A/ Ha Long bay
1/ Overview, Geographic location and Climate
2/ Tour
3/ Rock climbing
4/ Videos from New7wonders.com
5/ Attention
6/ Hanoi - Halong bay seaplane service
7/ Bird's-eye view of scenic Ha Long Bay
B/ Cat Ba biosphere reserve (Cat Ba island, Cat Ba national park) - Lan Ha bay
1/ Overview: Cat Ba biosphere reserve and Cat Ba island, Cat Ba national park
Lan Ha bay
2/ Sights on Cat Ba island
3/ Where to stay in Cat Ba town
4/ Food and drink
5/ Getting to Cat Ba island
Electric car on Cat Ba island
C/ Others
Hello Vietnam - Hello Ha long (Kyo York)
The song: "Dawn in Ha Long bay" - Mesa Band
Sunrise at Ha Long bay with 360o aerial panorama
http://www.airpano.ru/files/Halong-Bay-Vietnam/2-2
A/ Ha Long bay
1/ Overview
One of 33 most beautiful bays of the World
Two times regconised by UNESCO as World Heritage for its
outstanding values of landscape, geology and geomorphology.
One of the seven of the New World Nature Wonders
That is Ha Long bay, a picturesque seascape sculpted by nature with 1969 of limestone islands and islets rising
from the emerald waters of gulf of Tonkin, in a variety of sizes and shapes.
Many tourists made a comparison between Ha Long bay and Krabi of Southern Thailand. A China newspaper called Ha Long "Guilin on the sea". But in fact Ha Long bay is much more spectacular. Even poetry, music, painting, movie, photography cant help to depict the beauty of it.
At different times and at different seasons, Ha Long has different beauties. Early morning is a watercolour painting with rolling mountains towering from an endless sheet of silver silk. When the sun is above the head, it is a large multidimensional blue mirror created by a perfect combination of turquoise waters and vertical green limestone mounts. Sunset dyes landscape pink and gives a deeply quiet, peaceful feeling...
Beside joining an unforgettable cruise, come to Ha Long bay, you will have chance to explore many caves full of stalagmites and stalactities. Those are edventurers, Ha Long with its thousands of limestone mountains is an ideal place for rock climbing too...
Geographic location
Ha Long bay is located in the gulf of Tonkin, within Quang Ninh province, Northeast Viet Nam, about 165km from Hanoi capital city.
Climate
Autumn which lasts from late September to the end of November, is the best time to visit Halong as the weather is cool and the sky is blue.
The Northeastern seasonal winds let us know that We are in winter which lasts from December till the beginning of February. The average temperature of this period is between 15 – 25oC. Sometimes, it drops down to under 10oC
Summer lasts from May to August and is hot and humid. During summer, there are often some tropical storms.
The beauty of Ha Long bay is based on the colour of limestones, sea and sky. Therefore, you should check weather forecast before leaving.
2/ Tour
Many tourists made a comparison between Ha Long bay and Krabi of Southern Thailand. A China newspaper called Ha Long "Guilin on the sea". But in fact Ha Long bay is much more spectacular. Even poetry, music, painting, movie, photography cant help to depict the beauty of it.
At different times and at different seasons, Ha Long has different beauties. Early morning is a watercolour painting with rolling mountains towering from an endless sheet of silver silk. When the sun is above the head, it is a large multidimensional blue mirror created by a perfect combination of turquoise waters and vertical green limestone mounts. Sunset dyes landscape pink and gives a deeply quiet, peaceful feeling...
Beside joining an unforgettable cruise, come to Ha Long bay, you will have chance to explore many caves full of stalagmites and stalactities. Those are edventurers, Ha Long with its thousands of limestone mountains is an ideal place for rock climbing too...
Geographic location
Ha Long bay is located in the gulf of Tonkin, within Quang Ninh province, Northeast Viet Nam, about 165km from Hanoi capital city.
Climate
Autumn which lasts from late September to the end of November, is the best time to visit Halong as the weather is cool and the sky is blue.
The Northeastern seasonal winds let us know that We are in winter which lasts from December till the beginning of February. The average temperature of this period is between 15 – 25oC. Sometimes, it drops down to under 10oC
Summer lasts from May to August and is hot and humid. During summer, there are often some tropical storms.
The beauty of Ha Long bay is based on the colour of limestones, sea and sky. Therefore, you should check weather forecast before leaving.
2/ Tour
Most tourists take a 1 or 2 or 3-day Ha Long bay tour departing from Hanoi.
