Exploring Cat Ba How to get to Cat Ba Where to stay
Discover Cat Ba
CatBa is the second largest island in Vietnam and you can find it just south of Halong Bay.
Many tourists book a tour of a few days in Hanoi to visit Halong Bay or CatBa. But, you can also travel to CatBa Island without booking a tour. This is a more unique and adventurous experience which allows you to explore CatBa Island as well.
Another advantage of visiting CatBa on your own is that you can travel straight from CatBa to Ninh Binh. This saves you a trip back to Hanoi if you are further travelling South.
On CatBa you can explore the island by (motor)bike, visit beaches, do kayaking and rock climbing, as well as watch the sunset at Cannon Forth. You can book a boat tour on the main street in CatBa town to explore beautiful Lan Ha Bay, or the southern tip of Halong Bay.
Lan Ha Bay is the closest national park to CatBa Island. It offers the same beautiful view over the limestone rocks as the famous Halong Bay, but it is less touristy. Another extra is that you also pass by the CatBa floating village where over 4,000 people live on boats surrounded by limestone islands.
From the mainland, you can take a combined ferry and bus to CatBa town, where you can find many accommodations and good restaurants.
PRO TIP: Make the most of your visit to Cat Ba by booking a boat tour that combines CatBa Island and Halong Bay in one day! This tour costs 780,000 VND ($32.50) and includes a visit to the unqiue floating village of Cat Ba, a lunch and free pick-up from several central locations in Cat Ba.
How to get to Cat Ba
Based in Bali, Maarten’s passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you’ll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.
