Lan Ha Bay at golden hour seen from a hilltop above Cat Ba

Vietnam, hosted. Starting on Cat Ba

Hosted, not handled.

Small boats, village roads and slow days on Cat Ba, chosen by the family behind Rustic House.

We live on Cat Ba a short walk from the pier. We sell only the days we would give our own family, and we stay on WhatsApp until you're home.

~400limestone islands in Lan Ha Bay, and far fewer boats than Ha Long

7am to 11pmreal people answering WhatsApp, every day

50%deposit by card link. The rest after your trip

Pick the kind of day you want.

A Rustic Vietnam is built to grow across the country. Every trip below runs today on Cat Ba and Lan Ha Bay. A new region joins the list only once we have hosted the trip ourselves.

See all 20 trips

On the water3 trips Small boats, lagoons, kayaks and lunch on deck.

Island & villages5 trips Forest trails, rice-field roads and the village at the end of them.

Climb & after dark3 trips Sea cliffs, deep water and the bay glowing at night.

Stays & combos4 trips Nights at the house or on the water, with the days planned around them.

Getting here4 trips Door to door from Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Ha Long and the north.

Longer journeys1 trip Five to ten slow days across the north, built around your dates.

Where most guests start.

Every trip names its group size, its real schedule and who runs it. Prices are per person in USD.

Kayak nose pointing into a low cave that opens onto a lagoon

Quiet side

Full dayMax 12 guests

Lan Ha Bay Cruise & Kayaking

One full day on the quiet side of the bay. Paddle into lagoons, swim off an empty beach, eat lunch cooked on board.

from$55

Soft golden light behind the karst islands at dusk

Bay and island

2 days, 1 nightMax 10 guests

2D1N Cat Ba & Lan Ha Bay Combo

The island and the bay in one short trip. Cruise and kayak on day one, forest or village on day two, one night on the water or in a village.

from$119

A woman in a conical hat cycling along the quiet road to Viet Hai village

Local life

Full dayMax 10 guests

Viet Hai Village Cycling & Boat

Cross the bay by boat, then cycle a flat road into a farming valley that has never had a road to the rest of the island.

from$49

Cruise boats moored among the karst islands of Ha Long Bay

Two bays, one day

Full dayMax 16 guests

Ha Long Bay Day Cruise from Cat Ba

Both bays in one day. Cruise the quiet Lan Ha channels in the morning, cross into Ha Long, with a cave, a kayak and lunch cooked on board.

from$45

Forested hillside disappearing into mist in Cat Ba National Park

Half dayMax 8 guests

Cat Ba National Park Trekking

A morning inside Cat Ba National Park. Climb through Kim Giao forest with a guide who works this park, to a lookout over the archipelago, back for lunch.

from$35

Misty morning over Cat Ba harbour and the limestone islands of Lan Ha Bay

Private

3 days, 2 nightsPrivate, your group only

3D2N Ultimate Cat Ba Experience

The whole island in three days with your own guide. Bay and kayaking, a park trek, Viet Hai by bike, one night on the water and one in a valley homestay.

from$229

Blue glowing plankton along the shore at night

After dark

4 hoursMax 10 guests

Lan Ha Bay Plankton Night Tour

Go out as the sun drops, swim while the sky turns, then watch the water light up with plankton in the dark. Dinner with a local family after.

from$38

Two climbers on a tall streaked limestone wall

Adventure

Full dayMax 8 guests

Cat Ba Rock Climbing Day

A full day on Cat Ba limestone with a certified guide. Real sport routes from first-timer slabs to hard walls, all gear and instruction included, no experience needed.

from$102

A day with us

The parts of the trip that aren't on the itinerary.

Small things, done the same way every time. This is what we mean by hosted.

Rooftop terrace at Rustic House under string lights, looking over Cat Ba bay

The evening before

A message from your host

The weather, what to wear, what to leave at the hotel, and a number to call if anything changes. Signed with a name.

Wooden cafe at Rustic House with rattan lamps, hanging plants and a view of the karst hills

07:40

Tea at the house

Staying in town? Start at Rustic House, 70 Tung Dinh, with tea and the day's route on the map before pickup.

Two people paddling a kayak between steep cliffs

10:00

Out on the quiet side

Small boats reach the lagoons after the morning crowd has left. Kayak, swim, or just sit at the front of the boat.

A woman rowing a small boat past floating houses in a fishing village

Early afternoon

People who live here

A floating village, a farming valley, a family kitchen. We ask before photos and spend money where people live.

A traveller sitting on a rock above Lan Ha Bay looking out over the islands

That evening

How was it, honestly?

We ask how the day went before we ever ask for a review. A day later, one suggestion for your next stop, if you want it.

Front of Rustic House, a narrow guesthouse at 70 Tung Dinh, Cat Ba

Double room at Rustic House with wooden furniture and a balcony door open to the sea

Your trip starts at our house.

Rustic House is our guesthouse at 70 Tung Dinh: solid wood, a cafe downstairs, a rooftop over the bay, four minutes from Tung Thu beach.

It is where every trip we sell was tested, and where you can drop in for tea before your day, whether or not you stay with us.

9.1Booking.com

9.3Agoda

4.9Google

10Traveloka

Scores are for Rustic House, our guesthouse, not for the tours. Recommended in Le Guide du Routard.

Visit Rustic House

When to come, and what each month is really like.

October to April is clear and dry. Summer is hot with warm water. July and August bring storms, so keep a spare day.

Jan19°Cool, dry. Best for trekking and climbing.

Feb20°Cool, some drizzle. Quiet bay.

Mar22°Mild. Good all-round month.

Apr26°Warm and clear. Our favourite month.

May30°Warm water, swimming season opens.

Jun34°Hot. Swim, kayak early, rest at noon.

Jul34°Storm risk peaks. Keep a spare day.

Aug32°Wettest month. We reschedule freely.

Sep30°Rain easing, water still warm.

Oct28°Clear air returns. Excellent month.

Nov25°Dry and bright. Great for everything.

Dec22°Cool and calm. Very few boats.

Average daytime high in °C. Shaded months are our favourites.

How booking works

Four messages, not a checkout page.

Message us

The trip, your date and how many of you. WhatsApp or the short form on any trip page.

Get a real answer

A host confirms the seats and the final price in writing, and says so if another day would suit you better.

Pay 50% by card link

Visa or Mastercard through a secure link. The rest is settled after your trip.

Be hosted

Pickup time, your host's name and a phone number the evening before. Then tea, if you're in town.

We're new. Judge us on the first reply.

We don't post reviews we didn't earn. Ask us anything on WhatsApp and see how we answer. Reviews from our first guests go up on TripAdvisor as they come in.

Ask us a question