Recent Customer Comments
“Sailing Expeditions – kayaking in Cat Ba island, Ha Long bay, Vietnam”
When we arived in the North of Vietnam we were thinking about going to Cat Ba Island, however we were put off by the mass of tourist package deals on offer in Hanoi. After asking around at several tourist offices it became obvious that they were only interested in selling their own expensive tours. It was then we found http://catbaventures.com/... [Read more]
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" Boat trip in Halong Bay, unforgettable!!! "
Once in the north of Vietnam, we had to decide whether going to Sapa or to Halong Bay because our one month tourist visa was running out soon. Two factors determined our choice: on one hand, the bad weather conditions in the northwest region of Vietnam, on the other hand, a tropical storm which had flooded and incomunicated the northern region of Sapa, leaving hundreds of deads and homeless people behind. We could only go then for a boat trip in Halong Bay. As it is usual on our trip, we asked for advice in many different travel agencies and checked the internet to make our move independently with all the info available. This is how we found Cat Ba Ventures (www.catbaventures.com), a tour operator based in Cat Ba, the biggest island of Halong Bay, who offers tailor made boat trips for independent travelers....[Read more]
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" Cat Ba Boat Tour "
So...where did we leave you!? It's been a little while.
Would have been on our way out of Hanoi with Bill and Linh. We hired our very own car to take us about 90 kms to Hai Phong City. We stayed at the ritzy "Hotel du Commerce" which was really not so ritzy. We had to negotiate our way from two twin beds to one rock hard big one. There must be a good reason (sanitary? sleep? cost?) for this type of mattress but we're not yet accustomed. [Read more]
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" Amazing Halong Bay tour "
We just got back from an amazing tour of Halong Bay. It is truly one of those see-before-you-die places. After searching and searching for a cruise company with good reviews, I finally found Mr.Tung with Cat Ba Ventures. Four of us rented a private sail/gunk/motor boat for three days at $110 per person. [Read more]
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“Away from the Maddening Halong Bay Crowd”
We took our 12yo twin boys on a 3 day/2 night Cat Ba Ventures junk cruise in April. We had a fantastic time despite the 3 days of dreary rain. The food was fantastic fresh seadfood every day and the crew of three looked after our every need.
The advantage of Cat Ba Ventures is the tour departs from a small fishing village on Cat Ba Island, rather than Halong Harbour which means you feel like you are the only tourists. The only hassle with this is you have to catch a high speed hydrafoil from Haiphong to Cat Ba Island which adds an extra hour to your transit but well worth it. I had been warned about the less than peaceful experience of jostling for night moorings with many other junks in the more popular Halong Bay. [Read more]
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So great we did it TWICE
Upon arriving to Cat Ba island, my family and I saw numerous ads for kayak tours and various others. We luckily ran into Mr. Tung; we could tell that he was trust worthy and a great businessman from the begining. He helped us planned an incredible trip and even helped us book our tickets from Hanoi back to HCM. We explored Ha Long Bay and other islands on a breathtaking sunset cruise. I have never seen such incredible sights in my life! Mr. Tung helped make our experience enjoyable and easy. There was no hassling or hidden fees on anything. Both the and his wife extended their hands to help us make our trip worthwhile.
Exactly how good of a time did I have? About a month later, I brought my volunteer team of 7 back to Cat Ba. We relied on Mr. Tung to help us set up a "two days and one night" excursion.[more]
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“Halong Bay, by the best way”
One year ago Ihave been to Halong bay by Halong city and I told myself, never again there! it is a tourist trap!
This year we have chossen to explore it from Cat Ba, taking a boat for 2 days 1 night.
It was an another trip.
Only 4 people on a quite simple boat but confortable. 2 really good crew who cooked for us. And nobody while the "halong city tourist trap" was fully of cheated tourist.
A reasonnable price to visit Halong Bay. We have seen less than 5 tourist boats, did a lot of kayaking around in caves, and isolated islands.
The representative has arranged all transportation from Hanoi. It was smooth and awesome.
A really good deal! [Read more]---------------------------------------------------------
“Most memorable Christmas!”
I'd absolutely recommend Mr. Tung!
First, he was very responsive and easy to arrange beforehand. We had 3 sets of people to pick up at different times and places, and he absolutely accommodated all of our needs.
Second, our trip itself was amazing! His crew took us to the best spots in Halong Bay, not overcrowded but other tourists. The food was great, especially the calamari the captain caught that day! Our boat was comfortable and easily fit 5 people and could have fit more. It was an ideal way spend Christmas!
Third, Mr. Tung was so helpful in arranging trips after our Halong tour, even translating and talking to other travel agencies around Vietnam to help us arrange the next leg of our trip.
