Best time to travel to Cat Ba Island

Cat Ba is one of the largest islands in the  Gulf of Tonkin and located next to Halong Bay. To reach Cat Ba Island, travelers have to move from Hanoi to Hai Phong and from Hai Phong to this beautiful Island by ferry or high speed boat.
However, when is the best time to travel? Not many foreign tourists know the answer.

 
Cat Ba is like other destinations in the northern Vietnam, the weather is divided in to 4 seasons. Summer is from May to August. The weather is hot and humid. Spring from March to May and Autumn from September to November is cooler. There are usually some storms during the Autumn season. The winter is from December to February, the weather is cold and foggy but it also has it own beauty.

Summer is the time for domestic tourists come to enjoy beach break in this island. Especially, in the weekend or some holiday occasions such as the Reunification day ( 30 April) May Day ( 1 May) and Children day ( 1 June) or Independence day ( 2 Sept). In these days, you should avoid travelling to this Cat Ba Island. Because, it will be two crowded and difficult to book hotels. The services are not good as well as the price is very high.

Many local tourists at Cat Ba beach in holiday.

The best time to go to Cat Ba Island should be Autumn and Spring. Especially from March to middle of April. It is warm and you can enjoy the beach break. The winter is cold and there are not many tourists in Cat Ba Town, it is also an ideal time to see another beauty of this peaceful Island. Just note that, you cannot swim in this season as it is cold.

To feel the beauty of Cat Ba Island, you need at least 10 days to stay. However, your travel time is limited, you also would like to explore other destinations in our country so we recommend a good 3-day program:
 
Day 1: Transfer from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island.
At Noon, arrive in Cat Ba and check in hotel, enjoy a lunch.
In the afternoon, you will go swimming in Cat Co beach.
The bus transfer from Hanoi to Cat Ba costs about 15 USD/ticket/way.
Lunch is at restaurant in the town and it is about 5 USD, or more depending on your order.
 
Day 2:  Visit Lan Ha Bay.
In the morning, take a about trip from Beo pier to visit Monkey Island, swim at Cat Dua beach. Then, let cruise deeply into Lan Ha Bay, a beautiful bay that is somewhat more beautiful than Halong Bay. Lunch with seafood on the boat and freely do Kayaking, visit the beaches which is no tourists to explore it and enjoy swimming.
The boat will return to Beo pier in the afternoon. End of the day to visit Lan Ha bay.
The price for private boat is about 100 – 130 USD. Meal on boat costs 10 USD/pax and tickets to visit Monkey Island and Lan Ha bay is about 8 USD.

Lan Ha Bay in Cat Ba Island

Day 3: Enjoy motorbike to Cat Ba National Park.
In the morning, take a ride by motorbike to explore Cat Ba National Park, on the way, tourists could visit Trung Trang cave and Military Cave. Return to the town for lunch before transfer back to Hanoi city.
The entrance fee ticket for Cat Ba National Park is about 10 USD and renting motorbike costs 10USD,  2 persons sharing 1 motorbike. Otherwise, each person drives one to get more experience . The bus ticket from Cat Ba to Hanoi costs about 15USD

Kayaking in Cat Ba Island

Hopefully, with the above information, you could choose yourselves the best time to travel to Cat Ba Island and tourist can do on their own trip by the advised information or could contact us to get detailed program or any other services in Cat Ba Island

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