A 1-day Ha Long bay tour usually leaves Hanoi at 8:00AM, arrive in Ha Long at about 11:30AM and back to Hanoi at about 7:00PM.
A 2-day Ha Long bay tour with one night onboard or on island (Cat Ba or Tuan Chau island). Attention: Based on my experience, its better to stay onboard. For tourists staying on the island: the boat arrives in the island about 5:00 – 6:00PM and most of the time you spent in hotel/resort. Then in the morning of 2nd day, you have to get onbard again, leaving the island without any activity/discovery.
A 3-day Ha Long tour with one night onboard and one night on Cat Ba island.
If you are a backpacker like me, just head straight to Cat Ba island, use it as a base to cruise along Lan Ha bay, Ha Long bay and discover Cat Ba national park
Surprising cave
Video: Vietnamguidebook
3/ Rock climbing
One of the Ha Long bay - Cat Ba island - Lan Ha bay rock climbing tour operators that is highly recommended by many newspaper in Vietnam is Vietclimb (www.vietclimb.vn).
I havent used its service yet. Please check it by yourself.
Vietclimb wrote:
To beat the heat of Hanoi, VietClimb runs some Deep Water Soloing trips in Halong bay.
But what is DWS? DWS is a way of climbing without drilling machine, hammer, protection, rope... Only you, your fingers, your climbing shoes (now
wet), the cliff and the sea. Choose your wall, your path,
let your body speak, keep focused, forget about the height, breathe, visualize the next move...
Notes:
- Departure: Weekends (from April to October)
- Departure: Weekends (from April to October)
- Cost (Hanoi – Cat Ba - Hanoi, 2 days/1 night): starts at 75 USD for VietClimb members, 85 USD for non-members.
- Including: Hanoi - Cat Ba round trip (bus + speedboat), overnight onboard with 1 breakfast, 2 lunches, 1 dinner, kayaking...
4/ Videos from New7wonders.com
Please follow the link
http://nature.new7wonders.com/video-gallery?post_id=5592&id=1
5/ Attention
* Some Ha Long bay tour operators take tour groups to floating fish farms (or floating restaurants) where tourists can see the caged fish breeding and buy fish right there. The fish is often overcharged.
Kasilod Wuttichai, a Thailand tourist, came to one floating fish farm in Ba Hang fishing village of Ha Long bay. He pointed out a fish and asked to weigh it before buying. The fish was 6kgs and the owner of the farm asked him to pay 10,000,000VND (or 500USD)! (1,800,000VND/kg). Panic, Kasilod suggested not to buy the fish. But the owner said the fish's head had been beaten and that Kalisod had to buy it.
* The main destination of Vietnam, Ha Long bay draws a lot of visitors but the management at the boat station is not really good, if We dont want to say its sometimes quite messy
* The most visited caves of Ha Long bay such as Surprising cave and Dau Go cave are usually crowded
Surprising cave
6/ Hanoi - Halong bay seaplane service
Fly through the heart of Halong Bay and venture deep inside the Gulf of Tonkin for panoramic views over this UNESCO World Heritage Site
Hai Au Aviation has just launched seaplane flight service between Hanoi and the world famous Ha Long Bay.
Luong Hoai Nam, director of the airline, told the Saigon
Times news website Wednesday that each flight is about 30 minutes long,
compared to a car ride that lasts three to four hours, while allowing
passengers to view landscapes from the height of 150-3,000 meters.
Besides sightseeing tours, the airline, which is owned by
Thien Minh Group and Focus Travel Group, will also provide services like
air taxi and customized flights, the newspaper reported.
Aircrafts
Hai Au's Cessna Caravan C208 EX aircrafts are
2014 models and registered VN-B468 and VN-B469.
The Caravan is the largest single-engine
float plane currently manufactured and has proven itself to be one of
the most reliable, cost effective and, most importantly, safest aircraft
ever built. The amphibious floats offer the ultimate in flexibility and
allow to fly to any suitable water or runway landing area.
