15 Best Things to Do on Cat Ba Island

Cat Ba is the largest island in the Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago, and it packs a lot into a small space: limestone karsts offshore, thick forest inland and a string of sandy coves a short walk from town. This guide to the best things to do in Cat Ba covers what each activity involves, roughly what it costs and how to fit it into your trip.

Updated October 2026.

1. Kayak through Lan Ha Bay

Kayaking is the best way to see Lan Ha Bay up close. From a kayak you can slip into shallow lagoons, under low rock arches and along cliffs that bigger boats can't reach. Most boat trips from Cat Ba include at least 45 minutes of paddling, and the water is calm enough for beginners on most days.

Go in the morning, when the water is glassy and the light is soft. Bring a dry bag for your phone, plenty of sunscreen and shoes you don't mind getting wet. If you'd rather paddle on your own, kayaks can also be rented by the hour on the Cat Co beaches, typically around VND 100,000–200,000 an hour as of 2026.

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

2. Take a day boat trip to Ba Trai Dao and Van Boi

A full-day boat trip is the easiest way to string together the highlights of Lan Ha Bay. Most leave from Ben Beo Pier, about 2 km from the center of Cat Ba Town, at around 8:00 a.m. and return in the late afternoon, with stops for kayaking, swimming and lunch on board.

Popular swimming stops include Ba Trai Dao, three tiny islets whose beaches shrink at high tide, and Van Boi Beach. Prices vary widely, from simple shared boats to premium day cruises. Compare what's included before you pay: kayaks, lunch, bay fees and drinks. Alcohol is rarely included and costs more on board than in town.

3. Watch the sunset from Cannon Fort

Cannon Fort sits on a 177-meter hilltop above Cat Ba Town, and it's the classic place to watch the sun go down. The fort dates from the 1940s, and you can still walk through its gun emplacements, tunnels and trenches. The view takes in the town harbor, the Cat Co beaches and the karsts of Lan Ha Bay.

Entry has been around VND 40,000 per person, but parts of the fort have been closed at times since 2023 for safety repairs, so check locally before you go. The road up is steep, so take a motorbike taxi if you don't fancy the climb. Arrive about 45 minutes before sunset to explore the tunnels while it's still light.

4. Swim at the Cat Co beaches

The three Cat Co beaches are the closest sand to Cat Ba Town, about a 10 to 15-minute walk from the center. Cat Co 3 is a small, busy cove. From there a path cut into the cliff leads to Cat Co 1 and on to Cat Co 2, a wider sweep of pale sand.

The sea is warm enough for a long swim from May to October, when average water temperatures sit around 27–31°C. Summer weekends get crowded by mid-morning, so go early or late in the day.

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

5. Hike to Ngu Lam Peak in Cat Ba National Park

Cat Ba National Park protects around 17,000 hectares of forest, karst and coastal water, and its best-known trail climbs to the lookout tower on Ngu Lam Peak. The path winds through Kim Giao forest and takes roughly 1.5 to 2 hours there and back. It's short but steep, and the rocks get slippery after rain.

The park headquarters is about 15 km from Cat Ba Town on the cross-island road. Entry costs around VND 60,000–80,000, and the park is generally open from about 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wear proper shoes and carry water, because there's little to buy on the trail.

See also: Cat Ba National Park: Hikes, Caves and the Cat Ba Langur

6. Explore Hospital Cave

Hospital Cave tells a remarkable wartime story. Between 1963 and 1965, a natural cave on the cross-island road was fitted out as a secret, bomb-proof hospital, and it stayed in use throughout the war. Inside, a three-level concrete complex holds around 17 rooms, including wards and an operating room.

The cave is about 13 km from Cat Ba Town. Tickets cost around VND 40,000–50,000, and 30 to 45 minutes is enough to see it. Parts of the site have closed for repairs at times, so ask in town before you make a special trip.

7. Step inside Trung Trang Cave

Trung Trang is a lit limestone cave of roughly 300 meters, close to the national park entrance. Stalactites and stalagmites fill its chambers, and a few low sections mean you'll need to duck. Reaching the entrance takes more than 100 steps.

Tickets cost around VND 80,000, and some visitors buy a combined ticket with the national park. Allow 30 minutes to an hour. Because it's under cover, Trung Trang is a good choice for a rainy morning, and it pairs easily with Hospital Cave and the park on the same day.

8. Cycle through Viet Hai Village

Viet Hai is a small, old village inside Cat Ba National Park, with no road connection to the rest of the island. Most visitors arrive by boat, often as part of a Lan Ha Bay day trip, then cycle or walk the forest lane from the dock to the village. Electric carts also run the route.

