Cat Ba National Park: Is It Actually Worth The Trek In 2026?
Is Cat Ba National Park Worth Visiting?
Cat Ba National Park is one of those places that genuinely stopped me in my tracks.
Worth visiting? Honestly, yes. But with a caveat.
Most people treat Cat Ba as a footnote on the way to Ha Long Bay, spending a single night before jumping on a boat. I did two days there and left wishing I’d booked more. That’s not a sentence I expected to write.
The park itself is enormous. Dense jungle, proper wildlife, and limestone cliffs that shoot out of the ground like something a film director would reject for being too dramatic. It’s the kind of landscape that makes you question whether you’re still on the same planet.
I’ll admit I almost skipped it entirely. I thought Cat Ba was just a tourist town with a harbour and some overpriced seafood. To be fair, part of it is. But the national park sitting behind that town is a completely different story.
I remember climbing to the top of Ngu Lam Peak inside the park, limestone cliffs stacked in every direction as far as I could see. No city noise, no crowds, just this ridiculous view that felt closer to outer space than anything I’d experienced before. I stood there longer than I planned to.
This isn’t Ha Long Bay. It doesn’t have the polished cruise infrastructure or the Instagram saturation. Whether that’s a good or bad thing probably depends on what you’re after.
If you’re a solo traveller trying to figure out whether Cat Ba deserves its own stop, or a couple weighing it up against going straight to Ha Long, this is exactly what you need to read first. Entry costs, how long to spend there, and whether it actually lives up to what you’ve seen online.
Spoiler. It does not just in the way you’d expect.
After you finish this post, check out my guide to the best things to do in Cat Ba and where to stay in Cat Ba.
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Where Is Cat Ba National Park?
Cat Ba National Park is right in the centre of the island, and there is a huge entrance marking the start of the trail.
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Ways to Get to Cat Ba National Park
There are a few ways to get to the national park.
Private Taxi
You can do what I did and pay a driver to take you there.
I met a random guy working at a shop at Cai Beo fishing pier and arranged a day trip. We got chatting, and he said he could take me. If you send me a message, I can give you his number as a trusted driver.
You cannot use Grab. This was a major disappointment for me because I had gotten used to it in Hanoi.
Local Bus
A public bus departs every hour from Cat Ba town, close to the main waterfront square, so you will pay 80,000 to 100,000 Vietnamese dong.
Taxi And Buggy
You can book a taxi through your hotel.
This is always a safe way to travel. In Cat Ba, the electric buggies zip around the streets all day, and you can take one to the national park.
Motorbike Rental
You can rent a motorbike in Vietnam, and especially on Cat Ba, it is a great way to explore with freedom.
You will need a passport, a valid driving licence, an IDP (international driving permit), and a security deposit. Sometimes they will ask for your passport, but I do not recommend handing it over if you can avoid it.
You can pay anywhere from 210,000 to 260,000 Vietnamese dong per day for a motorbike. However, note that if you do not have the proper licence and insurance, you will not be covered.
That is the key reason I did not drive myself in Vietnam on a motorbike.
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Push Bicycle
It will take you about an hour in the heat to get to Cat Ba National Park, but the views along the way are great for those who enjoy nature. Caves, limestone cliffs, dense jungle, and friendly locals along the route. Expect to pay 100,000 to 130,000 Vietnamese dong per day for the bike.
Tour Package
To make life easier, I recommend booking this tour because it handles all the planning and makes your trip to the park easy and enjoyable, and it includes Trung Trang Cave, which, if I’m honest, was more impressive than Hospital Cave. ****
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Cat Ba National Park Entrance Fee And Opening Hours
It cost me 120,000 Vietnamese dong to enter Cat Ba National Park, and it also included entry to nearby Trung Trang Cave, which made me happy!
The park is open from 07.00 AM until 05.00 PM daily.
I recommend going first thing in the morning or late evening so the temperature is lower than when the sun is high in the sky.
The price is based on when I visited in July 2025, but I checked online, and it’s still the same! But there was a huge sign with the cost and opening hours right outside, which I snapped.
