Some notes when traveling to Cat Ba island in peak time

If you are planning to travel to Cat Ba island, please refer to the following article to gain experience traveling to Cat Ba in the peak time.


1. Transportation: Rent a car from home to the cable car station or speedboat pier
+ take the cable car/speedboat to the island and then rent a car/bus to take you to the hotel. Avoid taking the Dong Bai ferry even on weekdays. If taking the ferry, choose Tuan Chau ferry.

2. Hotels in the center of Tung Dinh, Nui Ngoc, 1/4 streets you can catch electric cars for 10.000 VND/person each way, convenient for traveling to the beach, restaurants. In other areas, you should rent a motorbike, or call a taxi (electric car is more expensive).

3. Cheap seafood: 2nd floor at the entrance to the Cat Ba market (popular place, no air conditioning).

4. If you go in July, you should go from Tuesday to Thursday, the weekend is very busy and even the beginning of the week from Sunday to Tuesday is also busy. If you want to avoid the crowds and have cheaper services and more beautiful scenery, go in August to October (you can still swim comfortably, book the service 5-7 days in advance when you have checked the weather is safe and there are no storms/low pressure).

5. If you are prone to motion sickness or seasickness, choose the 3-hour Lan Ha Bay tour in the morning or afternoon (with a beautiful sunset in the afternoon). On the days with no rain or hot sun are big waves (strong southwest wind).

6. Choose a reliable tour company who has and knowledgeable about Cat Ba to arrange the trip.

7. Do not eat ice cream after eating seafood. You should eat in the morning or afternoon, 2-3 hours after the main meal. Eating cold/sweet food after eating seafood can cause digestive disorders.

8. When booking a room via a booking application, you should call the hotel to check, you should call the hotel to check again before the departure date to ensure your room is secured. If you book the meals at the hotel you should discuss clearly with the hotel about number of meals, how much the meal costs...

9. Do not take the offers to go squid fishing in the wharf area. Squid is only available from early April to mid-May (late May is still available but in small quantities, difficult to catch on moonlight nights).

10. Be careful when listening to the electric car drivers advising restaurants, shops selling dried seafood or Cat Ba specialties or book a tour to Lan Ha Bay. Not all electric car drivers are bad, it's just that during peak season there are more worms in the vegetables. Check the electric car driver, if invited to eat seafood, buy a tour, say you have booked in advance and if the attitude is still cheerful and polite, you can trust them.

11. Swim in the early morning, the beach is wider, the waves are calmer. In the afternoon, swim between 15:00 - 16:30 at Cat Co 1 beach, where the Flamingo building is shady. Children should swim at Cat Co 1 and Tung Thu beaches. Change into bathing suit from hotel (as the changing room, shower at the beach is chargeable, long wait).

Ha Long Bay is also home to many exciting recreational, entertainment and sightseeing activities. Cruise Halong bay provides tours and travel services to Halong bay and Cat Ba island.