HIGHTLIGHT OF CAT BA PLANKTON TOUR
- Experience bioluminescence plankton with an unique adventure on Lan Ha Bay
- Do night kayaking to explore the most scenic & less touristic parts of Lan Ha Bay
- Enjoy swimming & relaxing yourself on secluded beaches under starry sky
- Sunset party dinner(vegan/vegetarian/Kosher food is also served)
- Cruise through Cai Beo - the largest fishing floating village of Cat Ba island
CAT BA PLANKTON TOUR INCLUSION
- Hotel pick-up from Hanoi, Hai Phong, Ha Long, Cat Ba island
- Cruise/boat
- All entrance tickets
- Dinner
- English speaking guide
- Kayaking
- Swiming
- Equipments to explore glowing plankton
TOUR EXCLUSION
- Drinks
- Personal expenses
- Others that not mentioned in "INCLUSION"
ITINERARY OF CAT BA PLANKTON TOUR
16h00: Get picked up at your hotel on Cat Ba island, then transferred to Beo habour. If you are not staying on Cat Ba island, please come to one of these meeting points as below:
- Hanoi: Any hotels in the Old quarter or at 214 Tran Quang Khai street, Hoan Kiem. Pick -up time: 12h00 - 12h15.
- Hai Phong city: Any hotels or Cat Bi airport in Hai Phong city center. Pick -up time: 14h30 - 14h45.
- Ha Long city: Tuan Chau ferry staion. Pick-up time: 14h30 - 14h45.
16h30: Get on boat & set off Cat Ba plankton tour with night kayaking. The boat will cruise around Cai Beo – one of the most ancient & largest floating villages in Vietnam where you can see the daily life activities of the local-fisherman.
Cai Beo Floating Village
17h30: Enjoy the magnificent sunset when the boat keep cruising further to the heart of Lan Ha Bay with hundreds of beautiful limestone islands such as: Turtle island, Thumb rock, Budda rock, Pen Islet, ect…
Turtle Island on Lan Ha Bay
Swimming on Lan Ha Bay
18h30: Arrive at the floating fish-farm. The dinner will be served on cruise or on floating farm. After dinner, you take a rest for a while.
19h00: Follow the guide to do night kayaking to explore the most scenic & less touristic parts of Lan Ha Bay. The guide will take you to the spots where have a thick density of Bioluminescent plankton. You can also go for a swim to see all your sparking body in the water.
Do Kayaking to Explore Bioluminescence Plankton
20h00: Back to the floating house. Get transferred back to Beo habour.
21h00: Arrive Beo habour. Transferred back to your first pick-up point. Tour ends.
PRICE OF CAT BA PLANKTON TOUR
IMPORTAN NOTE
- If you start from Ha Long city, we will pick you up at Tuan Chau ferry pier by private canoe + private car to Cat Ba town center to do the tour. If you use only 1 way transfer, we will discount 20$/pax
- If you start from Hanoi: You will take shutlle bus at 12h30 to Cat Ba island. After cruise, you will take private transsfer (car + canoe + car) back to Hanoi on the same day. Incase you do not use way-back transfer, we will discount 40$/pax.
- If you start from Hai Phong city: You will take round trip private transfer (car + ferry/cano + car. If you use only 1 way transfer, we will discount 20$/person.
- We will discount 5$/person, if you book plankton tour + one of these tours: Lan Ha Bay & Ha Long Bay 1 day cruise or Lan Ha Bay & Lan Ha Bay 2D1N cruise.
- Plankton is not always appears as it depends on the moon schedule, tide, weather ect..