The village itself is a quiet cluster of traditional houses set below steep limestone walls. A few families run simple homestays if you want to stay the night. Facilities are basic, so book ahead and bring cash.

9. Visit Cai Beo fishing village

Cai Beo sits just beyond Ben Beo Pier, around 1.5 km from Cat Ba Town. Archaeologists have found traces of people living here about 7,000 years ago, and the site was listed as a national relic in 2009. Today the village spreads across the water in floating houses and fish farms.

Most Lan Ha Bay day trips pass through, and you can also hire a small boat at the pier for a closer look. This is a working village, so keep your voice down and ask before photographing people or their homes.

10. Meet the macaques on Monkey Island

Monkey Island, also called Cat Dua, lies about 2 km southeast of Cat Ba Town and is around a 10-minute boat ride from Ben Beo Pier. It has a sandy beach and a short, steep trail to a hilltop viewpoint, which takes about 15 to 20 minutes on foot.

The island's macaques are wild and bold. They grab food, bags and sunglasses, so keep belongings zipped and don't feed them.

11. Try rock climbing or deep water soloing

Cat Ba is northern Vietnam's main climbing base, with hundreds of bolted routes on the island and the sea cliffs of Lan Ha Bay. Beginners usually start at Butterfly Valley, an inland limestone crag about 20 minutes by road from Cat Ba Town.

Experienced climbers come for deep water soloing: climbing sea cliffs without ropes and dropping into the bay when you fall. Conditions are best from November to April, when the rock is cooler and drier. Always book with an established local operator that supplies helmets and qualified guides.

12. Ride a motorbike across the island

The cross-island road runs past the national park, the caves and long stretches of forest, and it's a beautiful ride on a clear day. Rental shops in Cat Ba Town charge around VND 100,000–200,000 a day as of 2026, plus fuel.

The roads are quiet but steep and winding. Only ride if you're experienced and properly licensed, wear a helmet and check that your travel insurance covers motorbikes. Otherwise, take a taxi.

13. Eat fresh seafood in Cat Ba Town

Seafood is the main event at dinner in Cat Ba Town. Many restaurants keep live squid, clams, crab and fish in tanks out front, and you choose what you want cooked. Grilled, steamed or stir-fried with garlic, it rarely gets fresher than this.

Seafood is usually priced by weight, so confirm the price per kilogram and the weight before anything goes into the pan. If you're unsure, a set menu or a busy restaurant full of local families is a safe bet.

14. Spend a night on Lan Ha Bay

To see the bay at its quietest, stay overnight. One- and two-night cruises anchor among the karsts, so you get the evening light and sunrise without the day-trip boats. For something simpler, floating homestays around Cai Beo let you sleep on the water.

The trade-offs are real. Homestay bathrooms are basic, mosquitoes are common, and boats can be canceled when storms roll in, most often from June to September. Book a refundable option if you're traveling in summer.

15. Ride the Cat Hai–Phu Long cable car

The Cat Hai–Phu Long cable car crosses the water between Cat Hai and Phu Long on Cat Ba Island, a ride of about 15 minutes with wide views over the bay. Some bus companies from Hanoi sell combined bus and cable car tickets instead of the ferry.

One-way tickets cost around VND 50,000–60,000 as of 2025. Operating days and hours can change for maintenance and bad weather, so check locally before you plan around it.

16. Good to know before you go

• Weather: Storms are most likely from June to September, and boat trips can be canceled at short notice. Build a spare day into your plans.
• Swimming season: The sea is warmest from May to October. From January to March it averages around 19–20°C, which is too cool for most swimmers.
• Cash: Many small ticket booths, boats and food stalls take cash only, so carry Vietnamese dong.
• Construction: Parts of the Cat Ba Town waterfront have been rebuilt since Typhoon Yagi in September 2024. Expect some noise and detours in the center.
• Crowds: Weekends and the Vietnamese summer holidays are busiest. Midweek is calmer everywhere, from the beaches to the bay.

17. FAQs about things to do in Cat Ba

The best things to do in Cat Ba mix water and land: a day kayaking Lan Ha Bay, a morning in the national park and a sunset at Cannon Fort. Plan around the weather, carry cash and leave room for a slow afternoon on the beach.

After a day on the bay, come back to Flamingo Cat Ba Sea & Sand Resort, set on Cat Co 1 and Cat Co 2 beaches a short walk from Cat Ba Town. Swim in the Shell Pool, soak at Ruriko Onsen, the resort's Japanese-style warm mineral baths for guests aged 16 and over, or watch the light fade over Lan Ha Bay from Lan Ha Sky Bar on the 17th floor. Ask Reception for help arranging boat trips.

Photo: Christophe95, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.