9 Things to Do in Cat Ba Island You Can’t Miss
Best Things To Do In Cat Ba
Cat Ba Island might just be the most underrated stop in northern Vietnam.
Is it worth going? How many days do you need? And can you justify it alongside Ha Long Bay, or does it work better as a standalone trip? These are the exact questions I had before I went. I’ll answer all of them.
Here’s what I’ll say upfront. This place surprised me.
Standing at the viewpoint in the middle of Cat Ba National Park, I looked out and saw nothing but limestone. Peak after peak, dissolving into haze. No crowds. No noise. Just this deeply strange, almost surreal landscape that felt like it belonged on another planet. That moment alone made the whole trip worth it.
I’ve since done the Lan Ha Bay tour, wandered through the floating village, and spent proper time in the national park. There’s more to do here than most people realise, and most people don’t realise it because they rush through on a two-day Ha Long Bay cruise and never stop long enough to actually look around.
Cat Ba is roughly four hours from Hanoi. It can be done on its own, combined with Ha Long Bay, or used as a quieter, cheaper base for exploring the whole bay area.
Whether you’re travelling solo, with a partner, or just figuring out your itinerary on the fly, this post gives you everything you need to decide if Cat Ba deserves a spot on your trip. It does.
But I’ll let you reach that conclusion yourself.
Join my Vietnam Facebook group for tips, guides and inspiration!
Disclosure: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means that if you make a booking through them, I may earn a commission. See my Privacy Policy.
Visit The Fishing Village
Cao Beo Fishing Village is an extraordinary place to see in real life.
The images do not do it justice, but they help. When I did a tour that included Monkey Island and Lan Ha Bay, we passed through the village and saw people working in the fisheries. It felt surreal, but also awesome.
You can get up close to the pier where the ferries leave, but you need to get out on a boat to appreciate it properly.
To be honest, we did not get off the boat.
We just passed through, but that alone showed me how big the village is and how important it is to the locals who run businesses here.
Explore Monkey Island
Monkey Island was part of the tour, and it was extraordinary.
There was a small abandoned room where people left their bags, but the monkeys would come and try to take your stuff.
When this happened, a group surrounded the monkeys and tried to scare them away, which took ages, so I do not recommend leaving your bags far back near the trees.
You can trek to the top of the island, which looks dangerous. I did not do it because I wanted to swim in the sea, which was sensational.
Others who did the trek said it was a little challenging but had amazing views.
The beach is a little over 200 metres long. The sand was soft and golden, and the water was warm. You are surrounded by limestone cliffs, which makes it feel special.
Visit The Beaches
The beaches are great in Cat Ba.
Specifically, I loved Monkey Island Beach, Cat Co 1 Beach and Cat Co 3 Beach. My biggest tip is to take the rock trail from Cat Co 1 Beach to Cat Co 3 Beach. If you do it at sunset, it is even better.
At Cat Co 1, there was a fair bit of plastic, but that did not stop me. I chatted with a small group of Vietnamese kids, probably around 16. They were extremely friendly, covered in tattoos, and vaping and smoking, which was interesting to see.
When I visited, people were being zipped around the sea in banana boats with six or seven people, which looked like loads of fun.
I stopped at CocoBar for a drink.
A blue float was nice, and the atmosphere was popping. The beach was way busier than the first, with hundreds of people packed onto the sand, and it was much cleaner; maybe that is why.
I noted Hôtel Perle d’Orient Cat Ba – MGallery overlooking the beach, and I would stay here again if I return.
Explore Bến Tàu Cát Bà Under Construction
When I visited Cat Ba, part of it felt like the biggest construction site I have ever seen.
It did take away from the view, but I am excited to see what it will look like when it is complete.
In the image below, the red rectangle was pretty much a construction site when I visited in July 2025, and I was told it should be finished in a couple of years.
Walking around parts of the promenade, you would not realise it is a site because some sections are already well done.
One evening, I walked out to the beach and the water was low, but there were a few people around and it felt calm and relaxed.
You can grab snacks and drinks, watch live performances, and I loved the water fountain in the centre.
Take A Bay Tour
One thing I need to say is that taking a boat tour.
I recommend this Cat Ba tour because it covers amazing, hidden-away beaches that are hard to reach, Monkey Island, Cai Beo Fishing Village, and an amazing lunch, plus a boat with shade and a great tour guide. As well as a cooking class and sunset, it’s well worth it!
We got loads of time to float around in the bay on the boat and in the water.
As said before, just watch out for the monkeys on Monkey Island, should your tour go there!
Explore Cat Ba National Park
Cat Ba National Park was way better than I expected.
I visited Hospital Cave, where Vietnamese soldiers took shelter from American planes during the war. I particularly loved booking a private driver to take me around for the day.
I trekked up to Đỉnh Ngự Lâm, and while it took me a while and I needed multiple breaks, the views at the top almost made me cry. I flew the drone here, and even though it was windy, I got some stunning photos and videos.
Chill out at the top with snacks and a drink, and enjoy every second.
Find Some Old War Tunnels
When my driver for the day brought me to Cat Ba National Park, we circled around the whole island.
The most interesting part was the old tunnels that were closed off right beside the road.
It was fascinating to realise how, even driving past, you could miss them, never mind the planes in the sky trying to spot them.
I visited the Cu Chi Tunnels close to Ho Chi Minh City, and it brought me back to that experience.
