The village's 500 households live mainly on fishing and aquaculture. Cai Beo is the most important archaeological site in the coastal area and islands of Northeast Vietnam.

At Cai Beo, visitors will have  an interesting experience if they rent a boat wandering among the raft-based fish-farming households. While  on the boat, they can admire the beauty of Cai Beo's picturesque scenery and learn about the life of the fishing people.

Cai Beo is considered the most important archaeological site in the sea area of northeastern Vietnam. In 1938, French archaeologist M.Colani realized that Cai Beo was the cradle of ancient culture in Vietnam.

In 1981, the Vietnam History Museum excavated this area for the second time. Although the excavation area was only 78 square meters, many stone artifacts considered to belong to pre- and current Ha Long time were found.

In 1986 and 2006, a third and  fourth excavations were completed. The team of specialist scientists undertook extensive excavations and discovered 10 tombs with 137 stone artifacts and 1,424 pottery shards, all made from granite, ceramic, or twisted rope as well as fish bones, shells and oysters. These excavations once again proved that Cai Beo floating village had existed from the back to the pre-Ha Long Time.

Analysis indicates that people first settled there 7000 years ago. They lived mainly on fishing in the sea. They changed from hunting and gathering to fishing and planting crops. The first inhabitants were likely descendants of ancient people in Hoa Binh- Bac Son.

Nowadays, local people in Cai Beo live in fishing boats, or on simple rafts made of mostly wood that float on platforms similar to pontoon boats. The houses are small, having only one or two bedrooms. Some have their own squid fishing and clam and mussel farms. There are streets, blocks, and neighborhoods all within the fishing village. There are also buildings used as schools, restaurants and guesthouses. 

Many tourism companies have sent their customers to the village. Some households have adapted well, offering kayaks for rent or guest houses overnight, which promises a bright future for  children there.

Linh Chi