A small island just off the North West coast, Cat Ba is one of our favourite places in Vietnam. Most people just visit to explore Lan Ha Bay, a budget friendly alternative to Halong Bay. But with so many awesome things to do in Cat Ba Island we recommend you stay a while.

Dominating the Gulf of Tonkin, Cat Ba is the largest of 367 islands making up the Cat Ba Archipelago. And it is beautiful.

The topography is made up of sheltered bays dotted along sweeping coastlines with lush green forest flowing over steep hills and valleys.

Between the expansive jungle of Cat Ba National Park, the gorgeous sandy beaches and more adventure activities than you can shake a stick at, it can actually be quite difficult to decide on what to do in Cat Ba.

But don’t worry, we’re going to give you all the information you need to plan an unforgettable trip to Cat Ba Island, Vietnam.

Including the best time to go, what to pack, how to get to Cat Ba Island and the best Cat Ba accommodation.

Before we dive into all the awesome things to do in Cat Ba Island, I need to tell you that the best way of exploring it is by hiring a motorbike.

If you haven’t hired a motorbike in South East Asia before, Cat Ba is good place to start.

There aren’t many roads so it would be quite difficult to get lost. And the roads are quiet, save for the odd coach.

They’re not in the best condition but fine if you pay attention, there’s just quite a few pot holes. Oh and some goats on the roads you need to watch out for.  You can rent a automatic motorbike for around 100,000 - 150.000 VND  easily from most hotels in Cat Ba Town. Helmets are provided and the bikes are in pretty good condition. The fuel for the day cost us roughly 50,000 VND (2.60USD).

Things To Do in Cat Ba Island

Cat Ba National Park Hike

Top of the list for things to do in Cat Ba Island. The thick green jungle of Cat Ba National Park covers almost half of the entire island.

It was designated a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve in 2004. And amongst many other wildlife is home to the endangered Cat Ba Langur. 

If you’ve never heard of the Cat Ba Langur before, it’s a small monkey. They have golden hair and a really long tail.

But you would have to be very lucky to see one because there are only around 60 of them remaining. Making them the world’s most endangered primates.

If you want to do a Cat Ba National Park hike there are a couple of options. The first one is take a short independent Cat Ba hike to Ngu Lam Peak.

It is 3.6km and depending on your fitness levels should take around 45 minutes up and 30 minutes down.

The entrance fee to Cat Ba National Park is 40,000 VND ($1.75USD/£1.35GBP). The start of the trail is obvious and paths are clearly marked so don’t need a guide for the short trek.

Cat Ba National Park opens at 8am and you should go early to beat the heat and crowds. 

Cat Ba Beach

If you hire a motorbike you can find a few off the beaten track beaches in Cat Ba.

But other than that, the main ones are located at the South of the island near Cat Ba town. Unimaginatively, they are called Cat Co beach 1, 2, 3 or Tung Thu beach...

There’s a walkway that joins the largest Cat Ba Beach 1 with smaller Cat Ba Beach 3 and makes for a nice stroll. Don’t ask us why, but Cat Ba beaches are not in a linear order.

Our favourite was Cat Ba beach 2, it’s quieter so perfect for a spot of swimming and an afternoon nap if that is on your list of what to do in Cat Ba.

Lan Ha Bay Cruise

The striking jagged limestone rock formations protruding dramatically from the still, emerald-green waters are otherworldly. Like a postcard from another planet. Of all the things to do in Cat Ba Island, make exploring Lan Ha Bay from the water a priority. 

Cruising the hundreds of islets and secluded beaches in Lan Ha Bay from Cat Ba island is a great alternative to the more expensive prices of a Halong Bay boat tour. Being neighbouring bays, there really is little difference in the landscape.

There are different options for taking a Lan Ha Bay cruise. You can choose 2 days/1 night or 3 days/2 nights, sleeping out on the water amidst the incredible sunrises and sunsets. Or you can just opt for a single day Lan Ha Bay Cruise with Catba Wander Tour.

Cat Ba Hospital Cave

If you are interested in Vietnamese history, particularly around the Vietnam War then you will find a trip to the Hospital Cave interesting.

It’s not at all enjoyable, in the sense that it quite literally was a hospital used to treat the wounded for over 10 years, right up to 1975.

There’s no natural light so it is dark, damp and depressing.

But even with it’s bleakness, the fact that a three story complex, with a cinema and swimming pool, was built inside a cave is impressive. The creepy mannequin soldiers that have been added are not. 

It’s one of the quicker things to do in Cat Ba Island. You’ll probably be in there less than 30 minutes, as I say it’s pretty miserable.

It opens at 7am and is around 10km from Cat Ba town. Entrance price is 40,000 VND ($1.75USD/£1.35GBP) and 10,000 VND ($0.45USD/£0.35GBP) to park. There isn’t any information there so if you want to learn more about the history of Cat Ba Island in the Vietnam war you will need to hire a local guide. In peak season there are usually some knocking around but in low season it’s best to organise one beforehand in Cat Ba town.

