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Exploring Halong Bay from Cat Ba Island | cheaper alternative

For many travelers the highlight of their travel route through Vietnam : Halong Bay. Halong Bay consists of more than 1600 limestone islands that rise from the water. It is a beautiful and unreal sight and it is immediately clear why this place is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The cheapest and nicest alternative is to visit Halong Bay from Cat ba island.

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How to get to Cat Ba Island

Cat Ba is about a 2/3 hour journey from Hanoi (the capital of Vietnam). There are also plenty of tours and cruises offered from Hanoi to Halong Bay because the distance is relatively short, at least by Vietnamese standards. You will then leave for Halong Bay in the early morning and depending on which tour you choose, you will return to Hanoi the same day or the next day.

However, I recommend that you travel to Cat Ba and arrange such a tour from here. From Hanoi or Ninh Binh (Tam Coc) you travel by bus to Cat Ba, when you buy a bus ticket the ferry crossing is most likely included in the price. You can buy a ticket at Cat Ba Express. From Ninh Binh (Tam Coc) it takes about 4/5 hours.

Also read: The 12 Most Beautiful National Parks in Vietnam | From Jungle to Beach

Halong Bay from Cat Ba
Halong Bay from Cat Ba


The three bays around Cat Ba Island

There are three bays around Cat Ba Island: Halong Bay, Lan Ha Bay & Bai Tu Long Bay. These three bays all have the same landscape and therefore it is not really a must to go to Halong Bay. You cannot see the difference.

Halong Bay

Of course, almost all boats go to Halong Bay because this is the most famous bay. That is why this place is extremely busy and you are not only surrounded by the beautiful limestone islands, but also many boats. Book a tour that not only sails through this area, but also takes in a bit of Halong Bay. This way you have been there but you don't experience the enormous crowds all the time.

Lan Ha Bay

Lan Ha Bay is the cheap alternative and closest to Cat Ba Island. It is less busy and therefore a perfect place to enjoy the landscape.

Bai Tu Long Bay

This bay is the furthest away from Cat Ba Island and is also the most expensive option. Only a limited number of cruise ships are allowed to enter this area, which means they can charge a higher price.

Halong Bay from Cat Ba

Boat Tour of Lan Ha Bay & Halong Bay

It is most convenient if you immediately arrange your tour with one of the many tour operators on the island upon arrival in Cat Ba. You will find most of them in the center, but you can also arrange it at the accommodation where you spend the night. I had arranged my tour at the office of Cat Ba Ventures† They offer day tours, but also have options including overnight stay. I chose the 2D/1N tour where I stayed overnight in a cabin on an island. You can also book a tour at Cat Ba Express.

Cost:

  • 1 day excursion:     $ 15-20
  • 2 day excursion:    $ 80-100

The boat is very nice (the best I've had in Asia). There are plenty of sunbeds on the deck where you can optimally enjoy the view. When you go down the stairs you arrive at the room where there is a large table surrounded by benches with plenty of room for everyone. Here you will have lunch in the afternoon.

Halong Bay from Cat Ba

During the day you will stop at the fisherman's village, a dozen homes built on the water. It's really impressive to see. Of course, extensive stops are also made at beautiful places where you can snorkel, swim, kayak and even swim to a beach. She also stopped at a place where we could kayak through a cave and then emerge at a bay surrounded by rocks, which was really amazing.

Halong Bay from Cat Ba
Halong Bay from Cat Ba
Halong Bay from Cat Ba


Before I took part in the tour, I had imagined that it would be very busy on the water, but it turned out not to be so bad. Of course we certainly came across boats, but there were also places where we were completely alone. It was certainly a very nice experience. There were only 6 people on the boat, which is very few (in my opinion) so there was more than enough room for everyone. The food was delicious, the accommodation on the island was excellent and everything was well organised. Looking back, I would recommend just opting for a 1-day tour, this is more than enough.

Also read: Things to Do in Hanoi | 9x must sees and fun day tours

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Ilse & Nick

ILSE & NICK - OUR TRAVEL LIFE
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