The Cát Bà Archipelago, also known as the Pearl Island, comprises 367 islands of various sizes, with Cát Bà being the largest island. It attracts numerous international tourists who come to visit and explore. Cát Bà Island, with many islands close to the mainland, offers a landscape that strongly reflects the characteristics of the bay area, featuring limestone mountains and a serene, clear sea. In this article, Geargru.com would like to summarize some travel experiences to Cát Bà to provide you with more information before your trip.
Best Time to Visit Cát Bà
The ideal time to travel to Cát Bà Island is during the summer, from April to early July. During this period, the weather in Cát Bà is cool, making it perfect for relaxing, avoiding the heat, and swimming. The peak tourist season in Cát Bà is from May to July.
If you plan to visit Cát Bà in July and August, you should monitor the weather forecast three to five days in advance to avoid encountering storms.
From September to October, the autumn weather, which is windy and cool, also provides a beautiful time to travel to Cát Bà. However, this period is not ideal for swimming due to the cold.
During the winter and spring, from November to March, Cát Bà Island is quite tranquil. Nonetheless, this period is very suitable for nature exploration activities in Cát Bà National Park and for relaxation.
Getting to Cát Bà Island
Traveling from Cát Hải:
By Ferry: Starting from Đồng Bài Ferry Terminal (which has replaced the old Gót Ferry Terminal), you will reach Cái Viềng Terminal on Cát Bà Island in about 25-30 minutes. The ferry operates daily from 5:30 AM to 6:30 PM, with the return trip from Cái Viềng to Đồng Bài running from 5:30 AM to 6:00 PM. The ticket prices for the ferry are as follows: 12,000 VND per pedestrian, 45,000 VND per motorcycle, and 190,000 VND per car with up to 9 seats.
By Cable Car: You can purchase a cable car ticket to Cát Bà Island at Đồng Bài Cable Car Station and travel to Cát Bà at Phù Long Cable Car Station. The cable car ride takes about 10 minutes, with a ticket price of 100,000 VND per person, while children under 1 meter tall can ride for free.
After arriving at Phù Long Cable Car Station or Cái Viềng Terminal, you will need to travel an additional 25 km by bus or taxi to reach the center of Cát Bà Town. The bus fare is 13,000 VND per person, and the taxi service costs 50,000 VND per person.
Traveling from Hải Phòng City:
To travel from Hải Phòng City to Cát Bà Island, you need to take a speedboat from Bến Bính or Hồng Bàng terminals in Hải Phòng City. It takes about 40-60 minutes on the sea to reach Cát Bà Town. The speedboat ticket prices range from 130,000 VND to 250,000 VND per person per trip if departing from Bến Bính or Hồng Bàng terminals. Children under 1 year old can travel for free.
Traveling from Quảng Ninh:
You can also depart from Tuần Châu Ferry Terminal in Hạ Long to Cát Bà. However, traveling via this route is more expensive, and the travel time is longer, taking about 80 minutes on the sea. This route is suitable during peak season to avoid traffic congestion and is convenient for traveling from Hạ Long to Cát Bà.
Experience Traveling on Cát Bà Island
If you want to bring your own motorcycle or car to Cát Bà Island, you will need to take the ferry. It is recommended not to bring personal vehicles, especially cars, to Cát Bà Island because the parking fees are very high, the streets are crowded with no parking spaces, and traveling by car during the tourist season is extremely inconvenient. On the island, traveling by electric shuttle within the town is very convenient and cheap. If you want to explore areas outside the town, you can rent a motorcycle for about 200,000 VND per day, including fuel, allowing you to travel comfortably.
Places to Visit in Cát Bà
In Cát Bà, you can swim at Cát Cò 1, Cát Cò 2, Cát Cò 3, and Tùng Thu beaches. Note that you do not need to buy tickets to access these beaches, including the private Tùng Thu beach, but you will need to buy tickets for a shower after swimming, which costs 30,000 VND per person per use.
Some places to explore on Cát Bà Island include: Cát Bà National Park, Quân Y Cave, Trung Trang Cave, Lan Hạ Bay, and walking around Cát Bà at night, which offers many interesting experiences.
Ticket prices for visiting Cát Bà National Park are 80,000 VND for adults and 40,000 VND for children (the ticket includes entry to Trung Trang Cave, so keep your ticket after visiting the national park to use for entry to the cave).
Ticket prices for visiting Quân Y Cave are 40,000 VND for adults and 20,000 VND for children.
Tour Prices for Visiting Lan Hạ Bay by 3-Star to 4-Star Boat: A half-day tour of Lan Hạ Bay costs approximately 380,000 VND per adult, with lower prices for children depending on their height. A full-day tour (without overnight stay on the bay) costs around 700,000 VND per adult, with children’s prices varying based on height. The price for an overnight tour on Lan Hạ Bay is about $200 per room. If you rent the entire boat for an overnight stay for a family or a group (4-6 people), the price ranges from $800 to $1,000 per day and night.
Dining Experience on Cát Bà Island
The cost of dining on Cát Bà Island is very reasonable. If you are unsure where to find good food, a simple tip is to take an electric shuttle around Cát Bà Town. Wherever you see a lot of diners, the food there is likely to be good.
Hotel Booking Experience on Cát Bà Island
During the peak tourist season, you should book your room three to five days in advance. The earlier you book, the more options you will have and the better rates you will get.
Experience Buying Tickets for Lan Hạ Bay Tours
For luxury cruise tours of Lan Hạ Bay, you should book in advance, preferably at the same time as booking your hotel. Choose reputable tour operators. Luxury cruises in Lan Hạ Bay primarily offer overnight tours on the bay.
If you want to tour Lan Hạ Bay on 3-star or 4-star boats, you do not need to book tickets in advance. Once you check into your hotel and finalize your itinerary for visiting Lan Hạ Bay, ask the hotel reception to book tickets for you three to five hours in advance.
With the above information, Geargru.com hopes to provide you with essential information before your trip to Cát Bà. In future articles, Geargru.com will share more detailed travel experiences for specific destinations on Cát Bà. Follow Geargru.com to get useful information about traveling in Vietnam.