This island-filled bay located south east of Cat Ba Island would be more famous if not directly next to the excellent tourist destination Ha Long Bay. In fact, if not the victim of administrative boundaries, Lan Ha would be considered a part of Ha Long Bay, and it has become an indispensable destination on its own right thanks to unspoiled and magnificent natural beauty. Our 3 day 2 night trip to Cat Ba Island helped us see with our own eyes this beautiful place.

We Pathfinder team woke up early in the morning to kick off the trip and reached Hai Phong’s Binh Port after 3 hours. It was our first transition, onto a hydrofoil boat to Cat Ba Island, then a short bus ride to Beo Pier where a boat took us to a little floating house in a corner of Lan Ha Bay. It was with a bit of surprise and concern that we realized this lonesome house would be our hideaway for a whole day. However, everything went better than expected, and we were served with an all-seafood menu including local specialities such as squid, ca bo, ca gie etc immediately upon our arrival. The rooms were clean and comfortable, making it easy to forget the fact that we were floating on and surrounded by water.

The bay covers an area of more than 7,000 ha, of which 5,400 ha are under the management of Cat Ba National Park. The waters here are home to hundreds of species of fish and other marine life. Larger marine animals in the area include seals and even three species of dolphin. It features 139 beautiful, small and pristine sandy beaches and, like its neighbor Ha Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay is famed for its exclusive scenery with densely packed pristine limestone mountains partitioning the sea surface into smaller bays and coves.

Later that day after learning some basic paddle strokes and routes from our certified kayaking guide, we grabbed our paddles and headed out to practice what learned. We took a tour through lagoons and private beaches, namely Ang Vem, Tung Gau and Cat Dua, witnessing the spectacular mountains whose form and beauty are only limited by the travelers' imagination: Guoc Islet (Wooden Shoe Islet), Doi Islet (Bat grotto), etc. On our way we came across a scattering of floating fishing villages where the daily life, culture and customs of fishermen were revealed to be more lively than ever. We were accompanied by Mr. Do Sy Quy and Mr. Kenny Kien who were professional tour guides telling us endless fun stories about their hometown. We were also told that diving to admire colorful coral is a must in Lan Ha at Van Boi and Van Ha beaches, so next time perhaps.

Thanks to South Pacific Travel, owner of Ha Long Phoenix Cruise, we experienced a memorable trip, in comfort every moment. For more information about the tour package, please see the information below:

South Pacific Travel

1st floor South Pacific Building, 73 Ly Nam De Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Tel: (84-43) 7478 565 (Sales Department) / (84-43) 7478 006 (Operation Department)

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Website: www.southpacifictravel.com.vn