Travel Blogs

Travel Blogs

Are you a beach bum or an adventure lover? It does not matter that you are interested in a relaxing trip, a cultural trip or an adventurous one, Vietnam has it all. Owing to gorgeous natural landscapes, paradise beaches, dynamic cities and unique culture, Vietnam can offer you a vacation with various possibilities.

Cat Ba Island Travel Guide

Cat Ba Island is the largest island in the Halong Bay area and it is one of the largest islands in Vietnam. If you are looking for a day tour out of Hanoi the travel consultants may advise you to go to Cat Ba Island. Some cruises in Halong Bay offer 2 nights including 1 night on Cat Ba Island. You also can just go to Cat Ba Island to stay there on the beach. Come closer with Incredible Asia Journeys to find out what makes Cat Ba attractive.[incredible_toc]1. Everything you should know about Cat Ba IslandThere are many things you can do on Cat Ba Island when you want to relax or even if you want an adventure tour there. That is a good place for a relaxing holiday or adventure tour.1.1. Things to do on Cat Ba IslandSwimmingThere are some beaches on Cat Ba Island (Cat Co 1, Cat Co 2, Cat Co 3) and the beach on Monkey Island. So if you like the beach holiday then Cat Ba Island is a good option for you and your family. The beaches on Cat Ba Island especially Monkey Island Beach are very clean with emerald water. So that is the perfect beach for your holiday in summer.  During the Vietnam summer holiday from June to July, there are a lot of Vietnamese tourists visiting Cat Ba Island so if you visit Cat Ba Island please note it will be crowded in June and July. Beaches on Cat Ba Island are very clean with emerald waterHikingThere is Cat Ba National Park on Cat Ba Island where you can go hiking there to Ngu Lam Peak. That is a very nice area for hiking as the air is fresh in the national park on the remote island. When you are in Ngu Lam Peak you can have a view of Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay.Hiking in Cat BaKayaking and Cruising When you are in Cat Ba Island, you can take a day boat trip to Lan Ha Bay from Beo Pier to visit Monkey Island or to Dark and Bright Caves. Click Here for more detail of Dark and Bright Caves.Kayaking in Lan Ha BayShopping in Cat Ba IslandThere are a lot of shops and there is a night market where you can buy local souvenirs at a low price on Cat Ba Island. When you buy something, there you can bargain to get a good price. Please ask your guide to know how to bargain in the Vietnamese way. Dining in Cat Ba IslandWhen we talk about the food in Cat Ba Island we need to talk to the seafood there. As it is an island there are fishing villages there where people do fishing and have fishing farms. The seafood in Cat Ba Island is very fresh as they catch the seafood every day.In the early morning, you may go to the market to see local people buy and sell the seafood then they move to the mainland to bring to the city.There are a lot of seafood restaurants on Cat Ba Island at a reasonable price. If you like you also can go to some floating restaurants near the city and enjoy a meal in the floating restaurants. That is so interesting! Therefore, don't wait to book your Vietnam travels to Cat Ba now! 1.2. Cat Ba AttractionsThere are some tourist attractions in Cat Ba Islands you can visit and see when you visit the island.Local VillageIn Cat Ba Island there is a nice local village of Viet Hai. You may get to Viet Hai Village by boat from Beo Pier. Learn about their life in a remote area of Cat Ba Island.Viet Hai Village on Cat Ba IslandCat Ba National ParkCat Ba National Park is a good place to visit. You can buy a tour from your hotel for a trekking tour there to Ao Ech or Ngu Lam Peak. There you can visit the Hospital Cave with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites.Trekking in Cat Ba National ParkMonkey Island If you wish to visit Monkey Island where you can go swimming in the clean water with long sandy beaches and see a lot of monkeys you can take a tour from Beo Pier.It is easy to book a day tour with your hotel on Cat Ba Island and the bus will pick you up from your hotels.Monkey Island Resort2. Accommodation on Cat Ba Island There are a lot of best hotels on Cat Ba Island from low budget to higher budget, from homestay to 2-star hotel, 3-star or 4-star hotel. There are some good hotels like Hung Long Harbour Hotel and Sunrise Resort Cat Ba.In the summer, there is a lot of Vietnamese traveling to Cat Ba so there are a lot of low-budget hotels there which may cost about 20.00 USD/room/night. Nowadays, young people go there a lot to relax so there is more and more eco-accommodation in the remote area which is far from Cat Ba Town.3. When to visit Cat Ba Island The best season to visit Cat Ba is from April to November as it will be the warm season so you may go swimming on the beach because Cat Ba is famous for the beach in North Vietnam.Please note the peak season of Cat Ba Island is from the end of May to the end of July because it is the summer holiday in Vietnam so there is a huge number of Vietnamese travelers traveling to Cat Ba Island. They travel with family and company so there are a lot of big groups. If you go to Cat Ba Island at this time the price of the hotels will be high, especially the weekend. So make sure you book the rooms in advance. In the peak season, you may book the high-class hotels because the high-class hotel price at that time is not much higher than the low-class hotel. This is because Vietnamese travel a lot and there are a lot of Vietnamese travelers who just can pay the low-class hotels but those hotels will raise the price a lot and are not much different from the high-level class hotels. And if you stay in those low-class hotels like 2 stars the services are not so good because the hotels are lacking professional staff to serve a huge number of travelers at that time. If you wish to avoid the crowd and get a good deal you may visit Cat Ba Island from the middle of September to November as the summer holiday has ended. That is still not the cold weather season so that is still good for Cat Ba Island.3. Tours to Cat Ba Island There are a lot of cruises in Lan Ha Bay that will have itineraries for 3 days and 2 nights and those cruises have itineraries for you to visit a part of Cat Ba Island. Normally, those cruises visit Viet Hai Village on Cat Ba Island.There are some cruises that have itineraries to the caves on Cat Ba Island.The cruises have itineraries to villages or caves on Cat Ba Island like:V’Spirit CruisePerla Dawn SailsScarlet Pearl CruiseOrchid CruiseLa Pandora CruiseLa Regina Legend CruiseLa Regina Grand CruisePerla Dawn Sails Cruise5. How to Get To Cat Ba IslandFrom Hanoi you can get to Cat Ba Island by booking the cruises in Lan Ha Bay then they will go to Vietnam Hai Village on Cat Ba Island. That is easy as it will be included in the cruise trip.If you just want to go to Cat Ba Island only but not the cruise, you can book a bus from Hanoi to Tuan Chau Harbour then take a fairy to Gia Luan Harbour then get a taxi or bus to Cat Ba Town.You also can get a bus to Got Harbour then take a fairy to Cat Ba Island then take a bus to the center.Thank you very much for reading! We hope you will have a good vacation with family in Vietnam or friends on Cat Ba Island.

