Although Cat Ba has been discovered for a long time, the beautiful island has still kept intact its landscapes as it is isolated from other attractions in Halong. Belonging to Hai Phong City, the Cat Ba archipelago comprises of 367 small islands, of which the Cat Ba Island (also called Pearl Island) is the most well-known tourist site.

Blessed with the fresh air, beautiful beaches, and the primitive forests, Cat Ba Island is an ideal place not only for relaxing and entertainment but also for adventure. If you have the chance to visit Cat Ba one day, remember to experience 09 fascinating activities, as followings. Keep it as small travel tips whenever you come to Cat Ba.

1. Swimming in the sea-water

From the Cat Ba center, you can travel by foot; take a “xe-om” (motorbike taxi) or an electric bus to transfer to Cat Co 1, 2 and 3 beaches. All three beaches are not too large but secret and endowed with clear and clean water.

Cat Co 1 Beach seems to be the largest but the most crowded. Be careful to leave the beach after 18:30 because of the high tide.

2. Diving for watching the corals

If you have the chance to dive deeply into the seawater, you will be surprised by the charming beauty of the ocean world. Monkey Island Resort Center (on Monkey Island) offers diving tours for every tourist. You can join a diving tour at Monkey Island Resort Center (Monkey Island).

3. Admiring the scenery from Cannon Fort

Take a motorbike taxi to reach the Cannon Fort, where you can get the bird-eye panoramic view of Cat Ba Island. When the sun comes down, you can also admire the spectacular sunset of the island from the Cannon Fort.

4. Cruising around the Lan Ha Bay

Like Halong Bay, the Lan Ha Bay comprises lots of emerging islands as well as a cave system. However, many tourists prefer Lan Ha Bay for its intact beauty. At that time, you can visit some fishing villages or go kayaking on this wonderful Lan Ha Bay.

5. Visiting the Monkey Island

Monkey Island (the island with a variety of monkeys) is an ideal place for a group of tourists with children. Besides, the island offers the most beautiful beaches in Cat Ba Island

6. Rock climbing

Rock-climbing activity is suitable for those who have a sense of adventure. The favorite places for rock-climbing include Dau Be Island (after 2-hour-on-boat from Cat Ba Island), the mountain wall at Beo Harbor (2km from Cat Ba Center), the Three Peach Island (22km to the South of Cat Ba Island), etc.

7. Night-walk on the beach

You can hire an electric bus, bicycle or motorbike to walk along the coastal street to breathe the fresh air of Cat Ba night. However, no vehicles are permitted at the weekends, so you can only go on foot to explore the Cat Ba night.

8. Visiting Cat Ba National Park

The Cat Ba National Park blessed with the variety of diversified and primitive floras and faunas is a cannot-be-missed tourist site on your Cat Ba trip.

Visiting the national park, you can experience walking and cycling through the forest as well as observing the nature and the precious animals like the Red-Headed Monkeys, the Cat Ba langur, etc. In addition, you can taste the natural gifs presented by Cat Ba National Park including forest honey, Hong Hoa tea, etc. 

9. Exploring the system of grottoes and caves

Located in the Northwest mountain range, the Marble Cave is well-known to both domestic and foreign tourists. Thanks to its primitive beauty, the Marble Cave is a familiar stop-off for any visit to Cat Ba Island. Other attractive caves are Trung Trang and Quan Y caves with the various sized and shaped stalactites.