Cat Ba archipelago (Hai Phong) consists of 367 small islands, of which Cat Ba Island (also known as Ngoc Island) is the most famous tourist island. Although known for a long time, Cat Ba still retains many beautiful natural beauty thanks to its isolation.
Where is Cat Ba Island?
Cat Ba Island in Cat Hai District is about 9km from Hai Phong city center. This is a prominent tourist destination in the North with a large number of tourists flocking here on holidays or summer.
What time should I go to Cat Ba?
Visitors can travel to Cat Ba any season, any time of the year because it has a cool and fresh climate all year round. However, summer is always a paradise season for Cat Ba because visitors can freely struggle in the fresh water and feel a cool green nature dispelling the heat.
A note for you is that if you come to Cat Ba in the summer, you should avoid the weekend. At this time, the number of people is not only crowded, but the room rate is also very high.
The majestic natural landscape of Cat Ba (Photo: ST)
Experience moving to Cat Ba island
- From Hanoi: Take a bus from Gia Lam, Yen Nghia, Ha Dong bus station to get to the bus station of Hai Phong city (average price is about 100,000 VND / person). The second way is to depart from Hanoi in the direction of Ha Long to take the Tuan Chau ferry (however it will take longer)
- From here, tourists have two options: hydrofoil straight to Cat Ba for VND 220,000 in 45 minutes, or by road through 2 ferries at the cost of 11,000 VND and 6,000 VND per person respectively.
- Motorbike ride from Hanoi to Hai Phong with a distance of 140km then continue to take two ferries as usual.
Taking the ferry to Cat Ba Island is also an interesting experience (Photo: ST)
Tourist places in Cat Ba
1. Lan Ha Bay
Lan Ha Bay is located close to Ha Long Bay, east of Cat Ba Island, with an arc shape with more than 400 large and small islands covered with green leaves. Not many people know, so this is also a plus point because Lan Ha Bay is quite quiet compared to many other famous tourist destinations.
2. Monkey Island
The reason that Monkey Island is so called is because there are fun monkeys here and is extremely suitable for groups with children. In addition, if you are someone who likes to mingle with the sea, you want to try the feeling of firsthand life under the sea, you can also join a diving tour at a center right on the island for about 1 million. VND / 30 minutes with coaching instructions.
Monkey Island with an experience that surprises you (Image: ST)
On Monkey Island, there is also Cat Dua beach which is the most beautiful satellite beach of Cat Ba island, the absolute clear sea water makes you very surprised and excited. In front of the beach are undulating mountains creating a very unique bay scene.
3. Cat Ba National Park
Cat Ba National Park is recognized as a world biosphere reserve with rich and pristine flora and fauna as a tourist attraction that cannot be ignored when traveling to Cat Ba Island. With the price of about 15,000 VND / person, visitors can choose from ecotourism routes, admire the botanical landscape inside the national forest or visit some famous caves such as Trung Trang cave, Doi cave, ….
Cat Ba National Park with rich ecosystems (Photo: ST)
The feeling of walking in the forest, cycling through the forest road, immersing in nature to suddenly meet rare animals such as red baboons, etc will really be unforgettable and impressive feelings for visitors. . Moreover, you also have the opportunity to taste natural products here such as wild honey, rose tea …
4. Cat Co Beach
In Cat Ba, there are 3 beaches, Cat Co 1, 2 and 3, with clear water and located near the town center, so these 3 beaches gather a lot of tourists. In particular, Cat Co 1 beach is larger, with three sides almost surrounded by rocky mountains. Cat Co 2 and 3 beaches are smaller but quite peaceful, suitable for those who want to find a place with less people and more wild .. The beaches are connected by a small road along the mountain.
Cat Co Beach with clear blue water (Photo: ST)
From the town center, tourists can walk or rent a motorbike taxi or tram to one of the three beaches. A small note is that you should come ashore before 18:30 because the tidal water is high and the waves are very strong.
5. Cannon fortress
Cannon fortress is located at an altitude of 177 meters, this is a historical relic built by the Vietnamese army in the 40s of the 20th century, and still holds two large cannons, each weighing up. tens of tons. Besides visiting the fortress, visitors can also observe many familiar locations of Cat Ba island from above such as Lan Ha Bay, Guoc Island, …
The Cannon Fort at Cat Ba (Photo: ST)
The sweeping view from the Cannon Fort can make you marvel at the beauty of nature that the nature has bestowed on our country.
