Cat Ba Travel Guides
Long Chau Lighthouse off Cat Ba: History and How to Visit
Where Long Chau Lighthouse is, how it came through the war, the permit you need from the border post and how to charter a boat from Cat Ba.
Beyond Lan Ha Bay, out among the wild islands of the Long Chau archipelago, Long Chau Lighthouse has guided ships for more than 130 years. It's a trip for travelers who want to go further than the usual Lan Ha Bay cruise from Cat Ba Island (often written Catba). Here's where the lighthouse is, the history behind it and what you need to arrange before you go.
See also: Lan Ha Bay Guide 2026: How to Visit, Fees, Cruises and Best Time
1. Where is Long Chau Lighthouse?
Long Chau Lighthouse stands on Long Chau Island, the largest island in the Long Chau archipelago, about 15 km from Cat Ba Town. Like Cat Ba, it belongs to the Cat Hai Special Zone of Hai Phong.
The archipelago is a scatter of around 30 islands, rocks and reefs of all sizes, roughly 50 km from the Hai Phong mainland. Long Chau Island itself covers just over 1.2 km² and has no civilian residents. The only people living there are the border guards and lighthouse staff, who keep watch day and night.
2. What is the history of Long Chau Lighthouse?
2.1. A stone lighthouse built in 1894
The French built Long Chau Lighthouse in 1894 on the summit of the island, with both the tower and the operations building made of stone. Vietnam took it over in 1955, and the light has shone every night since.
The lamp sits about 109.5 meters above sea level and has a range of 27 nautical miles, or about 50 km. In good weather, ships far out at sea can see it and use it to find their way into the waters off Hai Phong and Ha Long.
2.2. Standing firm through the war
Long Chau Lighthouse came through the Vietnam War still standing, and bomb and bullet scars still mark its stone walls today.
The lighthouse now runs on solar power, while its original French architecture has been preserved. Standing in front of the tower, you can read the years in every layer of stone, and that sense of time sets it apart from the familiar sights on Cat Ba Island.
3. What makes Long Chau Lighthouse worth the trip?
Long Chau isn't a mass-tourism spot, and that's exactly its appeal: it's wild and quiet, which draws people who love the sea and history. Here's what to expect:
- A stone tower more than a century old: French colonial architecture with a spiral staircase inside, and bomb scars on the stone walls that still bear witness to the war years.
- Open-sea views: From the top of the island, you look out over a vast stretch of open water, with the limestone islets of the Long Chau archipelago behind you.
- The journey out: The boat ride from Cat Ba crosses the bay and passes many karst islands, which makes it an experience in itself.
- Untouched nature: With no villages, just rocky trails, scrub and clear blue water, the island feels very different from busy Cat Ba Town.
4. How do you get to Long Chau Lighthouse?
4.1. Get permission before you land
To land on Long Chau Island, you must get permission in advance from the Long Chau Border Post (Don Bien phong Long Chau), because the island is garrisoned by border guards. Get in touch a few days ahead, bring your ID (your passport, if you're visiting from abroad) and follow the instructions of the officers on the island.
There's nowhere for visitors to stay, so a visit is a day trip only, with no overnight stays.
4.2. Charter a boat or speedboat from Cat Ba
There's no scheduled passenger boat to Long Chau yet, so you'll need to charter a private boat or speedboat from Cat Ba, usually from the Ben Beo Pier area. By speedboat, the crossing takes about an hour, depending on wind and waves.
Chartering a private boat is fairly expensive, so it makes sense to go as a group and split the cost. From the landing, it's about a 20-minute walk along a trail, then around 100 steps up to the base of the tower.
5. When is the best time to visit Long Chau?
The best time to visit Long Chau Lighthouse is from May to July, when the weather is settled and the sea is calm. If you don't like the heat, December to March is cooler, though the wind can be stronger.
Long Chau lies well offshore, so the trip depends heavily on the weather. Watch the forecast for a few days beforehand and be ready to cancel if there are strong winds, a tropical depression or a storm.
6. Tips for visiting Long Chau Lighthouse
A few things will keep your trip safe and smooth:
- Permission: Get approval from the Long Chau Border Post in advance, carry your ID and stay in the areas you're shown.
- Shoes and clothing: Wear shoes with good grip and long pants, because the path has sharp rocks and scrub, and you may come across snakes or centipedes.
- Supplies: There are no services on the island, so bring enough water, snacks, sunscreen and a small first-aid kit.
- On the boat: Always wear a life jacket on the speedboat, and if you get seasick, come prepared, since it's a long way out.
- Respect the site: Don't write on the tower walls, and take your trash back to the mainland.
7. Where to stay for a Long Chau trip
Since there's nowhere for visitors to stay on Long Chau, base yourself on Cat Ba so you can set off early in the morning and be back by the afternoon. Flamingo Cat Ba Sea & Sand Resort sits right beside Cat Co 1 and Cat Co 2 beaches, about 2.5 km (a seven-minute drive) from Ben Beo Pier, and its Deluxe Ocean View, Premier Ocean View and Residence One Bedroom Ocean View rooms look out toward the bay.
After a day at sea, unwind in the Shell Pool infinity pool or the Charm Pool (both free for in-house guests), then have a seafood dinner at Sea Restaurant on the 1st floor of the Sea tower.
8. Long Chau Lighthouse FAQs
When was Long Chau Lighthouse built?
The French built it in 1894. Vietnam took it over in 1955 and has kept it running ever since.
Do you need permission to visit Long Chau Lighthouse?
Yes. You must get permission from the Long Chau Border Post before landing on the island, and visits are day trips only.
How long does it take to get from Cat Ba to Long Chau Lighthouse?
About an hour by speedboat, depending on wind and waves. From the landing, it's another 20-minute walk and around 100 steps to the tower.
Are there tours to Long Chau Lighthouse?
Long Chau isn't a mainstream tourist spot yet, so you'll usually need to charter your own boat and arrange the permit yourself. Going as a group helps split the cost.
With more than a century of history out at sea, Long Chau Lighthouse is for travelers who want to go beyond the familiar bay tours. Sort out the permit early and keep an eye on the weather, and the trip out from Cat Ba will be one to remember.
After a long day offshore, come back to Flamingo Cat Ba Sea & Sand Resort beside the Cat Co beaches to rest. Soak in the warm mineral-water baths of Ruriko Onsen, relax with a treatment at SEVA Spa or watch the sunset from Lan Ha Sky Bar on the 17th floor, and the tiredness of the boat trip soon fades.
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: Velvet, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (illustrative image: boats on Lan Ha Bay)
