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Vietnamese home-cooked dishes served family style at Lan Homestay, Cat Ba Island
Vegetarian and Vegan Food on Cat Ba and in Viet Hai: What We Cook, What to Say

Vegetarian on Cat Ba is easy; vegan needs one sentence about fish sauce. What our family cooks in Viet Hai, what to say in town, and how allergies are handled.

17
Oct

Latest articles

Limestone island rising out of the green water of Lan Ha Bay, seen from a boat
Monkey Island, Cat Ba: Are the Monkeys Dangerous? Rules, Bites and Whether to Go

The macaques on Monkey Island grab bags and bite when fed. Keep food zipped away, keep your distance, [...]

16
Oct
Cai Beo floating fishing village with houses on pontoons in Lan Ha Bay
Cai Beo Floating Village: Is It Worth It, What It Costs and How to Stop

Cai Beo is a working fish-farm village just outside Ben Beo: worth a short stop if your boat [...]

16
Oct
Couple on the deck of a boutique overnight cruise in Lan Ha Bay
Overnight Cruise or a Viet Hai Base? Lan Ha Bay Cost and Experience Compared

An overnight cruise in Lan Ha Bay costs about twice a Viet Hai night with a full-day boat. [...]

16
Oct
Kayaker sitting on the beach at sunrise in Lan Ha Bay
How to Avoid the Kayak Crowds in Lan Ha Bay: Where, When and the Viet Hai Side

Lan Ha Bay kayak crowds gather at the famous cave lagoons around midday. Go early or late, or [...]

16
Oct
Paddleboarder crossing a limestone lagoon in Lan Ha Bay
Ha Long and Lan Ha Bay jellyfish: which months to swim

Jellyfish come into Ha Long and Lan Ha Bay with the warm water from May to September. Here [...]

11
Oct
Kayaker paddling towards a limestone shore in Lan Ha Bay
Deep Water Solo in Lan Ha Bay: What to Know First

Deep water solo in Lan Ha Bay: ropeless climbing on sea cliffs, run by licensed operators from Cat [...]

10
Oct
Buffalo grazing under a purple sunset in the Viet Hai valley
Cat Ba weather in October and November: rain, sea, crowds

Cat Ba weather in October and November, week by week: storms mostly over, sea still warm, trails dry. [...]

09
Oct
Group of travellers sitting on a pier looking over Lan Ha Bay
Seasick? How to See Lan Ha Bay Anyway

Lan Ha Bay is sheltered water, so a slow wooden boat suits most people who fear seasickness. From [...]

06
Oct
Day boat anchored beside a limestone karst in Lan Ha Bay
Ha Long and Lan Ha by One Boat: the New 2026 Routes

Since 1 April 2026 one licensed boat can cross from Ha Long Bay into Lan Ha Bay. There [...]

05
Oct
Aerial view of Viet Hai Village rooftops among green fields
Viet Hai or Cat Ba Town: How to Split Three Nights

With three nights, two in Viet Hai and one in Cat Ba town covers both: the village for [...]

04
Oct
Ferry crossing to Cat Ba Island on a bright day
Cat Bi Airport to Cat Ba, and Back for an Early Flight

Hai Phong's Cat Bi airport is about 90 minutes from Cat Ba town. Reaching Viet Hai the same [...]

04
Oct
Traveller sitting at a viewpoint above Cat Ba National Park
Cannon Fort Cat Ba: Open or Closed in 2026?

Cannon Fort on Cat Ba Island is closed to visitors in 2026, with no reopening date. What we [...]

03
Oct