- Price is fixed as it is open-group tour. If you want to take the private boat tour for only your group ( Do not share the boat with the other guests), please send us your requests to info@catbaduky.vn
POLICY OF CAT BA PLANKTON TOUR
CHILDREN PRICE
- Free for children under 4 years old accompanying with 2 full paying clients
- 75% charge for children from 4 - 8 years old
- 100% adult price charged for children from 9 years above
DISCOUNT POLICY
CANCELLATION POLICY
BY OUR SIDE
- In case of typhoon that the boat is not allowed to go out, we offer full refund for all the tours that have not started; Or the tour can be moved to other dates without extra charge if our boats are available and your time permits
- Partial refund of difference will be applied for the tours that are on the way
BY CUSTOMER:
- 10% charge if cancellation received immediately after booking
- 30% charge if cancellation received from 10 days - 15 days prior to the deparure date
- 50% charge if cancellation received from 4 days - 9 days prior to the departure date
- 100% charge if cancellation receivd less than 72 hours prior to the departure dat or No Show
FAQ - QUESTION ABOUT CAT BA PLANKTON TOUR
1. We will always see glowing bioluminesence - plankton on Lan Ha Bay?
Plankton is not always appears on Lan Ha Bay as it depends on several reasons that affects mainly to the strong or weak phosphorescence intensity such as: Moon brightness, weather, tide. It is recommended to avoid to do Cat Ba plankton tour on full -moon days, heavy rainny days.
2. What time/season is the best to see plankton on Cat Ba island?
The glowing bioluminescent plankton in Lan Ha Bay (Cát Bà) is a magical sight — but conditions matter a lot. Here’s when you’ll have the best chance:
Best time of the year:
- Warm months (April → October): Plankton is more active in warm water, especially during late spring and summer.
- Peak months: May to September usually give the brightest displays.
Best time of the month:
- New moon or moonless nights → the darker the night sky, the better.
- Avoid full moon nights, because moonlight makes it harder to see the glow.
Best time of the day:
- Late evening to midnight (after sunset, when the sky is fully dark).
- Activities like kayaking, swimming, or even splashing the water help trigger the glowing effect.
Best of conditions:
- Calm, clear nights with little light pollution.
- Away from busy harbors or bright fishing boats so the glow is more visible.
- After a hot sunny day—the water tends to be more active with plankton.
3. What we should bring for plankton - night kayaking tour?
Travellers are advised to bring these things for Cat Ba plankton tour in order to have the best experience:
- Swimwear – wear it under your clothes for convenience.
- Quick-dry towel or microfiber towel – lightweight and dries fast after swimming.
- Waterproof bag / dry bag – to keep phone, camera, and valuables safe from splashes.
- Sandals or water shoes – useful for getting in/out of kayaks or rocky areas.
- Change of clothes – for after swimming/kayaking, as you’ll get wet.
- Light jacket or windbreaker – evenings on the bay can get chilly.
4. What is the different between plankton tour of Cat Ba Du Ky Travel with other tour operators?
The itinerary of Cat Ba plankton tour of all tour companies is almost the same itinerary in general. What make us different from them are below:
- Less tourists - More experiences: We only received 15 - 20 pax for this cruise for maximum capacity to ensure that all visistors have privacy on cruise, deeply experiences on night kayaking tour to see planktons. If there are too many people do night kayaking at the same places, the phophorescene intensity will become weak or disapear.
- Avoid crowded places on Bay: We always avoid crowded places on bay for the best experiences.
- Vegan/Vegetarian/Kosher/Halah Food request included.
- Local Experient English speaking guide.
- Hanoi/Ha Long/ Hai Phong transer arrragement: We can arrange the pick-up at Hanoi, Hai Phong or even Ha Long city if you are not staying on Cat Ba island at departure dates.
5. Can we combine plankton tour with 1 day tour or overnight toury in 1 day together?
Yes. You can completly combine plankton tour with 1 day tour or with overnight cruise tour together all in 1 days as below:
- Combination between plankton tour and Lan Ha Bay - Ha Long Bay 1 day cruise: Firstly you will do 1 day tour ( 8h30 - 17h00), we will arrange anothe boat will pick you up around 16h30 on the sea from day cruise for plankton tour. You will be back to Cat Ba island around 21h00.
- Combination between plankton tour and Lan Ha Bay - Ha Long Bay 2D1D cruise: We will do overnight cruise firstly, then we will arrange another day-cruise to pick you up around 18h00 at anchoragee of overnight cruise for plankton tour. You will be sent back to overnight cruise around 20h30 after doing night kayaking tour.
