1. Cai Beo Fishing Village - Where Time Stands Still Amidst the Sea
Introduction to Cai Beo fishing village (Image: collected)
1.1. Geographical Location and Meaning of the Name Cai Beo
Cai Beo fishing village is located in Lan Ha Bay, southeast of Cat Ba Island, Hai Phong city. The village is nestled among majestic limestone mountain ranges, creating a rare and magnificent natural landscape. The name "Cai Beo" originates from the image of lush green duckweed that often drifts into this bay during the rainy season. Locals say that this area used to have a lot of duckweed and seaweed, and from that, the name Cai Beo was born, associated with the lives of the fishermen here.
1.2. The 7000-Year History of the Ancient Fishing Village
Cai Beo fishing village is a vivid testament to the long history of the Vietnamese people. Archaeologists have discovered many relics and artifacts in this area dating back 7000 years. In 1938, French archaeologist Madeleine Colani found pottery shards, stone tools, and animal bones here.
In 1986, Vietnamese archaeologists continued excavations and confirmed this as one of the oldest fishing villages in Southeast Asia. The people here mainly live by fishing to maintain their traditional lifestyle for thousands of years. This ability has helped them build unique floating houses and develop fishing techniques that have created a resilient coastal cultural identity.
2. Unique Features of Cai Beo Fishing Village
2.1. Traditional Floating House Architecture of Fishermen
The most attractive feature of Cai Beo fishing village is the cleverly built floating houses on the water. More than 500 houses are simply designed yet incredibly sturdy to adapt to the living conditions at sea. Each house usually has an area of 15-30m², made of wood and bamboo, with a roof of corrugated iron or fibro cement.
Traditional floating house architecture of fishermen (Image: collected)
Floating houses in Cai Beo are designed in a "stilted house on the water" style, with the house body placed on a floating system made of plastic barrels or special waterproof wood. Each house has its own walkway, connected to each other by small bridges, forming a close-knit community on the sea. Notably, many households also have small, lovely "floating vegetable gardens" growing herbs and some types of leafy vegetables daily.
2.2. Livelihood through fishing and aquaculture
The life of the people of Cai Beo fishing village is closely tied to the sea and voyages to the sea. Every morning, the sight of people preparing fishing gear, waking up a new day for the fishing village, is a characteristic scene that cannot be found anywhere else. Currently, fishermen use many traditional fishing methods such as trawling, hand-lining, bottom fishing, and trapping.
In addition to fishing, the people of Cai Beo also strongly develop aquaculture in floating rafts. They cultivate many high-value seafood such as grouper, snapper, lobster, and especially pearl oysters, a famous specialty of Cat Ba sea. The aquaculture rafts are scientifically designed, divided into many compartments to raise different types of seafood, creating a miniature ecosystem of the sea.
The processing and preservation of seafood by the people of Cai Beo also have their own unique features. They have techniques for drying, salting, and smoking seafood using traditional methods, creating products with the characteristic flavors of Cat Ba sea.
3. Attractive tourism experiences in Cai Beo fishing village
3.1. Exploring the fishing village by boat and kayak
The best way to visit Cai Beo fishing village is by boat or kayak. Tourists can rent small boats from Cai Beo harbor for about 150,000 - 200,000 VND/hour or kayak for 100,000 - 200,000 VND/hour to freely explore the fishing village in their own way.
Exploring the fishing village by boat and kayak (Image: collected)
On the exploration journey, you will admire the daily life of the locals: children playing on small wooden bridges, women drying fish, men repairing nets and fishing gear. Especially, when you go through the rows of floating houses, you will feel the rare peace amidst the majestic limestone mountains and the clear blue water of Lan Ha Bay.
The highlight of this journey is the "Village Gate" area - where the most floating houses with unique architecture are concentrated, and the "Floating Garden" - where people cultivate seafood on a large scale. Don't forget to bring your camera to capture the beautiful moments of the fishing village from a perspective on the water.