General Characteristics
Crew: Two pilots
Capacity: 12 passengers
Length: 12.67m (42ft)
Wingspan: 15.9m (52ft)
Height: 5 m (16ft)
Empty: 2810kg (6180lb)
Loaded: 4119kg (9062lb)
Useful load: 1309kg (2880lb)
Powerplant: 1 PT6A- 140, 867hp (720 kW)
Cruise speed: 260 km/h
Crew: Two pilots
Capacity: 12 passengers
Length: 12.67m (42ft)
Wingspan: 15.9m (52ft)
Height: 5 m (16ft)
Empty: 2810kg (6180lb)
Loaded: 4119kg (9062lb)
Useful load: 1309kg (2880lb)
Powerplant: 1 PT6A- 140, 867hp (720 kW)
Cruise speed: 260 km/h
Select your flight and Fare
News and photo credit:
(http://www.thanhniennews.com/business/new-airline-said-to-focus-on-seaplane-services-27152.html)
(http://dulich.tuoitre.vn/tin/20140909/khai-truong-dich-vu-bay-thuy-phi-co-ngam-ha-long/643378.html)
(https://www.seaplanes.vn/en/about-us/aircrafts.html)
7/ Bird's-eye view of scenic Ha Long Bay
7/ Bird's-eye view of scenic Ha Long Bay
B/ Cat Ba biosphere reserve (Cat Ba island, Cat Ba national park) - Lan Ha bay
1/ Overview
Cat Ba biosphere reserve and Cat Ba island, Cat Ba national park
Cat Ba biosphere reserve
Cat Ba World Biosphere
Reserve, an archipelago of Cat Hai district of Hai phong city, in northeast Vietnam, which is adjacent to the Ha
Long bay world heritage site, is internationally important for its
limestone karst geomorphology and is one of the best examples in the world
of a fengcong and fenglin karst landscape invaded by the sea.
Its 366 limestone islands contain landforms, caves and cave deposits that provide evidence of a long history of erosion and landscape evolution. Many of the small islands rise steeply or vertically from the shallow marine waters and are the distinguishing features of the region. Most of the bigger islands are covered by evergreen tropical monsoon forest.
Beside the limestone islands, the archipelago also has a number of regionally important habitat types including fringing coral reefs, mangrove forests, seagrass beds, flooded willow forest and tropical limestone forest. Most of the habitats are under severe threat especially due to encroachment.
The archipelago has a high number of endemic floral and faunal species. The golden-headed langur (Trachypithecus poliocephalus) is one example, a species endemic to the Cat Ba island that is listed as one of the ten rarest primates in the world due to its restricted range and small population size.
Its 366 limestone islands contain landforms, caves and cave deposits that provide evidence of a long history of erosion and landscape evolution. Many of the small islands rise steeply or vertically from the shallow marine waters and are the distinguishing features of the region. Most of the bigger islands are covered by evergreen tropical monsoon forest.
Beside the limestone islands, the archipelago also has a number of regionally important habitat types including fringing coral reefs, mangrove forests, seagrass beds, flooded willow forest and tropical limestone forest. Most of the habitats are under severe threat especially due to encroachment.
The archipelago has a high number of endemic floral and faunal species. The golden-headed langur (Trachypithecus poliocephalus) is one example, a species endemic to the Cat Ba island that is listed as one of the ten rarest primates in the world due to its restricted range and small population size.
(Source: Unesco)
Cat Ba island
Cat Ba island is the largest island of the Cat Ba archipelago. The island has a surface of 285 km2, includes the Cat Ba national park and one main town , Cat Ba town.
Cat Ba national park
(Went to Cat Ba national park in a rainy day. It was closed. Plan to trek through the park in the future)
Cat Ba national park is home to a diverse range of terrestrial and marine life.
Founded in 1986, the park was the first in Vietnam to include land and sea areas. Today the park covers 162km2, 109km2 of which are terrestrial ecosystems, with the remainning 53km2 comprising of marine ecosystems.
The terrestrial ecosystems of the park include tropical monsoon forest, flooded willow forest. The marine ecosystems comprise fringing coral reefs, sandy beaches, mangrove forest, tidal flats...
The marine biodiversity
The marine biodiversity of the park is extremely high with more than 500 species living just on the sea floor. Worms, snails, mussels, crabs, sea stars and other simple-bodied creatures are all represented. Going further are around 200 species of fish which live in the surrounding sea. Coral reefs found around with close to 200 different species recorded. Visitors to the park may also be lucky to observe the sea turtles and dolphins which occasionally visit the area.
The terrestrial plants
Cat Ba has more than 1500 species of plant, many of which are nationally and internationally listed as rare or endangered. 661 species are traditionally used for medicinal purposes and 18 are certified as being pharmaceutically active.
The terrestrial animals
The most famous of terrestrial animal is golden-headed langur. Its one of the most endangered primate species in the world with only 60 - 70 individuals remaining.
