If you’re wondering if you should visit Cat Ba Island, this guide covers all the best things to see and do in Cat Ba — from exploring the stunning Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba National Park, to relaxing on Cat Co beaches.
We visited for the first time six years ago, and like everyone else on their first visit, we’d heard a thousand times about
Halong Bay and thought it was a must-see.
Someone in Hanoi told us about Cat Ba. “It’s like Halong, but without so many tourists.” At first, we thought it was just another place trying to sell you something, but in the end, we decided to give it a try. And we’re really glad we did.
Cat Ba is in the same archipelago as Halong, a half-hour boat ride from the port of Hai Phong. It’s the largest island in the area, and it really took us by surprise.
We expected to find four cottages and little else, but it turns out it has everything: decent beaches, cool hiking trails, historic caves, and a small but lively town.
Whether you’re looking for a few days of relaxation outside of Hanoi or a unique and affordable way to visit Halong Bay, stay tuned because in this post we’ll tell you all the must-see places in Cat Ba.
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Lan Ha Bay Tour: The best experience in Cat Ba island
On the first day, we booked a tour to explore Lan Ha Bay. At first, we didn’t even know it existed; we thought it was just Halong Bay. But it turns out Lan Ha Bay is just as beautiful as its bigger sister, and, best of all, it’s far less crowded.
The difference is significant, as instead of sailing among dozens of boats like in Halong, it’s not as crowded here. We were only 18 people on a traditional Vietnamese boat. The guide, named Duc, spoke perfect English and told us a few stories about the area as we sailed among the limestone islets.
What we liked most were the caves, which you can explore by kayak.
We also stopped at Cai Beo, a floating fishing village, where the houses are literally on the water, built on drums and wood, and where the village kids jump from the houses into the water as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
The good thing is that tours from Cat Ba are much cheaper than those from Hanoi, so if you’re already here, you can take one like this one we did and loved.
If you have the budget and time, there are also overnight tours with an overnight stay on the boat.
We didn’t do it because of the money, but the people who did told us the sunrise over the islets is spectacular. Next time, definitely.
Hiking in Cat Ba National Park
We love hiking, so we had a great time in Cat Ba.
The National Park occupies almost the entire island, so you can find some quite interesting trails here. Here’s a summary of the main ones.
Ngu Lam Peak
One of the best hiking trails in Cat Ba is undoubtedly the one that climbs Ngu Lam Peak, and after doing it, we finally understand why it’s so famous.
Basically, it’s an accessible and well-marked trail about 3 km long. At first, it’s super easy, a one-kilometer walk along a paved road that serves as a perfect warm-up. During this first section, we pass by the old 1960s-era communal housing and the park’s botanical garden.
But then things start to get a little more complicated when you reach Kim Giao Forest, where the uphill stretch begins.
The final section is undoubtedly the most challenging, as the trail becomes steep and rocky, and you sometimes have to grab onto roots and rocks to help you climb. It’s only 1.5 kilometers in total (one way), but it took us a while to complete it, stopping to catch our breath and take photos.
When you get to the top, the views are beautiful, so don’t forget to bring a drink and a snack to enjoy the view of almost the entire island.
If you’re lucky, you might spot animals that inhabit the park, such as the Cat Ba langur. We didn’t see it, but we did come across a multitude of butterflies.
Opening hours and prices
- Open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Price: 120,000 VND (you can buy it at the park entrance)
- We recommend arriving before 2:00 PM to give yourself time.
- To get to the starting point, you can rent a motorbike (about 150,000 VND per day), take a taxi (about 250,000 VND), or book a tour like this one.
Trekking to Viet Hai Village
If you’re looking for a more adventure and challenging time in Cat Ba, we recommend trekking to Viet Hai Village.
In total, you’ll cover a distance of about 12-14 km, and we warn you in advance that it’s not suitable for everyone, as it involves more technical difficulty and somewhat complicated terrain.
