Essential Tips for Traveling to Cat Ba Island

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3. Packing Essentials

1. Best Time to Visit Cat Ba Island The ideal time to visit Cat Ba Island is from after April 15th or earlier depending on weather conditions until the end of September each year. However, due to climate change, storms may arrive earlier or winter may come unexpectedly. Peak tourist days on Cat Ba Island are weekends, holidays such as April 30th and May 1st. Cat Ba Island is truly overcrowded and my suggestion for you is to go to Cat Ba Island on weekdays, which is most reasonable. Because the guests will be absent, the beach will be more peaceful, booking hotels will no longer be a difficult problem. Renting a motorbike, electric bike, or motorbike taxi to tourist spots is also much easier.

Spring in Northern Vietnam, as you know, is gloomy, drizzling, and even cold air masses come in, so choosing to travel to Cat Ba Island in spring is very unlikely. Only foreign guests, overseas Vietnamese who are accustomed to the environment, the very cold climate. Traveling to Cat Ba Island in the summer: The summer period is the ideal time to travel to Cat Ba Island. At this time, the weather goes from warm to hot, you can comfortably swim, drink beer, roam the night watching the stars, the sound of waves, the wind rushes by your ears. Experiencing Cat Ba Island is very interesting. Summer is also the season of seafood, when new water, warm ocean currents is also the time for shrimp, crab, scallops, squid, and oysters to grow the fastest because of abundant food sources and they are plump, fatty on the dining table of diners.

Summer is the perfect time to embark on a journey to Cat Ba Island.

Experience the charm of autumn in Cat Ba.

Exploring Cat Ba: Getting Around

To reach Cát Bà Island nowadays, there are several ways and various means of transportation available. One efficient method is via the Tân Vũ Bridge: Currently, the longest sea-crossing bridge in Vietnam connects Hai Phong to Cát Hải, significantly reducing the travel time to Cát Bà. Visitors will be taken by car to Cát Hải, from where they can board a high-speed ferry to Cát Bà, ensuring a swift and convenient journey. Your itinerary will be straightforward: Hanoi -> Hai Phong -> Tân Vũ Sea-Crossing Bridge -> Gót Ferry Terminal -> Cái Viềng Ferry Terminal -> Cát Bà Island.

Opting for a high-speed ferry: If you prefer the thrill of a high-speed ferry, head to Bính Ferry Terminal, where tickets range from 220 – 250,000 VND per person, with a total travel time of 50 minutes. The ferry disembarks passengers at the town center, opposite the square on ¼ street.

Tuần Châu - Cát Bà Ferry: A more economical choice is the Tuần Châu - Cát Bà ferry, priced at 80,000 VND per person. Although the travel time is longer, it offers the advantage of a leisurely journey, allowing passengers to enjoy the cool sea breeze and admire the beautiful scenery of Hạ Long Bay.

3. Packing Essentials

Prior to embarking on your journey to Cat Ba, ensure you've packed essentials such as sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher), body lotion, shampoo, eye drops, sunglasses, towels, swimwear, shorts, breathable tops, wide-brimmed hat, beach sandals for comfortable strolls... If accompanied by little ones, include floaties, child float seats, light snacks, and hydration.

For frequent travelers, opt for a compact and durable suitcase. It should be spacious enough for a 2 to 4-day supply of clothing and personal items. Given its stunning coastal scenery, Cat Ba provides an ideal backdrop for capturing beautiful moments; hence, don't forget your camera and video recorder.

Choose comfortable attire for picture-perfect moments garnering thousands of likes

Carry your camera along to capture every moment.

Explore the dining services.

Indulge in a variety of culinary experiences at Cat Ba.

Some renowned seafood dishes of Cat Ba Island

Accommodation options in Cat Ba Island have significantly developed to meet the increasing tourism demand. However, the current hotel system lacks uniformity. While there are approximately 10 hotels rated 3 stars or above (according to the standards of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism), the rest are mostly 2-star hotels and guesthouses. This diversity sometimes leads to a lack of professionalism, especially during peak seasons. The hotel system in Cat Ba Island can be summarized as follows:

1. 2-star hotel system: Despite being numerous, these hotels often face quality issues. They are mainly concentrated along the central streets and Nui Ngoc Street. Some notable ones include Gieng Ngoc, Hai Long, Huong Ly, Thuy Duong, and Hoang Ngoc. While privately owned, these hotels maintain a good reputation. Prices range from approximately 300,000 VND per room during off-peak seasons to 500,000 VND on weekdays and 650,000 to 700,000 VND on weekends, excluding breakfast.

Experience the tranquility of Cát Bà Island Resort

Indulge in the serenity of Sun Rise Resort

Discover the enchanting allure of tourist spots in Cát Bà

Cat Co Beach: Located in Cat Ba, there are currently 3 beaches (Cat Co 1, 2, 3). This is a favorite destination that any traveler to Cat Ba cannot afford to miss. These beaches are only a few hundred meters from the center. Additionally, visitors can also swim at the new beach, Tung Thu Beach. However, Tung Thu Beach does not have waves like other beaches due to the many surrounding islands.

Visiting the Thien Cong Fortress: You can hire a motorcycle taxi to Thien Cong Fortress (also known as Point 177), near Cat Co Beaches I, II, III, to admire the panoramic view of Cat Ba Island from above. From there, extending your gaze far, Cat Ba Island appears with its sea, mountains, and valleys, incredibly beautiful. The entire Cat Ba Bay is encapsulated within sight with the dotted marks of boats. As dusk falls, the red sun shines brightly behind the mountain ranges, creating a beautiful natural masterpiece with the twilight glow and the shadows of boats stretching across the water.

Exploring Lan Ha Bay: Lan Ha Bay is located south of Ha Long Bay. At first glance, it appears similar to Ha Long Bay. However, Lan Ha Bay has things that Ha Long does not. Within the bay, you can see some small islands with sandy beaches at the foot of limestone mountains. Here, you can paddle into shore to wander on these pristine sandy beaches or swim in the sea at these untouched beaches. Within Lan Ha Bay lies the floating village of Cai Beo, where over 200 households live in houses designed on rafts. The village has been and is being studied by archaeologists inside and outside the country to understand its history of thousands of years of existence. Tourists often rent boats for 3-4 hours with itineraries from Beo Wharf to Cai Beo Bay to visit the fish farms (if buying fish, be sure to inquire about the prices first) or visit Monkey Island – swim, rest, refresh on Monkey Island then return to Beo Wharf. During the tour of the bay, the group will also visit Monkey Island – here, tourists have the opportunity to encounter playful monkey troops, very suitable for groups with young children. On Monkey Island, there is also Cat Dua Beach, the most beautiful satellite beach of Cat Ba Island, with absolutely clear seawater. In front of the beach are unique mountain ranges creating an extremely distinctive edge of the bay. However, before reaching the island, you have to cross about 2 km of sea, as the crow flies. You can also book a room at Monkey Island Resort and stay overnight at this resort to experience island life close to nature.

Explore the fun activities at Cat Ba Island including beach bathing, snorkeling to admire coral reefs, mountain climbing, and taking evening strolls along the coastline.

Indulge in the thrill of snorkeling amidst the vibrant underwater world of Cat Ba. Accompanied by a trained guide, immerse yourself in the depths for 30 minutes at an approximate cost of 1,000,000 VND.

Embrace the challenge of mountain climbing in the majestic landscapes of Cat Ba. Popular spots like Three Peaches Island, Dau Be Island, and the cliffs of Ben Beo offer exhilarating experiences. Ensure physical fitness, necessary equipment, and determination for this adventure.

Fishing for squid in Cát Bà

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