Viet Hai Village, Cat Ba: How to Get There, Cycling and Trekking

As Cat Ba gets busier, Viet Hai Village stays quiet in a valley inside Cat Ba National Park, with nothing around it but rice fields, forested limestone and birdsong. Where exactly is the village, should you go by boat or trek through the forest, and what is there to do once you arrive? If you're planning a slow day on Cat Ba Island (often written Catba), these tips will make the trip much easier.

Updated October 2026. Fees, boat times and opening hours may change with the season and by decision of the managing authority.

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

1. Where is Viet Hai Village?

Viet Hai Village sits in a valley in the middle of Cat Ba National Park, in the Cat Hai Special Zone of Hai Phong, with limestone mountains covered in primary forest on every side. In front of the village lies the water of Lan Ha Bay, and behind it, ridge after ridge of forested hills.

No road for cars links the village to Cat Ba Town. There are only two ways in: by boat across the bay or on foot through the national park. That isolation is exactly what has kept Viet Hai so peaceful on such a popular island.

2. What makes the village special?

According to articles in the Dai Bieu Nhan Dan newspaper and VnEconomy, the Viet Hai residential area covers about 141 hectares and in 2025 was home to about 87 households, with nearly 300 people. Most villagers make a living from farming and fishing, and in recent years many families have added community-based tourism.

The village is more than a hundred years old. The story goes that fishermen caught in a storm took shelter in this cove, found fresh water and stayed to build a village. Today Viet Hai still moves at the easy pace of a country village in the forest, where bicycles and electric carts are the main way to get around.

See also: Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve: Why UNESCO Recognized It Twice

3. How do you get to Viet Hai Village?

3.1. By boat from Ben Beo Pier

The boat from Ben Beo Pier is the most popular and easiest way to reach Viet Hai Village. Depending on the boat, the trip takes about 30–45 minutes, passing Cai Beo fishing village and the jade-green coves of Lan Ha Bay.

Many Lan Ha Bay cruise and day-tour itineraries include a stop at Viet Hai, and groups can also hire a private boat. Before you board, agree on the price and the pick-up time, and ask whether sightseeing fees are included. Under Hai Phong's fee schedule in force since January 1, 2026, the Lan Ha Bay route costs VND 120,000 per adult and VND 60,000 per child aged 6 and over, and children under 6 go free.

3.2. Trekking through the forest

If you like a challenge, hiking through Cat Ba National Park to Viet Hai is hard to forget. The full route is about 10–12 kilometers and usually takes six to seven hours. It passes the Ao Ech (Frog Lake) area, home to the toughest trek in the national park, then follows rocky forest trails with some steep, slippery stretches.

Set off early, go with a local guide and carry plenty of water and snacks. The best plan is to walk in, rest over lunch, then take a boat across Lan Ha Bay back to Ben Beo Pier, which saves your legs on the return. The trek also needs a national park ticket: in 2026 the full park ticket costs VND 160,000 per adult and VND 80,000 per child, and individual trails cost VND 80,000–120,000, so ask your guide which one your route requires.

4. How do you get from Viet Hai pier to the village?

From Viet Hai pier, it's about 5 kilometers to the village along a road that winds between two cliff walls. To keep the air clean, bicycles and electric carts are the main ways to get there.

• Bicycle: The most relaxed option. Ride past forest and rice fields and stop for photos whenever you like.
• Electric cart: Good for families with older relatives or small children, or on very hot days.
• On foot: Slow, but you take in the full feel of the forest. Best if you're used to walking.

Bike and cart rental prices can change with the season, so ask at the pier before you set off.

5. What can you do in Viet Hai?

Don't rush Viet Hai. It's a place to slow down, and the pleasures are simple:

• Cycle past bright green rice paddies tucked into the valley.
• Stop for a drink, chat with villagers and eat a simple home-cooked lunch made by local families.
• Spend a night in a homestay to hear the insects after dark and see a sky full of stars. Only a few houses take overnight guests, so book ahead.
• Go out on a boat or fish with villagers if you get the chance.
• Combine the village with a boat trip on Lan Ha Bay on the way in or out.

If you were hoping to kayak on the way, note that the local authority suspended kayaking on the Cat Ba bays on November 15, 2024, and extended the suspension on November 27, 2025. Some boats offer trips in bamboo rowing boats instead, so ask your boat operator what's available on your date before you book.

See also: Lan Ha Bay Kayaking for Beginners: 2026 Rules, Tips and Safety

6. When is the best time to visit Viet Hai?

Autumn and spring are the most comfortable seasons for Viet Hai, with cooler air and gentler sun that suit cycling and trekking. October to April is also when the village sees the most international travelers.

You can visit Cat Ba in summer too, but start early to beat the heat. July and August can bring big waves, so check the weather forecast before you take the boat.

7. A one-day Viet Hai itinerary

Here's a one-day plan that pairs Viet Hai with Lan Ha Bay:

• 7:30 a.m.: Breakfast in town, then head to Ben Beo Pier.
• 8:00 a.m.: Board the boat and take in Cai Beo fishing village and Lan Ha Bay on the way.
• 8:45 a.m.: Land at Viet Hai pier and rent a bicycle or electric cart for the ride into the village.
• 9:30 a.m.: Cycle around the village, past the rice fields and family homes.
• 11:30 a.m.: Simple lunch in the village, then a rest in the shade.
• 1:30 p.m.: Back to the pier to continue your boat trip on Lan Ha Bay.
• 4:00 p.m.: Return to Ben Beo Pier and head back to your hotel to shower and rest.

Actual timings depend on the weather and the boat schedule, so confirm them with your tour operator in advance.

8. Tips for your visit

To get the most out of Viet Hai and respect the people who live there:

• Wear sneakers and a hat, and bring sunscreen and insect repellent.
• The village is inside the national park, so keep it clean, don't pick plants and carry your rubbish out.
• Ask before you photograph people or their homes.
• Bring cash, because services in the village are basic.
• If you trek, don't go alone, and tell someone your route and timing.

9. FAQs about Viet Hai Village

Rice fields from the saddle, birdsong in the valley and a boat ride home across Lan Ha Bay: Viet Hai Village shows a slower, simpler side of Cat Ba. Book your boat or guide ahead and start early, and you'll have a peaceful day in the island's forested heart.

From Ben Beo Pier, Flamingo Cat Ba Sea & Sand Resort on Cat Co 1 and Cat Co 2 beaches is a seven-minute drive. Cool off in the sea-facing Charm Pool, then stroll the Cau May Sky Walk on the 11th and 12th floors as the hills and the sea change color at dusk. Vietnamese dishes and seafood at Sea Restaurant, on the 1st floor of the Sea tower, round off a day of forest and sea.

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: Jakub Hałun, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.