Cat Ba Island
Travelers come to Cat Ba Island for limestone karsts, national park hikes, caves and kayaking on Lan Ha Bay.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Cat Ba Island is the largest of about 367 islands in the Cat Ba Archipelago, on the southeastern edge of Lan Ha Bay in northern Vietnam. It belongs administratively to Hai Phong city, and Cat Ba town sits about 50 km from Hai Phong and 150 km from Hanoi. The island is known for its limestone karsts. The archipelago has been a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2004, and part of a World Heritage Site since 2023. Cat Ba National Park covers much of the interior and is home to the Cat Ba langur, an endangered primate found only on this island.
Cat Ba is often described as Vietnam's adventure-tourism capital, with kayaking, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing and deep water soloing on offer. Many visitors come on Ha Long Bay cruises or from Hai Phong and Hanoi. Scheduled ferries and barges run from the mainland, carrying cars, trucks and passengers. Sandy beaches sit a short walk from town, and the island has many caves to explore.
Cat Ba Island in five
- Choose Lan Ha Bay for quieter waterBoats from Cat Ba Town cruise Lan Ha Bay, where kayaking and swimming stops see fewer vessels than the central Ha Long route. Compare the two before you pay for a cruise.Cat Ba or Ha Long Bay
- Give the national park a half dayNearly half the island is a national park. It opens 7:00 to 17:00, and fees depend on the route, so decide between a short summit trail and the full park ticket at the gate.Cat Ba National Park guide
- Plan the crossing, not just the roadThe island is reached by ferry or boat from the Hai Phong side. Hai Phong's city site notes long waits at ferry terminals in peak season, so avoid weekend rush hours.Things to do in Cat Ba
- Keep dates flexible from June to AugustMonsoon weather makes boat trips unpredictable in those months, and storms can cancel sailings. Book changeable rates and keep a spare day.Best time to visit Vietnam
- Base in town or at the beachesCat Ba Town has the harbor, ferries and restaurants. The three Cat Co beaches are a short ride away, and villages inland suit slower stays. Pick by how you will spend evenings.
Things to do in Cat Ba Island
See all attractions in Cat Ba Island
Need to know
- Airport
- Cat Bi (HPH) in Hai Phong; Noi Bai (HAN) in Hanoi
- Getting there
- Road to the Hai Phong coast, then ferry or boat to the island
- Getting around
- Taxi, motorbike taxi and rentals; boats for the bays
- Best base
- Cat Ba Town; Cat Co beaches for sand
- Time needed
- 2 days, 1 night; 3 with Lan Ha kayaking
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCloudy8 rainy daysHigh19°Low16°Cool, mistyJanuaryCloudy
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 43 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, misty
- FebruaryCloudy7 rainy daysHigh19°Low17°Cool, mistyFebruaryCloudy
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 39 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, misty
- MarchCloudy11 rainy daysHigh22°Low19°MildMarchCloudy
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 46 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
- AprilRain12 rainy daysHigh25°Low22°Warm, clearAprilRain
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 71 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, clear
- MayRain18 rainy daysHigh28°Low25°Warm, sunnyMayRain
Mixed
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 180 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, sunny
- JuneRain21 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh30°Low27°Hot, stormsJuneRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 254 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, storms
- JulyRain22 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh30°Low27°Storm riskJulyRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 354 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Storm risk
- AugustRain26 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh30°Low27°Storm riskAugustRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 497 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Storm risk
- SeptemberRain22 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°WarmSeptemberRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 398 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm
- OctoberRain15 rainy daysHigh27°Low24°ClearOctoberRain
Good
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 187 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Clear
- NovemberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh24°Low21°Clear, coolNovemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 51 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Clear, cool
- DecemberPartly cloudy5 rainy daysHigh20°Low17°CoolDecemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 22 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool
Average daily high and low in Cat Ba, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Cat Ba Island
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
26
- Feels like
- 28°
- Humidity
- 80%
- Wind
- 29 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 69%
Cat Ba Island
11:24 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today28°24°69%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 28°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 69%.
- Wed29°26°51%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 51%.
- Thu28°25°76%Thursday: Drizzle. High 28°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 76%.
- Fri28°24°73%Friday: Thunderstorms. High 28°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 73%.
- Sat29°23°88%Saturday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 88%.
- Sun28°22°89%Sunday: Rain. High 28°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 89%.
- Mon26°18°86%Monday: Rain. High 26°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 86%.
Updated 08:19 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 25,744 VND
Rates from Nov 3, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Lan Ha Bayhalf day to overnight by boatQuieter karsts, lagoons and kayak stops reached by boat from Cat Ba Town.
- Monkey Islandshort boat ride from Cat Ba TownA small island about 1 km from town with beaches for swimming and kayaking.
- Bai Tu Long Baya separate cruise from the Quang Ninh coastA quieter bay northeast of Ha Long with smaller karsts and fewer boats.Read the guide
Before you go to Cat Ba Island
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Cat Ba Island, checked
- Cat Ba National Park opens 7:00 to 17:00; the full-park ticket is 160,000 VND for adults, shorter routes 80,000 to 120,000 VND, ages 6 to 14 pay half.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around Cat Ba Island
Overnight cruises on the classic route
Read the guideBai Tu Long BayThe quieter bay northeast of Ha Long
Read the guideHaiphongPort city and mainland gateway to Cat Ba
Read the guideHanoi travel guideThe usual starting point
Read the guideAll of VietnamEntry, seasons, regions and money
Read the guideCat Ba Island FAQ
Is Cat Ba Island worth visiting?
Yes, if you want hiking, kayaking and a base for Lan Ha Bay instead of a cruise cabin. It is less suited to travelers who want a single scenic day, since the crossing takes real time on each end.
How many days do you need on Cat Ba?
Two days and one night covers a park hike and a Lan Ha boat day. Three days lets you split the park and bay across slower days and keep one for rain or a late ferry.
Is Cat Ba better than Ha Long Bay?
They suit different trips. Cat Ba is a base with trails and beaches and quieter Lan Ha waters, while the Ha Long route is the classic overnight cruise. Many trips combine a Cat Ba stay with one night afloat.
How do you get to Cat Ba from Hanoi?
By road to the Hai Phong coast, then a ferry or boat across to the island. Many operators sell a bundled bus and boat ticket; independent travelers connect the pieces themselves. Check the current pier and last departure before you travel.
When is the best time to visit Cat Ba?
April, May, October and November balance clear weather and calmer seas. June to August is hot with storm risk and sailings can be canceled, while December to March is cool and misty.