CÁT BÀ ISLAND, VIETNAM (2024) | 8 Awesome Things To Do On Cát Bà Island

What's up guys we're here on Cat Ba island in Vietnam and in this video we're going to show you our top things to do here so hope you enjoy it. Cat Ba is the largest island in Lan Ha Bay and Ha Long Bay located in northeastern Vietnam. The island is known for its stunning limestone mountains, lush green jungle, and pristine beaches. You can find a range of outdoor activities here which make a great alternative to the more expensive Ha Long Bay cruises. The central hub is Cat Ba town which is framed by a range of hotels, travel agencies, and restaurants. And while this is the most touristic part of the island the rest is largely untouched and wild with the scenic Lan Ha Bay just offshore. In this video we share seven of our favorite things to do on and around Cat Ba island. Now let's dive in. We are Zach and Ina. We make helpful videos about destinations around the world so you can easily plan your own adventures. Sitting on top of a hill high above the sea, Cannon Fort is the best spot to watch the sunrise and sunset from. With the shimmering waters of Lan Ha Bay and the lush green mountains serving as a backdrop the scene is nothing short of spectacular. There are a few different viewpoints overlooking the island but you can also find old military tunnels and bunkers as well as cannons that once protected this area. You can easily reach the fort from Cat Ba town as it's only a 5 to 10 minute motorbike ride or a 30 minute walk up the hill. Come early as the place is popular during sunset. Another historic site that you can't miss on the island is Hospital Cave. This bomb-proof hospital was built inside a cave during the second Indochina war and was in constant use until 1975. Inside you'll find 17 rooms across three floors including treatment zones, rehab areas, and even a movie room. Mannequins and artifacts are used to show the purpose of each room but other than that there aren't a lot of explanations. The cave is located about 10 kilometers or 6.2 miles to the north of Cat Ba town so it's best to rent a motorbike or bicycle to get here. With a range of secluded beaches one of the best things to do on a hot summer day is to jump into the clear waters. The beaches closest to Cat Ba town are the Cat Co beaches. All three are next to each other and have loungers for sunbathing, umbrellas, and stalls for drinks. Our favorite beach was Cat Co 1 as the water was calmer for swimming. Cat Co 3 and Cat Co 2 are also worth visiting and have their own unique vibes. However keep in mind that during summer weekends the Cat Co beaches get crowded with domestic tourists so you might want to look for a more peaceful spot on the island. So there's a nice little path here that actually connects beach 1 to 3. When you're up on the rocks it takes about 20 to 30 minutes and you have some great views along the way. Cai Beo fishing village is a floating village located off the shore of Ben Beo port. You can actually see the village from the port but to explore it you have to rent a small fishing boat or kayak. Home to about 300 floating houses the local people here make a living both by fishing and by raising fish. As you drift through Cai Beo's scenic waters you can admire the different homes and way of life. Some of the homes also welcome visitors. The most impressive cave on Cat Ba island is Chung Chang which stretches about 300 meters or 984 feet through the mountain. The entrance is located in Cat Ba national park so your ticket is also valid for hiking into other parts of the park which we'll explain in a moment. The cave houses a number of stalactites and stalagmites in various shapes making for a beautiful sight. There's a one-way path through the cave which sometimes gets very narrow but this means that you enter and exit through a different side of the cave. Similar to the hospital cave it's best to rent a motorbike or bicycle to get here. This is because it's about 15 kilometers or 9.3 miles to the north of Cat Ba town. Near Chung Chang cave you can find a scenic section of Cat Ba national park that is perfect for hiking. The most popular hiking trail is to the top of Niu La mountain for a panoramic island view. This trek is 3.8 kilometers or 2.4 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 168 meters or 551 feet. It takes between one and a half and two hours to complete. This hike is short but very steep in some places so make sure to bring enough water and proper hiking shoes. There's a small platform where you can stop at but we do recommend to just keep going in under five minutes until you get really to the summit because that's the most incredible view. From the top you can see how the national park covers almost half of Cat Ba island. The park is filled with enormous tropical rainforests, freshwater lakes, secluded sandy beaches, coral reefs and an abundance of rare species. There are other trails that take you deeper into the park but these are best done with a guide. We left a link to such a hiking tour in the description below the video. Our favorite thing to do from Cat Ba was to kayak through the scenic karst islands and limestone outcrops of Lan Ha Bay. This bay lies to the east of Cat Ba island and to the south of the famous Ha Long Bay. Geologically Lan Ha is an extension of Ha Long Bay but sits in a different province. As such you can find similar landscapes here but with fewer boats and crowds. We booked a self-guided half-day kayak tour with Blue Swimmer Outdoors which is located near Ben Bayou Pier. They arranged a boat drop-off and pickup, all the kayak gear and added the route with all the stops on our google maps. It was a peaceful experience in a secluded part of the bay. Alternatively you can also explore the bay on a guided cruise ship which usually includes a stop at a beach and the chance to get out on the water to kayak. We left a link for that tour in the description below the video as well. This was our top selection of things to do on Cat Ba island but of course there are many other activities that are worth checking out if you have more time. We've included a list of those on the screen here for you. If you're interested in a more luxurious overnight cruising experience then check out our Ha Long Bay video. We joined a two-day cruise and in the video we give a detailed overview of activities, sites, and amenities that you can expect on board a cruise. And if you're planning your Vietnam trip we recommend keeping things organized with our interactive travel planner. Find a discount code in the description below the video. We also included important links that you'll need for your Cat Ba trip in the description. We'll catch you on the next adventure.