Cat Ba & Lan Ha Rock Climbing

CAT BA ISLAND ROCK CLIMBING & LAN HA BAY TOUR

CAT BA ISLAND & LAN HA BAY ROCK CLIMBING DESTINATION

Climbing on Cat Ba Island
The climbing areas around Cat Ba are all privately owned or require access through private land and therefore require an access pass.
The proceeds of these passes go to the Land Owners and continued upkeep of the area including bolting, with the aim to make Cat Ba a place for the whole climbing community to enjoy.

Hidden Valley
Even if you are not a Rock Climber, Hidden Valley will take your breath away. Just a quick 3 minute motorbike ride or a 15 minute walk from Cat Ba town is Hidden Valley. With the traditional name of Ang Va, Hidden Valley is one of the most pristine areas on the island and the newest climbing spot on Cat Ba Island. The valley wall is a cut of superb limestone with featured vertical walls, teared overhangs to name a few, with over 16 sport routes and unique bouldering cave with small bouldering pad provided. Climbing grades range from 4+ to 7c+.Thus there are plenty of routes for climbers of all levels.

Hidden Valley | Directions
Coming out of the Cat Ba Climbing office proceed up hill away from the front harbour. Follow the road around to the right and take the first left. At the intersection make another left. Take the fourth street on your right (there is a small painted sign) and then the 2nd alley on your right (at the red painted arrow). Follow this to the end and you will see the private home at the end of the dirt. You may park your bike inside the gates at the Hidden Valley Entrance.
Here you can hand over your access pass and then follow the dirt track to the right of the house. This path will turn into a short rocky incline and then a short rocky decline where you will see the cliff and the Hidden Valley sign.
Travel Time 3 minutes by motorbike
Access Pass $1 USD/ 25.000 VDN, to be purchased at the Cat Ba Climbing Office
Number of routes 14 and rising
Grade range 4+ to 7c+

Butterfly Valley
Butterfly Valley or Lien Minh by its Vietnamese name is the oldest and currently the most developed climbing crag on Cat Ba Island. Containing over 50 routes spanning all grades and styles and receives sun for most of the morning.The crag is located approximately 20 minutes by motorbike from Cat Ba Town and access passes are required to enter this private property.
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Butterfly Valley |Directions
From Cat Ba Climbing, head right at the main street and take your first right heading out of town. At the T-intersection turn left and follow this road along until it splits left onto a road under construction. Follow this road until it splits again, keep right at this point where the road becomes concrete. Drive up and down the hills for approximately 2.3kms and take the left turn where a small climbing sign directs you. Follow the signs to "The Hive". You will be able to see the wall from the village, its just a short flat walk to the crag.
Travel Time 20 minutes by motorbike.
Access Pass to be purchased at the Asia Outdoors Store
Number of routes 50+
Grade range 4+ to 8a+

Buddha Cave
The Buddha Cave is a beautiful piece of rock overlooking Cat Ba Town
and is completely sheltered from the rain.
As its name suggests, there is also a small meditation area (off limits to the climbing) which has a small Buddhist shrine.
There are a small amount of climbs here ranging in grade from 5b to 7b.
Cat Ba Climbing can provide you with more or less an up to date route guide for free.
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Buddha Cave | Directions
The B. Cave is approximately 1.5kms out of Cat Ba Town. Coming out of CB Climbing, take a right turn onto the main street and then take the next street on your right. Follow this all the way to the T-intersection and turn left. Turn right through the arch, immediately after the vegetable market and opposite the primary school. Drive down and around to the left to the house immediately right of number 50. This crag is located on Government land, however to access you must pass through private property. An access pass is required for the owner to let you through. The owner will show you to the beginning of the path up to the crag. The path is a short but steep walk uphill and good footwear is ideal.
Travel Time 5 minutes by motorbike.
Access Pass to be purchased directly at the owner's land house
Number of routes 7 and rising
Grade range 5b to 7b

Lan Ha Bay Climbs
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The following climbs are all located in either Lan Ha Bay or Halong Bay. You are required to purchase an entrance ticket into the Bay as this is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (National Park). To access the crags you will require a boat or kayak. There are several bolted climbs that we have not mentioned below. If you come across other bolted lines in the area, please be sure to check the quality of the bolts as we can not confirm the age and maintenance history as Halong Bay's marine limestone environment can corrode most bolts quickly.
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The Face
The Face is a small island with one sheer wall which features in many climbing magazines and National Geographic guides. It consists of two main climbs, a 7a+ and 7b, and a bolted scramble (5b) for photo opportunities.
A basket boat takes around 90-120 minutes to reach the wall and is not recommended in rough seas.

Moody Beach
The wall at Moody Beach is one from the scene of a movie, don't leave home without your camera. The beach is a great crag for beginners to intermediate climbers. Routes are all vertical aside from one tricky but very fun overhang. Moody Beach is located in Lan Ha Bay and takes approximately 30 minutes by basket boat.
There are 6 bolted sport routes (4+ to 6b+) & 3 bouldering routes (6b+ to 7c+).

Tiger Beach & Pirates Belly
These three crags are located opposite Moody Beach in Lan Han Bay. Tiger Beach right contains 6 climbs (2 multipitches) ranging from grade 5b - 7b. Tiger Beach left contains 5 climbs ranging from grade 5c to 7c. Please note some of these are only accessible on low tide. Pirates Belly is located to the left of Tiger Beach left. The Pirates Belly wall contains two climbs, one of which is a multipitch.
These climbs are graded 5b - 7a+.

Deep Water Solo
D.H2O.S is a style of rock climbing; however it is performed solo (without any harness or ropes) and depends highly on the tide levels. Cat Ba Climbing can provide up to date information regarding which crags are safe to climb on any given day.
Deep water solo climbing in Lan Ha Bay and Halong Bay is one of the most personally rewarding and exhilarating activities. Here you will find a plethora of limestone islands with shear cliff faces polka-dotting the bay and one of the best ways to enjoy this unreal scenery is by climbing.
You begin by taking a small boat out into the bay to find the perfect cliff
face, the boat then takes you upto the side of the cliff where you pull yourself onto the wall. Begin climbing until you are no longer able, fatigued or happy with the height at which you have achieved. At this point, enjoy the view before turning your climb into a cliff jump.
To make sure this thrilling activity is completely safe, CB Climbing has explored the DWS crags in Lan Ha and Ha Long Bay to ensure there are no rocks hiding beneath the surface.

Our favorites include Skylight, Seaface, Unemployment Wall, Dragon Tail, Turtle Cave and Hon Dua/Chopstick/Candlestick. Locations of these DWS spots can be found at the link below.
http://www.thecrag.com/climbing/vietnam/ha-long-bay/nodes/fuzzy-search/halong%20bay

Deep Water Soloers should always proceed with caution. This activity can be very dangerous if you are not educated on the correct safety procedures, where to climb, getting onto the wall and the position of the boat. Guides are strongly recommended for this activity as any incidents in the bay can jeopardise the climbing industry in Vietnam.
Tide Levels can be check at the Following links:
Weekly forcast: http://www.tide-forecast.com/locations/Haiphong-Vietnam/tides/latest
Daily forcast: http://tides.mobilegeographics.com/locations/2356.htm