Visitors arriving in Hai Phong cannot ignore Cat Ba island tourism. Visitors can not miss the opportunity to explore the island filled with sunshine and wind, admire the pristine landscape, participate in interesting activities, and enjoy specialty cuisine on this beautiful island.
For sea lovers, Cat Ba Island promises to be a great destination for you to experience immersion in the blue sea water or float on a boat to see Lan Ha Bay – one of the most beautiful bays on the planet. Let’s plan a trip to Cat Ba Island with Karst Plateau so as not to miss any great experiences!
This is famous for its charming and poetic landscape
Cat Ba Island is located in the south of Ha Long Bay, off the coast of Hai Phong City and Quang Ninh Province, about 30 km from Hai Phong city center, and about 25 km from Ha Long City. Administratively, Cat Ba Island belongs to the Cat Hai district, Hai Phong City.
Cat Ba, also known as Pearl Island, is the largest island on Lan Ha Bay in Hai Phong City. Cat Ba is famous for its charming and poetic landscape, attracting tens of thousands of domestic and foreign tourists every year, especially in summer.
2. The best time to visit Cat Ba Island
Summer is the most ideal time to travel to Cat Ba Hai Phong
Cat Ba has an average annual temperature of 25-28 degrees Celsius, depending on the season, it can be up to 30 degrees Celsius (summer), or 15-20 degrees Celsius (winter). Compared to the average temperature in all parts of the country, this place has a relatively pleasant climate, so, at any time of the year, visitors can come to Cat Ba.
However, the most ideal time to travel to Cat Ba is from April to August. Because this is an island bay, summer is a time when the sea is clear, the weather is warm and there is almost no rain. It will be ideal for those who love fun water activities such as swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, windsurfing, or even skydiving. If you want to “stay out of the sun”, you can choose the autumn time from September to November. At this time, the weather is cool, and “rolling” with outdoor activities is also less tiring.
3. How to get to Cat Ba Island
Move to Cat Ba Island
From Hanoi, visitors can take a private car to Hai Phong, via the Tan Vu sea-crossing bridge to Got Ferry. The ferry stops at Cai Vieng pier in the Cat Hai district, driving about 20 km to the center of the island – Cat Ba town. In particular, the cost applies to cars under 9 seats including bridges and roads 210,000 VND, ferries 190,000 VND. The ferry fee for motorbikes is VND 45,000 per vehicle.
If you take a passenger car, a ticket from Hanoi to Got Ferry port is about 150,000 VND, then to the island by ferry for 12,000 VND per person. In addition, visitors can choose car companies to go directly to the center of the island, for VND 250,000 per person.
Seeing Cat Ba Island from above is extremely chill with the modern cable car system
In addition, visitors can take Cat Hai – Phu Long Cable Car to save time on the island. You only need to take 10 minutes, instead of 20-30 minutes by ferry. Crossing Tan Vu Bridge towards Got Ferry, visitors enter the Cat Hai cable car station according to roadside signs. The round-trip cable car ticket price is VND 200,000 per person. The cable car operates from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on weekends.
4: What does Cat Ba play? Things not to be missed when going to Cat Ba
4.1 Lan Ha Bay
This bay is famous for its amazingly beautiful islands and caves
Lan Ha Bay is located in the eastern part of Cat Ba Island. It owns more than 400 large and small islands, creating a large area of more than 7000ha. Some small islands have sandy beaches at the foot of the mountain suitable for fun activities. Here, you can swim, kayak, or visit the pontoon houses, and fish ponds of the people.
Lan Ha Bay is a beautiful sea with clear blue water, and tranquil space, surrounded by small islands like Halong Bay. To visit the bay, you need to rent a boat or ship to go to the bay.
4.2 Cat Co Beach
There are 3 famous Cat Co beaches on Cat Ba island, which are Cat Co 1, 2, and 3. All three beaches are only a few hundred meters from the town center and are favorite spots that any visitor to Cat Ba can not ignore. From the center of Cat Ba town, you can easily move to Cat Co beaches 1, 2, and 3 by motorbike taxi, or tram. The three beaches are not too big but discreet, the sea is clear and warm. The beaches are connected by a small road along the mountain slope.
