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It’s the weekend again and here I am again… 😀 Was trying not to ask but I’ll ask.
Let’s say I am on Cat Ba island and I want to visit the Viet Hai village and a floating village, seems like Cai Beo is most famous.
Let’s say I want to do this independently, not on a tour – I can resort to the tour if I don’t find another suitable option.
1) Would I find someone to hire for the day to boat me and Travel Companion to both places? Do I ask the hotel or do I just turn up at the waterfront? How much would this cost, roughly?
2) This link https://authentiktravel.com/two-must-see-fishing-villages-on-cat-ba-island
seems to suggest I can manage both pretty independently.
For Cai Beo, several websites say that I can take a taxi to the right port (?) and take a boat. But how do I take a boat? Are they there waiting to be hired?
Same for Viet Hai. Do I go to the port and get a guy to take me to the other side? And same on the way back? Or needs pre-arranging?
I have read that there is a public boat but only a couple of times a day so seems inconvenient although it would be great.
I also learnt from another thread here that the trek through the national park is not what I want to do, so that option has been discarded already 🙂
Ideally, I’d do both on the same day but still have enough flexibility on the itinerary to do it differently.
——-
Once I am there, do I just hang out, stroll around? (boat around if the village floats?). I mean, that is pretty much my favourite thing to do in the world, but wondered if there is anything in particular to do other than enjoy the amazingness of being right there, right then.
Also, is it okay to go there and be a nosey tourist, or does it offend the local people in some way? Is there overtourism? Or are they okay and perhaps make a living out of it? (i read in some places that you might be able to buy drinks etc., and maybe there is a small fee at Viet Hai? Or am I confusing it with some other place).
Edited: 2 years ago
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Cai Beo floating village is a perfect place to relax, soak up, unwind and hide away from the busy bay, we had a wonderful at Eco floating Stay Cai Beo to witness the daily life of local fishermen. On the second day, we went by boat to reach Viet Hai village before doing a trekking tour throught Catba natural park (9km). It’s the best experience ever on Catba archipelago !
“I explored the bay three times by private boat, passing through the village, where floating houses, fish farms, and daily life drift on the water. A glimpse into a way of life unchanged for generations.”
You ‘punch’ that into your ‘keyboard’ all by yourself? 🤔
Scott
Edited: 5:20 am, January 21, 2026
Cai Beo Floating Village, Vietnam – 2.5 hours from Hanoi, this floating village sits in Lan Ha Bay. Over 7,000 years old, it’s one of Vietnam’s oldest, home to families still living off the sea.
I explored the bay three times by private boat, passing through the village, where floating houses, fish farms, and daily life drift on the water. A glimpse into a way of life unchanged for generations.
#CaiBeo #FloatingVillage #Vietnam #LanHaBay #CatBaIsland #blueswimmeroutdoors
Explore the 7000-year-old Cai Beo fishing village – ancient beauty #bsa
Sounds like you had a good time. Glad you got a chance to hike Navy Peak: spectacular views!
Went to Viet Hai today from Cat Ba after reading this thread (thank you!)
Caught a taxi to Ben Beo port from the center of town (60k dong). You can also walk it in 20 minutes from the center of town.
Our hostel host had warned us that the ferry didnt take foreigners. We decided to try our luck. Jumped on the Viet Hai ferry at 10:45am. We waited till about 11:20 as more people and cargo got on the boat. Boat left around 11:30. Captain came by me and my friend, who’s native Vietnamese. Charged him 50k and me 100k. I was the only foreigner on the boat of about 20 passengers.
Got to Viet Hai, rented bicycles (50k each). Rode to town, ate lunch. Hiked Navy Peak. Not for the faint of heart, but a sick view at the end. You will get very muddy if it has rained at all recently. Got back into town about 4:45pm. Rode bicycles back to the pier.
My buddy had talked to a woman at the bicycle shop when we first arrived at the Viet Hai port, telling her we’d need a boat ride back to Cat Ba later. When we arrived at the port around 5pm she was the only one there. She called us a small transport boat that took us back to cat ba for 500k total.
I believe the fact that my buddy had communicated our transport need with her at first was important in securing us a ride back.
Made it back to cat ba without a hitch, walked back to the town center. Good day, things worked out, be sure to communicate with the locals. Good luck!
Thanks for returning and sharing your experience. Yep, being flexible helps to make it less stressful.
Yes, that was Cai Beo floating out there in the Bay.
Too bad you didn’t get to finish the hike from Viet Hai Village to the top of Navy Peak – the views of Lan Ha Bay are spectacular.
But it sounds like you had a good time.
@mmmm19
I loved reading about your experience! I’m thinking to visit to Cat Ba Island and potentially stay in Viet Hai Village and everything you did just sounds amazing and so like how we travel. Thanks for sharing.
(Bummed to read about how difficult it is to find good food though!)