I have several other friends heading to Vietnam this year and have definitely recommended them to Mr. Tung. [Read more]
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“Halong Bay, Cat Ba Ventures”
I spent two days on a medium sized junk called the Eco Friendly with a company called Cat Ba Ventures. It was two of the best days of our lives as the only two on board looked after by two local Vietnamese.We swam (in the very cold bay!), went see kayaking twice, visiting a cave formation and had four delicious meals cooked fresh on board. I'd heard about many trips that take large groups of tourists together so it was idyllic and very romantic to spend the time alone. The scenery was breathtaking and the beautiful emerald green water shimmered until the sun went down at night. [Read more]
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Ha Long Bay with" Cat Ba Ventures"
We did the Halong Bay with "Cat Ba Ventures", a local tour operator lead by Mr. Tung, who starts his tours from Cat Ba Town on the island of Cat Ba, about 50km south of Haiphong.
Cat Ba, in contrast to Haiphong (at least what I heard about it), is much less crowded and secluded. The harbor from which we started contained only like 5 boats that day. The trip there was kind of worth it, because of the Vietnamese countryside and the bus-ride across the island.
We started in the early evening, sailing into the sunset, buying some fresh seafood and relaxing on the upper deck, drinking some beer and having fun. The idea of doing it with a group we know was probably the best we had.
The next day we went kayaking, swimming, doing a short hike through some caves and ended up eating even more delicious seafood.
The crew was very nice: three men were on the boat with us. One as english-speaking leader, the one second as cook 'n captain and the third one as helping hand (I suppose).
So: I really do recommend Mr Tung and his company "Cat Ba Ventures" as a tour operator! [Read more]
Halong Bay with "Cat Ba Ventures" from Philipp M. W. Hoffmann on Vimeo.
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" Around the World in 365 days: Halong Bay, Northern Vietnam "
At 8am we took a very small (and quite precarious looking) boat to our new home / boat for the next 2 days. Our crew Bin, Tim and Fi, made us feel instantly at home by bringing us a cup of traditional Vietnamese Tea. We sat up on the roof deck, lounging in our reclining chairs feeling like lord and lady muck! Shame the tea had been boiled in the same utensils they use for tea, as it had a very fishy taste! The three of us (Max has come with us, and the 3 of us have a huge boat all to ourselves) dutifully drank the tea, making the correct, polite um and ahh noises until Bin had gone down below, and we threw it over board, hoping the crew would think it was a fish jumping!
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" Touranbieter Vietnam, Halong-Bay "
Wir hatten Ende November bei Catbaventures ein kleines Boot gechartert (
www.catbaventures.com). Unser Kapitän konnte sogar Deutsch. Tourbeginn war in Cat Ba früh um 10:00 Uhr. Tourende war am nächsten Tag in Cat Ba am späten Nachmittag. Das Essen (2x Mittag, 1x Abend, 1x Frühstück) war sehr gut. Das Boot befuhr ein Route, wo die großen auf Grund ihres Tiefganges nicht hin konnten. Den Zeitpunkt für einen Schwimmstop konnten wir selbst festlegen. Die Gesellschaft ist sehr zu empfehlen. Die Preise findet man auf der Homepage.
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Nach oben
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" Vietnam, Halongbucht "
Cat Ba Ventures betreibt in Cat Ba City kleinere Boote, nicht solche Massenabfertigung wie in Hong Gai. Wir haben gute Erfahrungen bei einer 2-Tagestour gemacht: Kaum anderen Booten begegnet, Übernachtung in einer fast abgeschlossenen Bucht, ein ausgezeichnetes Essen. Auf Wunsch kann man die Fahrt auch in Hong Gai beenden. Wer von Hong Gai aus noch am selben Tag nach Hanoi zurück will, muß zwar etwas tiefer in die Tasche greifen. Aber Cat Ba Ventures organisiert auch das. Der eine der Kapitäne kann sogar Deutsch. Näheres unter
www.catbaventures.com [Read more]
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" croisiere sur la baie d'halong "
Pour sur, la baie d'halong est un passage oblige au cours d'un voyage dans le Nord Vietnam. Mais pour ne pas etre decu, et profiter au maximun de cet endroit, mieux vaut preparer un peu son affaire. Pour cela, eviter de partir de Halong, et preferer l'ile de Catba: pour y aller, prendre un speed boat a Haiphong.
Sur Catba, je vous recommande chaudement Mr Tung et son agence, Cat Ba Ventures, on n'a vraiment pas ete decu!
http://www.catbaventures.com/?act=news&macat=3&masub=30
La politique de Mr Tung est de ne pas prendre plus de 8 personnes sur ces bateaux, et a un itineraire qui permet d'eviter la foule! bateau tout confort, personnel plus qu'adorable, excellents repas, bref que du positif!
