Cat Ba Tours

Why visit Cat Ba

Cat Ba brings land and sea together in one place. Much of the island is protected as Cat Ba National Park, home to the Cat Ba langur, one of the world's rarest primates, which lives only on this island. Around the park are fishing harbours, small beaches and a lively little town, and the islands of Lan Ha Bay begin just offshore. It suits active travellers who want to hike in the morning and kayak in the afternoon, with fewer tour boats around than in Ha Long.

Top things to do in Cat Ba

• Trek in Cat Ba National Park, climbing through the forest to the Ngu Lam peak lookout tower for a view over the hills.
• Visit Hospital Cave, a cave fitted out as a hidden hospital during the American War, with rooms built inside the rock.
• Cycle to Viet Hai village, a remote farming community inside the national park reached by a quiet path between cliffs.
• Kayak in Lan Ha Bay among lagoons, caves and small beaches, with swimming stops in the warmer months.
• Look out from Cannon Fort, a wartime gun emplacement on a hill above Cat Ba town with views over the harbour and the bay.

Best time to visit

April to June and September to October bring warm weather, good visibility and fewer crowds. June to August is peak season for Vietnamese families, so the town and beaches get busy, especially at weekends, and July to September carries a risk of storms that can stop boat trips at short notice. December to February is cool and quiet, fine for hiking but chilly for swimming.

Getting there

Cat Ba is around three hours from Hanoi. The usual route runs by road to Hai Phong, across the sea bridge to Cat Hai Island and onto a short car ferry from Got to Cai Vieng on Cat Ba, followed by a drive of about 30 to 40 minutes to Cat Ba town. Combined bus and boat services also run from Hanoi, and some boats link Cat Ba with Ha Long Bay.