Other are mammals include: Southern serow, Leopard cat, small Indian civet, Rhesus macaque, Black giant squirrel, Variuos bat species.
Roughly 160 species of resident and migratory birds including the oriental pied hornbill, the red-whiskered bulbul and the rare and endangered fish owl
Around 190 species of butterfly....
Trails and Activities in the park
1/ Forest Education Trail: Start at the park headquarters. This 2.5km trail will introduce you to some of the wonders of Cat Ba island and its forest (Short trail: 1 - 2 hour each way)
2/ Kim Giao forest - Fire-watch tower (Dinh Ngu Lam): allows you to experience the forest which is home to the rare, endangered and ancient Kim Giao trees. The trail continues onto the Fire-watch tower which offer spectacular view of the area (Short trail: 1 - 2 hour each way)
3/ National park HQ - Ao ech (frog lake) - Viet Hai commune - Lan Ha bay: This trail provides a much harder challenge. First you will visit a magnificent flooded willow forest in a valley high above sea level. The water is the largest concentration of freshwater on the island (1.5 - 2 hours one way to "frog lake"). Then continue the trail to Viet Hai commune, a traditional settlement within the park. The last destination is Lan Ha bay where a boat will take you back to Cat Ba town. (Long trail: Headquarters to Lan Ha bay is about 3 - 5 hours, not including the boat trip)
Fee: 15,000VND/pax (Short trail); 35,000VND/pax (long trail)
Guide: 300,000VND (if you need, please call the park's staff, Ms Huyen to book: 0987 138 168)
Motorised boat from Lan Ha bay back to Cat Ba town is accommodate to 15 people at a cost of 600,000VND
(Source: Cat Ba national park)
Pics: catbalangur.com
Cat Ba town
Get to this small town by bus and express boat from Hanoi and use it as a base to enjoy a cruise along Lan Ha bay - Ha Long bay.
If you love nature, spend one day trekking in the Cat Ba National park. The park is just 15km from the center of the town.
There are some Internet shops along the main street of the town: 1/4 street
Map of Cat Ba island
The terrestrial ecosystems of the park include tropical monsoon forest, flooded willow forest. The marine ecosystems comprise fringing coral reefs, sandy beaches, mangrove forest, tidal flats...
The marine biodiversity
The marine biodiversity of the park is extremely high with more than 500 species living just on the sea floor. Worms, snails, mussels, crabs, sea stars and other simple-bodied creatures are all represented. Going further are around 200 species of fish which live in the surrounding sea. Coral reefs found around with close to 200 different species recorded. Visitors to the park may also be lucky to observe the sea turtles and dolphins which occasionally visit the area.
The terrestrial plants
Cat Ba has more than 1500 species of plant, many of which are nationally and internationally listed as rare or endangered. 661 species are traditionally used for medicinal purposes and 18 are certified as being pharmaceutically active.
The terrestrial animals
The most famous of terrestrial animal is golden-headed langur. Its one of the most endangered primate species in the world with only 60 - 70 individuals remaining.
Other are mammals include: Southern serow, Leopard cat, small Indian civet, Rhesus macaque, Black giant squirrel, Variuos bat species.
Roughly 160 species of resident and migratory birds including the oriental pied hornbill, the red-whiskered bulbul and the rare and endangered fish owl
Around 190 species of butterfly....
Trails and Activities in the park
1/ Forest Education Trail: Start at the park headquarters. This 2.5km trail will introduce you to some of the wonders of Cat Ba island and its forest (Short trail: 1 - 2 hour each way)
2/ Kim Giao forest - Fire-watch tower (Dinh Ngu Lam): allows you to experience the forest which is home to the rare, endangered and ancient Kim Giao trees. The trail continues onto the Fire-watch tower which offer spectacular view of the area (Short trail: 1 - 2 hour each way)
3/ National park HQ - Ao ech (frog lake) - Viet Hai commune - Lan Ha bay: This trail provides a much harder challenge. First you will visit a magnificent flooded willow forest in a valley high above sea level. The water is the largest concentration of freshwater on the island (1.5 - 2 hours one way to "frog lake"). Then continue the trail to Viet Hai commune, a traditional settlement within the park. The last destination is Lan Ha bay where a boat will take you back to Cat Ba town. (Long trail: Headquarters to Lan Ha bay is about 3 - 5 hours, not including the boat trip)
Fee: 15,000VND/pax (Short trail); 35,000VND/pax (long trail)
Guide: 300,000VND (if you need, please call the park's staff, Ms Huyen to book: 0987 138 168)
Motorised boat from Lan Ha bay back to Cat Ba town is accommodate to 15 people at a cost of 600,000VND
(Source: Cat Ba national park)
Cat Ba town
Get to this small town by bus and express boat from Hanoi and use it as a base to enjoy a cruise along Lan Ha bay - Ha Long bay.
