Cat Ba, a blend of rugged limestone mountains, dense jungles, and serene beaches, is a spot that should be on every backpacker’s Vietnam itinerary. Cat Ba Island not only boasts the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lan Ha Bay, a quieter alternative to Ha Long Bay with over 300 islets to explore but also has great beaches, chill nightlife and great restaurants to try. I’ll cover everything you need to know in this guide, from how many days to spend there, how to get to Cat Ba and the best ways to get around the island. I’ll also include restaurant recommendations, things to do and a guide to the best nightlife and hostels Cat Ba has to offer.
How many days to spend in Cat Ba
How many days you spend in Cat Ba depends on whether you are planning on doing a boat cruise of Lan Ha Bay (as opposed to doing a Halong Bay Tour or not). From Cat Ba, you can embark on a multi-day or single-day Halong Bay Cruise or a multi-day or single-day Lan Ha Bay Cruise. These cruises could take anywhere from 1-3 days from your itinerary.
Not including any time spent on cruises, I would recommend a minimum of one day to explore Cat Ba Island itself (not including your travel day to get here). If you have the time, though, and you want to chill, 2-3 full days on Cat Ba would be a good amount. Cat Ba is one of the best beach destinations in Vietnam, so you may as well make the most of it. While there’s not a whole lot to do on Cat Ba Island, it’s a great place to chill and recharge after visiting busy places like Hanoi and Sapa or completing the Ha Giang Loop.
How to get to Cat Ba
Cat Ba is an island just east of the capital city of Hanoi. To get there you’ll need to get a bus, ferry and another bus, but this can be booked as one ticket. That means that the first bus driver will direct you onto the ferry, and the next driver will pick you up on the other end. You can book these combined ferry+ bus tickets either through most hostels or online at 12GOAsia. Once you arrive in Cat Ba, the bus does a brief lap of the main road encircling the island, making drop-offs in all the main areas where tourists stay. You just need to let the bus driver know what hostel you’ve booked, and they announce it by yelling out when they’re close so you can disembark.
The majority of people will get to Cat Ba from Hanoi, but it is also possible to come directly from Ninh Binh, Sapa, and Ha Giang, although these buses will usually make other drop-offs and pickups on the way. Coming straight from a Halong Bay Cruise to Cat Ba is also possible. When you book your Halong Bay Cruise, just let the tour operator know you want to go to Cat Ba instead of back to Hanoi, and they will arrange everything for you.
How to get to Cat Ba from Hanoi
Buses depart Hanoi for Cat Ba every 15-30 minutes from 5 am to 2:30 pm daily. There’s no one singular major bus terminal in Hanoi, so buses will arrive at various travel agencies dotted around the city. The Tbus Office Hanoi is one of the most central drop-off points if you’re staying in Old Quarter, with it being around a 10-minute walk from Beer Street and major hostels in Hanoi. Otherwise, if you’ve booked a bus from a different pick-up point, you’ll need to account for extra time and expense to get a Grab from your hostel.
The entire bus, ferry and then bus journey can take anywhere between 3 to 5 hours depending on traffic conditions and time of day. The bus makes one short rest stop on the leg of the journey from Hanoi to the ferry port, but you usually also have time to use bathrooms and grab food before you get on the ferry. Both the buses are standard buses with upright seats, rather than sleeper buses, but given how short the journeys are on the buses, they’re comfortable enough. You can expect to pay between 260k and 330k VND Vietnamese Dong ($10-$13 USD) for the whole ticket, all transfers included.
How to get to Cat Ba from Ninh Binh
Another popular destination to come from is Ninh Binh, as it means avoiding backtracking to Hanoi. From Ninh Binh, there are standard buses (no reclinable seats) and small van transfers to Cat Ba. Given how short the journey is, it doesn’t matter too much which option you go with, but the van transfer gives you a little bit more legroom and comfort. In Ninh Binh, there are multiple pickup locations for the buses, but the most popular are T-Bus and Long Restaurant, as they are opposite Banana Tree Hostel. Buses and vans depart Ninh Binh every 15-30 minutes from 6:30 am to 2 pm daily.