Trung Trang Cave

Located in Trung Trang Valley about 15km north of Cat Ba town, Trung Trang cave is one of the more unique and maybe slightly creepy things to do in Cat Ba Island, Vietnam. Known locally as ‘gold treasure’, Trung Trang Cave is around 300m in size.

The thousands upon thousands of natural stalactites make for an impressive sight. But with its pitch black ecosystem and cave dwelling critters, Trung Trang Cave is definitely not one for the feint hearted.

You get free entrance with a Cat Ba National Park entry ticket and can go in there and explore independently. 

Butterfly Valley

An isolated area at the heart of the island, if you are planning on hiring a motorbike, Butterfly Valley or Liên Minh is well worth a mention for things to do in Cat Ba Island, Vietnam.  And there are a few butterflies, just don’t expect the place to be inundated with them. The roads are quite narrow and there’s quite a few twists and turns so do be careful on route. It’s a great place for having a little wander while taking in the lush greenery of Cat Ba Island. However the main reason people head that way is for the routes in the crags…

Cat Ba Rock Climbing

Owing to the abundance of overhung and steep limestone rocks, Butterfly Valley is is where to come for adventurous things to do in Cat Ba. It’s a playground for rock climbers. If you are an experienced climber, you can simply buy a permit, rent some gear if you don’t have yours with you and off you go. Or you can check out with Catba Pathfinder Tour.

Cat Ba Kayaking

If you are heading out on a Lan Ha Bay cruise, it’s likely that your tour package with include an option of kayaking. For some of the more secluded parts of Lan Ha Bay, going by kayak is the only way to reach them.

Cat Ba Snorkelling

There is another stunning side to Cat Ba Island, Vietnam, that is not immediately visible when you arrive. And that is the underwater world. 

Just as majestic as the karst limestones protruding from the sea, they create a visual wonder below the surface.

For a snorkelling the water is clearest between May and September. That’s when you will be able to see the coral reef and marine life most clearly.

Monkey Island

Another favourite thing to do in Cat Ba Island is take a side trip to Monkey Island or Cat Dua Island to give it it’s official name.

And if you are doing one of the multi day Lan Ha Bay cruises, a stop off at Monkey Island will no doubt already be on your Cat Ba Island itinerary.

To be honest it’s quite sad to see the monkeys have clearly been encouraged to scavenge for human food.

Under no circumstances should you feed them or let your guard down with snacks around. Watch out for them too as they can be aggressive.

But spotting the monkeys isn’t all there is to Cat Dua Island. In fact the star of the show is the short hike that takes you to the peak of the island.

The views over Lan Ha bay are insane. Make sure you’re wearing appropriate footwear i.e. not flip flops.

Viet Hai Fishing Village

If you’re looking to experience some local culture as one of your things to do in Cat Ba Island, Vietnam, a visit to Viet Hai fishing village might be right up your street.

It’s a chance to experience a much more peaceful and tranquil side to tourist heavy boats of Lan Ha Bay.

Bioluminescent plankton

If you’ve never heard of bioluminescent plankton, they are tiny luminous sparkles that dance with the movement of the water.

And taking a night time dip to experience this magical phenomenon simply had to make our things to do in Cat Ba Island list.

Dependent on the route, the best way to see bioluminescent plankton in Cat Ba is if you are on a multiday Lan Ha Bay cruise.

Sunset At Cannon Fort Cat Ba

Witnessing the magic of sunset from stop Cannon Fort Cat Ba was one of our all time favourite things to do in Cat Ba Island.

Built in 1942, it was first used by the Japanese during World War II, then later by the Vietnamese during the Vietnam War.

It has a strategic position 177m above the sea and you can see right out across Lan Ha Bay.

How Many Days To Stay?

The mistake most visitors make is just using Cat Ba Island as a hop on and off for the Lan Ha Bay cruises and not allowing enough time to explore the actual island. To comfortably fit in these things to do in Cat Ba Island, you want to allow yourself 3 days minimum.  Then if you choose to do a multi-day Lan Ha Bay cruise and camp out overnight on the water, add those days on top. Depending on where you are coming from, be sure to take into account your travel time in getting to and from the island.

Cat Ba Island Accommodation

From budget hostels to mid range hotels, eco lodges and luxury villas, there’s a varied range of Cat Ba Island accommodation.

When you are searching for where to stay in Cat Ba Island bear in mind that some hotels include motorbike rentals in the price.

And it is also worth having an idea whether you would prefer to be in Cat Ba town, or opt for somewhere with more beautiful natural surroundings. 

Bear in mind that Cat Ba Island is getting increasingly more popular meaning the best accommodation tends to get booked up in advance. To avoid disappointment make sure you reserve yours early.

Below are our top choices of where to stay on Cat Ba Island is The paddy Catba for chill and Catba Buffalo Hostel for more partying..