Overview
Tour overview
This Cat Ba and Lan Ha Bay cycling tour gives you two active days on Cat Ba Island, starting and ending in Hanoi. On day one you cycle to Hien Hao, a rural village, visit a local bee farm and tour Military Hospital Cave. Day two is on the water: a boat trip through Lan Ha Bay, kayaking and a swim.
A shuttle bus from Hanoi’s Old Quarter and a speedboat take you to the island and back, with one night on Cat Ba. An English-speaking guide leads every activity, and bikes and kayaking gear are included. Rated medium intensity, the tour suits active travellers who want to see Lan Ha Bay from a bike saddle and a kayak seat, not only from a deck. Read more in our Cat Ba Island guide.
Map
Tour map
Tap the map to enlarge it. It stays one tap away in the corner while you read the days below.
Itinerary
Day by day itinerary
Day 1Bus and speedboat to Cat Ba, a bike ride to Hien Hao and Hospital Cave
We pick you up around Hanoi’s Old Quarter for the shuttle bus east across the Red River Delta to the coast, where a speedboat makes the short crossing to Cat Ba. The island is about 150 km from Hanoi, and the trip takes three to three and a half hours door to door. Then the bikes come out: with your guide you ride quiet back roads through farmland to Hien Hao, a rural village, and stop at a local bee farm to see the hives. Expect a few climbs, but the pace is relaxed.
The last visit is Military Hospital Cave, on the road into Cat Ba National Park. In the mid-1960s a three-storey concrete hospital was built inside this limestone hill, out of reach of the bombing, and it stayed in use until 1975. Your guide walks you through its 17 rooms, from the old operating theatre to a large natural chamber once used as a cinema.
Day 2A day on Lan Ha Bay by boat and kayak, then back to Hanoi
Lan Ha Bay lies just south of Ha Long Bay, with the same green water and limestone karsts, and since 2023 the two have shared one UNESCO World Heritage listing. Your boat leaves Cat Ba and threads out between the islands, past small sandy coves and floating fish farms.
At the kayaking stop you paddle with your guide close in under the cliffs and into corners the boat cannot reach. Later the boat stops so you can swim or sit out in the sun, and the midday meal is fresh local seafood served on board. Keep swimwear, sunscreen and a dry change of clothes in your day bag. Back on Cat Ba, the speedboat and shuttle bus return you to Hanoi’s Old Quarter in about three to three and a half hours.
Hotels
Where you sleep
Hotels may change to similar ones depending on availability for your dates. We will let you know in advance. You can also upgrade to 4-star or 5-star hotels.
Transport
Transport on this tour
Inclusions
What is included
- Shuttle bus and speedboat from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island and back
- Free pickup and drop-off around Hanoi’s Old Quarter
- One night at an eco lodge on Cat Ba Island, in a private twin or double room shared by two
- Four meals: two lunches, one dinner and one breakfast
- An English-speaking guide for all activities on the island and in Lan Ha Bay
- Bicycles and kayaking equipment
- All activities in the itinerary, including the bee farm visit, the Military Hospital Cave tour and the Lan Ha Bay boat trip
- VAT
- Pickup and drop-off outside Hanoi’s Old Quarter
- Single room supplement
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Travel insurance
- Passport and visa costs
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses such as laundry and other incidentals
- Any activity not listed as included
This tour is also listed on TourRadar. If you would rather book through them, or you want to read what other travellers wrote, the listing is public.
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Good to know
Before you go
- Free pickup and drop-off cover Hanoi’s Old Quarter only. Staying elsewhere? Send us your address when you book.
- Both days are medium intensity: a bike ride with a few climbs on day one, kayaking on day two.
- Pack swimwear, sunscreen and a dry change of clothes for Lan Ha Bay.
- Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the tour ends.
- Travel insurance is not included, so arrange your own.
- Travellers under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Cancellation policy
If you cancel, we refund what you have paid minus a cancellation fee. The fee is a share of the tour price and depends on how far ahead of your start date you cancel:
- More than 60 days before: 10%
- 30 to 59 days before: 20%
- 15 to 29 days before: 40%
- 8 to 14 days before: 80%
- 7 days or less before, or no-show: 100%
Services you do not use during the trip are not refunded.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How fit do I need to be for this Cat Ba and Lan Ha Bay cycling tour?
Average fitness is enough. The tour is rated medium intensity: there is a bike ride to Hien Hao village on day one and kayaking in Lan Ha Bay on day two, so you should be comfortable on a bicycle and happy to paddle. If you have not cycled for a while, mention it when you book.
How do we get from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island?
By shuttle bus and speedboat, and both are in the price. The bus collects you around Hanoi’s Old Quarter and drives to the coast, where a speedboat crosses to Cat Ba. You come back the same way on day two. Pickup and drop-off are free inside the Old Quarter only, so tell us your address when you book.
Do we sleep on a boat or on the island?
On the island. Your one night is at an eco lodge on Cat Ba, in a private twin or double room shared by two people. The Lan Ha Bay boat trip on day two is a day trip, and you travel back to Hanoi on the same day.
Can children join this tour?
Yes, travellers of all ages are welcome, and anyone under 18 must travel with a parent or legal guardian. Because the days include cycling and kayaking, tell us your children’s ages when you book, so we can confirm the child price and how they take part in each activity.
Is the price per person, and is there a single supplement?
The price is per person, based on two people sharing a private twin or double room at the lodge. If you travel alone or would like a room to yourself, a single room supplement applies. Ask us for the current amount when you book.
What happens if I need to cancel?
You get a refund minus a fee that rises as your start date gets closer. The fee is 10% of the tour price if you cancel more than 60 days ahead, then 20%, 40% and 80% in the bands that follow, and 100% within 7 days of departure or for a no-show.
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