Cat Ba National Park Vietnam: A Detailed Guide

Cat Ba National Park is a fascinating destination in Vietnam with majestic natural scenery and a rich and diverse forest ecosystem.

This article is a complete travel guide to Cat Ba National Park with insider tips to make the best of your trekking day. 

About Cat Ba National Park

Cat Ba island is located south of Ha Long, about 30 km from Hai Phong.

UNESCO has recognized cat Ba National Park as a world biosphere reserve with a rich and unique landscape.

According to UNESCO, the area includes tropical humid forests, wetlands, mangroves, and coral reef ecosystem types. 

Best places to stay in Cat Ba island

The tourism industry is relatively developed in Cat Ba, so you can find several hotels along the coast in Cat Ba town.

I recommend staying at Cat Ba Oasis Bungalows. The food at the cafe is tasty, and the service is superb. I love the pool there.

If you’re looking for an affordable stay, Dai Thuy hotel offers lovely rooms at a reasonable price. The staff is friendly and welcoming.

How to get to Cat Ba National Park

Getting to Cat Ba

From Hanoi

The easiest way to travel from Hanoi to Cat Ba is by bus. Daily buses depart from Hanoi, and the journey takes approximately 3.5 to 4 hours. 

You can book online bus tickets here. 

From Hai Phong

Frequent ferries travel from Hai Phong to Cat Ba island. You can book online ferry tickets here. 

Read more: Vietnam transportation guide.

Getting to the National Park from Cat Ba town

Getting to Cat Ba National Park is very easy. 

We rented a scooter from our hotel, and the road trip was fantastic. Following Nui Ngoc street back to the middle Cat Ba road, the beautiful scenery opened in front of our eyes. 

If you cannot ride a bike, you can hire a local bike driver for a day. 

Things to do in Cat Ba National Park

The routes

From the center of Cat Ba National Park, you can choose one of 4 courses to explore the flora and fauna system.

The long routes with a visit time of 5-8 hours include:

• Ao Ech – Viet Hai village
• May Bau – Quan Y Cave
• Kim Giao – Me Con – Tung Di

The short route with a visit time of 3 – 5 hours includes:

• Kim Giao – Ngu Lam Peak -> This is also the most accessible route to go by bike without a tour guide.

This article focuses mainly on trekking to Ngu Lam Peak. 

Besides trekking to the peak, there are a few caves that you can visit in Cat Ba National Park, such as Cannon fort, Hospital cave, and Trung Trang Cave. 

Cat Ba National Park entrance fee

The ticket price for Cat Ba national park is 80,000 VND for adults and 60,000 VND for a child.

Cat Ba National Park map

Below is the map of Kim Giao Forest – Ngu Lam Peak route. 

Follow the main road in the garden, and you will reach the climb point to Kim Giao forest and Ngu Lam peak. Please carefully check the directions on the map. 

What to pack

Below are some items that I highly recommend that you should have:

• Water
• Good hiking shoes
• Insect repellent
• First aid kit

Cat Ba National Park Ngu Lam Peak Hike

Abandoned houses

I was fascinated to see the abandoned houses along the hiking trails. These houses look a bit scary. 

Hiking trails

There are two hiking trails that you can choose to get to Ngu Lam Peak: a long and short one.

We chose the longer trail. On the way, we saw several insects and different trees.

There were several signs pointing us to Ngu Lam peak, so we didn’t get lost. 

Cat Ba National Park Viewpoint

After hiking, taking pictures, and experiencing diversity, we finally got to the viewpoint. Although I was afraid of heights, it was a fantastic experience. 

Is it dangerous to trek through Cat Ba National Park?

Yes. Therefore I suggest you go trekking with a travel partner or a local guide. You may get lost or fall when hiking in the jungle.