A trip to Cat Ba
island can be done separately or in combination with a visit to Halong Bay.
Cat Ba Island is the largest island in the Cat Ba Archipelago that consists of
350 limestone outcrops adjacent to Halong
Bay. This is an oasis
where you can be gone for one or for several days. If you start from the Halong Bay
Wharf, it will take you
four hours by boat, with stopovers for swimming, visiting spectacular karst and
eating fresh seafood. You can contemplate the beautiful scenery of Halong Bay
before reaching the island. There is an
alternative way of getting to Cat Ba Island if you are pressed for time and
cannot take in Halong
Bay on your tour. You can
take an hydrofoil from the Hai Phong Seaport.
With an area of 356
square km, Cat Ba encompasses forested zones, coastal mangroves, freshwater
swamps, beaches, caves and waterfalls. In 1986, the Northeast side of the
island was designated a National Park and includes a protected marine zone. Cat
Ba Island supports a population of over 20,000 inhabitants most of whom live
off fishing or farming in and around Cat Ba Town. The town is small and ancient,
with clusters of fishing boats. It is an ideal spot to watch inspiring sunsets
across the harbor. You can even check out the catch-of-the-day in the early
morning as the fishing boats return to port. See cuttlefish dried over hot
charcoals, or stroll around the old town. It's a short hike from Cat Ba town
through a tunnel to Cat Co Beach where mountains form a throne-like picture
holding a marvelous sandy coast. You can even hike further along the beach to
reach the rockier Cat
Vang Beach.
As transportation in
and around the town is not well-developed, the easiest and best way to get to
the larger Trung Trang Cave with its many chambers, or to the National Park, or
to discover other beaches around the island is by motorbike. A tour guide will
be necessary to help you communicate with the local drivers and point out and
explain the many beautiful sites.
The National Park is
made up of stringy trees, thick undergrowth and slippery vines. In the Park
there is also a great view of an old French, now Vietnamese, farming village
from the top of the mountain and a wonderful lake in the middle of the Park
that takes a half day to reach.