Located in Northern Vietnam in Southeast Asia, Cat Ba Island is the largest of the 365 islands spanning 100 square miles that comprise the Cat Ba Archipelago. The island has a surface area of 110 square miles and maintains the dramatic and rugged features of Ha Long Bay.
Cat Ba Island means “Women’s Island”. According to the legend many centuries ago, three women of the Tran Dynasty got killed and their bodies floated to Cat Ba Island. Each body washed up on a different beach where the locals built a temple for each woman, and the island soon became known as Cat Ba.
Cat Ba Island has experienced a tourism surge in recent years. Along with its lovely bay, the central hub of Cat Ba Town is now framed by a chain of low-rise concrete hotels along its beaches, but the rest of the island is largely untouched. This is one of the reasons why the island is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Southeast Asia. Are you ready for the next island adventure in Vietnam? Here is the Cat Ba Island Travel Guide to help you plan.
The best time to visit Cat Ba Island
The hot summer season on the island is from June to August when you can enjoy most water sports. The milder weather starts from October until March. Cat Ba Island has four seasons, the rainy season is from May to September and the dry season is from November to March. Most travelers from different parts of the world suggest that the very best months to visit the island are March, April, September, and October.
Cat Ba Island Map
How to get to Cat Ba Island
From Hanoi
Take a bus from Hanoi highways going to Cat Ba Island (3-5 hours)
Common Bus Operators
- Good Morning Cat Ba
- Orient Travel
- Daiichi Travel
- Cát Bà Express
From Halong Bay
From Halong Bay, the best way to get to the island is to take a ferry going to the northern side of the island (an hour)
Take a taxi to Cat Ba town
From there you can take a speedboat or ferry going to the island
Things you don’t wanna miss
- Enjoy native dishes
- Going on a cruise
- Visit some caves
- Visit Monkey Island
- Enjoy the sunset in Cannon Fort
- Visit Viet Hai village
- Enjoy the beach
Where to Eat
Seafood is very popular on Cat Ba Island. Some recommended restaurants offer great food that will bring the flavor of delicious meals from native to international cuisines including vegetarian dishes. Here are the top restaurants to enjoy the food in Cat Ba Island.
Where to stay
Cat Ba Island offers plenty of hotels and hostels to make your stay more comfortable. Most of them are located on the waterfront even though some hotels have recently opened a bit more inland. There are a lot of hotels that offer a luxurious experience on the island. Here are some of the best on the island.
- Cat Ba Island Resort & Spa
- Hotel Perle d’Orient Cat Ba
- Nam Cat Island Resort
- Sea Pearl Cat Ba Hotel
- Cat Ba Violet Hotel
- Cat Ba Thailand Hotel
- Monkey Island Resort
Where to eat?
- Nhà Hàng VQG Cát Bà
- Quang Anh Restaurant
- Catba Green
- Cat Ba Sweet Potato Homestay & Restaurant
- Yummy 2 Restaurant
- Quan Cat Ba
- Phoung Nhung Restaurant
10 of the Most Beautiful Islands in Asia
Asia is a continent that is home to beautiful natural landscapes, unique cultures, ancient architecture, and food. If you are looking for an island getaway, Asia is the perfect choice for you. Here is our list of the Top 10 Beautiful Islands in Asia.
- Sipadan Island
- Siargao Island
- Jeju Island
- Cat Ba Island
- Similan Islands
- Bangka Belitung Island
- Orchid Island
- Ubin Island
- Koh Rong Island
- Macleod Island
