Cat Ba Tours & Things to Do
Discover the best Cat Ba tours and things to do on Vietnam’s largest island, gateway to the stunning Lan Ha and Ha Long bays: cruise among thousands of emerald limestone karsts, kayak into hidden lagoons, swim in secret coves, trek the jungle of Cat Ba National Park, and watch the sunset over one of the world’s most beautiful bays. Compare top-rated experiences and plan the perfect trip.
Explore Cat Ba by interest
Whatever brings you to Cat Ba — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Top attractions in Cat Ba
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Lan Ha Bay
Quiet karsts.
Ha Long Bay
UNESCO bay.
Kayaking
Hidden lagoons.
National Park
Jungle trek.
Monkey Island
Beach stop.
Viet Hai
Island village.
Beaches
Hidden coves.
Floating Villages
Bay life.
Bay awayLan Ha Bay
Quiet karsts.
Bay awayHa Long Bay
UNESCO bay.
Boat awayMonkey Island
Beach stop.
Island awayNational Park
Jungle trek.
Boat awayViet Hai
Island village.
Bay awayKayaking
Hidden lagoons.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Cat Ba visitor asks before booking.
Spring (Mar–Apr)
Mild and pleasant — a lovely time to cruise.
Summer (May–Aug)
Hot and busy, best for swimming; some storms.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
Clear, dry and ideal — the best time to visit.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Cool and misty, quieter on the bays.
For cruising
Autumn offers the clearest bay conditions.
Best overall
September to November is ideal.
One day
A Lan Ha Bay day cruise.
Two days
Add an overnight cruise or trek.
Three days
Add Ha Long Bay and the beaches.
For the bays
Lan Ha and Ha Long cruises.
For nature
The national park trek.
With kids
A bay cruise and Monkey Island.
By boat
Cruises and boats explore the bays and islands.
Ferry & bus
Ferries and buses link Cat Ba with Hanoi and Haiphong.
Scooter
Scooters are popular for exploring the island.
On foot
Cat Ba town and beaches are walkable.
Where to stay
Stay in Cat Ba town or a bay-view resort.
Vietnamese dong
Vietnam uses the dong; carry cash for the island.
Cruise Lan Ha
Choose Lan Ha Bay for stunning, quieter scenery.
Go kayaking
Kayak into the hidden lagoons and caves.
Bioluminescence
Try a night kayak to see glowing plankton.
Trek the park
Hike Cat Ba National Park to Viet Hai village.
Monkey Island
Add Monkey Island for beaches and a viewpoint.
Autumn visit
Come September to November for the clearest bays.
Overnight cruises
Overnight bay cruises sell out — book ahead.
Day cruises
Lan Ha day cruises fill up — reserve early.
Kayak tours
Bioluminescent kayak trips book out — reserve ahead.
Park treks
Guided national-park treks have limited spots — book ahead.
Luxury cruises
Five-star cruises book out — reserve early.
Peak autumn
September to November is busiest — book everything ahead.
Day cruise
Around €18–40 for a Lan Ha Bay day cruise.
Overnight cruise
About €90–250 for an overnight bay cruise.
Kayak tour
Roughly €15–35 for a kayaking trip.
Park trek
Around €25–50 for a national-park trek.
Monkey Island
About €20–40 for a Monkey Island boat tour.
How to save
Join group day cruises that bundle kayaking and beaches.
Cat Ba through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Mild cruising.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Lovely.
- Best for
- Swimming.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Hot.
- Best for
- Clear bays.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Ideal.
- Best for
- Quiet & misty.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Cool.