3-Day Floating Village Expedition
Special deal −5%Kayak, trek and sleep on the bay — three days off the grid in Lan Ha
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Overview
Overview
Slow adventure for travellers who want bay life from the inside, not the deck of a cruise boat. Three days, two nights on our own floating homestay, with kayaking, trekking and a 5km cycle through one of the last car-free villages on the island.
Highlights
- Sleep two nights on a working floating homestay run by a Lan Ha family
- Paddle Tay Keo Lagoon and Ba Do Cave before tour boats arrive
- Cycle 5km through Cat Ba National Park to car-free Viet Hai Village
- Optional summit trek with dual-bay views over Lan Ha and Halong
- Kayak Hồ Ba Hầm (Three Tunnels) — limestone passages only reachable at low tide
- Swim at Three Peaches Beach with the boat to yourself
Your stay at a glance
- Duration
- 3 days · 2 nights
- Check-in 12:15 Day 1
- Check-out 08:30 Day 3
- Where you go
- Lan Ha Floating Homestay base
- Tay Keo lagoon, Ba Do cave
- Cat Ba National Park, Viet Hai
- Bright & Dark Caves, Ong Cam islet
- Southern Ha Long Bay, Ba Trai Dao
- Activities & excursions
- Sea kayaking: Tay Keo, Ba Do, the caves
- Hidden-beach swims
- 5 km cycle to Viet Hai
- Optional summit trek
- Fisheries visit
- Beach hop at Ba Trai Dao, stargazing
- Your room
- Over-water Deluxe Double, bay view
- 2 guests: double bed, or double + sofa bed
- Sea view, balcony, A/C, free Wi-Fi
- 6 rooms
- At the homestay
- Family-run floating wooden homestay
- Free kayak and SUP for guests
- Meals on the floating deck
- Meals included
- 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners
- Family-style seafood, caught that morning
- Vegetarian / vegan on 24 h notice
Departure & return
- Meeting point
- 11:00 Day 1 (Cat Ba Town)
- Return
- ~17:00 Day 3
The experience
Paddle Tay Keo Lagoon & Ba Do Cave
Hit the kayaks for the afternoon. We paddle into Tay Keo Lagoon and through Ba Do Cave — both quiet at this hour because the day-cruise crowd has already left. Two-person sit-on-top kayaks, life jackets, dry-bags provided.
Sail off Southern Ha Long Bay · Local Experts at the Fisheries Department
Afterwards, the boat continues to sail off Southern Ha Long Bay, passing by Đầu Bê Island, Vung Viêng fishing village, Le Virgin arch and The Kite arch. Quick stop at the Lan Ha fisheries station — meet the local team who manage the bay's aquaculture and marine protected zones. They show you the floating pens, talk through what's farmed here (and what isn't), and answer questions about how the bay actually works.
Itinerary
Day 1
- Meeting point & transfer to Ben Beo Harbour
- Cruise to the floating homestay (30–45 min)
- Lunch on the floating deck · check-in · rest
- Paddle Tay Keo Lagoon & Ba Do Cave
- Swim at a hidden beach
- Dinner with the family · stargazing
Day 2
- Water taxi to Cat Ba National Park
- Cycle 5km to Viet Hai Village
- Optional summit trek · or village walk
- Local lunch at a Viet Hai household
- Cycle back · optional fish-foot massage
- Back to the homestay · free swim
- Family Dinner at Lan Ha Floating Homestay
Day 3
- Morning cruise off Lan Ha bay
- Paddle at Bright & Dark Caves
- Lunch at Ông Cấm islet
- Sail off Southern Ha Long Bay · Local Experts at the Fisheries Department
- Kayak & beach hop at Ba Trai Đào
- Sunset cruise back to harbor
- Arrive at harbor · drop-off at your hotel
Accommodation
Lan Ha Floating Homestay
A family-run floating wooden homestay anchored in Lan Ha Bay, 2km from Cat Ba town.