Halong Bay Tour from International Cruise Ship

If your international cruise ship docks in Halong Port – At the moment it is Halong International Port (so-called Sun International Port) and you want to take a day tour to Halong Bay on a day boat, please see the information below to get a good boat tour to Halong Bay.[incredible_toc]Halong International PortFrom March 2019 the international cruise ships will dock at Halong International Port and guests will have a chance to take some shore excursions such as Halong Bay Boat Tour, Hai Phong City tour, or Hanoi City Tour from Halong City. Among those tours, the Halong Bay Boat Tour is the most popular as Halong Bay is one of the World National Heritage Sites with magnificent scenery.Halong Bay is a large area with thousands of limestone islets emerging from the sea. You will be amazed by the sightseeing there and there are some interesting activities you can do there like swimming, kayaking, taking a sampan boat, hiking in the caves or just relaxing on a cruise around the bay and see the Natural World Wonder.There are some Halong Bay Tours options if you start from the International Cruise Ship Port you can take as below!1. Halong Bay Day Tour from International Cruise Ship PortThe Halong International Cruise Port comprises 6 wharfs, with 4 designated for yachts and cruise ships and 2 catering to heavyweight international cruises. It's truly a wonderful opportunity for both domestic and international tourists to immerse themselves in the enchanting Halong city and experience the warmth of Vietnam. Located conveniently in central Bai Chay, the port is easily accessible for travelers. Visitors have the option to choose from 2 types of Halong Day Trips: one departing from Halong Bay International Port at 10:00 AM, and the other from Tuan Chau Port, with 7-hour cruises typically starting around 9:45-10:00 AM. Also, there are 6-hour cruises departing from Tuan Chau Port at 12:00 PM. The price for a one-day cruise ranges from 800,000 - 1,600,000 VND (32 – 63 USD) per guest, depending on the quality of the cruise, offering options from 3 to 5-star services.Let’s explore the suggested Halong Bay day cruise tour from International Cruise Ship!1.1. Amazing Sails Halong Bay Cruise from Halong Bay International PortAmazing Sails Halong Bay CruiseThe Amazing Sails Halong Bay Cruise offers a luxury day trip departing at 10:00 AM from Sun Port. The journey begins with a cruise through Halong Bay's limestone mountains, accompanied by a delicious lunch at 11:30 AM. At 1:00 PM, the first stop is Tien Ong Cave, followed by a visit to Cua Van fishing village at 2:00 PM for kayaking or bamboo boating. The tour then proceeds to the Pearl Farm Village at 2:45 PM, where guests learn about pearl cultivation. Leisure time onboard follows, with activities like sunbathing and optional massages. A cooking class and tea break are offered at 5:00 PM before the cruise concludes at Tuan Chau Pier at 5:30 PM. Guests return to Hanoi, arriving around 7:45 PM.To read the detailed itinerary, contact us to refer to more information about Amazing Sails Halong Bay Cruise!1.2. Other Recommended Halong Bay Day Tours from Tuan Chau PortIf you prefer not to depart from the International Cruise Port, you can take a taxi to Tuan Chau Port, which provides a wider range of day cruises. Tuan Chau Port is known for its variety of tour options, including the Cozy Bay Premium Day Cruise, Amethyst Cruise, and Jade Sails Halong Bay Day Tour,…The day cruises from Tuan Chau Port have different schedules to suit various preferences. The 7-hour cruises typically start around 9:45-10:00 AM, allowing ample time to explore the bay. For a shorter trip, the 6-hour cruises usually depart from Tuan Chau Port at 12:00 PM. The driver will pick you up from Sun Port Waiting Lounge (It is where your cruise docks) and take you to Tuan Chau Harbour. You will meet your guide and other tourists from Hanoi at Tuan Chau Harbour and join in the boat trip to Halong Bay for 6 hours or 7 hours depending on your choice.Cozy Bay Premium Day CruiseCozy Bay Premium Day CruiseThe Cozy Bay Premium Day Cruise departs from Tuan Chau Harbor between 12:00 PM and 12:30 PM. This 5-6 hour journey takes you along the stunning boat