Cat Ba Island Cruise - Discover the Untamed Beauty

Cat Ba Cruises are usually modern, fairly new boats launched during the 2017 - 2022 period. They provide services at 4 - 5-star standards with various boat sizes. Depending on the target customer and scale, there are 10 - 43-cabin options, equipped like a fancy hotel on land.

In addition to impressively designed and spacious cabins, with full amenities, most even have private balconies; these cruise boats also have deluxe restaurants serving full meals on the itinerary, bars, and spas. Many 5-star cruises also have high-end amenities such as a jacuzzi/pool, mini golf, fitness center, gallery, and live kitchen.

While enjoying cruises to Cat Ba Island, visitors can also participate in many interesting and dynamic activities such as cave visiting, swimming, exploring the National Park, and the ancient fishing village, extremely suitable for those who love nature and exercising, especially families or groups of friends.

Cat Ba offers awe-inspiring sceneries and exciting itineraries for cruising.

About Cat Ba Island

• Location: In the South of Halong Bay, Hai Phong Province, Vietnam
• Area: About 354 km²
• Number of islands: 367
• Must-visit attractions: Cat Ba National Park, Cat Co Beach, and Viet Hai Village

Admire majestic nature from a unique perspective

Cat Ba Island cruise offers the opportunity to explore the emerald bay, national parks, and majestic limestone islands that cannot be found in any other place. Not only can you admire the magnificent beauty of Halong Bay and the largest island in the area, but you can also get closer and learn more about the forest and marine ecosystems here through journeys to Cat Ba National Park and Viet Hai Fishing Village.

A great chance to get closer to nature on the Cat Ba cruise itinerary

Relax in a quiet and airy destination

With 2-3 days of voyages, the comfortable life on a luxury boat helps passengers enjoy the fresh air of the ocean and spend time slowing down away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

In addition, the activities on Cat Ba Island are also very gentle, interesting, and close to nature such as cycling through the trees of the National Park, visiting caves with strangely shaped stalactites, or admiring the green rice fields of local farmers. Except for fellow travelers and a few friendly residents, visitors can hardly encounter any crowds during their journey.

Let your hair down and soak up tranquil moments in the bay

Visit interesting historical & cultural attractions

With its strategic location, Cat Ba has played an important role in the history of Vietnam, offering visitors the opportunity to explore not only the splendor of the natural landscape but also its rich cultural heritage and historical stories during their journey.

Coming to Trung Trang or Quan Y Cave, you not only witness the wonderous layers of sediments and unique stalactites but also engage in interesting legends and Vietnamese history. For culture vultures, the little Viet Hai village deep in Cat Ba National Park is a perfect place to learn stories about the locals, traditional customs, and fishing life for generations.

Quan Y Cave was a military base to treat wounded soldiers during the Vietnam War.

Cat Ba Island cruises offer the most popular travel durations, ranging from 2 to 3 days. Uniquely, Heritage Binh Chuan Cruise also organizes a 4-day-3-night itinerary, allowing passengers to deeply explore the island.

Places to visit on different Cat Ba Island cruise tours

While enjoying the trip with the Halong Bay - Cat Ba cruise, passengers have the opportunity to participate in many dynamic activities at the following interesting places to visit.

Trung Trang Cave

Trung Trang Cave is a remarkable natural wonder in Cat Ba National Park. With its impressive stalactites, stalagmites, and unique rock formations, the cave offers a mesmerizing underground experience. Visitors can explore its spacious chambers and marvel at the breathtaking greenery.

Explore the biosystem and cavern in Trung Trang

Viet Hai Village

During a typical 3-day cruise tour, you'll have the chance to visit Viet Hai Village, a charming fishing community on the island. This idyllic destination offers a glimpse into local life, where you can cycle along scenic countryside roads and indulge in a relaxing fish foot massage.

Admire the rustic charm of the cycling route

Ao Ech Area

Ao Ech Area is a captivating hidden spot known for its crystal-clear waters and tranquil beauty. It offers a perfect setting for swimming, kayaking, and stand-up paddling. Immerse yourself in the tranquility of this picturesque lagoon formed by limestone karst and islands.