Immerse yourself in the clear blue water at Cat Co beach
Among all three beaches, Cat Co 1 beach is the widest and most beautiful, located around the mountains, all year round the waves, clear blue sea water, and fresh air are the places that many tourists choose to rest and swim. Cat Co Beach 2 is more peaceful and a little mysterious. Cat Co 3 beach has modern colors, and many waves, and is quite deep and suitable for good swimmers.
4.3 Monkey Island
Admire the poetic natural beauty at Cat Ba Monkey Island
Monkey Island Beach, also known as Cat Dua Beach, is a small island located 2km from Cat Ba town, a beautiful beach attractive to tourists. In the past, Monkey Island was called Cat Dua Island because there were many wild pineapple trees on the island, which people often took back as medicine.
Currently, this place is called Monkey Island because there are up to 20 monkeys on the island, they are quite natural to tourists, so this is also an attractive tourist attraction to Cat Ba tourism. Here visitors can walk with the lovely monkeys or drink beer with them, You will feel like you are immersed in nature, enjoy the fresh air, and have fun with the monkeys to make the trip more enjoyable.
The monkeys here are quite natural to tourists
Coming to Monkey Island, in addition to swimming, visitors can also experience climbing activities to see the panoramic view of Lan Ha Bay with hundreds of large and small islands growing on the clear blue sea surface dotted with fine white sand beaches in the distance far from the eye. Indeed, Monkey Island has become a bright spot for Cat Ba Hai Phong tourism with what nature offers, bungalow houses, and tourist services that will bring you a vacation as expected.
4.4 Cai Beo Fishing Village
The houses being erected on the water
Coming to Cai Beo fishing village, visitors will witness the houses being erected on the water. Seeing aquatic creatures live with your own eyes. Let’s live and listen and share the stories of local people. Cai Beo fishing village is known as the oldest fishing village in Vietnam with a history of 7000 years, Cai Beo fishing village is also known by the old name of Cai Beo Fishing Village. In this village, there are currently about 300 households living.
If you are someone who likes to immerse yourself in local life, learn about their habits, lifestyles, and thoughts. Then this place will be a great experience for you.
4.5 Cat Ba National Park
This has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve
If you have come to Cat Ba Island, you should not ignore the Cat Ba National Park – considered the green lung of the whole city. Cat Ba National Park has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve. With an area of more than 15000ha, including 2 land and island ecosystems and diverse plant systems. You can reach the National Park by sea or land. The path is very beautiful and romantic. Majestic scenery, fresh air. The flora and fauna system is extremely rich.
5. What to eat in Cat Ba?
Cat Ba, a beautiful island in Hai Phong, welcomes you with a green beach, a national park, and enough fresh seafood. When arriving in Cat Ba, do not miss the following special specialties:
Tu Hai: rare seafood like elephant proboscis snails, sweet, tough, and nutritious meat. It can be porridge, grilled, or made salad, but the best dish is still the “crispy steamed comedie” combined with delicious spices.
Sea Sam: round, green seafood with many sharp thorns. Enjoying “grilled sea spruce” along with galangal, lemongrass, chili peppers and herbs such as onions, and palm leaves will make you fall in love with this delicacy.
Sam sea buckthorn is a delicious dish, meticulously prepared
Be Be: small crustaceans resemble shrimp, the flesh is firm and sweet. Be Be of steamed beer with lemongrass or grilled is a delicious and irresistible dish.
Cat Ba National Park Honey: Precious honey harvested from rare flowers in Cat Ba National Park. Honey has a clear yellow color, delicate sweetness, and light aroma. In addition to its health-promoting effect, Cat Ba National Park Honey also helps fight aging and beautify the skin.
Coconut patties: a pastry made from rice flour, fresh coconut, and sugar. The cake has a small round shape, a sweet taste, and a coconut aroma. Coconut patties are a popular snack in Cat Ba, enough to satisfy all diners.
Coconut patties are a popular snack in Cat Ba
Hai Phong is blessed with many attractive sceneries, Cat Ba Hai Phong tourism always attracts all tourists. Hopefully, the experiences of traveling to Cat Ba Hai Phong provided by Karst Plateau above will help you make a suitable itinerary and have a memorable vacation with family and friends.