If you love nature, spend one day trekking in the Cat Ba National park. The park is just 15km from the center of the town.
There are some Internet shops along the main street of the town: 1/4 street
Map of Cat Ba island
One symbol of Cat Ba town
1/4 street with a lot of hotels
Lan Ha bay
Covering an area of 7,000ha with 366 limestone islands and islets in a variety of sizes and shapes at an average height of 50 – 200m, Lan Ha bay is a natural senic wonder and is one of the typhical examples of the mature karst landscape invaded by the sea.
For geologists and experts of geomorphology, the limestone formations of Lan Ha bay provide the evidence of a long history of erosion and landscape evolution through the sculpting power of sea water. For tourists, they inspire the imagination – a Vietnamese myth describes the limestone formations of Lan Ha bay as being wrought by the thrashing of a dragon’s tail as it crash-landed into the sea.
Different with Ha Long bay, the bay of Lan Ha has 139 small white sandy beaches. Many of them lie between two large limestone mountains creating the ideal, quiet places for swimming.
Beside tourism, fishery plays an important economic role in Lan Ha. Its unpolluted emerald waters are home to many floating houses with caged sea fish breeding. A lot of Vietnamese travellers come here to stay with fishermen in their floating houses and enjoy the fresh seafood right on the sea water.
Lan Ha is located in the East of Cat Ba town, adjacent to Ha Long bay. Most tourists take a 1-day cruise tour through Lan Ha from Cat Ba town. The tour often costs at 20 – 25USD/pax, including wooden cruise boat, entrance fee of Surprising cave, snorkeling, kayaking and lunch. Check around the town for the best price.
You can take a 2-day cruise tour too. It takes you from Lan Ha bay to Ha Long bay with one night onboard. This is highly recommended as the beauty of Ha Long and Lan Ha bays are different from time to time.
The same with Ha Long bay, Lan Ha bay is an ideal place for rock climbing. See "Rock climbing" of Ha Long bay and contact vietclimb.com. Or you use service of Slo Pony rock climbing operator which is highly recommended by some guidebooks (I havent used it service)
Slo Pony Adventure
Office: on the first floor of The Noble House hotel (1/4 street)
Lan Ha bay
Swimming in the blue water of Lan Ha bay
2/ Sights on Cat Ba island
Cat Co 1, 2, 3 beaches
These sandy beaches with clear water are just some 2km from the center of Cat Ba town.
During summer and holidays, these beaches are often crowded with Vietnamese and Chinese.
During summer and holidays, these beaches are often crowded with Vietnamese and Chinese.
Pictures of Cat Co 1 beach
Pics: vietnamguidebook
Military Hospital cave (Hang Quan Y)
Built between 1963 - 1965, this three-storey cave was used as a bomb-proof shelter and a hospital during Vietnam war.
The cave has two gates. One gate is in the West which is some 200m from the one in the East. In the cave, there are 17 rooms which can accommodate to 200 visitors.
Location: The cave is about 13km from the center of Cat Ba town, on the way to Cat ba national park headquarters.
Admission: 15,000VND/pax
3/ Where to stay in Cat Ba town
The small town Cat Ba has many basic and luxury hotels along 1/4 street
With 150,000VND up (7USD), during the low season, you will have a private nice room with air-condition, fan, hot shower, Tivi, fridge
With 300,000VND up (15USD), your hotel is large with lift, free Internet access.
Pay 45USD up, you will stay in a 3-star hotel with large and beautiful room, nice design, LCD tivi, minibar, bathtub with hot shower
Just about 2km from the center of the town is Cat Co beach where stands a 4-star resort named Cat Ba Island resort & spa.
Please note that the research was dont in the beginning of November, 2012. Its the low season in Cat Ba. Room rate will be increased in weekend and it becomes "crazy" in summer when Vietnamese tourist come in groups. (2 - 3 times up!)
If you come here during summer, and would like to look for a budget room, then you need to stay behind the main 1/4 street.
