Cat Ba Island Tours

Cat Ba Travel Guide Information

Cat Ba Island is the largest of the 367 islands spanning 260 km2 (100 sq mi) that comprise the Cat Ba Archipelago, which makes up the southeastern edge of Lan Ha Bay in Northern Vietnam. Cat Ba island has a surface area of 285 km2 (110 sq mi) and maintains the dramatic and rugged features of Ha Long Bay

Top Things To Do In Cat Ba Island

1. Go Swimming At Cat Co Beaches

There are three beaches on Cat Ba Island which are named Cat Co 1, 2 and 3, located pretty near the central town. The beaches are blessed with golden sandy shores and turquoise colored sea water and filled with tourist services from electric cars, food and drink to beachside activities. Water games are available at Cat Co 1 and 2.

On summer holidays, the beaches can get pretty crowded so if you want to have the beaches all to yourself, come early in the morning.

Cat Co 1 and 2 are also the beaches where you can witness a magical natural phenomenon: bioluminescent plankton. About an hour after twilight, the beach of Cat Co 2 begins to sparkle with the blue tiny dots from the marine organisms lighting up as a mechanism of defense against predators.

2. Watch Sunset At Conon Fort

The Cannon Fort on Cat Ba Island has long been the famous spot to enjoy the sunset with view directly to the surrounding islands and Lan Ha Bay. Also known as High Point 177 or Divine fortress, a historical site where you can find tunnel system, cannons, and trench fortifications built about 40 years ago.

Especially when the day fades away, the sun glowing like a coal equivocal after the mountain, visitors will enjoy the sediment, romantic sunset on the sea.

3. Trek Cat Ba National Park

Do you love the natural landscapes, wild life & the mountain conqueration? If yes, Cat Ba national park will be a great choice for your adventure.For a soft & easy trek, you can take part in a 2 hour trek to visit Kim Giao forest & conquer Ngu Lam peak, moderate with some rock climbing, then you can have an impressive captivation of Cat Ba national park & its Lan Ha bay. For a hard & adventurous trek, you can join in a long trek of 12km across the jungle to reach Viet Hai fishing village, then conquer Hai Quan summit, where you can have an outstanding capture of Lan Ha & Halong bay.This trekking route has no people living and you have to go with an experienced tour guide who will leads you go through a frog lake.

4. Kayaking in Lan Ha bay

Lan Ha Bay is even a better place to enjoy kayaking than Ha Long. The winds in Lan Ha Bay is calmer than in Ha Long Bay therefore the waves are just ideal to glide atop. Our best recommended activities for you are kayaking and diving or snorkeling.

For kayaking, there are two options for you: you can rent a kayak or book half-day or one-day tours of kayaking and diving. Water caves in Lan Ha are the hidden spots for you to explore on a kayak.

For snorkeling, it’s often a part of tours to fishing villages. When you dive under the water of Lan Ha Bay, you’ll see the colorful coral reefs and a world of aquatic lives. Diving cost is much expensive than with average cost ranging from 1 million to 1.5 million per person.

5. Visit Rustic Cat Ba Fishing Villages

- Viet Hai Village

Viet Hai Village is the top fishing village to visit in Cat Ba. The village is located about 18 kilometers from Cat Ba town, stretching beautifully along the coastline. One choice to visit the village is trekking the trail from Cat Ba National Park, passing Frog Lake.

Come to Viet Hai, visitors can enjoy the idyllic natural scenery, tranquil atmosphere and the simple, peaceful way of life of local people. You can also the friendliness of the villagers who are mostly farmers. Viet Hai is that place to be if you want to stay away from the busy world out there.

- Cai Beo Floating Village

Located at Hung Thang Commune, Cai Beo isn’t only the oldest fishing village in Vietnam but also an archaeological site in the coastal area and the northeast island of Vietnam. It’s definitely a must-see spot to see around Cat Ba.

The village is home to more than 300 households and more than 600 people, highlighted on the backdrop of the marvelous sight of Lan Ha Bay. Floating houses are linked together into a group with cages raising fishes under the surface of water. Seafood like fish, shrimp, geo-duck …here are cheaper, and fresher even.

6. Enjoy Cat Ba Island's Sea Food

Like every island in Vietnam, Cat Ba offers highest quality and quantity of seafood. If you’re looking for a gourmet BBQ party in Vietnam, Cat Ba is an excellent option. The restaurants here have great views of the bay, a diverse menu consisting of seafood goodies such as lobsters, shrimps, squids, fishes, abalone, and the list goes on.

One thing to take into consideration: the prices for seafood here are not cheap because Cat Ba town is heavily touristic but it comes with quality.

Best Time To Visit Cat Ba Island

The best time to visit Cat Ba Island all depends on your personal preferences. If you enjoy the heat of tropical summers, June to August is probably the best time to go. During these months, Cat Ba is constant with  the sunny skies, less rain and high temperature which are suitable for all beachside activities, trekking in Cat Ba National Park. If you enjoy milder weather, October till March is a better time to go. Be mindful of the fact that even though Cat Ba has four seasons, there’s still a rainy and dry season.

Rainy season is from May to September and the dry season is from November to March. Every season has up- and downsides to it but the consensus is that the best months to visit are February, March, October and November.

Cat Ba Island Exploration With Golden Holiday Travel

Besides above pre-designed trips to Cat Ba island,Golden Holiday Travel also customize Cat Ba island tours to meet your travel demands & interest. Please,feel free to drop us an email to bluewaytourist@gmail.com or viber us at +84.988 45 15 30 (SMS, viber, whatsapp) with your detailed travel request : your places of interest to visit, the activities you would like to take part, the hotel standards of your preferences or the type of Cat Ba cruises in our customized tour form, our travel experts will soon reply you back with useful consultancy & travel support for your enjoyable trips in Cat Ba island.