6. Cai Beo Fishing Village
Not as exciting as a pier to Lan Ha Bay, but Ben Beo fishing village has a variety of ships, boats and boats ready to take guests to explore the serene beauty of the oldest fishing village in Vietnam.
The largest ancient village in Vietnam (Photo: ST)
If traveling in a group, guests often rent a boat or a large boat to learn about the life of coastal residents, as well as admire the peaceful beauty like the water painting of the river. According to the sound of the paddle splashing, visitors will both hear interesting and close sharing about the fishing village through the boatman’s story. You can also stop by the households here to admire the familiar to fancy seafood species. This place is really an ideal “hide” place to get away from the chaos and worries of everyday life.
Discover Cat Ba cuisine
1. Salt roast surface
The surface (crayfish) in Cat Ba has quite a lot. The features of the superficials here are big, fluffy and shiny, so the food from the surface is always attractive. To get this unique dish, the processor must choose the surface carefully and especially it must be alive, so that when the meat is finished, the meat is intact, not crushed, broken and creates a unique aroma. The processing is really elaborate and meticulous to bring the best taste experience to visitors.
Salt roasting surface (Photo: ST)
2. Comedy
Tu Hai is a bivalve mollusk that lives in saltwater environments. This rare seafood has high nutritional value and special taste. This dish is not as popular as: clams, oysters, snails … but if anyone has once enjoyed it, it is hard to forget its unique taste and will want to enjoy it more times.
Grilled pork belly with an unforgettable taste (Photo: ST)
3. Sam baked eggs
Sam has a rich sea flavor that is probably the most popular seafood dish in Cat Ba. They are skillfully processed in many ways to create a rich flavor. The main ingredients for making baked eggs are blood soup, salad, and eggs. No one can resist the deliciousness of this dish no matter how it is prepared: sweet and sour sampled pork belly, stir-fried sam with lemongrass and chilli, fried sam or fried with betel leaves, steamed sam, fried powder, cartilage. Grilled sam, stir-fried sam with vermicelli …
Grilled egg sam is strange and attractive (Photo: ST)
4. Green crab
Blue crab appears quite popular in the seas of Vietnam and is also a specialty dish in Cat Ba. Currently, due to the popularity and great demand of this dish, green crabs in Cat Ba, apart from being caught, are also grown in brackish lagoons as well as polyculture with other types of seafood. cages in Cat Ba or Ha Long areas. Visitors to Cat Ba enjoying seafood dishes here cannot miss this dish because of its nutrition and characteristic sea taste.
Blue crab, seafood specialties (Photo: ST)
Hotels and resorts in Cat Ba
1. Cat Ba Sunrise Resort
From Cat Ba Sunrise Resort, visitors only take a few steps to reach the beautiful coast, visit Cat Ba National Park and from here, visitors can also go to Vinh Ha Long one of the World heritage of our country.
Dreamy scene (Photo: ST)
In addition to being equipped with modern and comfortable furnishings, it also has a spa to take care of the beauty and relax the body and a bar for you to fully enjoy your stay.
2. Cat Ba Sandy Beach Resort
Cat Ba Sand Beach Resort attracts visitors by its romantic, quiet and very private space. With a view of Lan Ha Bay, from the hotel balcony, panoramic view is a cool blue ocean with majestic limestone mountains.
The hotel is right near the beautiful beach (Photo: ST)
Coming here, visitors will be immersed in the cool blue water of the sea and let their souls go for endless walks on smooth white sand. This is truly paradise for you to fully enjoy life and the beauty of creation.
3. Sea Pearl Cat Ba Hotel
Sea Pearl Hotel Cat Ba
(34 reviews)219 Street 1/4, Cat Ba, Cat Hai District, Hai PhongPrice from 855,000 VND / night
Sea Pearl Hotel is located in the middle of the main route of Cat Ba tourist area, next to the romantic banks of Cat Ba Bay. The 14-storey hotel includes restaurant, spa and music bar, pool bar.
View overlooking the peaceful and romantic sea (Photo: ST)
A total of 85 luxury rooms are elaborately designed to bring a feeling of relaxation and comfort like a second home for visitors. The entire front of the hotel overlooks Cat Ba Bay, behind the hotel is a room system with a far-sighted view of the entire tourist area. This is also a suitable place for tourists because of the affordable price, top service and the romantic and peaceful sea view.
A small note is that on the weekends, families, agencies, schools are very crowded, so to ensure a full vacation without any problems, it is better to book in advance. room early to avoid room fire.