Cat Ba town
First-timersHostels, restaurants and boat departures around the harbour.
Cat Ba island guide
Things To Do In Cat Ba
The island base for Lan Ha and Ha Long bays, with kayaking among limestone islands, cheaper boat trips than Ha Long, and a national park behind the town.
36
Hostels in the city
8.8
Average, from 6,617 reviews
1994
Ha Long Bay joins UNESCO
3–4 h
From Hanoi
Lan Ha
Quieter bay
The bays from the island
Cat Ba is the largest island in the Ha Long Bay area, and its town is the base for exploring Lan Ha Bay, which has the same limestone karsts as Ha Long Bay but fewer boats, and Ha Long Bay itself, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Much of the island is a national park, with forest trails and wartime caves.
Two or three days is right.
Where to stay
Cat Ba town, around the harbour on the island's south coast, has nearly all the hostels, restaurants and boat departures. It is busy and built up; the beaches and national park are a short ride away.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 10 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Cat Ba
Lan Ha Bay, right next to Cat Ba, has the same limestone islands as Ha Long Bay but far fewer boats. A day trip by boat, with kayaking through caves and lagoons and swimming off quiet beaches, is the main reason to come. Many trips also cross into Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994.
Cat Ba National Park covers much of the island: hike up to the Ngu Lam peak lookout for the view over forested hills, and look for the golden-headed langur, one of the world's rarest primates, which lives only here.
Hospital Cave, a three-storey hospital built inside a mountain during the American War, can be toured. Cannon Fort, on the hill above town, has old gun emplacements and views of the harbour and floating villages.
The island's beaches, Cat Co 1, 2 and 3, are a short walk from town, and Monkey Island is a boat trip away. Rock climbing on the sea cliffs of Lan Ha Bay is world-class, with guided trips for beginners.
Free things
Free things to do in Cat Ba
Walking around the harbour and to the Cat Co beaches is free, and the views of the floating fishing villages from town cost nothing.
The national park and Cannon Fort charge small entry fees, but the coastal road and the island's quieter beaches are free to explore by scooter.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Cat Ba
Seafood is the thing to eat on Cat Ba: restaurants along the harbour display tanks of fish, squid, crab and clams, and cook them to order, priced by weight. Agree the price before they cook.
Away from the harbour, small restaurants serve pho, rice dishes and fresh spring rolls cheaply.
A meal is €2 to €8.
Nightlife
Going out in Cat Ba
Cat Ba town has a handful of bars along the harbour front, some with music and pool tables, and in summer the town is busy with Vietnamese families on holiday.
On boat trips, the evening can include swimming and drinks on deck.
A beer is €1 to €2.50.
Getting around
Getting around Cat Ba
From Hanoi, combined bus-and-boat tickets reach Cat Ba town in about three to four hours, with the bus to the coast and a boat or ferry across. Some routes come via Ha Long City.
On the island, scooters are the best way to reach the national park and beaches; taxis and motorbike taxis wait at the harbour.
Boats for Lan Ha Bay and Ha Long Bay leave from the harbour, booked through hostels and agencies in town.
Costs
What Cat Ba costs
Cat Ba is cheap. Dorms start around €5 and a careful day is €18 to €30.
A day trip by boat in Lan Ha Bay, with kayaking and lunch, is the main cost, usually €20 to €40. The national park, Hospital Cave and Cannon Fort charge a couple of euros each. Scooter hire is about €5 a day.
The currency is the Vietnamese dong (VND); prices here are euro equivalents, at roughly 30,000 VND to the euro. There are ATMs in Cat Ba town; carry cash for boats and seafood.
Safety
Staying safe in Cat Ba
Cat Ba is safe. On boat trips, wear the life jacket when kayaking and check the boat has enough for everyone.
In summer the town is crowded and prices rise. Storms can cancel boat trips between July and September; check the forecast.
At seafood restaurants, agree the price by weight before they cook to avoid a surprise bill.
Emergency: 113 police, 115 ambulance, 114 fire.
Day trips from Cat Ba
Quieter bays, the famous one, and a beach island.
Lan Ha Bay
Kayaking among karsts and lagoons, with far fewer boats than Ha Long.
Ha Long Bay
The UNESCO bay, combined with Lan Ha on many trips.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Summer is the busy season with Vietnamese families.
June to August
Summer season
Cat Ba
Busy with families.
January or February
Tet
Cat Ba
The lunar new year.
Hostels
Where to stay in Cat Ba
The top-rated places to stay in Cat Ba right now, live from Hostelworld.
Cat Ba Green Hostel
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Sustainable
Family Home Catba
Dorms from €6 a night
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Catba Buffalo Hostel
Dorms from €6 a night
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The Oversleep Cat Ba Hostel & Pool Bar
Dorms from €4 a night
See dates and book
Secret Garden – Wandernest Cat Ba
Dorms from €4 a night
See dates and book
Sustainable
The One Hostel & Rooftop Bar Catba
Dorms from €4 a night
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Catba Island Hotel
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Sustainable
Napoli Hostel
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Woodstock Beach Camp
Dorms from €311,667 a night
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Luna's House Hostel
Dorms from €3 a night
See dates and book
When to go
April to June and September to November.
Jan
Cool, drizzle
Feb
Tet
Mar
Spring
Apr
Excellent
May
Hot
Jun
Hot, wet
Jul
Wet
Aug
Wet
Sep
Clearing
Oct
Excellent
Nov
Excellent
Dec
Cool
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are in dong locally; these are euro equivalents. Excludes boat trips.
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Cat Ba travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is Cat Ba better than Ha Long?
For independent travellers, often yes: Lan Ha Bay, next to Cat Ba, has the same scenery with far fewer boats, and trips are cheaper. Many cross into Ha Long Bay as well.
How do I get there?
By combined bus-and-boat ticket from Hanoi, about three to four hours.
How many days do you need?
Two or three: one for a boat trip in Lan Ha Bay, one for the national park and beaches.
When is the best time to visit?
April to June and September to October. Summer is hot and crowded; winter is cool and misty.
Can I kayak?
Yes, most boat trips include kayaking through caves and lagoons.
Can I see the langurs?
The golden-headed langur lives only on Cat Ba. Sightings are rare and best on guided trips with conservation groups.
Is it busy?
In summer, very, with Vietnamese holidaymakers. Outside June to August it is much quieter.
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