Cat Ba Island is located about 3-4 hours from the capital of Hanoi, Vietnam. It’s a picturesque island good for anyone looking to escape the hustle and bustle of crazy capital. It’s the largest island in the Ha Long Bay region and the perfect place for you to wind down for 3 days before heading to your next destination.
Most people take a 1 – 3 day cruise package from the capital, but I would highly recommend going the do it yourself route. 3 days on a boat gets repetitive, especially for little ones. By skipping the 3 day cruise, you will get to experience the town and see more of what Cat Ba has to offer. It’s also a great place for kids. Isabel absolutely loved our time in Cat Ba!
3 Day Itinerary for Families in Cat Ba
Day 1: Explore the town and go to the beaches
Day 2: Take a day cruise through Lan Ha Bay
Day 3: Hike in Cat Ba National Park and visit the caves
How to get to Cat Ba Island
Depending on where you are coming from, the best ways to get to Cat Ba are either by flight or by bus + ferry.
If coming from Hanoi, I think the best way to get to Cat Ba is by bus + ferry. The bus will take you about 3 hours and will arrive in Haiphong. From there you will take a 1 hour ferry to Cat Ba Island.
If coming from farther away, you can take a fight directly to Cat Ba International Airport (HPH). It will save you time, money and hassle in the long run.
It is fairly easy to figure out for yourself if you want to save money, but we chose to book a ticket through Daichii Bus which included the bus to Haiphong and the ferry transfer to Cat Ba. I liked this because it picked us up from our hotel in Hanoi and dropped us off at our hotel in Cat Ba.
When to go to Cat Ba Island
If you are looking for the most pleasant weather, the best time to go to Cat Ba would be September – November. But, with the best weather, it also means more tourists. That’s why I would recommend visiting the island between January and March. The days are warm and the nights are cool.
We visited in mid-March and the weather was great. It’s especially great weather if you’re travelling with a baby or toddler who needs to be carried – it won’t be too hot to baby wear.
The water was a little bit chilly at this time, so if you don’t like that, then stick to September – November.
DAY 1: Explore the town & Cat Co Beaches
The town center of Cat Ba is small and easily walkable. You can stroll along the water or stroll past all the shops and browse. There are also many restaurants along this strip to grab a bite to eat. Depending on when you arrive, you can spend a lot or a little time in the town. Just make sure you save enough time to go to the beach!
There are actually 3 beaches in Cat Ba – Cat Co 1, 2 and 3. You can find them about 10 minutes walking from the town center. They are small beaches but boast good views and provide a fun and relaxing day. Each beach has a resort or two, but all of the beaches are public, so don’t let them scare you away!
Cat Co 3
Cat Ba’s Cat Co 3 beach is the closest, and the best for activities. It’s a good place to start because there is a walking trail that leads to Cat Co 1. The trail or ‘cliff walk’ is a leisure stroll through absolutely stunning views of the sea.
Our Story: This is where Isabel first touched the water in Vietnam. She was so excited to see the water walking in. Her arms were flailing, and she was squealing trying to jump out of my arms to get to it. But, as soon as she touched it with her feet she was scared out of her mind! She clung to me the whole rest of the evening.
Cat Co 1
Cat Co 1 has the biggest beach and is situated under a mountain. It’s a good place to grab a shower from the sand if you need it before heading back to your hotel.
Cat Co 2
Cat Co 2 is in a cove and has a lot of shade. It is the prettiest beach (I think) and provides the most tranquil beach experience out of the 3.
When you’ve had enough of the beach, I recommend watching the sunset over the small lake on the north side of the town (it’s technically not really a lake, just a section of the bay that has been dammed – but you’ll know what I mean when you see it). The view is just fantastic.
DAY 2: Cruise through Lan Ha Bay
The Lan Ha Bay portion of Ha Long Bay is incredibly beautiful. Lucky for you, it’s also the section that Cat Ba Island sits on. The best way to see it is by taking a day cruise on a traditional junk boat. You’ll get to sail past huge limestone rocks, see the traditional fishing village, spend some time kayaking through caves, swim on 3 Peaches Beach and hike on Monkey island.
For all the information you need to know about booking a day cruise, what to bring, and my experience check out this post.
Day 3: Hike in Cat Ba National Park & adventure into a cave
Today you’ll want to rent a motorbike. You can do this from your hotel or just on the street.
Hiking in Cat Ba National Park
Hop on and cruise through the town and up about 20 minutes to Cat Ba National Park. You will pass Hospital Cave and Trung Trang Cave on the way – but save them for your way back.
The Cat Ba National Park is a mountainous jungle, with a great hiking trail. It offers amazing panoramic views from the top. It can be an exhausting hike, but the views are well worth it! There are a couple sections where the trail can be a bit rough through the limestone, so make sure you have your tennis shoes.
For everything you need to know about hiking in Cat Ba National Park, check out this post.
Drive the coast
After the long hike in the National Park, hop back on the motorbike and continue on the road the way you were going instead of going straight back to the caves. Keep going until you reach the end of the road at the port (it will be a few miles).
This ride is incredibly scenic. You’ll pass beautiful coastline and see a wonderful view of the bay. If you’re up for more walking, there is a ridge that you can take a cliffside walk on by the water. It’s absolutely beautiful.
After this, turn around and head back toward the caves.
The Caves
There are two caves you can choose to visit – Hospital Cave and Trung Trang Cave. You can choose to visit just one, or if you have time visit both. We chose to visit Hospital Cave. It was a secret hospital during the Vietnam War (or American War as they call it) which was safe from bombings.
You’ll have to pay 5,000 dong to park across the street OR just park right on the walkway to the cave for free (if you can). There is also a fee of 40,000 dong per person to enter the cave (Isabel/babies are free).
In all honesty, I wouldn’t do this again. It was definitely a good experience and a little bit sad to see (especially being American), but it really is just open rooms inside a cave. None of the displays are fully set up, and half of them were completely barren. If you do choose to go, you can hire a guide to walk you through if you wish.
Since we didn’t go to Trung Trang Cave, I can’t really give you a report, but I would imagine it would have to be a little bit better than Hospital Cave.
Where to Stay on Cat Ba Island
We tried a couple different places for accommodation. By far the best one for our family was Le Pont Hotel. It was extremely affordable, the beds were comfortable, the bathrooms were clean, and the receptionists were friendly. They can arrange motorbike rentals, meals, and any day trips or bus tickets.
Our Story: Across the street from the hotel is a karaoke place. We happened to get the room that faced it, and Isabel could not have loved looking out at the neon lights more. Thank goodness the hotel had blackout curtains that shut it out when we went to bed, otherwise that girl would have looked at the lights all night.
Where to Eat
Quán phở bò Nam Định – This small street restaurant was the best place that we ate on the island. It’s on Núi Ngọc street (the same street as Le Pont Hotel). The Pho is out of the world and the fried rice is equally as good. You will not regret eating here.
If you have any questions about planning your time in Cat Ba, make sure to leave it in the comments below! And for more destination guides, or to follow our adventures around the world make sure to subscribe!