Monkey Island Cat Ba 2026: Boats, Beaches and Monkey Safety

Monkey Island is a small beach island at the edge of Lan Ha Bay, about 2 kilometers from Cat Ba Town and 10–15 minutes by boat from Ben Beo Pier. Locals call it Cat Dua, and it isn't the Monkey Island you'll find near Nha Trang or Ho Chi Minh City. This guide to Monkey Island Cat Ba covers the boats, 2026 prices, the beaches and viewpoint, and how to stay safe around the monkeys.

Updated October 2026. Boat prices and tour stops are for reference and can change with the season and the operator.

See also: Lan Ha Bay Guide 2026: How to Visit, Fees, Cruises and Best Time

See also: Cat Ba Beaches: Cat Co 1, 2, 3 and Beyond

1. Where is Monkey Island in Cat Ba?

Monkey Island sits just off the southeast coast of Cat Ba Island, where Lan Ha Bay begins. It's a small, steep island of limestone and forest, with two crescent beaches on its sheltered side. Its old name, Cat Dua, comes from the wild pineapple that grows on the slopes.

The island lies within Cat Ba National Park's ecological restoration zone. A bungalow resort and a beach bar once operated here, but both were ordered to be removed in 2021 and 2022 because they had no building permits. Recent visitors describe an abandoned building and very basic facilities, so plan as if there's nothing on the island but sand, sea and monkeys.

2. How to get to Monkey Island from Cat Ba

There's no scheduled ferry. You either join a Lan Ha Bay tour that stops at the island or hire a boat at Ben Beo Pier, about 2 kilometers east of the town center. The crossing takes 10–15 minutes.

At low tide, some boats can't pull right up to the beach. You may need to wade the last few meters or transfer to a small tender, which usually costs around VND 10,000. Keep your phone and camera in a dry bag for that last stretch.

3. How much does a Monkey Island trip cost?

These are 2026 reference prices from local operators and travel sites, so confirm at the pier:

• Shared return boat from Ben Beo: around VND 100,000–150,000 per person.
• Small private boat for four to six people: around VND 300,000–500,000 per trip, more for a longer route.
• Lan Ha Bay fee: VND 120,000 per adult and VND 60,000 per child aged 6 and over under the 2026 fee schedule. Tours usually include it, so ask whether your boat price does.

Hai Phong's 2026 fee schedule has no separate charge for Monkey Island itself. The city dropped the island from its list of paid sights in 2024, citing the lack of facilities, so treat any older mention of an island ticket with caution and ask your boat operator what the price covers.

See also: Cat Ba Entrance Fees 2026: Lan Ha Bay, National Park, Caves and More

4. The beaches on Monkey Island

The island has two beaches, both named after Cat Dua.

• Cat Dua 1: The main swimming beach, about 220 meters of pale sand with calm, clear water over a sandy bottom. This is where most boats land.
• Cat Dua 2: Smaller and quieter, and the better choice if the main beach is busy.

There are no lifeguards, and shade is limited. Bring a towel, water and sun protection, and swim only where the crew says it's safe. Avoid swimming late in the day, when the tide rises and boats head back to the pier.

5. The viewpoint hike

A rough trail climbs from behind the main beach to a viewpoint over Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba Town. It takes about 15–20 minutes each way, over sharp limestone that gets steeper near the top.

There are no railings and almost no shade, and the rock is slippery after rain. Wear closed shoes with good grip, skip it with young children, and go before 10:00 a.m. or after 3:00 p.m. to avoid the worst of the heat.

6. The monkeys: what to know

The monkeys are macaques that live on the island without fences or keepers. Guide sites count around two dozen, and they're well used to people. They aren't the Cat Ba langur, the critically endangered primate that lives in the island's forests and is rarely seen by visitors.

The macaques are bold and fast. They snatch plastic bags, bottles, snacks, sunglasses and loosely held phones, and they've been known to bite. A few simple rules keep everyone safe:

• Keep food, drinks and plastic bags out of sight, ideally in a closed backpack.
• Zip away phones and sunglasses, and hold your camera strap.
• Never feed, tease or touch the monkeys, and avoid staring at them.
• If a monkey grabs a bag, let it go rather than pulling back.
• Keep children right next to an adult.

If you're bitten or scratched, wash the wound with soap and running water for about 15 minutes and see a doctor the same day. Rabies is a real risk in Vietnam, but it's preventable with prompt vaccination after a bite. Cat Ba Town has a hospital, and Hai Phong has larger facilities if a vaccine isn't available on the island.

7. Is Monkey Island safe for kids?

Yes, with close supervision. The beach is calm and shallow near the shore, and most children enjoy seeing the monkeys from a distance. Hold small children's hands when monkeys are near, keep snacks for the boat, and skip the viewpoint trail with younger kids.

See also: Cat Ba with Kids: How to Choose a Family Resort and Plan Your Trip

8. When to visit Monkey Island

The bay is calmest from April to October, and April–May and September–October are usually quieter than the summer peak. July and August bring thunderstorms, and from December to March the water is too cool for most swimmers.

Tourist boats stay in port when storm warnings are issued, as they did on August 25–26, 2025, and August 22–23, 2026, so keep a spare day in summer. If you go on your own, leave Ben Beo around 8:00–8:30 a.m.: the bay is busiest from about 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

9. Combining Monkey Island with Lan Ha Bay

Many full-day Lan Ha Bay tours stop at Monkey Island in the afternoon. A typical day leaves Ben Beo around 8:30 a.m., passes Cai Beo floating village, visits Ba Trai Dao and Dark and Bright Cave, serves lunch on board and reaches Monkey Island around 3:00 p.m., getting back by about 5:00 p.m. Not every tour stops here, and at least one tour stopped visiting in 2026 because of the monkeys' behavior, so check the itinerary.

On your own, a shared boat, a swim and the viewpoint hike fit into two to three hours. Allow 45–60 minutes on the island itself.

See also: Lan Ha Bay Kayaking and Boat Trips: A Practical Guide

10. Good to know

• Life jackets: Since June 2026, passengers must wear a life jacket for the whole boat trip.
• Cash: Bring small notes in Vietnamese dong for the boat, the tender and drinks.
• Supplies: Bring water and keep any food sealed, because there may be nothing to buy on the island.
• Shoes: Reef shoes help on the rocky edges of the beach, and grippy shoes are a must on the trail.
• Rubbish: Take your trash back to the boat. Litter attracts the monkeys and spoils the beach.

11. FAQs about Monkey Island Cat Ba

A trip to Monkey Island Cat Ba is a short, easy add-on to a Lan Ha Bay day: a boat ride, a swim and a close look at the macaques. Keep your bags closed and your distance, and it's one of the most fun hours on the bay.

After the boat ride back, Flamingo Cat Ba Sea & Sand Resort is waiting on Cat Co 1 and Cat Co 2 beaches, where in-house guests can use the beach loungers for free. Rinse off the salt in the Charm Pool facing the sea, let the kids burn off energy at the Kids Club, then book dinner at Sun Restaurant on the 6th floor.

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: TomFitzhenry, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.