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Halong bay - Sudeste asiático - LonelyPlanet
Hay excursiones para todos los gustos depende de como quieras ver la Bahia. Nosotros nos fuimos a Cat Ba y desde alli una vez instalados en el hotel contratamos la excursion y como para nosotros era el culmen del viaje no reparamos en gastos y contratamos un barco de 12 metros de eslora 3 días y 2 noches por 220 euros con capitan y cocinero. Pescado y marisco fresco (cada día atracabamos unos minutos en una casa flotante donde nos proporcionaban el genero) para almorzar y cenar con cinco platos cada vez. Solo vimos turistas en las cuevas, nos paraban para nadar o remar en kayac, enseñarnos cuevas donde no van turistas cuantas veces queriamos...etc. El resto del tiempo navegamos solos sin ver un solo barco que no fuera pescador hasta Bay Tu long. Una pasada. Y el precio nos parecio muy bueno teniendo en cuenta que el capitan y el cocinero no ponian el pie en nuestra mitad del barco a menos que no fuera estrictamente necesario.
Hasta que decidimos hacer esto nos habiamos planteado las opciones que aqui se barajan pero por supuesto teniamos claro que la salida seria desde Cat Ba donde el alojamiento es muy barato (una habitación-ático por 12$), las vistas preciosas y fuera de la masificacion de ciudad Halong. En cualquier caso si pretendes dormir en el barco yo me gastaria un poco más porque puedes llevarte sorpresas desagradables y además solo me quedaría una noche, dos es muy pesado para mi gusto.
Nosotros hemos vuelto hace dos semanas y hemos estado 25 días cruzando el pais de sur a norte. Todo lo hemos hecho por libre y el día antes sin contratar nada desde la distancia y no hemos tenido ningún problema.
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http://momaq.blogspot.com/
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Croisiere en baie d H'a long
Posté par vieux sans frontieres le lundi 27 juillet 2009 à 13:57 dans Croisières
nous rentrons de la croisiere et nous sommes ravis.
en arrivant a Cat ba par le bateau de Haiphong, nous ne savions pas tres bien comment organiser notre visite de la baie et surtout comment echapper a la foule de ce week end de fin juillet (vacances des locaux)
A 1oo metres du port, nous avons rencontres M. Phong de cat ba ventures ; www.catbaventures.com.
Nous nous sommes groupes a 6 (le bateau peut prendre 8 personnes ou moins) et la solution proposee s'est averee geniale avec un bon rapport qualite prix.
pour 65 dollars US par personne, nous sommes partis deux jours et une nuit en croisiere sur la baie sur un bateau de bois agreable avec un equipage de trois personnes qui preparaient les repas (compris dans le prix sauf boissons) les repas etaient delicieux : poissons, calamars, fruits, legumes..
Au programme : visite dela baie dans des endroits peu visites mais superbes, kayack, baignade. Nous avons passe la nuit sur le pont dans un decor superbe, mais on peut dormir dans la cabine. Sur le bateau, douche a l'eau douce a volonte et WC. Nous sommes enchantes et le recommandons vivement. un petit conseil, prevenez le a l'avance afin qu'il prepare votre croisiere sur mesure. Il est au top sur internet et parle anglais. Il possede egalement un petit hotel sur le port. il propose egalement d'autres prestations.
bonne croisiere a vous
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Halong Bay
Les comento de una de las mejores aventuras que hemos tenido en Vietnam!. Hemos hecho un viaje de dos dias (salir en la manana y regresar en la tarde del siguiente) en un barco espectacular!! Llegamos a Cat Ba island, y queriamos conocer la bahia pero sin ir en tour, lo que parecia imposible hasta que encontramos a CAT BA VENTURES. Es un a maravillita… rentas el barco y ya trae todo incluido, desde papel de bano y toallas hasta la mejor comida. Y te vas a visitar tosdos los rincones del magnifico archipielago. en el barco ibamso cinco personas (yo y cuatrio amigas) lo cual fu excelente pues todos los otros barcos te llevaban con un monton de gente. Conocimos muchisimas playas virgenes y el capitan del barco conocia bien que cuevas eran las mas bonitas, asi que tubimos chance de explorar bahias en las que solo se puede llegar nadando o por kayak. Aparte en el barco venia un cocinero, asi que mientras esnorqueleabamos, nos llamaban para comer . La comida fue maravillosa, nos
malacostumbo tener tanta y tan bien coninada!!!! Fue una maravillita, pues te sientes como reina, pero a la vez tu decides a donde te llevan y en que playa quieres nadar… y lo mejor es que el capitan conocia muy bien el archipielago. Todo fue muy profecional y en ningun momento nos sentimos en tour!!!Pues no vimos a ninguno otro turista fuera de un barco en una de los pueblos flotantes que hay en todo halong bay
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Halong Bay - Day trip
It was a glorious morning when we woke up on Wednesday morning, not a cloud in the sky and the sun was shining.
We had breakfast at our hotel - a really nice "vegetarian" rice-noodle soup with mustard greens in chicken soup - really tasty and very filling. Preapared for the day we headed to the local "Cat Ba Ventures" office, where we had booked a day trip of Lan Ha and Ha Long Bay the day before.
We got picked up at 8 am and were heading straight to the harbour.
It turned out that we were only 4 couples on the boat, which felt almost like a private tour!
[Read more]