In a nutshell
- Cat Ba is the largest island in Halong Bay, Vietnam — and a fantastic base for a boat tour into the famous bay.
- The island also has some seriously beautiful highlights of its own: a stunning national park, sandy beaches, and scenic viewpoints. We cover all seven top picks in this guide.
- We’ll also walk you through the best way to get from Hanoi to Cat Ba, the ideal time of year to visit, and our top hotel recommendations for every budget.
Important Info About Cat Ba (2026)
Cat Ba was hit by a powerful typhoon in September 2024 that caused widespread destruction. The scale of the storm is impossible to miss anywhere on the island.
Many buildings and paths have been destroyed, and half the island is a construction zone. Keep that in mind when planning a trip to Cat Ba.
Personally, this didn’t bother us at all during our Vietnam vacation in 2026. The beaches and landscapes on Cat Ba are still breathtakingly beautiful, and despite everything, the island pleasantly surprised us.
That was largely because Cat Ba was really quiet — we genuinely loved the peace and tranquility.
Where Is Cat Ba in Vietnam?
Cat Ba is located about 150 kilometers east of Hanoi in the Gulf of Tonkin. It’s the largest island in Vietnam’s famous Halong Bay.
On this map, we’ve marked where Cat Ba is located in Vietnam. You can also see the most important sights on the island.
The Best Things to Do on Cat Ba
Here are our seven top highlights on Cat Ba. Let’s get into it!
Boat Tour into Halong Bay
What you need to know: Halong Bay is the main reason most people travel to Cat Ba. Many boat tours into Halong Bay depart from here, and from Cat Ba your cruise first passes through the lesser-known Lan Ha Bay — which looks every bit as spectacular as Halong Bay — before continuing into the bay itself.
Is it worth it? Absolutely! We went for a day trip with kayaking from Cat Ba and had a fantastic time on the water.
Halong Bay Day Tour with Kayaking from Cat Ba
Personal tip: We’ve put together all our tips for Halong Bay in a separate article: read our full Halong Bay guide here.
Cat Ba National Park
What you need to know: The majority of Cat Ba island is national park — and it’s seriously stunning. The top highlights are the Trung Trang Cave and the Đỉnh Ngự Lâm viewpoint, which are close to each other. The national park also has a few beautiful, lesser-known hiking trails worth exploring.
Is it worth it? Oh yes. In good weather, the viewpoint alone makes the trip worthwhile.
Personal tip: You can easily reach the viewpoint and Trung Trang Cave by scooter. If you’d also like to hike, your best bet is to book a full-day tour of Cat Ba National Park.
Rock Trail
What you need to know: The Rock Trail is a short hiking path along the southern coast of Cat Ba. It runs from Cat Co 1 Beach to Cat Co 3 Beach and is about one kilometer long. The path is easy to walk and offers great views of the sea, several beaches, and the small islands just off Cat Ba.
Is it worth it? Definitely. The Rock Trail is the perfect spot for a leisurely stroll on Cat Ba.
Beaches of Cat Ba
What you need to know: Cat Ba has several beautiful sandy beaches, all close to the center. They make for a great outing when the sun’s out. We’ve listed the main ones below.
Is it worth it? Kind of. The beaches are actually really nice, but unfortunately most of them have a tall hotel building that ruins the panorama.
Personal tip: If you want to swim, the best time to visit Cat Ba is between May and November, when the water temperature is pleasant.
The most beautiful beaches on Cat Ba (with links to Google Maps)
Cat Co 1 Beach (on the Rock Trail)
Cat Co 3 Beach (on the Rock Trail)
Honestly, we don’t have a strong preference for any one beach over another — in our experience, they’re all pretty comparable, so just pick whichever is closest.
Cat Ba Viewpoint
What you need to know: Right in the center of Cat Ba there’s a viewpoint you reach by climbing a short flight of steps — the climb takes under ten minutes, starting across from the Secret Garden Restaurant. At the top stands a structure that’s seen better days.
Is it worth it? Not really. The Cat Ba viewpoint is pretty overgrown, so the vista isn’t all that impressive. Some of the steps are damaged too.
Personal tip: If you’re planning your trip with Google Maps and looking for the viewpoint, don’t search for Cat Ba City Viewpoint — search for Biểu Tượng Đảo Cát Bà instead, which is the correct one.
Cat Ba Cable Car
What you need to know: Probably the most modern attraction on Cat Ba is the cable car, which connects the island to mainland Vietnam — or more precisely, to Cat Hai, an island linked to the mainland by a bridge. It’s also a cool way to arrive on Cat Ba.
Is it worth it? We can’t say for certain since we arrived by boat — see the Getting There from Hanoi section below. But the views from the cable car are sure to be spectacular!
Tickets: A cable car ride costs just 50,000 VND. You can find full ticket and opening hours info on the Sunworld website (this is the company that operates all cable cars in Vietnam, including the one to Fansipan Mountain).
Rock Climbing
What you need to know: Less of a sight and more of an activity, rock climbing is a must-mention when it comes to things to do on Cat Ba. The island has some really cool spots for it. You can book a session through your accommodation or at one of the travel agencies in town.
Is it worth it? If you love climbing and are an adrenaline junkie, absolutely!
How Many Days Should You Plan for Cat Ba?
We recommend setting aside 1.5 days for Cat Ba. Use the full day for a day trip into Halong Bay, and the half day to explore the island’s own attractions.
Our Hotel Tips for Cat Ba
Cat Ba has a solid range of great places to stay. Here are our recommendations across every price range:
Good and affordable
Better
Getting to Cat Ba from Hanoi
The easiest and fastest way to reach Cat Ba is from Hanoi. The total journey takes just over three hours. First, you take a bus from Hanoi to the port on Cat Hai (about two hours).
From there, you board the ferry or speedboat to Cat Ba (about ten minutes), and from the ferry terminal it’s another 30–40 minutes by bus to the center of Cat Ba.
We booked all transportation together through our hotel in Hanoi and paid 300 VND (about 12 euros). We were picked up from our accommodation and dropped off right in front of our hotel on Cat Ba.
Alternatively, you can also book the connection through 12goasia.
If you want to travel to Cat Ba by cable car, it’s best to book the connection through your accommodation to make sure you also get a bus from Hanoi that takes you to the cable car terminal.
Getting There from Other Places in Vietnam
On your road trip through Vietnam, you can also reach Cat Ba directly from other destinations — for example from the Ha Giang Loop, from Ninh Binh, or from Sapa.
You can book bus connections through 12goasia or directly through your accommodation.
Best Time to Visit Cat Ba in Vietnam
The best time to visit Cat Ba is during May, September, October, and November. Rainfall is low, the sun shines most of the time, it’s warm, and the water is great for swimming.
During the summer months of June through August, expect some rain — but Cat Ba stays pleasantly warm.
Winter from December through February is fairly cold and the sky is usually overcast. On the plus side, there are fewer visitors and it rarely rains.
The months of March and April are a step up from winter — it gets warmer and the sun comes out more frequently.
