Swimming in Cat Co beach and admiring Cat Ba from above
In Cat Ba, there are 3 beaches that attract the most tourists, namely Cat Co 1, 2 and 3, because of the clear water and the proximity to the town center. Of these, Cat Co 1 beach is the largest, with three sides almost surrounded by rocky mountains. Cat Co 2 and 3 beaches are smaller but quite peaceful. The beaches are connected by a small road along the mountainside.
From the town center, tourists can walk or hire a motorbike taxi or electric car to reach one of these three beaches. If you do not bring your swimsuit, you can rent one at the service shops on the beach. There are changing rooms and fresh water showers. You should go ashore before 6:30 p.m. because the tide is high and the waves are very strong.
At this time, you can spend time going up to the Cannon Fort near the beach to see the whole view of Cat Ba under the red sunset. This is also an opportunity to visit the historical relics that are still preserved today, including two cannons, a complex observation tower and trench system. Note that you will have to buy a ticket to enter this service area as well as pay a fee if you use the observation tower to sightsee.
Visit Lan Ha Bay
Usually, visitors to the island will spend a day renting a boat to explore the wild beauty of Lan Ha Bay. Located in the south of Ha Long Bay, Lan Ha has many similarities with the world natural heritage when surrounded by rocky mountains and small islands. From the boat, visitors will easily recognize the strange shapes of the mountains that are given familiar names by the locals such as Hon Guoc, Hon Rua... If you want to fully experience the beauty of the bay, you can rent a kayak to get closer to the limestone islands and water caves hidden in the rocky mountains.
Monkey Island (Cat Dua) is an indispensable stop on the journey to explore Lan Ha Bay. There are playful monkeys here, very suitable for groups with children. If you like to immerse yourself in the ocean, you can also swim at Cat Dua beach or join a diving tour at a center right on the island. Diving with an instructor costs about 1 million VND/30 minutes.
Take a boat trip to Cai Beo fishing village
In Cat Ba, the most famous is Cai Beo fishing village. Not as bustling as the wharf to Lan Ha Bay, Ben Beo has a variety of ships, boats, and ferries ready to take visitors to explore the peaceful beauty of the oldest fishing village in Vietnam - Cai Beo.
If traveling in groups, visitors often rent large boats, but to learn about the lives of coastal residents, there is nothing more enjoyable than sitting on a boat. While admiring the beauty of Cai Beo like a watercolor painting with the sound of oars splashing water, visitors will also listen to interesting and intimate sharing about the fishing village through the stories of the boatman. You can also stop at the households here to admire the familiar and strange seafood species.
Island tour
Cat Ba Island is not only attractive for its sea beauty but also very attractive for its rich forest resources. Therefore, it would be a mistake if you missed a self-organized tour around the island. While domestic tourists often rent motorbikes, foreign tourists prefer to ride bicycles.
The trip starts from the town center along a winding road close to the sea, then goes through the mountains to the remote communes on the island. Cat Ba National Park and Trung Trang Cave are two popular stops, but you can stay anywhere you want to enjoy the cool green space and peace.
Enjoy Cat Ba specialties
Cat Ba has many famous delicacies made from seafood such as geoducks, lobsters, snappers, groupers, cobia, sea bream, sea snakes, and horseshoe crabs. Depending on your preferences, you can choose to grill, stir-fry, or steam at the restaurant row in town located on 1/4 Street or Ngoc Mountain. Cat Ba Market is also a good place for you to explore delicious, cheap cuisine here. In addition, you can try the food service on rafts near the sea, enjoying the food while breathing in the sea breeze.
Evening walk on the beach
At night, Cat Ba is quieter with couples holding hands and walking along the beach. Somewhere there is the laughter of groups of friends renting bicycles to ride around. However, the typical means of transportation of Cat Ba night market is mini cyclo. Not only children but also adults who stay overnight here enjoy this type of vehicle. You can rent one to ride around the main road about 2 km long in the center of town to enjoy the cool sea breeze at night and have a good night's sleep.