- Double Room with Bay View
What's included
Included
- Two nights floating homestay accommodation
- All meals (3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners)
- English-speaking guide for all three days
- Sea kayak with dry-bags, life jackets, safety equipment
- All boat transfers within the bay
Not included
- Beverages (beer, soft drinks, coffee)
- Personal expenses
- Tips
- Journey to and from Cat Ba — choose it under Plan your journey
- Travel insurance for international visitors
Amenities
- Free kayak / SUP
- Sunset deck
- Lounge
Good to know
- Cancellation & changes
- 14 days or more before departureFree cancellation
- 7 – 13 days before departure70% refund
- 3 – 6 days before departure50% refund
- 24 – 72 hours before departure30% refund
- Less than 24 hours before departure, same-day cancellation or no-showNon-refundable
Counted from the moment we receive your written cancellation request. Refunds never exceed what we recover from the supplier.
- Children's policy
Children under 5 travel free. Ages 5–10 pay 50% of the adult fare. From 11 the full adult fare applies.
Children under 5 share their parents' bed.
- How booking works
- Send your request and we check availability with the operator, usually within 12–24 hours. You receive a secure payment link only once it is confirmed — nothing is charged before that.
Ready to look more closely?
Getting there and onwards
Plan your journey
Both directions are independent — arrive one way, leave another. Every fare is the Transportation catalog's own price, taxes included.
Where you sleep
Your accommodation
Lan Ha Floating Homestay
A family-run floating wooden homestay anchored in Lan Ha Bay, 2km from Cat Ba town.
Double Room with Bay View
- Up to 2 guests
- 1 double bed / 1 double bed + 1 sofa bed
- Private bathroom (most rooms)
- Sea view + balcony
- Air conditioning
- Free WiFi
Your preferred room type will be checked and confirmed before payment.
Property amenities
- Free kayak / SUP
- Sunset deck
- Lounge
Daily itinerary
Times are approximate and may shift slightly with weather, tide, and group pace. The order of activities stays the same.
- Day 1 · 11:00
Meeting point & transfer to Ben Beo Harbour
We message you the night before to confirm the pickup time at your hotel in Cat Ba Town. Meet your guide at pickup, and we drive you down to Ben Beo Harbour where the boat to Lan Ha Bay is waiting.
- Day 1 · 11:30
Cruise to the floating homestay (30–45 min)
We sail out past Cai Beo Fishing Village and into Lan Ha Bay proper — about 30 to 45 minutes — dropping anchor at our own floating homestay, a working family-run property tucked between karsts, far from the cruise-boat route.
- Day 1 · 12:15
Lunch on the floating deck · check-in · rest
First meal: family-style Vietnamese seafood — what the boats brought in this morning. Eat at a wooden table above the water, then welcome tea on the deck, room drop, quick orientation, and a short rest before the afternoon paddle.
- Day 1 · 13:30
Paddle Tay Keo Lagoon & Ba Do Cave
Hit the kayaks for the afternoon. We paddle into Tay Keo Lagoon and through Ba Do Cave — both quiet at this hour because the day-cruise crowd has already left. Two-person sit-on-top kayaks, life jackets, dry-bags provided.
- Day 1 · 15:30
Swim at a hidden beach
Pull onto a white-sand cove the cruise boats can't access, swim, jump off the kayaks, lie on the sand. Stay as long as the light lets you.
- Day 1 · 19:00
Dinner with the family · stargazing
Back at the homestay for dinner with the host family. After dark, the deck is yours — the bay is far enough from town that on a clear night you'll see more stars than you've seen in years.
- Day 2 · 08:30
Water taxi to Cat Ba National Park
After breakfast on the deck, a small boat takes us across to the National Park pier. Grab a bike at the dock — we're cycling.
- Day 2 · 09:00
Cycle 5km to Viet Hai Village
Five kilometres of jungle road through the park to Viet Hai — one of the last car-free villages on Cat Ba. The road is flat and shaded most of the way; bikes are basic single-gear, fine for everyone.
- Day 2 · 10:30
Optional summit trek · or village walk
Two-hour optional trek to a viewpoint that looks over both Lan Ha and Halong bays. If you'd rather not climb, the guide will walk you around the village — old houses, the school, the temple, the fish-foot-massage stream.
- Day 2 · 12:30
Local lunch at a Viet Hai household
Lunch at a family home in the village — local dishes (boar, chicken, river fish, jungle vegetables), cooked over wood. Nothing flown in.
- Day 2 · 14:00
Cycle back · optional fish-foot massage
Easy cycle back to the pier. Stop at the freshwater stream for the famous Viet Hai fish-foot massage if you want (~50k VND, your call).
