Rock climbing & Deep water soloing
Probably the hardest and the less tried activity of choice in Halong Bay, rock climbing & deep water soloing is for the adventurous travelers who like some adrenaline rush and a bit of hardcore workout.
The most noticable company doing rock climbing & deep water soloing in Halong Bay is Asia Outdoors. Asia Outdoors came to life in 2006 as Slo Pony Adventures. The company was formed by Erik Ferjentsik and Onslo Carrington, two adventure-minded American-certified climbing guides with backgrounds in private guiding and climbing gym operation in the US.
The courses offered range from basic to hard level, whether the client is a kid or a senior citizen, it doesn’t really matter. Price for each course is around 200 USD/person but will be reduced if the number of participants increase. Equipment for rock-climbing will be provided by Asia Outdoors and if you want to hire some more items, you can also find them at the shop of Asia Outdoors on the second floor of the Noble House Restaurant and Bar in Cat Ba Town. The place is also where you purchase entrance pass for each climbing spot before practicing the activities.
List of highlight climbing spots in Halong Bay:
Climbing areas in Cat Ba Island
1/ Butterfly Valley: Just a scenic thirty-minute motorbike ride from Cat Ba Town is beautiful Butterfly Valley. 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+.
- Grade range: 4 to 8b+
- Number of routes: 45 up
- Travel Time from Cat Ba Town: 30 minutes
- Access Pass: 2.50 USD (50.000 VND)
- How to reach it from Asia Outdoors shop: You can access easily by motorbike or bicycle. Coming out of the Asia Outdoors shop, 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.
2/ Ben Beo Wall: Alongside Ben Beo Harbor is Ben Beo Wall, featuring 5 challenging climbs from 7a-7c+. The tops of these climbs overlook the entire harbour, providing an amazing view at sundown. Ben Beo is the closest place to climb from Cat Ba Town and great for an afternoon or early morning.
- Grade range: 7a to 7c+
- Number of routes: 5
- Travel Time from Cat Ba Town: Motorbike: 5 min, Bicycle: 15 min, Walking: 30 min
- Access Pass: 3 USD (60.000 VND)
- How to reach it from Asia Outdoors shop: Ben Beo is accessed most easily by motorbike, bicycle or walking. Coming out of the Asia Outdoors shop go right and turn right on the first street 5 m 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 harbour. The climbs are on the left side.
Climbing areas in Lan Ha Bay
1/ Tiger Beach: In beautiful Lan Ha Bay, the southern part of Halong Bay, Tiger Beach awaits! Tiger Beach was the first area developed for sport climbing in the bay. Currently this beach is used for day and overnight stays by Hanoi Backpackers Hostel, occupants who are curious and willing to share the beach with climbers. The 2 walls at the beach, Offenheimer’s Creation and Slo Pony Wall, form a small alcove of climbing utopia. Offenheimer’s Creation has a few of the first routes put up in Vietnam by Asia Outdoors. Both walls have different and unique climbing features: tufas, wombs, dihedrals, pockets, and conglomerate-rock. Routes here range from 5 to 7c+.
- Grade range: 5a to 7c+
- Number of routes: 10
- Travel Time from Cat Ba Town: Boat: 20-30 min, Kayak: 45-60 min
- Access Pass: 2.50 USD (50.000 VND)
2/ 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. Moody Beach is home to a couple easy and moderate routes. This beach faces a beautiful and serene lagoon where swimming is the perfect way to cool down after climbing.
- Grade range: 4+ to 6b+
- Number of routes: 6
- Travel Time from Cat Ba Town: Boat: 20-30 min, Kayak: 45-60 min
- Access Pass: Sponsored by Asia Outdoors
3/ 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.
- Grade range: 5 to 7a+
- Number of routes: 2
- Travel Time from Cat Ba Town: Boat: 20-30 min, Kayak: 45-60 min
- Access Pass: 2.50 USD (50.000 VND)
* Note: For other spots for deep water soloing, find out more at https://www.thecrag.com/climbing/vietnam/ha-long-bay