3.2. Participate in fishing activities with local fishermen
A memorable experience when visiting Cai Beo fishing village is to participate in fishing activities with local fishermen. You can register for "A Day as a Fisherman" tours for 350,000 - 500,000 VND/person, including going out to sea on a small fishing boat, learning how to cast nets, pull nets and harvest seafood.
In the evening, night squid fishing is an experience not to be missed. With flickering lights on the boat, you will be guided on traditional squid fishing techniques and feel the joy of catching fresh squid by yourself. The best time for this activity is from April to September, when squid appear abundantly in the sea area.
Explore, participate in activities with local fishermen (Image: collected)
Some fishermen also open classes on net weaving and traditional fishing gear making, helping visitors gain a deeper understanding of the fishing profession. This is not only an interesting travel experience but also a way for you to interact and learn about the unique island culture of the Cai Beo people.
3.3. Enjoy fresh seafood at floating rafts
The cuisine at Cai Beo fishing village is a highlight not to be missed in your exploration. Here, you will enjoy fresh seafood right at the restaurants floating on the sea. Special dishes such as steamed song fish, grilled lobster, lemongrass-steamed clams, and tamarind-braised crab are all made from seafood caught that day.
Hung Vuong floating restaurant and Minh Hai floating raft are two addresses highly rated by many tourists for quality and price. A full seafood meal for 2-4 people costs around 500,000-1,000,000 VND, depending on the type of seafood and how it is prepared.
The special feature of enjoying seafood at Cai Beo fishing village is that you can choose your own live seafood from the cages and ask the chef to prepare it to your liking. Many visitors share that sitting on a raft, looking out at the clear blue bay and enjoying fresh seafood is an unforgettable culinary experience in Cat Ba.
4. Ideal time to visit Cai Beo fishing village
When is the ideal time to visit Cai Beo fishing village (Image: collected)
4.1. Best season: April to October
The best time to explore Cai Beo fishing village is from April to October each year. This is the summer and early autumn period, when the weather is stable with many sunny days and an average temperature ranging from 25-32°C, very suitable for outdoor activities and exploring the fishing village.
Especially, from May to August, the local people are bustling with many traditional activities such as fishing festivals, boat racing, and many other special art performances to help tourists learn more about the fishermen's culture.
September and October are the "golden" time for those who want to enjoy the peaceful beauty of the fishing village with swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking around the fishing village.
4.2. Note on weather and visiting conditions
Cai Beo fishing village has a quiet and ancient beauty, each season evokes a different emotion. The cool days at the beginning of the year or a passing shower in the summer only make the scenery more poetic. A light jacket or a small umbrella will make your journey smoother in the ocean breeze.
When visiting Cai Beo fishing village, tourists need to respect the privacy of the local people. Do not take photos in their living space without permission and limit noise, especially in the early morning and late evening when people are resting.
Finally, please leave nothing but footprints. A small act like not littering or limiting single-use plastics is enough to preserve the pristine beauty of the sea and the hospitality of the people here.
5. How to get to Cai Beo fishing village
5.1. From Hanoi or Hai Phong city center to Cat Ba
To get to Cat Ba Island from Hanoi, you can choose one of the following means of transportation:
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Sleeper bus or limousine package This is currently the most popular and convenient option. Many bus companies such as Good Morning Cat Ba, Cat Ba Express, and Interbus Lines offer the Hanoi – Cat Ba route, including pick-up, ferry tickets, and shuttle buses. Buses depart from the Old Quarter or major stations and go straight to the center of Cat Ba town, taking about 4.5 – 5 hours. Ticket prices range from 300,000 – 500,000 VND/trip, depending on the service quality.Self-drive car or motorbike: Departing from Hanoi, take the Hanoi – Hai Phong highway to Got ferry terminal (Cat Hai) and then take the ferry to Cai Vieng wharf (Cat Ba). Then continue driving to the town center. The total time is about 4 – 5 hours, depending on the ferry waiting time. Suitable for those who like to be proactive and explore in their own way.