Although you can do it on your own, we highly recommend taking a tour, not only because the terrain is somewhat complicated, but also because you avoid the logistics of booking a return boat and transportation to the starting point. Plus, having a guide adds value to each site you visit.
Here’s the link to the one we hired.
We left Cat Ba Town shortly after dawn and arrived at the checkpoint, where we registered our names and received our entry permits. With our backpacks ready, we began our hike along a wide trail that runs through secondary forests.
After about 2 km, we leave the main track behind and take the turnoff to May Bau, where the plain ends and the path climbs to the top of a small hill.
We continued deeper, the trail becoming narrower and narrower, to the point where the vegetation practically surrounded us completely.
After about two hours of continuous climbing, we reached the area known as Frog Pond, where we took a break to face the final stretch, the tortuous ascent through Doc Dai.
This last section is mostly made up of technical climbs and descents, where you often have to climb and hold on to whatever you find.
Finally, after about 5 hours of trekking, we reached the village of Viet Hai.
Once in town, you can take the opportunity to eat, stroll, recharge your batteries, and take the boat back to Cat Ba Town.
Practical tips for trekking to Viet Hai
- Keep in mind that, although it’s amazing, you’ll need to be in a minimum of shape to do it.
- Although it’s possible to do it on your own, we recommend booking a tour for greater ease and safety.
- It is easy to find leeches along the path if it has rained in the previous days.
- There are areas where the vegetation is very dense, so we recommend long pants.
- Don’t forget your raincoat, water, and some snacks for the hike.
- To return, you’ll need a boat; make sure it’s included or negotiate it in advance if you’re traveling on your own.
Explore Cat Ba caves
Cat Ba Island, like any karst site, has a multitude of caves, but two of them are special because of their history during the Vietnam War.
Hospital Cave
The first of these is Hospital Cave, for us the most impressive cave in Cat Ba. It’s about 10 kilometers from Cat Ba Town.
The Vietnamese spent years renovating this place to make it habitable during the war. Although it served as a shelter, its main purpose was as a hospital, protected from bombs, hence its name.
The site itself is quite interesting to see, and once had operating rooms, bedrooms, and even a natural pool from which to obtain drinking water.
The mind-blowing thing is imagining how the doctors and wounded lived there for months, without being able to leave.
Admission costs 40,000 VND, and there are guides who speak basic English that you can hire separately to explain the whole story as you walk through the different rooms. It’s one of those visits that truly leaves a lasting impression.
Trung Trang Cave
Another of the main caves in Cat Ba is Trung Trang Cave, which is larger and quite beautiful due to its stalactite formations.
Admission is included with Cat Ba National Park, so you don’t need to pay for another ticket.
To get there, you can walk along the road for about 15 minutes from the park entrance, or if you’ve hired transportation or are coming by motorcycle, you can go directly to the entrance.
To reach it you have to take a short, fairly accessible trek with around 100 steps.
We were surprised by how uncrowded this cave was, as it is much less crowded than Hospital Cave, where tours usually arrive and fill up quickly.
Once inside, you can take a short, marked and illuminated tour of about 20-30 minutes, and enjoy the views of the area.
Take a break and relax on the beautiful beaches of Cat Ba
We’re not going to lie to you, Cat Ba’s beaches aren’t the best in Vietnam. If you’re looking for white sand like Phu Quoc, you won’t find it here.
But they have their charm for a little while at the end of the day or to watch the sunset, especially because they are surrounded by those rock cliffs that make them look like small coves, only usually shared with quite a few people.
In the Cat Ba Town area, there are 3 main beaches you can visit: Cat Co 1, Cat Co 1, and Cat Co 3.
- Cat Co 1 is where the younger crowds hang out, with a few bars and music. It’s the perfect place if you want to meet other travelers or have a few beers while watching the sunset.