The entire bus, ferry and then bus journey can take anywhere between 3.5 to 6 hours depending on traffic conditions and time of day. The bus makes one short rest stop on the leg of the journey from Ninh Binh to the ferry port, but you usually also have time to use bathrooms and grab food before you get on the ferry. Both the buses are standard buses with upright seats, rather than sleeper buses, but given how short the journeys are on the buses, they’re comfortable enough. You can expect to pay between 260k and 330k VND Vietnamese Dong ($10-$13 USD) for the whole ticket, all transfers included.
How to get to Cat Ba from Sapa
You can also get a direct sleeper bus from Sapa to Cat Ba Island, but usually, it will go via either Ninh Binh or Hanoi. There are day and night sleeper buses to Cat Ba, with the night sleeper buses being way more popular as you don’t lose a whole day in transit. In Sapa, buses depart from different locations, so make sure you check where you will be picked off before booking. Sapa Market is a fairly convenient stop if you’re staying at Mega View Hostel. Otherwise, stops like T-Bus Hanoi and Sapa Bus Station are on the opposite side of the lake, so you’d need to get a taxi or tuk-tuk from your accommodation, so allow extra time.
The entire journey from Sapa to Cat Ba takes around 10-12 hours, depending on traffic conditions and time of day. Day buses are departing Sapa between 5:30 am and 8 am at roughly 30-minute intervals. These buses would get you into Cat Ba in time for dinner, but you lose an entire day. Night buses depart Sapa from 5:30 pm to 11 pm at intervals of around 15-30 minutes. Expect to pay 550k VND Vietnamese Dong ($22 USD) for a standard sleeper bus (seats only recline 90% of the way and no curtains). For a VIP sleeper bus, which has beds that lay flat and curtains, you can expect to pay 775k VND Vietnamese Dong ($31 USD).
How to get to Cat Ba from Ha Giang
You can also get a direct sleeper bus from Ha Giang to Cat Ba Island, but usually, it will go via either Ninh Binh or Hanoi. There are day and night sleeper buses to Cat Ba, with the night sleeper buses being way more popular as you don’t lose a whole day in transit. In Ha Giang, buses pick you up from your accommodation; make sure you book this transfer directly with the hostel.
The entire journey from Ha Giang to Cat Ba takes around 10-12 hours, depending on traffic conditions and time of day. Day buses are departing Ha Giang between 6:30 am and 7 am. These buses would get you into Cat Ba in time for dinner, but you lose an entire day. Night buses depart Ha Giang from 6:45 pm to 11 pm at intervals of around 15-30 minutes. These bus times will give you enough time to get back from the Ha Giang Loop, have a shower, grab some dinner and say goodbye to your loop group before departing. Expect to pay 585k VND Vietnamese Dong ($24 USD) for a standard sleeper bus (seats only recline 90% of the way and no curtains). Unfortunately, there are no VIP buses with flat-lay beds servicing this route.
How to get around Cat Ba
Cat Ba is a fairly quiet island, but it is also quite large. Grab is offered on Cat Ba, but there are barely any drivers, so your chances of getting a Grab are slim. Depending on where you stay in Cat Ba, restaurants, cafes, bars, and maybe even the beach should be walkable. For other sights like further away beaches and sunset viewpoints, you’ll need another mode of transport. The most popular ways of getting around Cat Ba include renting a motorbike and driving yourself, walking and hiring a private driver or taxi for the day
Getting around Cat Ba on foot
Depending on where you stay in Cat Ba, you may be able to access a lot of places on foot. Walking around Cat Ba feels very safe, even at night, as a solo traveller. The whole island gives off cutesy, small-town vibes. There are a lot of sidewalks around Cat Ba, although sometimes you may end up walking on the road if the sidewalks are occupied by scooter parking.
The most popular hostel in Cat Ba is Buffalo Hostel, but they are located in a secluded location in the centre of the island. If you’re staying here, you either need a motorbike or plan for the fact that you’ll be eating primarily at the hostel restaurant as opposed to trying other places around Cat Ba. For nightlife, a shuttle takes everyone into the city to visit the bars at around 10 pm. If you want people to be able to walk to restaurants, bars, and cafes, staying at Cocoon Hostel, Luna Hostel, or somewhere close in the Cat Hai area of Cat Ba is ideal. From these hostels, you are a short walk from heaps of popular restaurants and bars in Cat Ba. You can even walk to some of the beaches from these hostels, although it is a longer and sweatier uphill walk.