route, featuring uninhabited islets and outcrops. Enjoy a delicious lunch on board while cruising, followed by visits to Surprising Cave, Titop Island for panoramic views, and kayaking or bamboo boating in Luon Cave. The day concludes with a sunset party back on the cruise before returning to the harbor around 5:00 PM.Amethyst CruiseAmethyst CruiseStarting at 10:00 AM from Tuan Chau Harbor, the Amethyst Cruise offers a delightful day trip with a welcome drink, followed by a scenic journey through Halong Bay's iconic formations. Enjoy a buffet lunch at 12:00 PM, then explore the magnificent Sung Sot Cave and kayak in the picturesque Luon Cave. The tour continues with a visit to Titop Island for breathtaking views and a relaxing sunset party with Vietnamese tea and snacks. The cruise returns to Tuan Chau Port by 6:00 PM.Jade Sails Halong Bay Day TourJade Sails Halong Bay Day CruiseThe Jade Sails Halong Bay Day Cruise begins at 9:45 AM with a welcome drink. Enjoy a delectable lunch with live traditional Vietnamese music as you cruise through the limestone islands. Visit the Dark & Bright Caves by bamboo boat, then swim and kayak in the serene waters of Tung Gau. Participate in a cooking class to learn how to make Vietnamese spring rolls and end the day with a sunset party on the sundeck. The cruise concludes at Tuan Chau Harbor by 5:30 PM.2. Halong Bay 1-night Tour from International Cruise Ship PortFor those looking to extend their exploration of Halong Bay, a 1-night tour is an excellent option. These tours depart from both the Sun Port and Tuan Chau Port, offering unique experiences and luxury accommodations with rates from 125 USD - 300 USD.2.1. Halong Bay 1-night Tour from Halong Bay International PortHalong Bay 1-Night Tour To Lan Ha Bay: Scarlet Pearl CruiseScarlet Pearl CruiseDeparting from Sun Port at 11:30 am, this cruise features elegant cabins and top-notch amenities. Guests will enjoy a welcome drink upon boarding, followed by a sumptuous lunch as the cruise sets sail. The itinerary includes visits to the Dark & Bright Caves, where you can kayak or take a bamboo boat, and a visit to the Ao Ech Area. The evening features a fine dining experience, followed by squid fishing or relaxing on the sundeck. The next morning, enjoy Tai Chi, breakfast, and brunch before returning to Sun Port.Reach out to Scarlet Pearl Cruise by contacting us now to get hot deals!Halong Bay 1-Night Tour To Bai Tu Long Bay: Signature CruiseSignature CruiseThe Signature Cruise provides a luxurious escape to Bai Tu Long Bay, departing from Sun Port at 12:30 pm. This 1-night tour includes spacious cabins with private balconies, a welcome drink, and a delectable lunch as you embark on your journey. Highlights include a visit to Vung Vieng Fishing Village, and the chance to kayak or a locally-rowed sampan boat in the serene waters. Evening activities include a gourmet dinner and options like squid fishing or movie night. On the second day, start with Tai Chi, followed by breakfast and a visit to Thien Canh Son Cave before returning to Sun Port.2.2. Halong Bay 1-night Tour from Tuan Chau PortV'Spirit CruiseV'Spirit Cruise offers a memorable 1-night journey departing from Tuan Chau Port. Upon arrival, guests are welcomed with a drink before embarking on a scenic cruise through Ha Long Bay. The itinerary includes a visit to Dark & Light Cave, kayaking or swimming, and a cooking class on board. Enjoy a delicious dinner, followed by evening activities such as squid fishing or karaoke. The next morning features Tai Chi, breakfast, and brunch before heading to Tuan Chau Port. Reach out to Incredible Asia Journeys to book the V'Spirit Cruise at the best rates!V'Spirit CruiseOther TOP-rated Halong Bay 1-night cruiseIn addition to the tours mentioned above, there are several other highly rated options for a 1-night cruise in Ha Long Bay:Indochine CruiseHermes CruiseMila CruiseEssence Grand CruisesSo, that is all the information for tourists who want to take a Halong Bay cruise trip from an International Cruise Ship, consider carefully planning your trip hassle-free. Also, if you still have any questions, don't hesitate to ask Incredible Asia Journeys to help you book your cruise with free consultations and premium deals!