- Day 2 · 15:30
Back to the homestay · free swim
Boat back to the floating homestay. Afternoon is yours — swim off the deck, paddle around the floating fish farms, nap, read.
- Day 2 · 19:00
Family Dinner at Lan Ha Floating Homestay
Family-style dinner on the deck with the host family — fresh catch of the day, simple Vietnamese home cooking, served at a long wooden table over the water. After, if the season and tide are right (strongest May–September, dark-moon nights), the guide offers an optional bioluminescent night kayak to see glowing plankton. Not guaranteed — we only run it when it's actually there.
- Day 3 · 08:30 – 10:30
Morning cruise off Lan Ha bay
After breakfast we pack out and the boat cruises off Lan Ha bay, passing Cai Beo Fishing Village and thousands of karst towers with unique shapes — chopsticks, seals, dog faces. We head south toward the Southern Ha Long Bay, the least-visited stretch of the area.
- Day 3 · 10:30 – 12:30
Paddle at Bright & Dark Caves
Kayak through hidden lagoons, tunnels and archways. Bright Cave (Hang Sáng) opens onto a quiet inner lagoon; Dark Cave (Hang Tối) is narrow and cool with bats overhead — only passable at low tide. We also stop at Đền Bà Men, a small floating temple on the way back.
- Day 3 · 12:30 – 13:30
Lunch at Ông Cấm islet
Boat drops anchor at Ông Cấm islet for a sumptuous traditional Vietnamese seafood lunch. Free time to relax, swim, jump off the boat, lounge on the deck, socialise.
- Day 3 · 13:30 – 14:30
Sail off Southern Ha Long Bay · Local Experts at the Fisheries Department
Afterwards, the boat continues to sail off Southern Ha Long Bay, passing by Đầu Bê Island, Vung Viêng fishing village, Le Virgin arch and The Kite arch. Quick stop at the Lan Ha fisheries station — meet the local team who manage the bay's aquaculture and marine protected zones. They show you the floating pens, talk through what's farmed here (and what isn't), and answer questions about how the bay actually works.
- Day 3 · 14:30 – 16:00
Kayak & beach hop at Ba Trai Đào
Kayaking, swim and beach hopping at Ba Trai Đào (Three Peaches) Beach — three cone-shaped islands above a quiet strip of sand: natural, remote, less-touristy. Discover the temple beach, more lagoons and arches by kayak.
- Day 3 · 16:00 – 17:00
Sunset cruise back to harbor
Enjoy the magical sunset as the boat travels back through Lan Ha toward Ben Beo harbor. Hot showers and dry clothes in the office if you need them before the drive.
- Day 3 · 17:00 – 17:30
Arrive at harbor · drop-off at your hotel
Arrive at Ben Beo harbor, hop in our car for the drive back to your Cat Ba Town hotel. Tour ends at your door — or, if you booked the Hanoi transfer, we'll continue straight to the speedboat and on to Hanoi (arrive ~21:00).
What's included
Not included
Amenities
Lan Ha Floating Homestay
- Free kayak / SUP
- Sunset deck
- Lounge
Double Room with Bay View
- Sea view + balcony
- Air conditioning
- Free WiFi
Food
All meals included — 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners. Family-style Vietnamese seafood, caught that morning. Vegi/Vegan options on 24h notice.
Complete your trip
Optional add-ons
Choose one transfer option
Noi Bai Airport → Cat Ba (Private Car)
Private car from Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi to Cat Ba (door-to-door via Got Pier + speedboat). Flat rate per car — fits up to 4 guests with luggage.
2.800.000 VND / bookingCat Bi Airport → Cat Ba (Private Car)
Private car from Cat Bi International Airport in Hai Phong to Cat Ba (via Got Pier + speedboat). Flat rate per car — fits up to 4 guests with luggage.
1.800.000 VND / bookingPrivate double room at floating homestay (per night)
1.000.000 VND / guestHai Quan (Navy) Peak summit on Day 2
200.000 VND / guest
Cancellation & changes
Applies to every tour and transfer unless the product page states a stricter schedule. Counted from the moment we receive your written cancellation request.
