Cat Ba Island in Vietnam is the perfect place as a stopover for a Halong Bay tour. You will escape Hanoi and have the possibility to arrange a cheaper Halong bay tour. Cat Ba island is a chilled-out place with a few small, though nice beaches, a rich history, and there are some spots with good nightlife, which are pretty cheap!
During the wars, the island of Cat Ba was a strategic lookout point. During the bombing, local residents hid among the island’s many caves. The cave hospital is one of the impressive leftovers.
What to do on Cat Ba Island
Besides the Halong Bay tours, Cat Ba Island has many more things to offer:
- Visit a pearl farm
- Rent a scooter and explore the island.
- Visit the Canon Fort (the old defense base)
- Go get the cheapest food at a market in town
- Chill at the few beaches
- Visit the cave hospital
- Have a great night out
How to Get to Cat Ba Island
Visit Cat Ba Island if you want to see Ha Long Bay but you’re traveling on a cheaper budget. Before heading to Cat Ba, make sure to get to Hanoi first!
From Hanoi, you will have to take the bus to Haiphong, which takes around 2.5 hours. From there, take the ferry to Cat Ba and the bus to Cat Ba town (1 hour). The ferry costs you 70K Dong (~ $3) for a one-way ticket. The boat timetable will change every now and then.
After visiting the island, take the bus + boat + bus to the beautiful Tam Coc, Ninh Binh.
Where to Stay
Make sure to stay near the pier in Cat Ba Town; this is where the food and drinks are in Cat Ba. From homestays on private beaches to big rooms for very affordable prices, there are plenty of options to choose from when traveling to Cat Ba Island.
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I loved your detailed blog and i am sure it would be helpful for so many including me. Just wanted to know, the picture you have in blog( with selfie stick both of you and the bench is along side) it looked one of the best views. Could you please describe where it is actually. Thanks
Thank you! I’m honestly not sure what the name of the point was (as this was 5 years ago), but it’s the viewpoint at Cat Ba village.