Located about 145 km east of Hanoi, Cat Ba Island is a must-see destination in Northern Vietnam and is also the second largest island in the country, just behind Phu Quoc.
With its diversity and appeal, what to do in Cat Ba when this is truly an interesting destination to explore and also an ideal gateway to explore HaLong Bay. In this article, vietnamtwowheels will introduce to you 10 activities that you can do in Cat Ba island.
1. What to do in Cat Ba
In Cat Ba Island, there are enough activities for you to explore such as: Swimming at Cat Co Beach, kayaking to explore exciting caves, visiting Cai Beo Floating Village, cycling to Viet Hai Village and many other activities.
If you want to try something more adventurous, you can hike to Cat Ba National Park to explore rare flora and fauna or go rock climbing and snorkeling. Furthermore, the seafood here is so amazing that you cannot miss the opportunity to enjoy all the specialties such as Horseshoe Crab and Vietnamese Geoduck.
If you don’t know what to do in Cat Ba but have little time and can’t do all of the above, below is a list of 10 activities that you should experience at least once when visiting this wonderful island. This.
1.1. Visit Lan Ha Bay
Lan Ha Bay, located to the east, is part of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World (MBBW) Club Association, home to clear and peaceful waters. At Cai Beo wharf, visitors can buy sightseeing tickets for 30,000 VND per person, then choose to take a boat to Lan Ha Bay.
Chartering a private boat costs from 2.2 to 3.8 million VND for a period of 2.5 to 6 hours, with a capacity of up to 25 people. Motorboats cost from 500,000 to 1 million VND depending on the capacity of 5 to 10 people.
1.2. Ancient fishing village
Cai Beo ancient fishing village, also known as Vung O, is considered the oldest fishing village in Vietnam. What to do in Cat Ba – visitors have the opportunity to directly experience the lives of people through thousands of years of history.
Stepping onto the raft house, rowing through floating rafts, shopping for seafood… are all valuable experiences that should not be missed.
1.3. What to do in Cat Ba – Visit Monkey Island
Monkey Island, formerly known as Cat Dua due to its landscape filled with pandanus plants. On this island, there are more than 20 monkeys living. When many tourists visit, they become more friendly, often going to the beach to play and ask for food.
This place has two arc-shaped beaches, including Cat Dua 1 and Cat Dua 2, which are ideal places for tourists to get away from the crowds. Both beaches provide food and beverage services, resort bungalows, and rental of bathing suits, life jackets, and kayaks.
1.4. Cat Ba National Park
Cat Ba National Park is a world biosphere reserve. Visitors can choose climbing routes lasting from 4 to 8 hours or shorter routes of about 2 hours. Walking, cycling, driving a motorbike or car for about 2 to 3 hours are also popular choices for visitors.
Here, you can experience walking through the lush green forest of Kim Giao, stand on Ngu Lam peak to see the panoramic view of the national park, visit wild animals in the evening and explore amazing caves. Entrance tickets to the national park cost 40,000 VND for adults and 20,000 VND for children.
Find out more:What to Do in Halong Bay to Have an Interesting Experience
1.5. Military medical cave
Quan Y Cave is a unique destination, about 8.5 km from the town center, on the way to the national park. As a field hospital, it was built from 1963 – 1965.
Entering the cave, many visitors are surprised to see a system of 17 rooms located on three floors; There is a treatment room, a rehabilitation training area, a movie theater… with bomb-proof doors, created during the war. Tickets to visit the cave cost 80,000 VND per person.
1.6. Cannon fortress
Also known as Cao Diem 177, this fortress has two large cannons and a trench system built in the 1940s, which still retains its integrity. What attracts many tourists here is the plateau location, from which you can see the entire bay. This is also the ideal spot to watch sunrise and sunset on the island.
Entrance ticket price is 80,000 VND per person. Tourists who want to ride an electric car will have to pay an additional 50,000 VND per person. In addition, there is a fee for using binoculars for sightseeing, which is 5,000 VND.
1.7. Swimming at the beaches
If you don’t have enough time to explore the islands outside the bay, you can enjoy relaxation at the central beaches on Cat Ba island. Among them, Cat Co beach cluster and Tung Thu beach are popular choices. These beaches have a large area, calm sea water, gentle blue color and are convenient for transportation.
1.8. Rock climbing
If you are an adventurous person and don’t know what to do in Cat Ba, try climbing. With more than 120 climbing routes spanning 13 cliffs in Cat Ba, this island has become one of the top destinations for climbing activities in Vietnam. Dau Be Island, Ben Beo Cliff and Ba Trai Dao Island are the most popular climbing locations.
At high altitude, you can admire the entire landscape of the island and challenge yourself with adventurous climbing experiences. Winter months are ideal for mountain climbing with cool temperatures (10 – 20°C) and little rain (5 – 25mm per month).
1.9. Kayaking
Unlike tours in HaLong Bay, kayaking itineraries here offer such peace that you can explore amazing nature in your own space. Don’t worry if you’re new to kayaking in Cat Ba!
Just spend a little time learning how to kayak and master a few tips, and you’ll easily be kayaking and exploring beautiful waters. The cost of kayaking is 2 USD/hour/person.
2. What to do in Cat Ba at night
If you don’t know what to do in Cat Ba at night, please refer to the following outstanding activities.
2.1. Sing karaoke on a floating barge
Interestingly, Vietnamese people love to sing karaoke. Instead of spending time in noisy karaoke bars in town, try karaoke on the barge – a new experience from Cat Ba in the evening.
This cool spot is often less crowded during peak season, so don’t hesitate if you’re not a good singer. Just grab the mic and let your soul sing karaoke into the night.
2.2. Admire bioluminescent creatures
Have you ever heard of bioluminescent organisms, also known as bioluminescent organisms? It is a magical natural phenomenon with microscopic sparkling rays of light stimulated by chemical reactions.
In Cat Ba, you will have the opportunity to enjoy the performance of brightly luminescent creatures, dancing with the water waves. The best way to see it is by taking an overnight cruise in Lan Ha Bay. Yachts can anchor near poorly lit areas, where you can clearly see the movements of creatures hidden in the night.
2.3. Watch the sunset from Cannon Fort
A last but not least interesting experience in Cat Ba is watching the sunset from Cannon Fort. This is an ideal spot to relax and enjoy a Vietnamese beer at the bar. Because the sunset view from Cannon Fort is often quite crowded with tourists in the evening, so come early for the best experience.
Vietnam Two Wheels hopes this article will be useful in planning your stay and activities to do in Cat Ba.
Happy Travels!
