| Cat Ba island, Vietnam’s Pearl Island, a | | | | and peaceful fairy land on the sea..!” after her |
| surprising heavenly landscape! | | | | tour here. Also, people can feel free to |
| Belonging to Cat Ba Archipelago, which includes | | | | contemplate the coral system, salty lakes and |
| 367 islands, in the south of Ha Long bay, Cat Ba | | | | ponds in and around, which are definitely rich of |
| Island is only 30 km from Hai Phong city centre | | | | marine bio-diversity. |
| and 25 km from Ha Long city. | | | | Go swimming & entertain yourself, or you |
| Not at all is it a random thing when Cat Ba is also | | | | might regret! |
| called Pearl Island (Dao Ngoc in Vietnamese). With | | | | A peak mountain in the shape of a turtle divides |
| a 70m altitude, and the post to overlook Lan Ha | | | | the beach into 2 small beaches, Cat Co One and |
| lagoon, Cat Ba lures tourists by its heavenly | | | | Cat Co Two. On the right hand is fabricated rock |
| captivation. With an area of 140 km2 and | | | | mountain, while on the left hand is the clear and |
| population of 9000 people, it is proud to be the | | | | blue sea water, white and smooth sand. The |
| biggest island among the 1,969 islands in Ha Long | | | | beauty of the beach has been changing side by |
| bay. If you are considering a fresh-air and | | | | side with the flying time. Yet, never would it lose |
| beautiful place to travel, just pack your stuff, | | | | the natural luring power. |
| stand up and fly to this magic land of blue Sky | | | | In the morning, after enjoying the sunrise on the |
| and Sea! | | | | sea, tourists will visit Monkey Island, conquering |
| The Biosphere reserve of the world! | | | | Hai Thanh mount, Hon Thot mount or Hon Guoc |
| The archipelago has a global significance thanks to | | | | mount, and swimming in the pure sea as much as |
| its plentiful species found nowhere else. It is home | | | | you can to feel how fresh a “heaven” can |
| to the golden-headed langur (Trachypithecus | | | | be! |
| poliocephalus), one of the top ten rare primates in | | | | In the afternoon, you may discover the |
| the world due. | | | | area’s original beauty by renting a kayak to |
| Besides, visitors can find several precious habitat | | | | paddle to the bay. Then, should you are still well |
| types here, including fringing coral reefs, | | | | enough, perhaps we join some sports on the |
| mangrove forest, sea grass beds, willow swamp | | | | beach, such as valley ball, boat racing, and so |
| forest and tropical limestone forest. Many of | | | | forth. When night falls, the whole team would lie |
| those are fiercely endangered. | | | | down in the cottages near by the beach to relax |
| With a major coastal fishing zone, and a karst | | | | for a while, listening to the sound of rough sea |
| seascape of outstanding beauty, a tremendous | | | | waves. A romantic & relaxation experience! |
| potential for agri-aqua culture and tourism is open | | | | Lan Ha Bay |
| to the area. Thanks to the special values, Cat Ba | | | | Lan Ha bay is situated in the southeast of Cat Ba |
| was acknowledged as the World Biosphere | | | | Island. It takes about 30 minutes to go there |
| Reserve in 2004. So, are you curious to go? | | | | from Cat Ba by boat. The bay is large with |
| Then… | | | | arched shore. Getting inside, a number of islands |
| … Take a visit to its caves and grottos, now? | | | | and beaches are welcoming tourists. |
| Cat Ba boasts many beautiful caves and grottos | | | | Not only is it famous for beautiful beaches, but |
| such as Trung Trang, Quan Y and Thien Long… | | | | also for the imposing caves and ideal place for |
| Trung Trang is the largest valley in Cat Ba Island | | | | fishing. A lot of visitors who are fond of fishing do |
| with the total area of 300 ha, from 10-30 meter | | | | not want to come back once staying here for a |
| lower than the sea level, which is 15km northwest | | | | while! |
| of the island. It is about 300 m walk. Beautiful with | | | | Viet Hai village |
| glistening stalactite & stalagmite it is! Visiting | | | | To switch into a new atmospheric space, tourists |
| Trung Trang, one has learnt that it is deeply a | | | | should now get to Viet Hai Village. It captures |
| thousand-year great work of Nature! | | | | attentions by the precious retained hundreds-year |
| Quan Y grotto. “Quan Y” means | | | | traditional cultural values of Cat Ba. Viet Hai people |
| “Army medical care”. This special name | | | | still live in the simple house, built in bamboo, wood, |
| derives from the Wartime against American Air | | | | leaves and soil. |
| force, when Vietnamese people built a hospital | | | | If it gets late, we may stay overnight in the |
| with hundreds of beds inside this grotto. Today, | | | | village in a simple and guest house at very |
| visitors can easily reach it as Quan Y Grotto is on | | | | reasonable price. You might be surprised as being |
| the main way along the Island, only about 13 km | | | | treated in a friendly way, and served with special |
| from the Island’s centre. | | | | local cuisine seafood by the honest and hospitable |
| About 2 hours traveling by boat from Phu Long | | | | local people. Believe me, you may not want to go |
| wharf is Thien Long grotto. It has just been | | | | back soon! |
| discovered since 1997. This is one of the most | | | | How to reach Cat Ba Island? |
| beautiful caves and grottos in Ha Long bay. As | | | | Visitors can reach Cat Ba Island by two ways. |
| wide and deep with miraculously various shaped | | | | One, by ferry from Hai Phong city, Binh ferry |
| & colorful stalactites and stalagmites, and | | | | station or Dinh Vu ferry station. And two, from |
| tree roots from the mount to the bottom, Thien | | | | Ha Long bay. After visiting this Natural World |
| Long grotto is admired by any tourist stepping | | | | Heritage Site, visitors can keep staying on boat |
| inside. One even said: “It looks like a pretty | | | | and getting to the Island. |