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Pack up the experience of traveling to Cat Ba Island for 2 days and 1 night independently to embark on an exciting journey exploring Vietnam, why not?
Any time of the year is perfect for people to invite each other to travel to the islands. One of the hottest names on the Vietnam tourism map is Cat Ba Island located in the Gulf of Tonkin. In addition to its beautiful beaches, Cat Ba is also famous for Lan Ha Bay and primeval forests, suitable for exploration, conquering nature, adventurous games, or outdoor sports.
Join #teamKlook Như Ý to brainstorm the idea of traveling to Cat Ba Island for 2 days and 1 night independently with your best friends, no worries about boredom!
Review Traveling Cat Ba Island 2 Days 1 Night Independently - When Should You Pack Your Backpack and Go?
If you are unsure when to travel to Cat Ba Island for 2 days and 1 night, the answer is summer, from April to August. The weather on Cat Ba Island during this time is beautiful, with calm seas, clear skies, warm sunshine, and almost no rain, suitable for participating in various water entertainment activities such as swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, surfing, and parachuting.
Additionally, the period from September to November is also quite suitable if you want to visit Cat Ba because the autumn weather is cooler than summer, and there is also no rain.
Means of Traveling to Cat Ba Independently for 2 Days 1 Night
The route to Cat Ba nowadays is very convenient. With expressways, the distance from the capital Hanoi to Cat Ba Island has been greatly reduced, and therefore the travel time is faster. Depending on your needs, health, and time budget, you can choose by car, motorbike, or train.
For the 2-day 1-night self-sufficient itinerary, Như Ý and her friends used the train to travel from Hanoi to Hai Phong. The ticket price is about 100,000 to 130,000 VND, and the travel time is from 2.5 to 3 hours.
From the center of Hai Phong city, we continued towards Tan Vu - Lach Huyen bridge to Cat Hai district, then took a ferry from Got pier to Cai Vieng pier, and finally used a car or motorbike to travel to the center of Cat Ba island.
This way, it only takes about 5 minutes to travel from Hai Phong city to Cat Hai island, and you also have the opportunity to admire the longest sea-crossing bridge in Southeast Asia.
Keep in mind that Tân Vũ Bridge does not charge tolls for passage. Ferry prices at Gót ferry terminal are 6,000 VND for pedestrians, 20,000 VND for motorcycles, and 80,000 VND for cars under 9 seats. The crossing time to Cái Viềng terminal is about 25 minutes.
This is considered the fastest and most convenient route for those traveling to Cat Ba from Hanoi.
Detailed Itinerary for 2 Days 1 Night Tour to Cat Ba Island
A 2-day 1-night trip to Cat Ba Island is completely impromptu, so Nhu Y's group didn't have much time to research and prepare thoroughly for the trip. However, the 2-day exploration of Cat Ba brings more excitement than expected.
Let's take a look at Nhu Y's exciting 2-day 1-night itinerary to Cat Ba Island.
Day 1: Hanoi – Hai Phong – Cat Ba Island
At 6 a.m., Nhu Y and her friends set off from Hanoi to Hai Phong by train, arriving after about 3 hours.
We had a quick breakfast in Hai Phong, then continued our journey to Cat Ba Island following the shared itinerary. Upon arrival, everyone was quite exhausted and just wanted to check into the hotel and take a nap to prepare for afternoon activities.
Around 1 p.m., we rented motorcycles to explore Cat Ba National Park. This truly is a perfect place to kick off our 2-day 1-night adventure in Cat Ba. Surrounded by majestic mountains and breathtaking nature, all fatigue seemed to vanish instantly.
Here, Y and the gang spotted endangered langurs, took on the challenge of hiking and biking through the forest, sampled precious natural products like forest honey and hibiscus tea. Especially, from the summit of Ngự Lâm, we were treated to a surreal panorama of stunning mountains and valleys. So, for just 80,000 VND per person, we gained a wealth of knowledge and experiences that are unmatched.
Leaving Cat Ba National Park, we headed to Cat Co 3 Beach to frolic in the waves and capture the most enchanting moments along the coastline.
Around 5:30 p.m., Nhu Y's group decided to return to the hotel to rest and have dinner. Then, one member of the group felt like taking a motorcycle ride around Cat Ba town, so we all decided to join in.
You know, during the day, this town bustles with activity, but at night, Cat Ba seems to give way to tranquility. The fresh air and cool sea breeze gently blowing by the ears create an extremely pleasant feeling. We followed the mountainous road, connecting the 3 main beaches, to fully enjoy the serene evening on Cat Ba Island.
Day 2: Lan Ha Bay – Cai Beo Fishing Village – Monkey Island – Hanoi
Nhu Y devoted the entire second day to exploring Lan Ha Bay, a must-visit destination in Cat Ba. According to our assessment, Lan Ha Bay is the highlight of this 2-day 1-night trip to Cat Ba.
Around 8 a.m., after having breakfast and checking out, we headed to Beo Wharf to embark on a tour of Lan Ha Bay and Monkey Island. Lan Ha Bay initially appears quite similar to Ha Long Bay, but Lan Ha is more appealing as it retains many pristine features and majestic caves covered with lush greenery.
While exploring Lan Ha Bay, Nhu Y combined a visit to Cai Beo Fishing Village – the oldest floating village in Vietnam, also known as Vung O Fishing Village. With only about 300 households here, closely tied to fishing and fish farming activities on the bay. Upon reaching the fishing village, Nhu Y's group decided to have lunch with a variety of delicious fresh seafood, including octopus, crabs, sea urchins, lobsters, and especially sea cucumbers.
After lunch, we kayaked through Cai Beo Fishing Village and some small islands to reach Monkey Island.
Formerly known as Pineapple Island due to its abundance of wild pineapple trees, Monkey Island is now called Monkey Island because it is home to a troop of monkeys released by the Cat Ba National Park management. If possible, you should try climbing to the mountain peak on Monkey Island to get a panoramic view of Lan Ha Bay, which will remind you of the 'dinosaur backbone' Kelingking in Bali.
Around 3:30 p.m., we bid farewell to Lan Ha and returned to Beo Wharf. Finally, it's time to head back to beloved Hanoi.
Travel Expenses for 2 Days 1 Night in Cat Ba for Reference
The cost of a 2-day 1-night trip to Cat Ba from Hanoi is not too high, depending on your food, drink, and transportation needs; but generally, prices will range from 1,200,000 to 1,500,000 VND per person.
You can refer to the expenses of Nhu Y's group as follows:
- Homestay room: 750,000 VND/night at Cat Ba Dream Hotel
- Round-trip train ticket: 260,000 VND/person
- Round-trip ferry ticket: 40,000 VND/person
- Sightseeing ticket: 80,000 VND/person
- Food and drink for 2 days 1 night: 500,000 VND/person
For Như Ý, a 2-day trip to Cat Ba was as swift as the wind, because it was so fun and impressive. Why hesitate to rearrange your schedule a bit to go to Cat Ba Island with your close friends, immersing yourself in nature? Hopefully, with the shared itinerary for a 2-day 1-night self-guided tour of Cat Ba and the expenses above, Như Ý can help you plan your trip smoothly and perfectly.
Let me spill the beans, self-guided Cat Ba travel can also be combined with a visit to Ha Long Bay. Isn't that amazing? Wishing you a fun and unforgettable experience in Cat Ba and Ha Long.
Set off on a 2-day 1-night trip to Cat Ba now to fully enjoy your journey.
