Cat Ba Island with Kids – Day 21 – Things to Do on your Lan Ha Bay Cruise in Vietnam
There's plenty of things to do on Cat Ba Island with kids as we discover during our Lan Ha Bay cruise. Bike riding, kayaking through caves, local villages and a Three Peaches Islet swim in Vietnam. Day 21 of our Southeast Asia journey takes us deep into Cat Ba Island with kids as part of our 2‑night 3‑day Lan Ha Bay cruise in Vietnam. This episode follows a full day of real family travel across northern Vietnam, combining bike riding, kayaking, floating villages, limestone karsts, local food, snake wine and a swim at the famous Three Peaches Islet. It’s a complete look at what parents can expect on a Lan Ha Bay cruise with kids, and how Cat Ba Island fits into the wider Vietnam with kids and Southeast Asia with kids travel ecosystem. In our opinion, the best way to see Ha Long Bay Vietnam. We begin the morning by leaving the Calypso Cruises ship on a speedboat bound for Cat Ba Island. The ride takes us past floating villages and limestone karsts before we reach the small pier where our bike riding adventure starts. Hiring bikes is one of the classic Cat Ba Island things to do, and the route takes us through farmland, jungle, tunnels and quiet local roads that show a very different side of Lan Ha Bay Vietnam. With the kids leading the way, we ride toward a small Cat Ba Island village surrounded by Ho Chi Minh era homes, farms and traditional workshops. In the village we meet locals preparing food, tending to animals, and sharing stories about life on the island. It’s the kind of Cat Ba Island village stop that families often look for on a Cat Ba Island tour or Cat Ba Island day trip, with small lanes, traditional homes and a pace that feels unchanged for generations. We try local dishes and sample a traditional Vietnamese spirit, including snake wine that has been part of the region’s culture for decades. From here we walk through the village school grounds and visit the small cemetery at the base of the surrounding jungle, giving the children a quiet moment to see another side of life on Cat Ba Island with kids. A buggy collects us for the return journey, taking us through tunnels, past butterflies, and along a route that cuts through Cat Ba jungle terrain. We then board the speedboat again and travel across Lan Ha Bay toward a kayaking area surrounded by limestone karsts. Kayaking is one of the biggest Lan Ha Bay activities and a major highlight for families visiting Ha Long Bay with kids. We paddle through caves, around rock formations, and across calm water that gives a full POV of what kayaking with kids in Vietnam is like. Next we head to Three Peaches Islet - also known as Ba Trai Dao - one of the most recognisable Lan Ha Bay swimming spots. The beach is small, bright, and framed by karsts, making it a natural fit for families looking for things to do in Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba Island day trip ideas. The kids swim, climb, and explore while we take in the scenery that defines this part of northern Vietnam. Back on the cruise ship, the afternoon shifts into classic Lan Ha Bay cruise experiences. We swim in the jacuzzi, enjoy cocktails on the deck, and take part in squid fishing as the sun sets over the limestone formations. Later, the kids jump off the back of the boat into the warm water - a moment that blends adventure, family travel, and the relaxed pace of Vietnam cruise with kids itineraries. This episode captures the full range of Cat Ba Island things to do and Lan Ha Bay cruise activities, combining real locations, real moments, and real family‑travel experiences across one of Vietnam’s most iconic regions. ◀ Previous episode (Day 20): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOP9uxHbAyM ◀ Next episode (Day 22): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKnoRAjU86c This episode is part of The Motivated Travel Show, created by award‑winning journalist Chris Stead, exploring family travel, wellness‑anchored journeys, and real backpacking with kids across Southeast Asia. Our Vietnam with kids series follows our full route through Cat Ba Island, Lan Ha Bay, Ha Long Bay, Hanoi, and beyond, capturing the emotional side of travel, the practical challenges, and the real experiences families can expect on the road. You can follow the full Southeast Asia journey in the main playlist, explore the Vietnam series for more Cat Ba Island and Lan Ha Bay episodes, and dive into our family‑travel collections covering backpacking with kids, cruise days, and adventure‑travel moments across the region. #vietnamtravel #lanhabay #familytravel #cruise #motivatedtravel