Ha Long Bay is one of the most majestic climbing areas of
the world. With over 3000 limestone karst rising from the sea. The area has
several sport climbing routes and has vast potential for further development.
Sport climbing in the area at present offers rock climbing in Halong which rise
from beautiful stretches of white sandy beach.
Climbing in Vietnam
Just a scenic
thirty-minute motorbike ride from Cat Ba Town is beautiful Butterfly Valley,
our home crag. Butterfly Valley is located in Lien Minh, the oldest
village on Cat Ba and one of the most pristine areas on the island. The
valley wall is a magnificent cut of superb limestone with over 50 sport routes
available. Climbing grades range from 4 to 8b+… plenty of routes for climbers
of all levels.
Directions:
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| Lien Minh Valley |
You can access
Lien Minh easily by motorbike or with quite a bit more effort by bicycle.
Coming out of the Cruising Halong take a right. After 500 meters turn right up a
hill. Pass the local market on your left and keep going until you hit a
t-intersection. Take a left and follow this road out of town for about 4km.
After passing a petrol station on your left, keep left at a y-intersection (the
right side takes you to the national park). Follow this road for another 6km
through Tran Chau town. After the town the road goes up a steep uphill. After
the hill you will see a white concrete road going right where the main road
goes left. Take the white road to the right until you enter the village of Lien
Minh. Continue on this road up and down several hills until the road ends and
you see the cliff in front of you.
Park your bike
at THE HIVE. The hive is on your left as you enter the valley, before the road
becomes dirt trail and you can see the cliff. Look for a sign saying “the
Hive”. At The Hive turn in your access pass to Trinh and Nga and take the dirt
trail to the cliff. If there has been a lot of rain recently, the valley may be
flooded.
Travel Time: 30 minutes
Access Pass: $2.50 USD (50.000 VDN), to be purchased at
the Cruising
Halong on the second floor of the Noble
House Restaurant and Bar in Cat Ba Town
Number of routes: 45 and rising
Grade range: 4 to 8b+
Alongside Ben
Beo Harbor is Ben Beo Wall, featuring 5 challenging climbs from 7a-7c+. The
tops of these climbs overlook the entire harbor, providing an amazing view at
sundown. Ben Beo is the closest place to climb to Cat Ba town and great for an
afternoon or morning.
Directions:
Ben Beo is accessed most
easily by motorbike but you can also get there via bicycle or walking. Coming
out of the Cruising Halong go right and turn right on the first street 5
meters away. Drive up the hill and turn left up steeper hill. Pass Cannon Fort
on the right and at a t-intersection turn right towards Ben Beo. This road
takes you all the way to the harbor. Park your bike by the harbor entrance, walk
through the red gate to your left, and the climbs will become obvious.
Travel Time: Motorbike: 5 min, Bicycle: 15 min, Walking: 30 min
Number of routes: 5
Grade range: 7a to 7c+
Climbing in the Lan Ha Bay
Tiger Beach
In beautiful Lan Ha Bay, the southern part of Ha
Long Bay, Tiger Beach awaits! Tiger Beach was the first area developed for
sport climbing in the bay.
Both walls have
different and unique climbing features: tufas, wombs, dihedrals, pockets, and
conglomerate-rock. Routes here range from 5 to 7c+. Two unique features of this
crag are the two water-sculpted rock formations, at the base of the Offenheimer
cliff, that seem to stare up at you while climbing. This phenomenon only fully
observable during low tide.
Travel Time: Boat: 20-30 min, Kayak: 45-60 min
Number of routes: 10
Grade range: 5a to 7c+
Pirate’s Belly
This crag to the
left of Tiger Beach, around the corner from Slo Pony Wall, is only accessible
by boat. Pirate’s belly has 2 routes, one of which is a multi-pitch. The first
slab of the multi-pitch must be belayed from the boat and the second pitch is
overhanging. Between the slab and the overhang, the rock appears to pinch in at
a bellybutton.
Travel Time: Boat: 20-30 min, Kayak: 45-60 min
Access Pass: $2.50 USD (50.000 VDN)
Number of routes: 2
Grade range: 5 to 7a+
Moody Beach
Moody Beach is a
quiet, uninhabited beach, just across from Tiger Beach. The area is only a
5-minute boat ride or 10-minute swim from the Offenheimer and Slo Pony wall.
Its two shady faces serve as a great retreat from the afternoon sun. Moody
beach’s shell-littered shore is home to a couple easy and moderate routes. An
old war bunker protects a tunnel leading into one of the faces. Bring a torch
or headlamp to explore! This beach faces a beautiful and serene lagoon where
swimming is the perfect way to cool down after climbing.
Travel Time: Boat: 20-30 min, Kayak: 45-60 min
Number of routes: 6
Grade range: 4+ to 6b+
The Face
Situated in the
middle of Ha Long Bay, the Face is an incredible and impressive challenge for
experienced climbers. This sheer cliff offers sublime face climbing coupled
with an unparalleled view of the bay. Visit the Cruising Halong for
current information on bolt safety on The Face.
Travel Time: Boat: 120 min
Access Pass: Not necessary.
Number of routes: 3
Grade range: 7b to 7b+
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| Rock climbing in Catba |
Deep Water Soloing
Though sport
climbing here is well known, within the climbing community our area is famous
for its deep water soloing. Don’t forget your bathing suit, because ‘deeping’
is easily the most fun and adventurous activity we offer. As long as it’s warm
(and it’s warm from March till December…) and the tides are right, we just
can’t stop ourselves from going! To make sure this thrilling activity is
completely safe, we’ve explored the DWS crags in Lan Ha and Ha Long Bay to make
sure there can be no rough waters to swim against or menacing rocks hiding
beneath the waves. Our favorites include Hawaii Five-O, Unemployment Wall, One
Pillar Poda (Polish Pillar/ Chopstick), Stingray Wall, and Le Mekong 1947.
The climbing
areas around Cat Ba specifics on the
types of trips we offer and tentative itineraries .Just simply email us bookingcruises@gmail.com or call us
at (+84)978 198 489 to talk with our
professional travel advisors