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Train: Start with a train from Hanoi station to Hai Phong (about 2.5 hours). From the center of Hai Phong, take a taxi or bus to Got wharf, then take the ferry to the island and continue to Cat Ba town. The total time is about 5 – 6 hours. Suitable for tourists who like to experience public transport and the scenery along the way.
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Cat Hai – Phu Long Cable Car: The modern cross-sea cable car line connects from Cat Hai station (Hai Phong) to Phu Long station (Cat Ba) in just 10 minutes. From Phu Long, there is a shuttle bus to the town. The cable car is a quick option, no need to wait for the ferry, and also offers a panoramic view of Lan Ha Bay from above.
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Ferry: From Hai Phong, there are two main ferry routes to Cat Ba: Ben Binh - Cat Ba route: The Superdong high-speed ferry departs many times a day, with a travel time of about 45 minutes. Got Wharf - Cai Vieng route: Large ferries that can carry cars, travel time is about 30 minutes, then you need to continue driving 20km to Cat Ba town.
5.2. From Cat Ba town to Cai Beo fishing village
From Cat Ba town to Cai Beo fishing village, you can choose the following means of transport:
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Motorbike: Rent a motorbike in Cat Ba town for about 100,000-150,000 VND/day, then travel along the coastal road about 3km south to Cai Beo port. This is a flexible means of transport that allows you to manage your time and stop to admire the scenery along the way.
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Electric car: In Cat Ba town, there is an electric car service that takes tourists to tourist attractions for about 40,000-50,000 VND/person/trip to Cai Beo.
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Taxi: Taxi fare from Cat Ba town to Cai Beo port is about 70,000-100,000 VND/trip, travel time is about 10 minutes.
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When you arrive at Cai Beo port, you need to rent a boat or kayak to visit the fishing village. Popular boat types include:
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Traditional wooden boat: Rental price is about 150,000-200,000 VND/hour or 400,000-500,000 VND for a 3-hour tour of the fishing village and nearby Lan Ha Bay.
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Kayak: Rent a kayak for 100,000 VND/hour/piece or 250,000 VND/half day, suitable for those who want to explore the fishing village in their own way.
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Speed boat: Fast and convenient, price is about 700,000-900,000 VND/hour for a group of 4-6 people.
An important note is that you should agree on the price and specific time before renting a boat to avoid unnecessary disagreements. Also, bring a life jacket when traveling on the sea to ensure safety.
6. Cai Beo fishing village tour - Ideal sightseeing choice
Depending on your needs and budget, you can choose many types of tours to visit Cai Beo fishing village at different prices:
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Half-day tour: Sightseeing time is about 3-4 hours, focusing on exploring Cai Beo fishing village and the surrounding bay. Tour price from 250,000-350,000 VND/person, including boat, guide and drinks.
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Full-day package tour: This tour lasts 7-8 hours, combining visits to the fishing village with other tourist attractions such as Quan Y cave, Monkey Island, and swimming at the beautiful beaches of Cat Ba. Tour price from 400,000-600,000 VND/person, including boat, guide, seafood lunch and entrance tickets to tourist attractions.
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Special experience tour: This is a high-end tour, focusing on in-depth experiences of fishing village culture such as participating in fishing with fishermen, learning to cook local cuisine, and staying overnight in a floating house. Tour price from 800,000-1,500,000 VND/person, depending on the accompanying services.
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Private tour: For groups who want a private and flexible itinerary. Price from 1,000,000-3,000,000 VND/group (2-6 people), depending on the specific requirements for time and service.
In addition, if you visit Cat Ba this summer, don't miss the jetski show “Green Island Symphony” – a water sports performance combining sound, light and modern technology, held at Xanh Island Central Bay City. A vibrant entertainment experience by the sea will make your Cat Ba exploration journey more complete.
Cai Beo fishing village is not only a tourist destination but also a vibrant living cultural treasure of our country. With a 7000-year history and distinctive coastal culture, it offers visitors unforgettable experiences of fishermen's life amidst the majestic natural scenery. Plan your trip to explore Cai Beo fishing village, where time seems to stand still amidst the ocean and feel the peaceful rhythm of life that is rare in modern life.