It will not take you much time if you are riding a motorbike or driving around. You can easily stop somewhere to explore the historic tunnels.
Explore Cat Ba Caves
Hospital Cave and Trung Trang Cave were frightening, but in a good way.
My first stop at Hospital Cave showed me how big and unique the old soldier hideout inside was.
It cost me 50,000 Vietnamese dong to enter. There were mannequins dressed as soldiers, and it was much smaller than I expected.
A full hospital inside a cave in a limestone mountain. Incredible. Meeting rooms, radios, and beds.
I walked through one side of the cave, out the exit at the back, then around the road to the entrance again, where my driver was waiting.
There is a little shop there where my driver and I had an ice cream and played the guitar for a few minutes. Fantastic experience. Do not throw away your ticket for Cat Ba National Park, as you can use it to enter the cave.
I entered through Trung Trang Cave, and it frightened me because of how big, long, and narrow it was.
It took about seven minutes to go through the whole cave.
Try Something Sweet At The Healing Kitchen
I had an amazing apple crumble cheesecake at The Healing Kitchen.
There was always a good crowd in here when I visited. I loved the bar too. I recommend the roast chicken with veg and potatoes for dinner at least once.
Check out the toilet too, which has glow-in-the-dark stickers on the walls.
I chatted with two guys who ran the bar, one from South Africa and one local.
Go here for some good food!
Where Is Cat Ba Island
Cat Ba Island is around 160 kilometres from Hanoi and about 36 kilometres from Haiphong.
Getting across the sea, you have two options: bus and ferry, or bus and cable car. I must admit, the cable car looks incredibly fun if you like heights.
I took the ferry across, which included life jackets, and it was fine.
Read My 5 Day Itinerary For Vietnam For A Short Stay
What To Know Before You Go To Cat Ba Island
The Lan Ha Bay tour is similar to Ha Long Bay. I know because I have done both.
Would I recommend doing both? Absolutely. Gliding along the water past those limestone cliffs is worth doing more than once, whether in Cat Ba or Ha Long Bay.
If you go on a tour as I did (I recommend this one), you will also get to see monkeys on Monkey Island, experience the floating village, and swim at insanely picturesque beaches.
Cat Ba also has an amazing national park worth exploring. I hiked around, reached an incredible viewpoint, visited some fascinating historical caves from the war, and saw the tunnels that Vietnamese soldiers used during the war.
There are so many unique things to do in Cat Ba. I recommend you spend some time here.
Explore Vietnam’s Best Bits In 7 Days With My Itinerary
Where To Stay On Cat Ba Island
There are loads of places to stay when visiting Cat Ba Island.
When I visited, I stayed at Phuong Mai Family Hotel.
The location was great as it was directly opposite Lan Ha Bay. They were building a new shopping and eating area while I was there, so the view of the bay was basically a construction site.
It should look much more impressive once it is finished.
The room was not the best, but it did the job for a couple of days.
I would have loved to stay closer to Bãi tắm Cát Cò 2 or Cat Co 1 Beach, where I was impressed by the Flamingo Cát Bà Resort and The May Legend CatBa Beach Resort & Spa. Epic views and right on the beach with private pools.
Other hotels to consider include Lynh’s Villa, Lan Homestay and Cat Ba Holiday Retreat. All are 4-star options with great value, located throughout Cat Ba Island.
Check out the map below to look more accurately and geographically:
Read My 10 Day Vietnam Itinerary To Plan Your Trip
Don’t go abroad without comprehensive travel insurance. I have used and trust Safety Wing.
Conclusion
There are some unique things to do in Cat Ba that make it worth a visit from Hanoi, or even staying a week, in my view.
The floating village, Monkey Island, and Cat Ba National Park were my favourites, with beautiful beaches and limestone cliffs popping out of the water that rival Ha Long Bay a little further north.
If I could go again, I would have stayed a few days longer, explored more of the national park, and spent more time at the beaches.
If you enjoyed this, please check out my guide to a 2-week Vietnam itinerary.
Any questions? Just drop me a message.
Thanks for reading,
James
FAQs
Is There Much To Do On Cat Ba Island?
Yes, there are loads of things to do on Cat Ba Island. Visit Monkey Island, see the floating village, explore Cat Ba National Park, swim at the beautiful beaches, and do a bay tour. Not to mention caves, amazing nature, and plenty of nightlife.
How Long Should You Spend In Cat Ba?
I recommend staying on Cat Ba Island for 4 to 5 days. This will allow you to spend time on the beach, visit Ha Lan Bay and the floating village, visit the national park and caves, and explore the waterfront area without rushing too much. When I visited, I stayed 2 days and should have doubled that time at least. That said, I feel I still saw a lot.
Is Cat Ba Too Touristy?
Cat Ba is a touristy island, but it does not compare to Ha Ling Bay. You can tour the islands, national park, and beaches where a lot of hotels are found close by, but you can still find lots of nature and escape the crowds, depending on when and where you go.
- 9 Things to Do in Cat Ba Island You Can’t Miss
- Bai Dinh Pagoda Travel Guide: Tickets, Tips, and Honest Review
- Hang Múa Cave And Viewpoint: Is It Worth 500 Steps?
- Bich Dong Pagoda – All You Need To Know
- Hoa Lu Ancient Capital: Vietnam’s Best-Kept Secret
