From Wikitravel

Cat Ba is an island in the Cat Ba Archipelago of Vietnam, near Ha Long Bay.

[edit] Understand

Cat Ba is the largest island in the Bay and approximately half of its area is covered by a National Park, which is home to the highly endangered Cat Ba langur. This golden-headed langur is rarely seen, as fewer than 100 specimens are thought to survive in the wild, although it is the subject of a well-organised conservation programme. The Park covers both land and marine areas and has a high biodiversity, although it is at risk from too rapid an increase in tourism. Other mammals in the Park include civet cats and oriental giant squirrels.

Although there is much beauty to explore on the island, cat ba town itself is rather crumby. Lots of massage parlours offering happy ending and drunk chinese businessmen. The local businesses are looking to make money off of western tourist and can be quite rude and charge outrageous prices.

[edit] Get in

Cat Ba island can be easily reached by catching one of the many tourist boats down at the water front in Halong-City or in Haiphong. There is also a ferry from Dao Tuan Chau, just outside of Halong city, running 3 times daily: 9:30,11:30 and 15:30 costing 50,000VND per person and takes just over an hour, nice scenic route but then all routes to Cat Ba are. Cars and bikes etc also takes this route. Be warned though, especially during off-peak season, that the ferry will only leave if there are more than 20 people using it. It also arrives into a lesser used port on the Northern edge of the island, about 25km from Cat Ba town. A local bus can be taken to town, costing about 10,000VND per person, or an array of motorbike taxis await. Be wary as enterprising local businessman may try to convince you the local bus is his personal taxi, and charge you extortionate rate to use it. There is another government-run ferry leaving the tourist wharf at 12:00 daily costing 100,000 VND per person and takes 5 hours. This arrives into Cat Ba town. From Hanoi, Hoang Long operates a bus and boat service that departs from Luong Yen Bus Station in Hanoi at 5:20, 7:20, 11:20 and 13:20. A single trip from Hanoi to Cat Ba town takes 4,5 hours and costs 190,000 - 220,000 VND (US$9-$11) depending on season. The staff from Hoang Long will guide you onto each bus and boat connection you need (bus-bus-boat-bus).

There are also a number of tourist operators offering overnight package trips from Hanoi for roughly US$50 (offpeak) per person, including the following:

• Travel in a well appointed mini-van from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay.
• Lunch on the mainland on arrival in Ha Long Bay.
• Travel to Cat Ba island on a tourist boat via a number of the more spectacular caves that are dotted on the many islands in the bay.
• Overnight (twin share) accommodation in a comfortable, well appointed, hotel with dinner and breakfast included.
• Return travel to the mainland via tourist boat.
• Lunch in Ha Long Bay.
• Return travel via mini-van to Hanoi.

[edit] Get around

You can easily rent a motorbike from any hotel for $5 (standard) per day, but a quick walk along the main high street will offer perfectly serviceable automatic bikes for $3. There is tons to explore including Cat Ba National Park with gorgeous hikes that lead to isolated communities. Stunning, towering, green mountains surround.

[edit][add listing] See

• Monkey Island. Several boats run day trips to nearby monkey island either in isolation or as part of a larger tour. The island apparently has monkeys, but only a few around the accomodation were in evidence. Be aware that these animals are used to getting their food from either the guests or the bins, and therefore are not afraid of humans, so they might cause a problem. There is some accomodation on the island, which consists of eight small, but cosy, bamboo huts just behind a secluded beach. The food was nice, the drinks cheap, and the scenery was spectacular. There's some kayaking available, and a trail for walking, but that's about all. Be warned that the staff like to fire up the generator during the day to listen to their music quite loudly, so you might want to take a kayak trip at that point. Still, a good place to get away from it all. approx US$40 per night.  edit
• Ha Long Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay, (Mr. Lu inside Post Office). Organise 2 or 3 day trips into Ha Long and Bai Tu Long Bay for kayaking, caving, swimming and diving. Book via the honest and fair Mr. Lu at the post office. Prices ~$45 per person for 2 day / 1 night trip (assuming 4 people in group). Cook Bien spoke basic english and cooked delicious food, Captain Phi friendly and offered us rice wine, and night spent in quiet part of bay was magic.  edit

[edit][add listing] Do

• Foot massage. Enjoy a half hour foot massage. There are several places that offer this service along Cat Ba town waterfront. US$3.  edit

[edit][add listing] Buy

There is a great little fruit and veg market toward the North-West edge of town, bartering is a must, but you can get some great value there.

[edit][add listing] Eat

[edit][add listing] Drink

The Noble House offers 2 for 1 cocktails every night. With ocean views, free pool and good music it's hard to pass up.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

• Sunflower One Hotel, Nui Ngoc St (central, just around the corner from the waterfront), ☎ 031 3888429, [1]. Three star hotel, many rooms have sea views. It is often used with Ha Long Bay boat tours when an overnight stay is requested on Cat Ba island. It is a quality hotel with good food. It has wifi in rooms but can be somewhat unreliable. Its sister hotel Sunflower Two, which is often used with cheaper Ha Long Bay tours, is about 1km inland on the same road, and is not as nice.  edit
• Duc Tuan Hotel and Restaurant, 210 - 1/4 Street (On main street, left as you face from docks), [2]. checkout: 12:00. Friendly honest owner with OK english, delicious food at good prices, one of cleanest and most modern places in town, with wifi included and aircon optional. $10-$15.  edit
• Song Chanh, 178 Duong 1-4, ☎ 0978366751. A great value hotel along the main strip in Cat Ba town. Very friendly staff who can also organise onward travel or tours around the island. Ask for Mr. Thuy, and go on the National Park trek with his uncle. double and twin rooms, low season $10/rm, high season $15/rm.  edit
• Hotel Phu Thanh, So 176 Duong 1/4, ☎ 0313696289 or 0976506999. New hotel only opened in 2009 with really nice, large, clean rooms. Has free wifi included and satellite flat screen TV. Good showers with hot water that actually have pressure. They also serve some great food in the restaurant during the busier summer months. Friendly staff and family owned and run. Rooms start at $10.  edit
• Ngoc Hoa Hotel and Restaurant, 211 Duong (200m to the left of the dock), ☎ +84 16 4944 4024, [3]. checkout: 12. Rooms facing the Bay, close to the ferry. Free wifi. Elevator. Fridge and aircon included. Family restaurant downstairs. Tours and scooters available at good prices if you ask, but the staff is not pushy. Their restaurant serves good simple Vietnamese food, soups, noodles, rice. Strong coffee and fruit smoothies. Big beer for under a dollar. 10-15$.  edit

[edit] Get out

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