We came to Vietnam to see the legendary Ha Long Bay—but we wanted a different experience. No cruise ship crowds. No rigid itineraries. Just raw nature, open roads, and hidden gems. So we based ourselves on Cat Ba Island, Vietnam’s largest island in the Ha Long Bay archipelago, and found a wilder, more adventurous way to experience this iconic region. Whether you’re planning your own Vietnam adventure or just dreaming of travel, this is the other side of Ha Long Bay—the one you don’t see on cruise brochures. Planning a Trip? Download our free Cat Ba Island Field Guide: https://wanderlostway.kit.com/8349a41b3d Cat Ba Island is an amazing alternative to Ha Long Bay tours. You’ll find more freedom, cheaper options, and way fewer crowds. Check below for travel tips, where we stayed, and what we’d do differently. Book the same Lan Ha Bay Boat Tour from Cat Ba Island: https://www.viator.com/tours/Cat-Ba/Lan-Ha-Bay-Ha-Long-Bay-Boat-trip-kayaking-1-day/d50572-268138P1?pid=P00266447&mcid=42383&medium=link Book your Boat Tours, transfers, and discover everything to do on Cat Island here: https://www.viator.com/Ha-Long-Bay-attractions/Cat-Ba-Island/d22692-a3972?pid=P00266447&mcid=42383&medium=link 0:00 About Cat Ba Island 5:15 Green Homestay 7:18 Renting a Motorbike 8:36 Cat Ba National Park 11:35 Trung Trang Caves 14:08 Lan Ha Bay Cruise 16:36 Kayaking & Swimming Lan Ha Bay 20:40 Monkey Island 25:38 Tips