- 14 days or more before departure100% refund
- 7 – 13 days before departure70% refund
- 3 – 6 days before departure50% refund
- 24 – 72 hours before departure30% refund
- Less than 24 hours before departure, same-day cancellation or no-show0% refund
Refunds never exceed the amount CATBA ADVENTURE TOURS actually recovers from the supplier. Amounts already paid or committed to a supplier on a non-refundable basis, and bank, payment-gateway, currency-exchange and refund-transfer fees, are not returned. A refund is confirmed only after the supplier has released the funds.
If we, the operator or the authorities cancel a departure (typhoon, rough seas, boat ban, port or ferry closure) we first offer a new date or a credit for a future booking. If neither suits you, we refund what you paid for the undelivered services less any documented third-party costs already incurred for your booking that the supplier does not return — itemised on your refund statement. Reasonable changes made for safety (route, boat, vehicle, departure time, an equivalent service) do not in themselves entitle you to a refund.
Name changes, extra guests, fewer guests and date changes are handled on request, subject to the supplier's approval and any price difference; fewer guests is a partial cancellation on the schedule above.
Pricing & age policy
All fares already include the Cat Ba bay entrance ticket — no hidden fees at the pier.
- Under 5 (infant): free
- 5–10: 50% of the adult fare
- 11+: full adult fare
Holiday supplement before VAT: under 5 free; ages 5–10: 500.000 VND. From age 11: 1.000.000 VND.
Rooms and cabins are sold per room, not per bed. A booking of exactly 1 guest pays a single-occupancy supplement of 1.200.000 VND for the trip. From 2 guests up there is no supplement.
Children under 5 share their parents' bed.
Photo gallery
Guest stories
How was 3-Day Floating Village Expedition?
A few honest lines help the next traveller choose well, and tell our crew what mattered. Your story goes up exactly as you wrote it, under the name you choose. We read it first — we never edit it.
Plan the rest of your trip
Pair this tour with where to sleep and how to get to Cat Ba — booked through one operator, all in one place.
Lan Ha Floating Homestay
Sleep on the bay — limestone cliffs all around. 6 rooms · free kayak & SUP for guests · 2km from Cat Ba town.
See the homestay →Hanoi → Cat Ba in 3.5 hours
Bus and limousine transfers from Hanoi to Cat Ba. Check departure times and pickup details for your selected vehicle before booking.
See route & vehicles →Frequently asked questions
Does the cruise board on Cat Ba or in Ha Long?
Check the boarding location on the selected cruise page. Our Cat Ba cruises and the Aqua cruises boarding at Tuan Chau in Ha Long have different departure points. Choose your transfer only after confirming the correct port and check-in time.
How do I choose between 2 days / 1 night and 3 days / 2 nights?
Compare the daily itineraries on the selected cruise pages. The longer option includes an additional night, but routes and activities vary by boat. Check the actual itinerary rather than assuming every cruise visits the same caves or villages.
Is the advertised fare for a private cabin or per person?
Check the price unit, selected cabin, guest count and any supplement in the booking panel. Cabin options and occupancy rules vary by cruise. For solo travellers, families or a different room arrangement, request confirmation of the cabin and total before paying.
Are transfers and all activities included in the cruise fare?
Read the selected cruise’s inclusions, exclusions and optional extras. A bus, private car or onward connection is included only when listed in the selected option or written quotation. The cruise page also states the cancellation conditions that apply to that boat.
Should I choose a day cruise or an overnight cruise?
Compare the departure point, time on the bay and daily itinerary. A day cruise suits a visit without sleeping aboard; an overnight cruise adds a night on the selected boat. Compare the cabin and total cost, including any transfers, before deciding.
Does a two-day trip always mean sleeping on a boat?
No. Read the accommodation details: a trip may involve a cruise cabin, floating homestay or accommodation on land. The number of days alone does not identify where you sleep. Check the selected product and room arrangement before paying.
Can I book an overnight cruise to guarantee plankton or night kayaking?
No. Standalone plankton trips and night kayaking are currently not permitted. The exception for overnight vessels does not guarantee plankton sightings or mean night kayaking is included. Choose the cruise for its confirmed itinerary and accommodation.
Sunset & Night Kayaking
Standalone plankton trips and night kayaking are currently not permitted. Overnight cruises are the exception, but this does not mean night kayaking is included or that plankton sightings are guaranteed. We are not accepting bookings for the standalone night tour.