1/ (My stay) Trung Hoa hotel
Address: No.213, 1-4 street, Cat Ba town
Room rate: 150,000VND up (7USD)
Pics: vietnamguidebook
2/ (My pick)Yen Thanh hotel
Address: No.220, 1-4 street, Cat Ba town
Pics: vietnamguidebook
3/ Phong Lan hotel
Address: No.214, 1-4 street, Cat Ba island
4/ Thu Ha hotel
Address: No.205, 1-4 street, Cat ba island
Pics: vietnamguidebook
5/ Lan Ha hotel
Address: 21 Nui Ngoc street, Cat Ba town (30m from 1-4 street)
6/ The Noble House hotel
Address: 1-4 street, Cat Ba town
Pictures:
Pics: vietnamguidebook
7/ Nam Phuong hotel
Address: Cat Ba town
Pics: vietnamguidebook
8/ Sunset hotel
Address: No.180, 1-4 street, Cat Ba town
Room rate: 200,000VND up (10USD)
Pics: vietnamguidebook
9/ (My pick) Duc Tuan hotel
Address: No.210, 1-4 street, Cat Ba town
Pics: vietnamguidebook
10/ Holiday View hotel
Address: No.251, 1-4 street, Cat Ba town
Pictures:
11/ Sea Pearl hotel
Address: No.219, 1-4 street, Cat Ba town
Pictures:
11/ (My pick) Hung Long Harbour hotel
Address: No.268, 1-4 street, Cat ba town
Pictures:
Pics: vietnamguidebook
12/ Cat Ba Island Resort & Spa
Address: Cat Co 1 beach, Cat Ba island (about 2km from center of Cat Ba town)
Pictures:
Pics: vietnamguidebook
4/ Food and Drink
Expect to pay a little bit more than Hanoi as most of the food on the island is imported.
There are many restaurants serving Vietnamese, Chinese, Western dishes along 1/4 street.
If you choose to have lunch/dinner on floating restaurants near the town, be careful with "sharp" prices!
If you are a backpacker, just enjoy the local food like me:
* Sticky rice with Vietnamese ham : 15,000VND
* Soya bean: 5,000VND
* Vietnamese bread: 20,000VND
* Night market or "Cho dem" (6:00PM - 2:00AM): selling many kinds of noodle. Price starts at 20,000VND
Getting to night market: head straight to Internet shop at number 161, 1/4 street. Then turn right, walk about 100 more meters. the market is on the left.
Sticky rice with Vietnamese ham
Pics: vietnamguidebook
Fried tofu and shrimp paste
Snail fried with coconut and lemongrass
Pics: vietnamguidebook
Night market
Pic: vietnamguidebook
5/ Getting to Cat Ba island (by bus + boat)
Take a 10-minute motorbike ride from the center of Hanoi Old Quarter to Luong Yen bus station. Cost: 25,000VND
Hoang Long bus operator in Luong Yen bus station offers 4 daily buses + express boats to Cat Ba island. The big bus and the express boat have good air-conditioned.
Firstly, the bus takes 2-hour drive to Hai Phong city, then another 30 minutes to Dinh Vu ferry/boat station.
Take express boat to Gor ferry/boat station of Cat Hai town.
Bus from Cat Hai town to Cat Ba town (20km, pass by Cat Ba national park head quarter)
Total travel time: 3.5 - 4hours
Departure: 5:20AM - 7:20AM - 11:20AM - 1:30PM
Tel: (04) 3987 7225 (Hanoi)
Bus + boat ticket: 190,000VND (9.5USD)
Hoang Long office in Cat Ba town: Number 217, 1/4 street (Tel: 0313 887 224)
Website: www.hoanglongasia.com
Note: Ticket seller speak English. Driver and steward dont.
Luong Yen bus station, Hanoi
Waiting room of Hoang Long bus operator
Hoang Long bus
Electric car on Cat Ba island
If you want to go to Cat Co beach by electric car, this is the price: 10,000VND/pax/way.
The car waits on 1/4 street
Pic: vietnamguidebook
C/ Others
Hello Vietnam - Hello Ha long (Kyo York)
Military Hospital cave (Hang Quan Y)
Built between 1963 - 1965, this three-storey cave was used as a bomb-proof shelter and a hospital during Vietnam war.
The cave has two gates. One gate is in the West which is some 200m from the one in the East. In the cave, there are 17 rooms which can accommodate to 200 visitors.
