What to do on Cat Ba at a glance
Cat Ba offers two kinds of days: on the water in Lan Ha Bay, and on land in the national park and along the coast. The list below is an editorial selection, not an official ranking. It is ordered by theme, not by quality.
Prices are for adults in 2026. Some places on this island have conflicting reports about whether they are open, so the entries say what is reported and where you should check first. The island is also the base for the classic cruises of Ha Long Bay, which have their own guide.
On the water (1 to 4)
Boats leave from the Ben Beo area. Pay the bay fee on top of the trip price unless the operator includes it.
1. Take a boat trip through Lan Ha Bay
The classic day on the water among limestone islands. One local operator lists a day tour at USD 32, with pickup at 8 am, a boat at about 8:30 am and a return at about 5 pm (March 2026). The sightseeing fee is VND 120,000 for adults.
Lan Ha Bay →2. Spend a night on the bay
The fee for sightseeing with one night is VND 400,000 for adults and VND 300,000 for children from 6. Two nights cost VND 600,000, three nights VND 650,000. These are fees, not cabin rates, and they are no general permit for any floating lodging. For comparing classic cruises, see Ha Long Bay cruises.
Where to stay →3. Paddle or row in the bay
Kayaks are uncertain in 2026. Two operators report a suspension, and they offer rowed bamboo boats or swimming instead. Another still lists kayaks in a day tour. Ask your operator which one applies on your day.
Kayaking rules →4. Ask for a stop at Monkey Island
Monkey Island (Cat Dua) has a beach, and tours leave from Ben Beo. A landing is not guaranteed, and a tourism site mentions a fee of VND 50,000 to 80,000 that is not a confirmed tariff. Do not feed or crowd the monkeys.
Monkey Island →Our picks: things to do
On the water in Lan Ha Bay, into the national park and out for dinner on a boat.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Lan Ha Bay evening boat tour with dinner
Four hours with hotel transfer, dinner, an English-speaking guide, life jackets and a bottle of water. Other drinks and tips are extra.
Check availability →
Lan Ha Bay full-day boat trip with kayaking
Eight hours with lunch, entry fees, kayaks, insurance and guides. Drinks and tips are not included.
Check availability →
Cat Ba National Park half-day guided hike
Four hours with an air-conditioned transfer, a local guide and water. National park and Trung Trang cave tickets are included.
Check availability →Cat Ba tours and day trips
Boat trips, hikes and overnight options around Cat Ba, with live prices and availability.
On land (5 to 10)
The park, a wartime cave, the beaches and the cable car.
5. Climb Ngu Lam Peak
The route from the park center via Kim Giao and Ngu Lam to Trung Trang costs VND 120,000 for adults and VND 60,000 for children from 6. A local guide puts the climb at about 1 hour, which depends on fitness and conditions. The park is about 8 to 9 miles (13 to 15 km) from town, 20 to 30 minutes by motorbike or taxi. The Cat Ba langur lives in the park and is critically endangered, so there is no sighting guarantee.
Cat Ba National Park →6. Walk to Viet Hai and take the boat back
For autumn and winter 2026 regional press describes a route from the park center via Ao Ech to Viet Hai and a boat into Lan Ha Bay. One visitor in the article reports over 5 hours on foot. Viet Hai is presented as a base for community tourism. Check the transfer, meals and the last boat back before you plan an overnight stay.
Park trails →7. Visit Hospital Cave (Hang Quan Y)
A wartime hospital set up inside a limestone cave on the road between town and the park. Do not confuse it with the natural Trung Trang Cave. Reports conflict: one operator calls it closed, while a hotel guide and regional press for autumn and winter 2026 describe visits. A travel portal reports VND 40,000 to 80,000 for adults and hours of about 8 am to 5 pm, which is not an official tariff. Ask your hotel before you go.
Park and caves →8. Swim at Cat Co beaches
A local traffic notice lists Cat Co 1, 2 and 3 as tourist beaches. Hotels stand at Cat Co 1, 2 and 3, so access for people who are not guests may vary. In summer 2026 buses with more than 16 seats, motorbikes and electric tourist vehicles were barred from the road to Cat Co 1 and 2 (30 April to 5 September, 5:30 am to 6:30 pm). That period has ended, so check for new rules.
Where to stay →9. Ride the cable car to the island
The line runs from Cat Hai to Phu Long, 3,955 m (2.5 miles), in about 10 to 15 minutes, and it ends away from Cat Ba Town, so a road transfer follows. An adult ticket is VND 70,000 one way (price list from 7 September 2026), and children under 1 m (3 ft 3 in) ride free. One source lists six departures from 9 am and a Tuesday closure, another suggests daily service.
Getting there →10. Walk a shorter park route
The fee table also lists Dong Ninh Tiep to Tien Duc and Phu Long through the mangrove forest to Thien Long, at VND 80,000 for adults and VND 40,000 for children from 6 each. These are separate route fees, so do not add them to the general park position of VND 160,000.
Fees by route →Cannon Fort: check before you go
The viewpoint at High Point 177 is a military area. One travel site describes visits in 2026 as closed, with no reopening date and no ticket sales, and another lists an entry fee. Treat the fort as unconfirmed, and do not build a sunset plan around it. Ask your hotel or a local operator for the situation on your day.
Bay trips do not run in unsuitable weather, and October is far drier than August, with 3.5 in (88 mm) against 14.2 in (361 mm) on long-term averages for Hai Phong.
Combine it into days
A bay day and a park day fit most stays of two or three nights. Do the boat trip on one day and keep the park for another, ideally with clear weather. For the long route to Viet Hai, start early. For the ferry and the cable car, read Hanoi to Cat Ba, and for the next stop north see Bai Tu Long Bay.
Cat Ba things to do: frequently asked questions
How many days do I need on Cat Ba?
Two or three nights cover a boat day and a park day. Add a night if you want the long walk to Viet Hai or an overnight on the bay.
Is Cannon Fort open?
Not reliably. One travel site calls visits in 2026 closed, another lists an entry fee. Check with your hotel on the day.
Can I swim at Cat Co beaches without staying at a hotel?
It may vary. The beaches are listed as tourist beaches, but hotels stand on them, and access for non-guests is not guaranteed. Ask locally.
Do I pay one price for the park and the bay?
No. The bay fee and the national park fees are separate. The park charges by trail, from VND 80,000 to VND 160,000 for adults in 2026.
When is the best time for hiking?
Hiking benefits from milder temperatures, and October to April is drier than May to September. Beach weather needs a check of the current sea and weather conditions.