- Cat Co 2 is our favorite. It’s smaller and quieter, perfect for reading a book or just relaxing. The water is clean and you can snorkel a bit, although there’s not much to see underwater. What we liked most is that there’s a wooden walkway that connects the three beaches along the cliffs. The views are beautiful, especially at sunset.
- Cat Co 3 is the most “exclusive” as it’s surrounded by luxury hotels. The beach itself is free, and you can rent sun loungers and other equipment for a small fee.
We also went to Tung Thu Beach, which is a little further away. It’s a 20-minute walk along a path through the vegetation to get there, but it’s worth it because it’s much wilder. There are hardly any people and the water is super clean. Just bring water and something to eat, because there’s nothing there.
How to get to Cat Ba island
Getting to Cat Ba is very easy and you can do so from different locations in the country, such as Ninh Binh, Hanoi, or Ha Giang, without any major complications.
Typically, you’ll be staying in Cat Ba Town, where most travelers base themselves while exploring the island.
Of course, since it’s an island, to get there you’ll have to take at least one road or train journey, combining it with a ferry, speedboat, or cable car.
The good thing is that most of the tickets you can buy already offer this combined route, which means you don’t have to search for them separately.
- To get to Cat Ba from Hanoi, the journey takes about 2.5-3 hours.
You can see the schedule and book here.
- To get there from Ninh Binh (Tam Coc), it takes around 4 hours. You can see schedule and book directly here
- The trip from Ha Giang to Cat Ba takes quite a while, up to 11 hours, so we recommend taking the night Cabin Bus and taking advantage of the nighttime transfer.
You can find the schedule here.
Here we leave you with a complete post with all the information you need to get to Cat Ba.
Practical information for visiting Cat Ba
How many days to stay in Cat Ba
We were there for 3 days and it was not enough for us, but if you want to see the main attractions it is enough.
If you only have a couple of days, it’s a bit short because there’s quite a bit to see, but if you plan well, you can dedicate one day to exploring Lan Ha Bay and another to exploring some trekking or caves.
How to get around the island
To get around Cat Ba Island, the easiest way is to rent a motorbike. You can find them in Cat Ba Town for around 120-150k VND per day, and it’s the best way to explore the island independently.
En general, las carreteras, que solo son dos principales están bastante bien y hay poco tráfico, lo cual se agradece.
If you don’t dare to take a motorbike, there are taxis that can take you to the main attractions, but they are somewhat expensive. However, in Vietnam, everything is about negotiating the price.
However, if you don’t ride a motorcycle, we recommend simply joining any organized tour to see the main attractions, as the price difference isn’t that great and they’re well worth it.
Where to eat in Cat Ba
Being right by the sea, the seafood and fish in Cat Ba are delicious and super fresh, so if you’re one of those who likes to enjoy a good seafood meal, you can do so here at very affordable prices.
Some tourist-friendly restaurants we tried and recommend are:
- Yummy Restaurant: Fresh seafood at a good price, and they have vegetarian options.
- Nhà Hàng Hải Yến: Ideal for fresh fish and seafood at affordable prices.
- The Cat Bar:
Perfect for a late-night drink overlooking the harbor
What is the best time to visit Cat Ba?
We went in May and the weather was perfect.
However, keep in mind that from June to October, it is very hot and rainy a lot.
Avoid November-February if you want to enjoy the beaches, because it’s cold and often cloudy.
Our honest review on Cat Ba
Well, that’s it. After beating us up through Vietnam, Cat Ba took home the award for “best random discovery of the trip.” And that wasn’t even in our original plans, come on.
The truth is that it has a very strange balance, but it works: plenty of nature, a tough war history, nice people, and affordable prices.
Plus, since it’s not as burnt as other places, you can move around at your leisure without feeling like a sardine in a can.
Although we initially planned to use it only as a springboard to Lan Ha Bay, luckily on the second day we realized Cat Ba had enough to last at least several relaxing days. Could we see ourselves coming back? Well, maybe we would.