Location: The cave is about 13km from the center of Cat Ba town, on the way to Cat ba national park headquarters.
Admission: 15,000VND/pax
Pics: vietnamguidebook
3/ Where to stay in Cat Ba town
The small town Cat Ba has many basic and luxury hotels along 1/4 street
With 150,000VND up (7USD), during the low season, you will have a private nice room with air-condition, fan, hot shower, Tivi, fridge
With 300,000VND up (15USD), your hotel is large with lift, free Internet access.
Pay 45USD up, you will stay in a 3-star hotel with large and beautiful room, nice design, LCD tivi, minibar, bathtub with hot shower
Just about 2km from the center of the town is Cat Co beach where stands a 4-star resort named Cat Ba Island resort & spa.
Please note that the research was dont in the beginning of November, 2012. Its the low season in Cat Ba. Room rate will be increased in weekend and it becomes "crazy" in summer when Vietnamese tourist come in groups. (2 - 3 times up!)
If you come here during summer, and would like to look for a budget room, then you need to stay behind the main 1/4 street.
1/ (My stay) Trung Hoa hotel
Address: No.213, 1-4 street, Cat Ba town
Tel: 0313 888 426 - 0988 304 569
Overview: Large, clean and nice rooms with air-condition, fan, hot shower, Tivi, fridge, friendly
Pictures:
2/ (My pick)Yen Thanh hotel
Address: No.220, 1-4 street, Cat Ba town
Tel: 0313 888 201 - 0166 3660 203
Room rate: 250,000VND (12USD)
Overview: Large hotel, big and basic rooms with air-condition, bathtub and hot shower, Tivi, fridge, lift
Pictures: 
3/ Phong Lan hotel
Address: No.214, 1-4 street, Cat Ba island
Tel: 0313 888 605 - 0989 664 356
Email: phonglancatba@gmail.com
Website: www.phonglanhotelinfo.com
Room rate: 160,000VND up (8USD)
Overview: This small hotel has basic old rooms with air-condition, hot shower, small cable Tivi, fridge.
Pictures: 
Pics: vietnamguidebook
4/ Thu Ha hotel
Address: No.205, 1-4 street, Cat ba island
Tel: 0313 888 343 - 0984 412 100
Room rate: 300,000VND up (15USD)
Overview: Large, nice and clean rooms with air-condition, hot shower, LCD Tivi, fridge, lift, free Internet access
Pictures:
5/ Lan Ha hotel
Address: 21 Nui Ngoc street, Cat Ba town (30m from 1-4 street)
Tel: 0313 888 299 - 0914 579 919
Email: khachsanlanha@gmail.com
Website: www.lanhacatba.com.vn
Room rate: 300,000VND (15USD)
Overview: Nice and clean rooms with air-condition, hot shower, LCD Tivi, lift
Pictures:
Pics: vietnamguidebook
6/ The Noble House hotel
Address: 1-4 street, Cat Ba town
Tel: 0313 888 363 - 01645 696 694
Room rate: 300,000VND up (15USD)
Overview: Basic clean rooms with air-condition, hot shower, Tivi, fridge
Bonus: Bar and restaurant with Western dishes and cold beer, free table pool Pictures:
7/ Nam Phuong hotel
Address: Cat Ba town
Tel: 0313 888 473 - 0984 293 829
Room rate: 200,000VND up (10USD)
Overview: Rooms are basic with air-condition, hot shower, Tivi, fridge
Pictures:
8/ Sunset hotel
Address: No.180, 1-4 street, Cat Ba town
Tel: 0313 888 370 - 0917 315 329 - 0914 837 093
Email: sunsethotel.catba@yahoo.com
Overview: Basic clean rooms with air-condition, hot shower, Tivi, fridge, friendly
Pictures:
9/ (My pick) Duc Tuan hotel
Address: No.210, 1-4 street, Cat Ba town
Tel: 0313 888 783 - 0912 811 796 - 0988 971 685
Email: btanh2009@gmail.com
Website: www.ductuancatbahotel.com
Room rate: 300,000VND up (15USD)
Overview: Large and nice rooms with air-condition, big bathroom with hot shower, Tivi, fridge, lift
Pictures:
10/ Holiday View hotel
Address: No.251, 1-4 street, Cat Ba town
Tel: 0313 887 200
Email: sales@holidayviewhotel-catba.com
Website: www.holidayviewhotel-catba.com
Room rate: 45USD up (with breakfast)
Overview: This 3-star large hotel is getting old. Rooms with air-condition, hot shower, Tivi, fridge, lift
