Cat Ba Island Beaches: Which Are Worth Your Time (And Which Are Not)?

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Don’t Miss These Cat Ba Island Beaches

The best beaches on Cat Ba Island are scattered across two very different worlds.

Some sit right on the island itself. Others are tucked into the islands of Lan Ha Bay, reachable only by boat. Some are wide and popular. Others are so small you might be the only person on them.

If you are short on time and can only fit in one or two, I would point you straight to Cat Co 3 and Van Boi Beach.

I have spent a lot of time on this island. I have swum at most of the beaches worth swimming at. Cat Co 3 is my favourite. Cat Co 1 and 2 are similar, perfectly enjoyable, but Cat Co 3 has something the others don’t quite manage.

Van Boi Beach, though. That one is different.

I remember pulling up to it on the boat for the first time. There were people swimming across the bay, cutting through the water between the karst cliffs. Something about that image, the scale of it, the quiet, made me feel like I had made exactly the right decision coming to Cat Ba. That doesn’t happen often.

This post covers where each beach actually is, whether it is worth your time, and what to expect when you get there. No filler, just the ones that are genuinely worth seeking out.

Check out my post about the best things to do in Cat Ba, and find out where to stay on the island, too.

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Cat Co 1

Cat Co Beach 1 is a beautiful beach just a few minutes’ drive from Cat Ba Square, and it was one of my favourite beaches on the island.

the beaches close to south cat ba island are pictured

Two resorts dominate the area, and they are great places to stay on Cat Ba Island.

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It was interesting to see the bridge that connects the hotels along the coast from Cat Co 1 to Cat Co 2.

The beach is lovely, although when I swam at Cat Co 1 at the end of July, there was plenty of rubbish in the water. That did not stop hundreds of people, including me, from swimming.

I chatted with a small group of local teens who were keen to talk, and even with the cigarettes, the vibe was great overall.

Cat Co 1 is pictured as waves crash against the shore

The beach is about 80 metres long. When the tide was in, I sat on the wall right beside the sunbeds at Flamingo Cát Bà by HB Premium Apartments and took in the sun.

Take the electric buggy from the town centre to save your energy, then grab a cocktail at the Wave Bar overlooking the water for an optimal beach luxury experience on any budget.

Apart from the rubbish, it is a picture-perfect place for a beach day.

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Cat Co 2

From Cat Co 1, you can walk a few minutes to Cat Co 2.

The wooden bridge between the hotels is a great way to get across, with some cool views.

The beach here is much larger than Cat Co 1, at about 200 metres. Check out SeaView Apartment, which is the first one near the small beach, but a great place to stay.

The beach here is more impressive because it is larger and has better views out into the bay and the limestone islands.

Do not miss the Lan Hạ Panorama between the two hotels on that side. You will notice the greenery growing from the apartments behind, which gives the area a jungle feel.

This is the highlight of the area, in my view.

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Cat Co 3

When I visited Cat Co 3, I walked across the coastal rock trail, and I am glad I did.

cat co beach is pictured and is one of the best beaches on the island

The views are beautiful, and it is not that far, maybe 700 metres.

I watched the banana boats, packed with people, zip across the water as the waves rolled onto the beach. Parts are a little steep but manageable.

drink is pictured at the beach on cat ba island

Cat Co 3 was the best of the three beaches when I went. There was not much space to find somewhere to lie down, but even so, the atmosphere was great. I got a nice blue float cocktail at the Coco Bar and enjoyed every second.

At about 150 metres in length, you can swim here or take a jet ski out, or a banana boat too.

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Monkey Island Beach

At about 220 metres long, with soft golden sand, I loved this small island, even though there was a little rubbish near the abandoned office.

monkey island has golden soft sand and green trees

I did a group tour that included kayaking in Lan Ha Bay, Monkey Island, and Cai Beo Fishing Village, and this was one of the highlights.

Just be aware that the monkeys here can be a little aggressive, and some people have even had their backpacks stolen. I recommend keeping your bags close to you and not leaving them unattended, as they can creep up unnoticed.

monkey island cat ba pictured from the drone shot in the aky

You can climb to the island viewpoint, which I did not do.

I chose to stay in the warm water and enjoy the limestone cliffs and surroundings.

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Van Boi Beach

If you want a special beach, consider visiting Van Boi Beach.

You will need to take a boat there. When I visited, it was part of a group tour. I recommend booking this option if you want to see many of the key sites in Lan Ha Bay, especially if you do not have much time.

When I flew my drone, it really gave me the full picture. A small sandy patch clung to a limestone cliff, and as we got closer to the beach, I could not believe we were about to swim somewhere so exotic.

One thing I did not like about this beach was that it had to be shared with other people, and it was very small compared to the others.

However, if you are passing through on a boat tour, it is still nice to see.

If you take a private boat over, which you can book from the ladies at Cai Beo Pier, you can spend as much time as you like, avoid the crowd, and even see more of the small, isolated beaches.

These are some of Cat Ba’s most beautiful beaches, undoubtedly.

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Tung Thu Beach

A small beach on the opposite side of Cai Beo Pier, Tung Thu Beach, is usually busy.

Expect plenty of people as it sits just off the main street in the centre of Cat Ba Square. It has beautiful limestone rocks surrounding the beach like a protective barrier from the harsher weather.

You will also find places to stay nearby, like Titi Beach Pods right on the beach and lots of glass for natural light and amazing sea views.

For drinks, grab a cocktail at Say Bistro & Bar. It costs around 1,000,000 Vietnamese dong for a drink. This beach is easily accessible, especially if you are staying close to Cat Ba Square.

However, it can be noisier as it is right by the road.

Bãi Trái Tim

I could not believe my eyes when I discovered this beach while flying my drone in Lan Ha Bay.

It is a small twin beach, about 40 metres long. Getting there is hard, and it is likely only possible by private boat. If you make the effort, you will have one of the most isolated and stunning beaches you can imagine.

Most boats head north from the fishing village, but if you go south, you will find beaches like Bãi Trái Tim.

I recommend asking your boat driver to visit a few of these beaches on the same day. Yes, you will pay a premium for it, but it is worth it.

If not, take a group tour to see the most common beaches, like Monkey Island and Van Boi Beach.

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Conclusion

Cat Ba Island has some truly beautiful beaches.

Are they as long and impressive as the beaches in Da Nang and Hoi An? I do not think so. However, when you are exploring Cat Ba, spending some time at the many beautiful beaches is certainly worth it.

If you want to check out what to bring to Southeast Asia and Vietnam, here is my packing list.

Any questions? Just drop me a message.

Thanks for reading,

James

FAQs

Are There Beaches On Cat Ba Island?

Yes, the Cat Co beaches are the most famous and beautiful beaches on Cat Ba Island, in my view. They are small, so they have a good atmosphere and the sand is a beautiful golden colour. However, they can be very busy in peak months, so it can be hard to find a peaceful spot on the beach.

Can You Swim On Cat Ba Island?

Yes, I swam numerous times on Cat Ba Island at the Cat Co beaches, in Lan Ha Bay on the day trips, and also at Tung Thu Beach. There are lots of options for people who want to spend time swimming in the sea.

What Is The Prettiest Beach In Vietnam?

The prettiest beaches in Vietnam have to be some of the Cat Co beaches in Cat Ba, My Khe Beach in Da Nang, or some of the small limestone islands around Cat Ba. Sure, they are not easy to reach, but they are so worth it. Vietnam is not famous for its beaches, but there are some real gems to be found.