You can expect not to be able to buy tickets after 04.00 PM, and in peak season, the park is said to open 30 minutes later and close 30 minutes later.
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Cat Ba National Park Half-Day Trekking
Trekking is part of the gig when visiting Cat Ba National Park.
The park itself is vast, and you’ll see just how big it stretches when you reach Ngu Lam Peak.
When I visited, I felt a bit cramped in the forest, but once I climbed the steps to the tower, it became clear how huge the island and the park really are.
If I went again, I’d set aside time to book a guide and explore the park in more depth. The highlight was the viewpoint from the tower.
It showed me how incredible Cat Ba is, and I always tell people they should stay longer than just a couple of days.
For a trekking experience you won’t forget, book the tour below.
There are some popular trails to consider; however, if you’re like me and prefer going with an experienced guide, then consider booking a guide.
| Trail | Effort | Distance | Overview |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ngu Lam Peak Trail | ** | 3.1 km (1.9 mi) | Goes up to one of the park’s higher viewpoints, with wide, open panoramas at the top. |
| Kim Giao Forest Trail | * | 2.7 km (1.6 mi) | An easy forest wander with loads of greenery, perfect if you’re into plants. |
| Viet Hai Village Trail | ** | 5.8 km (3.7 mi) | A flatter, scenic trail that ends in a small fishing village. |
| Frog Lake Trail | *** | 9.2 km (5.6 mi) | A tougher hike over mixed terrain, with plenty of biodiversity along the route. |
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My Experience Trekking Through Cat Ba National Park
Trekking through Cat Ba National Park was a highlight of my time on the island.
But to be clear, it was really challenging for me.
Maybe because I was already tired before I went, and it was brutally hot. I had to sit in the shade of the trees a few times to take a break and drink some water.
It took me around 45 minutes in total. The last part of the trek is the hardest, where I needed to climb over large boulders, but for the most part, it was fairly smooth.
I will not lie, halfway in, I felt like I had made a massive mistake and should have prepared better, but I sucked it up and kept going.
Sitting on the lookout tower at Ngu Lam Peak and flying my drone got me the best pictures and videos from my trip in Vietnam.
There is another short trek up to the highest viewpoint from the tower. It is narrow, but well protected, with trees and plants on each side.
The views are extraordinary.
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My Top Tips For Visiting
Ensure you bring the following items on your trek to Cat Ba National Park:
- Mosquito repellent
- Water bottle
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Hat
- Long sleeves for mosquitoes
- Comfortable hiking boots
- Hiking pole, if you need one
- Snacks for energy
These items will make your trek to the top easier and help your body cope, because it is not easy. I also suggest getting coconuts and topping up on electrolytes at the shop directly opposite the entrance.
I sat here and ate two bananas and drank a cold coconut before starting my journey.
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Is Cat Ba National Park Worth Visiting?
Cat Ba National Park is a beautifully challenging trek, but well worth visiting when you are on Cat Ba Island.
I was so glad I got a driver who is knowledgeable about the area to take me around and show me the islands’ caves, parks, and hidden tunnels from the American War. If I went again, I would hike earlier in the morning to Ngu Lam Peak so it would not be so physically demanding. I would also spend more time at the top and take in the views for at least an hour.
Cat Ba National Park is often skipped by travellers in favour of Ha Long Bay, but I urge everyone to explore it for at least a couple of days.
Any questions? Just drop me a message.
Thanks for reading,
James
FAQs
How Long Is The Hike In Cat Ba National Park?
It took me about 45 minutes to hike from the Cat Ba National Park entrance to the lookout tower. I had to climb over large boulders and manoeuvre through vegetation, but the first three-quarters of the trail were easy enough, with a fairly good, comfortable path. You could take much longer if you go at a slower pace.
Is Cat Ba National Park Worth Visiting?
Yes, Cat Ba National Park is worth visiting. The lookout tower, limestone cliffs, beautiful beaches, and amazing Lan Ha Bay make it a brilliant place to explore. It is a less well-known part of Vietnam compared to Ha Long Bay, Hanoi, or Sapa. The food is decent, the nightlife is lively, and during the day, it is peaceful for the most part. Đỉnh Kim Giao is the most popular site.
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