Getting around Cat Ba by motorbike
Cat Ba Island is one of the most popular places for travellers to rent a motorbike to get around in the whole of Vietnam. This is due to the layout of the island; the roads are basically one big circle with a few offshoots to get to the beaches. The roads are well-maintained, and there’s little traffic and obstacles. A lot of people practice driving a motorbike on Cat Ba before renting it in other places in Vietnam or even driving themselves on the Ha Giang Loop or Hai Van Pass.
Renting a motorbike will allow you to access all the beaches, lookouts and sunset points easily. If you’re staying at the popular Buffalo Hostel, you may be more inclined to rent a motorbike, given how secluded the location is from other bars, restaurants and cafes in Cat Ba. Rental spots are aplenty, and rates are backpacker-friendly, with automatic bikes costing around 150k VND Vietnamese Dong ($6 USD) daily.
Getting around Cat Ba by Taxi
If you don’t plan on driving yourself on a motorbike to get around, you’ll be reliant upon taxis or hiring a car with a driver for the day to take you around. As mentioned, Grab barely exists in Cat Ba and is so unreliable. Hostels can call taxi drivers to take you to a restaurant or the beach for short, one-way stints in Cat Ba. To get back, you’ll need to ask a restaurant if they can call you a taxi, or you’ll have to try to wave someone down. The taxis in Cat Ba do not look like Taxis; they’re just regular cars with locals that will drive tourists around for a fee. While Cat Ba feels extremely safe, getting in a random person’s car that isn’t registered as a Taxi can feel risky. It’s also much more expensive as there is not much competition for cars.
Getting around Cat Ba by a private driver
The alternative to getting one-way taxis is hiring a private driver and vehicle for the day. This is ideal if you have a group of people and want to visit a few beaches and lookouts in one day. This gives you the freedom to craft your own itinerary and stay at stops as long as you want while your driver waits. Plus, local drivers bring a wealth of knowledge about Cat Ba, often sharing insights into hidden gems and the best times to visit popular spots. The easiest way to hire a driver with a private car for the day is to ask your hostel, who can arrange this for you.
The cost is the one downside to hiring a driver with a private car for the day. As there’s no Grab and not much competition around taxi services, the prices are much more expensive than elsewhere. You can try to haggle the prices a little, but I found that drivers were unwilling to negotiate because they knew I didn’t have another way to get around.
Where to stay in Cat Ba
Despite it being quite a small place, there are a number of hostels available on Cat Ba Island. By far, the most popular is Buffalo Hostel, which is a great party and social hostel. However, it is more secluded in terms of visiting other places, so it is not ideal if you don’t feel comfortable getting a motorbike. The best area to stay in is Cat Hai (near Cat Ba Pier). There are a number of hostels here, such as Secret Cat Ba, Lunas Hostel and Cocoon Hostel, which are well-reviewed. This area is ideal as it’s within walking distance of all the best restaurants, bars, sunset points and even some beaches in Cat Ba. You can book all accommodations in Cat Ba here.
Buffalo Hostel- best social/ party hostel
Buffalo Hostel is by far the most popular hostel on Cat Ba due to its amenities and social atmosphere. It is a bit of a party hostel, but it’s relatively tame compared to party hostels in bigger cities. The beds are basic bunk beds (unfortunately, no curtains), but they have charging points and medium-sized security lockers. The real value is in the social vibe; they run events, have a free beer hour every night, which gets everyone at the bar and host a nightly pub crawl with the transfer into the bars in the city. They also have a free daily breakfast, a great pool, and a restaurant on site.
A lot of the tours for Lan Ha and Halong Bay depart from Buffalo, so it is convenient to stay there before embarking on a multi-day cruise. However, the main downside for me is location. The hostel is located in the centre of the island, on a lot of land and it is fairly peaceful. But that means you’ll always be having to think about transport if you want to leave the hostel. While this won’t be a problem for those comfortable driving a motorbike, it can be a pain point for those who aren’t.
