What to expect:

Cai Beo Floating Village is located just a 5-minute boat ride from Beo Pier on Cat Ba Island and is home to around 400 families who earn their living through fishing and fish farming. The village is connected to electricity from the mainland and sits in waters with an average depth of about 4 meters. Although most day and overnight cruises pass by without stopping, Cai Beo is considered the oldest and largest ancient fishing village in Vietnam, dating back 4,000 to 7,000 years. Its name means “huge coastal bay,” chosen by ancient Viet people as a long-term settlement. Archaeological discoveries include kitchens, stone tools, ceramic fragments, animal bones, and fishing nets, showing that fishing and clam collecting were central to life here for thousands of years. The site was first identified in 1938 by French archaeologist Madeleine Colani, later excavated by Vietnamese archaeologists in 1972, and was also affected by bombing during the Vietnam War, adding another layer to its rich and complex history.

How to get here:

Either find a local fisherman who will take you there for a small fee, or book a tour to visit the floating village.