Unmissable experiences in Cat Ba at night

Watch the phosphorescent sea at Lan Ha Bay

James Curtis, a British travel blogger who has visited Vietnam many times, described the experience of kayaking to see the phosphorescent sea in Lan Ha Bay as flying “in the middle of a galaxy”. “No sound, just beams of sparkling light under the water. I used to think that only the Maldives or Puerto Rico had phosphorescent seas – it turns out that Vietnam also has that magical natural moment,” he shared.

Lan Ha Bay is one of the few places in Vietnam where visitors can experience this amazing natural phenomenon. Photo: Cat Ba Local

Bioluminescence is a fascinating biological phenomenon that occurs when certain species of plankton, such as the algae Noctiluca scintillans, glow when disturbed by physical movement – ​​such as waves, paddles or currents. The light emitted is a soft blue colour and is most visible at night, when the sea is calm, the sky is dark and there is no light pollution.

In Cat Ba, Lan Ha Bay is one of the few places in Vietnam where this phenomenon can be clearly observed, thanks to its sheltered waters, few boats and thriving plankton ecosystem. The phosphorescent sea season usually lasts from April to September - summer, when the sea water warms up and natural conditions become ideal for the luminescence to occur.

Many tourists compare the experience to the movie Avatar. Photo: Get your guide

The experience usually starts around 7pm to 8pm. Visitors will be taken by boat to a sheltered area of ​​the bay, then kayak themselves through the calm water. Each stroke creates a burst of light under the water, leaving a faint blue streak that lasts like a comet's tail. Many foreign visitors compare the feeling to being lost in the Pandora night forest in the movie Avatar. It's not just a beautiful sight - it's the feeling of "activating" nature, as if you are communicating with the ocean through the smallest movements.

Night squid fishing with fishermen

In the middle of a quiet night, the squid fishing boats of Cat Ba fishermen are lit up and drift offshore - and tourists , especially foreigners, are eager to join that journey. The best time for tourists to fish for squid in Cat Ba is from March to June of the solar calendar. During this time, the waves are calm and the sea is calm, squid often swim close to shore to reproduce, making it easier to hunt.

Night squid fishing is a night experience loved by many foreign tourists. Photo: Hai Le Cao

No need for much technique, just a simple hand rod, a few hours of casting the net in the night wind with the golden light reflecting off the water surface - is enough to create a "very Vietnamese" experience in the eyes of international tourists. They are curious, excited, then delighted when feeling the rod gently jerk and pull up a fresh, shiny squid.

Louis, a tourist from France, shared after the trip: “I never thought I would sit on a small boat in the middle of the night, in Vietnam, to fish for squid. I didn’t catch any, but eating hot porridge right on the boat and watching the sea at night, was one of the most interesting night experiences.”

Watch the spectacular Jetski fireworks show

If in the past, Cat Ba at night was often associated with the tranquility of the sea or some light exploration activities, then from this summer, the Pearl Island is gradually becoming more brilliant with a series of new entertainment experiences. The highlight is the show "Symphony of the Green Island", a large-scale Jetski fireworks show held on the sea. With a total investment of nearly 200 billion VND, 20 Jetski athletes will perform fireworks simultaneously to aim to set a Guinness World Record on the opening night on May 23.

The show “Green Island Symphony” will aim to set a record on its opening night on May 23. Perspective photo

What makes the show different is the story line with strong Asian colors - the legend of the Cat Ba crane fairy through the flow of the five elements. A fairy tale told through sound, light, fire, water and body movements of the world's extreme sports "superstars". No CGI, no post-production effects, everything is real - on a splendid stage of the ocean.

Strolling through a unique night market inspired by cardboard

Scheduled to open on May 16, the VUI-Fest night market in the central Bay City of Green Island promises to be a new “twist” for the night experience in Cat Ba. Not a traditional market, VUI-Fest is designed in an open model, combining culinary - art - community space with a clear “green living” spirit with booths inspired by recycled materials such as cardboard.

Night market inspired by cardboard. Perspective image

The most anticipated highlight is the “Miniature Hai Phong Foodtour” - gathering typical dishes of the port city such as crab noodles, crab spring rolls, red jellyfish, spicy fish noodles... in an airy coastal space. This is not only a place to “eat well”, but also a way to bring the culinary culture of the port city to the island - closer to tourists and still imbued with local identity.

The market space will be more vibrant with street performances, visual arts and acoustic music. Visitors can have dinner, listen to music, stroll and enjoy the cool night sea air - a different experience from the usual walking streets.

Restaurants serve sumptuous dinners with craft beer and a view of the fireworks. Photo illustration: Minh Quan

Right next to the market is the chain of restaurants The Sea Beach Club, The Forest Beach Club, Sun Bavaria - where you can enjoy a sumptuous dinner with a glass of Sun KraftBeer craft beer and watch the brilliant fireworks from the show, enjoying the true festival atmosphere.

According to vietnamnet.vn

Source: https://baohanam.com.vn/du-lich/top-trai-nghiem-khong-the-bo-lo-o-cat-ba-ve-dem-157161.html