Cat Ba - the pearl islands of Gulf of Tonkin

Situated 60km to Hai Phong city, Cat Ba is the largest of the 367 islands that comprise the Cat Ba Archipelago. Cat Ba island itself is famous for harmony combination of mountains, forests, sea and deserted beaches. The climate here is cool for all year so that visitors can come here anytime.

The most favorite activity in Cat Ba island is swimming. There are 3 beaches with the biggest one called Cat Co 1 whose three surfaces surrounded by mountains. Cat Co 2 and Cat Co 3 are smaller but quite peaceful. To get one of these three beaches, tourists can go on foot, take a motorbike taxi or an electricity car. Floating restaurants are available for those who want to try seafood on the water surface. Cat Ba night market is crowded. Here you can find various souvenir shop as well as Cat Hai fish sauce, a specialty of Cat Ba Island. Night is best time for experiencing catching fish and squid.

From Nui Ngoc road, it is 4km sloping street to go to get Than Cong fortress locating in 177 meter hill, where you can see the panorama of Cat Ba from above. At the heart of Cat Ba island lies a visually stunning and ecologically diverse national park.  This biosphere reserve area was built in order to protect the multiple terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems as well the diverse plant and animal life that is found on the island. Ticket fee is 15.000VND per person allowing to tourists explore more than 700 species of flora inside the national park as well as indulge themselves with nature.

Let’s make your day by kayaking around Lan Ha bay. It’s the most amazing way to approach limestone island and water cave inside rock mountains. Cai Beo fishing village has thousand year history is the oldest one in Viet Nam. After playing at the beach, let’s go hiking. Dau Be island (2 driving hour from Cat Ba tourist boat pier), cliffs in Beo pier (2km from Cat Ba city center) or Ba Trai Dao island (22km to the South of  Cat Ba tourist boat pier) is ideal places for tourists who is fond of climbing mountain. Monkey Island Resort in Monkey island also provides this adventurous service…

Diving tour to see coral reefs is available in Monkey island. Viet Hai village surrounded by high mountains and jungles can be reached by 45 minutes by boat or 6 kilometers through forest by land.

Stunning seafood dishes like mantis shrimp, cuttlefish, squid, crab, oyster, geoduck are available and extremely fresh. Tourists be served at restaurants or buying fresh seafood from market then ask hotel’s chefs to do process it.

Ha Tinh