideal Good
Swimming Off-season Off-season Off-season Good Ideal Ideal Ideal Ideal Ideal Ideal Good Off-season
Rock climbing Ideal Ideal Ideal Ideal Good Off-season Off-season Off-season Good Ideal Ideal Ideal
Trekking Ideal Ideal Ideal Ideal Good Off-season Off-season Off-season Good Ideal Ideal Ideal

IdealGoodOff-seasonAverage high in °C, based on local weather

Lan Ha Bay from above: limestone islands and the boat harbour
Lan Ha Bay from above.

What you will come back talking about

Here is what a day with us actually feels like, from the bay to the cliffs to the back roads.

The bay, up close

Cruise Lan Ha Bay past hundreds of limestone karsts, kayak into still lagoons the big boats never reach, and swim off the deck in the middle of it all. At the end of the day the light goes gold over the water.

Climbing the sea cliffs

Pull onto warm limestone with a guide on the rope, the bay dropping away beneath you, then lean back and abseil down the face. On deep water soloing the only thing under you is the sea, so you climb as high as you dare and let go.

Cycling into Viet Hai

A quiet road winding through rice fields and jungle to a village most day-trippers never see. Roll past water buffalo and old stone houses, stop for a home-cooked lunch, and meet the Cat Ba that lives away from the harbour.

After dark

The one trip that only works after dark.

The glow comes from plankton that flash blue when the water around them is disturbed, so it follows your paddle and the wake of the boat. How strong it is depends on the season, the moon and the water, so ask us about your dates before you plan around it.

Book the night trip$45 per person.

How a booking works

  1. Send us the trip, your dates and your hotel on WhatsApp.
  2. We confirm the seats and the pickup time with you there.
  3. We agree the payment with you on WhatsApp. No deposit is needed just to enquire.

Licensed operator. Safety-first trips, quality boats and proper gear on every departure.

Real people on WhatsApp, 07:00 to 23:00, Vietnam time.

A note from the founder

This island raised me. Let me show you around.

I grew up between the harbour and the national park, fishing with my father and watching the langurs on the cliffs. After years away, I came home to share the Cat Ba that locals know, not the version on the day-trip flyers.

Every trip we run is one I’d take my own friends on. We answer your WhatsApp late into the night. If anything ever feels off, you message me directly.

Message me directlyHoang Anh NguyenFounder · Cat Ba Nomad · Local guide

Planning ahead?

Send us your dates.

Tell us a little about your trip. A local from our team replies on WhatsApp, usually within the hour, 07:00 to 23:00 Vietnam time, and helps you shape the days. No deposit to enquire.

Send on WhatsApp
or email [email protected]Please double check your WhatsApp number and country code, otherwise we cannot reach you.

Plan your Cat Ba trip

Honest guides to getting here, what to do, and when to come. Written on the island, updated when the ferries change.

All guides on the blog

Not sure which trip?

Ask a local.

Tell us your dates and who is coming. A local from our team replies on WhatsApp and helps you pick the days.

Message us on WhatsApp

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