Cat Ba Island: beaches, national park and a cruise from Hanoi
Cat Ba is the largest island of the Ha Long and Lan Ha archipelago, in Hai Phong province, about 3h30 to 4h30 from Hanoi by bus then boat. Cat Ba town, the departure port for Lan Ha Bay cruises, has hotels from 20 $ a night, three small sandy beaches (Cat Co 1, 2 and 3), a jungle national park and many boat departures. It is the ideal base for visiting Lan Ha without the crowds of Ha Long Bay, and the archipelago has been UNESCO-listed since 2023.
Highlights
The beaches of Cat Co 1, 2 and 3
About 1 km from town, 10 minutes by scooter or taxi (or on foot along a cliff path), these are small but handy sandy beaches for swimming. Cat Co 1 and 2 are popular with Vietnamese visitors; Cat Co 3 belongs to an upmarket hotel. They are very busy at weekends and in summer.
Cat Ba National Park and the Ngu Lam viewpoint
The park headquarters is about 14 km north of town. Entry costs about 80,000 VND, and the trail to the Ngu Lam viewpoint climbs for about 45 minutes (3.6 km) to a 225 m summit: the view over the pinnacles and the sea is the finest on the island. The island is also home to the Cat Ba langur, a very rare monkey.
The day cruise in Lan Ha Bay
It leaves from Cat Ba and lasts 6 to 8 hours: kayaking, swimming, a fishing village, a seafood lunch; allow 450,000 to 650,000 VND per person (about 45 to 75 $). It is the cheapest way to see Lan Ha. See our page on Lan Ha Bay.
Cannon Fort and other viewpoints
Cannon Fort, on a hill above the town, overlooks the archipelago: an easy viewpoint for sunset. The Sun World cable car (Cat Hai–Phu Long) costs about 70,000 VND per trip, and it does not always run every day.
Viet Hai and Monkey Island
Viet Hai village, in the heart of the park, is reached on foot through the jungle. Monkey Island (Cat Dua) is reached by boat for about 120,000 VND return from Ben Beo, but it is mostly a tourist set: keep it for last.
Practical info
Tips
- For a night on the island, expect hotels from about 20 $ and more comfortable rooms at 25 to 80 $. For a weekend, book: in summer prices rise and the island is full of Vietnamese families. Booking a boat day on the spot often costs 10 to 20 $ less than online, but choose a boat with fewer than 25 people. For a cruise with a night on board, Lan Ha Bay departs from Cat Ba; see our comparisons 2-day, 1-night cruise and day cruise. For Ha Long Bay, see the Ha Long Bay page. Prices taken from recent guides: confirm on the spot.
How to get there
Cat Ba Island, Hai Phong province. From Hanoi: a "limousine" minibus to Hai Phong (about 2 hours), a crossing by speedboat (5 to 10 minutes) or ferry (25 to 35 minutes), then a shuttle to Cat Ba town (30 to 40 minutes); allow 3h30 to 4h30 and about 300,000 VND. From central Hai Phong a fast boat reaches Cat Ba in 45 to 60 minutes. On the island you rent a scooter or take a taxi; Ben Beo port is 10-15 minutes from the town.
Opening hours
Our guides that feature it
Nearby
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