Cocoon Hostel- best flashpacker hostel
Cocoon Hostel is a great option if you want to be in the centre of Cat Hai (walking distance to everything) and want a good night’s sleep. The dorms are pod-style with blackout curtains, charging points and big security lockers. The ensuite bathrooms have hot water and good pressure, and dorms even feature private balconies. Free breakfast is included every morning, and it’s a pretty decent hotel-quality breakfast with lots of options to choose from. They have a rooftop bar where they have happy hour specials, and that’s perfect for socialising. It’s nothing crazy, though, but there are generally a few travellers up there on an evening keen for a chat and to make friends. The main downside is the hostel doesn’t have a pool, but in my opinion, it makes up for it due to the location being close to nearby beaches.
What to do in Cat Ba
There isn’t much to do on Cat Ba, making it the perfect place to do nothing and relax. This is what a lot of people visit Cat Ba for after travelling to busier destinations like Hanoi, Sapa, Ninh Binh or completing the Ha Giang Loop. Cat Ba is where you can embark on many single-day or multi-day cruises to Lan Ha Bay or Halong Bay. Otherwise, the island is just stunning beaches, viewpoints, sunsets, eating good food and chilling by the pool.
Go on a cruise of Lan Ha Bay or Halong Bay
Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay cruises depart from Cat Ba island, so if you want to join a cruise, it’s easier to board the boat at Cat Ba than have to come all the way from Hanoi. There are options for single-day and multi-day cruises of either of the bays. If you choose the longer 3-day cruises of either Lan Ha Bay or Halong Bay, you will often get to see sights in both bays.
Popular companies for the cruises include Hideaway Halong Bay Tour, Cat Ba Adventures and Oasis Tours. Hideaway Halong Bay is more of a party cruise, Cat Ba Adventures is a budget tour, and Oasis is more of a flashpacker option. All of the tour companies pick up at Buffalo Hostel, although, sometimes, you may be able to ask for an alternative pick-up location on Cat Ba. I have a full guide on what to expect on a Halong Bay/ Lan Ha Bay Boat cruise, which you can read here.
Beach hop
Cat Ba boasts a variety of beaches, from the bustling to the secluded, making it an ideal destination for anyone looking to swim or relax on a beach. The beaches on Cat Ba are called Cat Co 1, Cat Co 2, and Cat Co 3 and are all located close to one another in the southeast section of the island. You could get here easily from any of the hostels in Cat Hai by walking, cycling, renting a motorbike, or even getting a taxi.
First up, Cat Co 1 is the busiest of the three beaches due to its proximity to Cat Ba town. It’s easily accessible, often lively, and provides ample amenities like loungers and refreshments. However, its popularity means it can get crowded, especially during peak seasons, which might detract from the tranquil beach experience some seek. In contrast, its sister beaches, Cat Co 2 and Cat Co 3, connected by a scenic cliffside walk, offer a slightly more laid-back atmosphere. Cat Co 2, in particular, is great for those wanting to escape the crowds but still enjoy the convenience of nearby facilities.
Cycle around the island
If you want to combine sightseeing with a bit of physical exercise, then renting bikes for a few hours or a day is a great option! Just near the Cat Ba Pier in Car Hai, there are locals who rent either bicycles or tandem bikes at an hourly rate. Prices are negotiable, and you can often get a better price if you’re renting it for multiple hours or the whole day. Expect to pay around 25k VND Vietnamese Dong ($1 USD) per hour.
You can take the bikes wherever you want on Cat Ba, but keep in mind it is quite hilly. Depending on your experience cycling up hills and your fitness levels, you may not be able to cover the whole island. Even if you’re not a great cyclist, you could easily cycle between all the Cat Co Beaches (1,2 and 3), Cannon Fort Viewpoint and Lepont Bungalow for sunset.
