Cat Ba at Night: What to Do, from the Night Market to Squid Fishing

Once the sun slips behind the limestone hills, the Cat Ba waterfront switches to a different rhythm. Cat Ba at night means grilled seafood at the night market, slow walks along the harbor and squid fishing out on Lan Ha Bay. Here's where to go after dark on Cat Ba Island (often written Catba), how long a squid-fishing trip takes, what it costs and how to make every evening on the island a good one.

Updated October 2026.

See also: What to Eat in Cat Ba: Seafood and Local Dishes

1. What is there to do in Cat Ba at night?

There's more to do in Cat Ba at night than you might expect. You can stroll the seafront, snack your way through the night market, head out on the bay with local fishermen to catch squid, sleep on a cruise boat or simply sit somewhere high up and watch the bay light up.

Each option suits a different kind of traveler. Groups of friends tend to love the buzz of the street and the market, families with young children do well with a loop of the promenade and an early night, and couples might save the evening for a cocktail high above the water.

2. Walk the waterfront on 1/4 Street

1/4 Street (Mot Thang Tu Street), which runs along the harbor, is the liveliest part of Cat Ba after dark. Lights from restaurants, hotels and moored boats reflect on the water, the sea breeze cools everything down, and the whole street feels nothing like it does by day.

Take your time on the promenade, stop at a café with a view of the harbor or sit down at a sidewalk stall with a fresh coconut. This is also the easiest time to photograph the waterfront at its prettiest, especially about half an hour after sunset.

3. Where is the Cat Ba night market and what can you eat?

The Cat Ba night market is on 1/4 Street, right in the center of town. Stalls start setting up at dusk, and the market often stays lively late into the night. Hours vary with the season and the number of visitors.

You'll find clothes, souvenirs and, above all, street snacks. Order a few small plates to try:

• Grilled seafood: Skewers of squid, prawns and clams cooked over charcoal.
• Mantis shrimp porridge (chao be be): A hot, naturally sweet rice porridge, just right when the wind picks up.
• Boiled snails: A classic Vietnamese snack, dipped in fish sauce with ginger and a little chili.
• Pork cartilage sausage (doi sun): Crunchy and rich, served with fresh herbs, good with a drink.
• Coconut sweets: Coconut pudding or iced coconut coffee to round off the evening.

Prices at the night market are fairly easy on the wallet, but ask before you order, especially for seafood sold by weight.

4. Go squid fishing on Lan Ha Bay

If they could pick only one night activity on Cat Ba, many people would choose squid fishing. Sitting in a boat on the dark bay, watching the lamps that lure the squid light up the water, then pulling in your first catch with your own hands is hard to forget.

4.1. Where do squid-fishing trips leave from, and how long do they take?

Squid-fishing boats usually leave from around Ben Beo Pier or Cai Beo fishing village in the late afternoon or early evening, then head out onto Lan Ha Bay. A trip lasts about 2.5 to 3 hours. Ben Beo Pier is about 2.5 km, a seven-minute drive, from Flamingo Cat Ba Sea & Sand Resort.

The fishermen switch on the lamps and show you how to drop your line, hold it steady and feel when a squid bites. Depending on the operator, your catch is usually cooked on board or once you're back on shore.

4.2. How much does a squid-fishing trip cost?

A squid-fishing trip on Cat Ba costs around VND 300,000–500,000 per person at the time of writing (October 2026), and prices can change with the season and the operator.

The price usually covers the boat, rods and bait, life jackets, a guide, drinking water and cooking your catch. Before you book, ask exactly what's included and what happens if bad weather forces a change of date.

4.3. When is the best season for squid fishing?

The best squid-fishing season on Cat Ba runs from about March to June, when the sea is calm and the weather is pleasant. If you visit Cat Ba outside these months, trips still run, but check the forecast and confirm with the operator before your date.

5. Spend a night on a Lan Ha Bay cruise

To spend a whole night on the water, book an overnight Lan Ha Bay cruise. Evenings on board are when the bay is at its quietest: dinner, a try at squid fishing, stargazing from the deck, then waking up early among limestone islands wrapped in thin mist.

Since January 1, 2026, an overnight stay on the bay has carried an entrance fee of VND 400,000 per adult for one night, VND 600,000 for two nights and VND 650,000 for three.

6. A quiet evening at the resort

On days when your legs are tired from exploring, Flamingo Cat Ba Sea & Sand Resort has enough to fill an evening:

• Lan Ha Sky Bar: On the 17th floor of the Sun tower, open until 11:00 p.m. Order a cocktail and watch the bay turn from orange and pink to a scatter of boat lights.
• Lan Ha Restaurant: On the same floor, serving international à la carte dishes until 10:00 p.m., good for a dinner for two or a special occasion.
• Galaxy Karaoke: Private rooms for groups who want to keep the night going (charged).

The resort sits beside the Cat Co beaches, about 1 km (an 18-minute walk) from the Cat Ba Town pier, so a loop of town before bed doesn't take long.

7. A sample evening on Cat Ba

Here's one way to spend an evening on Cat Ba. Adjust it to suit your own plans:

• 5:00 p.m.: Head up to Lan Ha Sky Bar, or another high spot, for sunset.
• 6:30 p.m.: Seafood dinner in town or at one of the resort's restaurants.
• 8:00 p.m.: Walk the promenade on 1/4 Street, snack at the night market and pick up a few small gifts.
• 9:30 p.m.: Back to the resort to rest, or karaoke with friends.

If you'd like to go squid fishing, eat an early dinner and board at dusk. You'll be back on shore in time for the night market.

8. Tips for a night out on Cat Ba

To keep your evenings fun and safe:

• Swimming: Don't swim in the sea after 6:00 p.m., when it's getting dark and the tide is changing.
• Life jackets: Always wear one on a boat and follow the crew's instructions.
• A light jacket: The sea breeze gets chilly at night, out on the bay and along the promenade, especially in fall and winter.
• Seasickness: If you're prone to it, take medication before a squid-fishing trip.
• Prices: Ask before you order at seafood stalls and snack stands.

9. Cat Ba at night FAQs

From the breezy promenade and a night market that smells of grilled seafood to a small boat on the dark bay, Cat Ba at night has something for every kind of traveler. Pick one or two of these for each evening of your stay, and save an early night for the day before a long trip on the bay.

When the streets empty out, Flamingo Cat Ba Sea & Sand Resort, beside Cat Co 1 and Cat Co 2 beaches, is an easy place to end the day. Have dinner at Lan Ha Restaurant, a last cocktail at Lan Ha Sky Bar or a few songs with friends at Galaxy Karaoke, then return to your ocean-view room and fall asleep to the sound of the waves, ready to explore again in the morning.

Plan your stay at Flamingo Cat Ba Sea & Sand Resort:

• Rooms and residences with Lan Ha Bay views
• Restaurants and sky bars
• Ruriko Onsen and SEVA Spa
• Free extras when you book direct

Photo: Binh Giang, Wikimedia Commons, public domain