Staying on Cat Ba Island: Cat Ba town, the Cat Co beaches and Lan Ha Bay

99 accommodations

Hotel

TOMMY HOTEL

Cat Ba Island · 25.7 km from the centre

TOMMY HOTEL is a 3-star hotel on Cat Ba Island, Ha Long Bay, with air-conditioned rooms that have private bathrooms, a fireplace in every room, a restaurant on site and bike hire,...

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Cat Ba is the largest island of the Ha Long Bay area and the only one with a real town. It lies south-west of Ha Long across the bay, in Hai Phong, and its limestone hills, covered in forest, are largely protected by Cat Ba National Park. Cat Ba town, on the south-east coast, is where almost everyone stays: a fishing harbour lined with hotels and seafood restaurants, a waterfront promenade, and, a short walk over the headland, the three small Cat Co beaches. Offshore lies Lan Ha Bay, a cluster of karst islands, lagoons and sandy coves that is part of the same UNESCO World Heritage site as Ha Long Bay but sees far fewer boats.

On this site the Cat Ba zone covers the whole island: Cat Ba town and the Cat Co beaches, the harbour of Ben Beo just east of the town, and the villages and resorts elsewhere on the island, from Xuan Dam and Hien Hao inland to Gia Luan at the northern tip, where the ferry from Tuan Chau lands. Since July 2025 Cat Ba has been part of the Cat Hai special zone of Hai Phong, after Hai Phong merged with Hai Duong province.

Who should stay on Cat Ba?

Cat Ba suits travellers who want to stay longer and be more active than a single cruise allows: kayaking in Lan Ha Bay, hiking in the national park, rock climbing on the limestone cliffs, swimming at the Cat Co beaches, and exploring the island by motorbike. It suits backpackers and budget travellers, since hotels in Cat Ba town are generally cheaper than in Ha Long, and families in summer, when the beaches are the main attraction.

The trade-offs are time and seasons. Getting to Cat Ba takes longer than to Ha Long, with a ferry or a cable car at the end of the journey, so the island is best for a stay of two nights or more. Cat Ba town is crowded and noisy on summer weekends and during Vietnamese holidays, when domestic tourists fill the hotels, while in winter many restaurants close and the town is very quiet. Travellers short of time who want the classic Ha Long Bay cruise are better off on the Ha Long side.

Hotels, guest houses and resorts on Cat Ba

The 99 properties listed in this zone are mostly hotels, about three in four, followed by guest houses, apartments, aparthotels, resorts, villas and a couple of overnight cruise boats that board at Cat Ba for Lan Ha Bay. Most hotels are in Cat Ba town: tall, narrow buildings along the harbour and on the road to the Cat Co beaches, mainly two- and three-star, many with balconies over the bay. A few four- and five-star resorts stand on the beaches and on the hills, with pools and sea views, and some homestays and small resorts are in the quieter villages inland. Guest ratings are high, with a median of about 9 out of 10.

As a guide for 2026, rooms in guest houses and simple hotels cost up to about 900,000 VND a night, often much less outside the summer, three-star hotels about 900,000 to 1,800,000 VND, and the resorts from about 1,800,000 VND upwards. Summer weekends and public holidays are much more expensive and sell out early. In the listings, check the distance from the harbour and whether the hotel is on the harbour front, which is lively in the evening, or on the quieter road towards the beaches.

What is there to do on Cat Ba?

Lan Ha Bay is the main reason to come. Boat trips leave every morning from the harbours of Cat Ba town and Ben Beo, with stops for kayaking among the islands, swimming at small beaches and visits to the floating fish farms; organised tours cost about 400,000 to 600,000 VND per person, kayaks rent for about 100,000 to 150,000 VND an hour, and a small conservation fee is charged in the bay. Overnight cruises in Lan Ha Bay also leave from here.

On land, Cat Ba National Park (about 80,000 VND in 2026, including Trung Trang Cave, open 07:00 to 17:00) has forest trails, the most popular leading to the Ngu Lam viewpoint, a steep walk of about an hour. Cannon Fort (about 40,000 VND), on the hill above the town, has old gun emplacements and the best view over Cat Ba town and Lan Ha Bay at sunset. The Hospital Cave (about 40,000 VND), a three-level cave used as a hospital during the war, is on the road to the park. The Cat Co beaches are a short walk from the harbour: Cat Co 1 is the busiest and best equipped, Cat Co 2 quieter, Cat Co 3 the smallest. There are no lifeguards, and jellyfish can appear between June and August. Climbing trips on the island's limestone cliffs are run by local operators in the town.

How do you get to Cat Ba?

From Ha Long, the car ferry leaves Tuan Chau and crosses the bay to Gia Luan, at the north of the island, in about 45 to 60 minutes, with three sailings a day in winter and five in summer; a foot passenger pays about 60,000 VND, a motorbike about 80,000 VND and a car about 300,000 VND. Cat Ba town is then 22 to 25 km south by road, about 40 minutes.

From Hai Phong, a car ferry links Dong Bai with Cai Vieng in 20 to 30 minutes (about 190,000 to 210,000 VND for a small car), then about 25 km by road to Cat Ba town; speedboats from Ben Binh or Dong Bai take 45 to 60 minutes for about 200,000 to 300,000 VND per person; and the cable car from Cat Hai to Phu Long, nearly 4 km long, crosses in about ten minutes from about 50,000 VND one way, followed by about 17 km by bus or taxi. From Hanoi, direct buses with the ferry included take 3.5 to 5 hours and cost about 250,000 to 350,000 VND, with pick-up in the Old Quarter. All boats stop in storms, and summer weekends can bring long queues at the ferries.

On the island, Cat Ba town is walkable; motorbikes rent for about 150,000 to 200,000 VND a day, and a taxi from the harbour to the Cat Co beaches costs about 50,000 VND.

When is Cat Ba at its best?

March to May is the best season for hiking and kayaking: about 22 to 28 °C, low humidity and calm seas. Late September to November is also pleasant, though storms are still possible. June to August is hot, 28 to 35 °C, and the peak of domestic tourism, with crowded beaches and the highest prices, especially at weekends. December to February is cool, about 15 to 20 °C, often cloudy, with water too cold for most swimmers, but quiet and cheap. Storms are most likely between July and September, when boats to and around the island can be suspended.

Frequently asked questions

Is Cat Ba better than Ha Long?

They suit different trips. Ha Long is better for a short stay with a classic cruise, more hotel choice and easier access from Hanoi. Cat Ba is better for two nights or more, with Lan Ha Bay, hiking, beaches and lower prices, but it takes longer to reach.

How many days do you need on Cat Ba?

Two nights is the minimum to combine a day in Lan Ha Bay with the national park and the beaches; three or four nights allow climbing, a motorbike tour of the island and a spare day for the weather.

Can you visit Ha Long Bay from Cat Ba?

Yes. Boat trips from Cat Ba usually explore Lan Ha Bay, and some routes continue into the southern part of Ha Long Bay. Boats that enter the Ha Long Bay area pay the bay fee set by Quang Ninh province, usually included in the tour price, so check what the trip includes.

Where should you stay on Cat Ba?

Most travellers stay in Cat Ba town, near the harbour for boat trips and restaurants or on the road to the Cat Co beaches for quieter nights. The resorts on the beaches and the homestays inland suit those who want more space and calm.