Visit Cannon Fort Viewpoint
Cannon Fort is both a historical site important to the Vietnam War and a viewpoint. It is located around a 30-minute uphill hike from Cat Hai township. Cannon Fort has a small museum with information on the role of the Fort both during the French occupation and the Vietnam War. The Fort is more popular, though, for being one of the best viewpoints on Cat Ba, with many people visiting for sunset. It is a sweaty 30-minute uphill hike to get there, but you are rewarded with the views. There’s also a small entrance fee of 40k VND Vietnamese Dong ($1.50 USD) to enter.
Watch the sunset from Lepont Bungalow
Lepont Bungalow is a restaurant and bar perched above the water, which is one of the best places to watch the sunset on Cat Ba. It’s located between Cat Co 3 Beach and Cat Ba Pier, so it is easily walkable if you’re staying in the Cat Hai area. The atmosphere at LePont is relaxed and comfortable, making it an ideal spot for those looking to unwind after a day of sightseeing. They serve food and drinks here, so you’ll need to purchase at least one drink per person to stay for the sunset. Despite the secluded location, it can get quite busy around sunset, so it’s better to arrive a little earlier to make sure you can nab a prime spot for watching the sunset.
Where to eat in Cat Ba
Although Cat Ba is small, there are still many great restaurants to try. Most of the venues are more cozy, family-run spots than bustling, tourist-friendly eateries. Also, most of the restaurants on Cat Ba double as either hostels or nightlife spots. The majority of popular restaurants are in Cat Hai, which is within walking distance from hostels like Cocoon, Lunas, and Secret Hostel in Cat Ba. While these spots are open for breakfast, most hostels in Cat Ba include a free breakfast, so you would be visiting these spots for lunch and dinner.
Lunas Hostel
Lunas Hostel is one of the best places to come for a low-key but delicious meal. Offering a menu that’s a mix of Vietnamese and Western dishes, it caters for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There are always people hanging around Luna or coming from other hostels for the food, so it is a pretty social vibe as well. The one thing to note is that it gets busy, but it is a small family-run restaurant, so it can mean longer waits for food at busy times.
Big Man
Big Man is a lunch and dinner spot right in the centre of the Cat Hai area overlooking the marina. They have an extensive menu with great Western food and Vietnamese food. The servers are super friendly, and the service is pretty fast. At night, they are one of the best spots to come for nightlife, and they sometimes have drink specials like unlimited rum and coke for an hour. I strongly recommend heading here for a late dinner and staying for the nightlife.
Oasis
Oasis is another gem in Cat Ba, known for its relaxed vibe and stunning views. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy a sunset dinner or a leisurely lunch. The menu features a mix of Vietnamese and international dishes, with the fresh spring rolls and Bun Cha being particularly noteworthy. Oasis is also a popular nightlife spot, which starts to get busy from around 10 pm. A lot of people come here for a later dinner and stay for drinks and a bit of a boogie later.
Cat Ba Nightlife
Nightlife in Cat Ba is fairly tame, and there are not many places to go, given the island’s size, but it is still a fun, laid-back night out. Most people will do pre-drinks at their hostel, particularly if you’re staying at Buffalo, the party hostel on the island. Afterwards, you either head to Oasis or Big Man for drinks and dancing. These spots tend to get busy from 10 pm, with most people heading home by around 2 am. There is also a bit of casual day drinking culture at hostels such as Buffalo or at beach clubs.
Oasis
Oasis is a fun nightlife spot in the heart of Cat Hai, just near Big Man and walking distance from many hostels. It’s a great place to come for dinner and drinks or to watch the sunset. The vibe here is chill but social, and they have well-priced drinks during happy hour. It tends to get pretty lively from around 10 pm, depending on whether other travellers head here before Big Man or go straight to Big Man for dancing.
Big man
Big Man is the best spot on Cat Ba if you fancy a bit of dance. Known for its great food by day, it transforms into one of Cat Ba’s livelier spots after dark, where everyone heads to enjoy music, drinks, and the occasional live band or DJ set. While it doesn’t boast the club-like environment of city nightlife, Big Man is still a fun night out, and it is really easy to make friends here. Generally, it gets busy from around 10:30, when the shuttle of people from Buffalo Hostel arrives and tends to wind down at around 2 am. If you get here earlier than 10 pm, they often have drink specials, and it’s a great spot for dinner.
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