Hello there, Cécile here ! What to do in Cat ba Island ? During my one week journey in North Vietnam, Cat Ba Island has been a great gateway to avoid the crowd of Halong Bay.
From Cat Ba Island several boat trips are available to explore Halong Bay. Day trip or one-night boat cruise, what do you prefere ?
where is cat ba island ?
Cat Ba Island is located 150 km east of Hanoi and 160 km north of Ninh Binh. Not as famous as Halong Bay, you’ll be happy to find quiet beaches & boat trips to see the beautiful Halong Bay.
How to get to cat ba island ?
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From Hanoi : The easiest way is to book a direct bus to Cat Ba with an agency or your hotel. On your way to Cat Ba you will stop in Hai Phong to take a ferry as there is no bridge to connect the mainland and the island. Once you arrive on the island it’ll take around 45 mins to get to the main area where you will find the hotels, restaurants and activities. Make sure that the agency bring you to Cat ba city and don’t leave you at the pier.
The journey takes about 4 hours. Prices range between USD 10-15. -
From Ninh Binh : Same story from Ninh Binh, to save time we wanted to avoid going back to Hanoi. Our hotel arranged the transportation for us.
They booked a taxi to take us to the bus stop in Ninh Binh. Then we drove to Hai phong and took the ferry.
Where to stay on the island ?
We booked a hotel via booking.com app. I really recommend downloading it before traveling as you can find hotels everywhere and book anytime. Hostel World is an alternative as well.
When we arrived at the hotel (Cat Ba Central Hotel), the owner guides us toward the hotel next door (Gieng Ngoc Hotel) which was not the one we booked. It was a really strange feeling, big and empty, old style. The receptionist was not especially friendly and didn’t want to give our passports back if we were not paying the full amount for our stay. I have to admit that we did not feel comfortable staying in this Hotel.
Booking customer service was adorable and answered us within 10 min to solve the issue. We could leave the hotel and make sure they will not use my credit card details.
We walked few meters to check other hotels and found a perfect place, USD 11 per night with sea view, private room & bathroom, lovely owner and great location. The name of the Hotel was Cat Ba Dream Hotel. We made a direct booking but you can find it on Booking.com as well. So comfortable that we stayed for 3 nights. The receptionist will provide you a map of the island along with an explanation of the surroundings.
The following day we booked a boat tour with LTravel, a comprehensive and friendly person, you can ask for Luc. They arranged our boat tour and bus back to Hanoi.
What to do in cat ba ?
1 - Boat tour : Cat Ba, Lanha Bay, Halong Bay, Monkey Island, Kayaking
Real monkeys on the island, so take care of your personal belongings as they like to steal them, they can be aggressive as per our experience. A panoramic view is accessible through the jungle, better to be equipped. Mosquitoes, sandflies are au Rendez-Vous. Shoes will be necessary to climb as the ground is sharp & slippery. The view worth the bites 
Kayaking for 1 hour in the middle of Halong Bay
Super Yummy Lunch
Boat tour = VND 300K per person, including lunch. (bring your own drinks or buy them on the boat directly for a reasonable price VND 10K for a bottle of water)
2 - Relax on the beach in cat ba island
There are 2 beaches on Cat Ba Island.
Our favorite is Bai Tam Cat Co 2, the one in the picture. Clean water, white sand & restaurant on the beach.
Bai Tam Cat Co 2: Near a resort has a different vibe. You will pass the beach when going to Bai Tam Cat Co 2.
3 - cat ba national park
Cat Ba national park is a World Heritage site in the middle of the island. The guide is non-mandatory, however will teach you a lot about biodiversity. You can arrange the visit in Cat Ba city or directly at the entrance of the National Park.
The hike is about 9 km, bring proper hiking shoes & enough water. Note that during the rainy season the path is very slippering.
4 - A night tour in Halong Bay from cat ba
Cat Ba island doesn’t have many tourists compared to Halong Bay. It is a great place to book a night tour in Halong Bay. Prices are lower and you will avoid crowded boats.
5 - Evening Massages in cat ba
After a long walk and a sporty day, massages are always welcomed. There plenty of places, check the last comments online to avoid unprofessional massages places. Some are not trained properly and could give you bad back pain.
6 - Fresh seafood restaurants & western food available
Tips 1 – Same story, better to withdraw enough cash before coming.
Tips 2 – From Cat Ba Island the boat tours, Hotels, and activities are cheaper ; the place is not as crowded as Halong bay. Fewer tourists.
Tips 3 – Check different hotels at your arrival and enjoy a special offer (avoid this in peak season).
Tips 4 – 3 days were enough in our opinion to enjoy the activities.
Enjoy,
Xxx