Kayak in the calm water of Ao Ech

Cat Ba National Park

Covering most of the island, Cat Ba National Park is an ideal destination for nature lovers and those who want to explore various ecosystems from tropical rainforests to marine life. 

Thanks to its vastness, diverse terrain, and nature, this place is a great choice for adventure activities such as trekking, hiking, and observing wild animals, some of which are endemic, only found here such as Cat Ba Langur (Trachypithecus poliocephalus).

Trekking in the national park for the best panoramic views

Most cruise boats depart from Tuan Chau Harbor (Halong City) and dock at Ben Beo Port on Cat Ba Island. To fully experience the tours, passengers must be available at Tuan Chau around 11.00 - 11.30 am to check in before departure (usually 12.00 pm).

From Hanoi

Normally, tourists will choose to depart from Hanoi at 8.00 - 8.30 am and spend 2.5 hours on a 150 km journey to Halong. The arrival at Cat Ba will be on Day 1 or Day 2 of the trip, depending on the itinerary of each cruise.

To travel to Tuan Chau, BestPrice Travel’s customers who booked the Cat Ba cruise from Hanoi, can request a luxury shuttle bus or private car directly with the company at the following costs.

From Halong City

On the other hand, if you are staying in Halong City, you can get to the cruise port yourself by taking a taxi from the city center for US $10 - $12/ one-way trip.

It takes around 20 minutes to travel from Halong Center to Tuan Chau cruise port.

In the past few years, Cat Ba has become a top cruising destination for affordable luxury overnight boats with the average cruise price ranging from US $160 - 190. However, some high-end options can reach US $600/ person. 

Here are our best-selling cruises in 2024 based on customer feedback and expert choices.

Note: All price quotes reference 1 person sharing in a double/ twin cabin. The exact price is based on availability and the season.

If our top recommendations above are still difficult to choose from, here is a brief instruction for you to find your best Cat Ba Island cruise!

For families

When choosing a family cruise, you should consider the cabin type first. Overnight boats providing spacious rooms or connecting suites for the whole family must be the best choice. Also, those traveling with children can have a range of options because the itineraries of most Cat Ba cruises are quite similar with many interesting activities for all ages. Cruises that can meet this condition include:

• La Regina Legend 4.5*
• Indochine Cruise 5*
• Le Theatre Cruise 5*

The family connecting room gives a larger but private space for all members.

For couples

For couples, choosing small boats with few passengers and lots of private space is definitely the top choice. In addition, a beautiful cruising boat designed with many check-in locations, capturing beautiful and romantic moments, is also a plus point. Tourists can refer to the cruises that couples often choose when traveling to Cat Ba as follows:

• Nostalgia Cruise 5*
• Stellar of the Seas 5*
• Aspira Cruise 5*

Stellar of the Seas offers a wide range of activities for couples.

For adventurers

Cruises to Cat Ba Island are usually quite suitable for adventurers thanks to the variety of activities. However, some boats will have more special itineraries than others, including some off-the-beaten-track attractions or travel routes. Ships suitable for those who love to explore and discover new things include:

• Heritage Cruise Bình Chuan 5* (4d3n itinerary)
• Heritage Line Ylang Cruise 5*

Kayaking in spectacular landscapes to explore the hidden parts of Cat Ba.

Cat Ba Island cruise is an interesting tour, suitable for many customers. However, before deciding to book this trip, passengers should consider its pros and cons as below:

In general, most tourists highly recommend cruises to Cat Ba, considering this quite an interesting travel route, without worrying about being bored even if only participating in a short 2-day-1-night trip. The wonderful natural beauty, variety of activities, and rich cultural experiences are all recognized as important highlights of this journey.

In addition, the price for cruises here is considered very reasonable, most tourists feel that the money spent is worth the quality of service they receive. All of these advantages have made the Cat Ba cruise a popular choice for tourists, especially those who want to set foot on this island for the first time coming to the Gulf of Tonkin.