Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba Island

The quieter southern twin of Ha Long: kayak between karst islands to small beaches, hike in the forest home of a rare langur, and come back to a lively island town.

Area

Ha Long & the coast

Start from

Hanoi

Distance

about 150 km east

Time needed

2–3 days

Best season

April – October for swimming; spring and autumn best

Difficulty

Moderate

Transport

Bus and ferry, or combined bus-boat tickets from Hanoi

Tickets & rules

National park entry fee; bay fees included in boat tours

Why go

Lan Ha Bay has the same limestone islands and emerald water as Ha Long, with fewer boats. It lies off the south-eastern coast of Cat Ba Island, the largest island in the archipelago, and the experience is different: you can stay on land, take a day boat and kayak, then spend the evening in Cat Ba town eating seafood by the harbour.

Cat Ba is also green and wild. Much of it is a national park of forested hills, with hiking trails and good views.

Two or three days here is a bay trip with more freedom and fewer crowds.

The story

Lan Ha has around 300 islands and many small, secluded beaches, some reachable only by kayak. Fish farms and floating homes of fishing families dot the sheltered water.

Cat Ba National Park was established in 1986. It protects forests, mangroves and caves and is home to the Cat Ba langur, also called the golden-headed langur, one of the rarest primates on earth. Only a small population, numbering in the tens or low hundreds, survives in the wild, almost all on this island. Conservation projects have helped the numbers recover slowly.

Hospital Cave on Cat Ba is a reminder of a harder era: during the war, a large cave was turned into a secret hospital with concrete rooms, used as a refuge and a field clinic. It can be visited.

Cannon Fort, a hilltop above town, has old gun emplacements and one of the best viewpoints over the bay and the town.

Getting there

Bus-and-boat combination tickets run from Hanoi to Cat Ba town, via Hai Phong and a short ferry or speedboat crossing; the journey takes about 3.5–4 hours. Boats in Lan Ha leave from Cat Ba town or Ben Beo pier.

Motorbikes can be rented on the island, but roads are hilly and winding.

A suggested plan

1. Day 1Travel from Hanoi, walk the seafront and climb to Cannon Fort for sunset.
2. Day 2, morningBoat trip into Lan Ha Bay with kayaking.
3. Day 2, afternoonSwim at a small beach, then return for a seafood dinner.
4. Day 3, morningHike in Cat Ba National Park and visit Hospital Cave.
5. Day 3, afternoonTravel back to Hanoi.

Where to stay

Cat Ba town has many hotels and guesthouses; it is busy and noisy in summer. Quieter homestays and resorts lie out on the island or on beaches near town.

Good to know

• Visit outside Vietnamese summer holidays (June–August) for a calmer island.
• Bring cash; ATMs exist but can be unreliable.
• Choose a boat tour that includes kayaking and a small number of passengers.
• The national park trail can be muddy; wear good shoes.