Minus: Some rooms are quite dark and have a little bit smell Pictures:
Pics: vietnamguidebook
11/ Sea Pearl hotel
Address: No.219, 1-4 street, Cat Ba town
Tel: 0313 688 567 - 0313 696 125
Email: seapearlhotel@gmail.com
Website: www.seapearlcatbahotel.com.vn
Room rate: 1,399,000VND up (70USD with breakfast)
Overview: A 3-star hotel, rooms are large and nice with air-condition, bathtub with hot shower, LCD Tivi, fridge, lift. Just opened for about 1.5 years
Bonus: Free Internet accessPictures:
Pics: Vietnamguidebook
11/ (My pick) Hung Long Harbour hotel
Address: No.268, 1-4 street, Cat ba town
Tel: 0316 269 269 - 0978 366 791
Email: hunglongharbourhotel@gmail.com
Room rate: 945,000VND up (47USD with buffet breakfast)
Overview: A lovely 3-star hotel with nice design, great location, rooms are beautiful with air-condition, bathtub with hot shower, LCD Tivi, minibar, writing desk. Just opened 1 year
Pictures:
12/ Cat Ba Island Resort & Spa
Address: Cat Co 1 beach, Cat Ba island (about 2km from center of Cat Ba town)
Tel: 0313 688 686
Email: gm@catbaislandresort-spa.com
Website: www.catbaislandresort-spa.com
Room rate: 70USD up with buffet breakfast
Overview: A 4-star resort at Cat Co 1 beach. Opened for 6 years. Rooms are getting old. Air-condition, hot shower, Tivi, fridge
Bonus: Two swimming poolsPictures:
4/ Food and Drink
Expect to pay a little bit more than Hanoi as most of the food on the island is imported.
There are many restaurants serving Vietnamese, Chinese, Western dishes along 1/4 street.
If you choose to have lunch/dinner on floating restaurants near the town, be careful with "sharp" prices!
If you are a backpacker, just enjoy the local food like me:
* Sticky rice with Vietnamese ham : 15,000VND
* Soya bean: 5,000VND
* Vietnamese bread: 20,000VND
* Night market or "Cho dem" (6:00PM - 2:00AM): selling many kinds of noodle. Price starts at 20,000VND
Getting to night market: head straight to Internet shop at number 161, 1/4 street. Then turn right, walk about 100 more meters. the market is on the left.
Sticky rice with Vietnamese ham
Fried tofu and shrimp paste
Snail fried with coconut and lemongrass
Night market
5/ Getting to Cat Ba island (by bus + boat)
Take a 10-minute motorbike ride from the center of Hanoi Old Quarter to Luong Yen bus station. Cost: 25,000VND
Hoang Long bus operator in Luong Yen bus station offers 4 daily buses + express boats to Cat Ba island. The big bus and the express boat have good air-conditioned.
Firstly, the bus takes 2-hour drive to Hai Phong city, then another 30 minutes to Dinh Vu ferry/boat station.
Take express boat to Gor ferry/boat station of Cat Hai town.
Bus from Cat Hai town to Cat Ba town (20km, pass by Cat Ba national park head quarter)
Total travel time: 3.5 - 4hours
Departure: 5:20AM - 7:20AM - 11:20AM - 1:30PM
Tel: (04) 3987 7225 (Hanoi)
Bus + boat ticket: 190,000VND (9.5USD)
Hoang Long office in Cat Ba town: Number 217, 1/4 street (Tel: 0313 887 224)
Website: www.hoanglongasia.com
Note: Ticket seller speak English. Driver and steward dont.
Luong Yen bus station, Hanoi
Waiting room of Hoang Long bus operator
Hoang Long bus
Express boat of Hoang Long at Dinh Vu ferry/boat station
On the way to Cat Ba town, passed by Cat Ba national park
Hoang Long office in Cat Ba town
Pics: vietnamguidebook
Electric car on Cat Ba island
If you want to go to Cat Co beach by electric car, this is the price: 10,000VND/pax/way.
The car waits on 1/4 street
C/ Others
Hello Vietnam - Hello Ha long (Kyo York)
hello,
ReplyDeletecan you pls suggest what cruise i should pick for 2 days 1 night trip to ha long bay?
i went to halongbaycruise.com but all cruise seems to me same except price??
the one i think might be good is glory cruise...
Hi Dave,
ReplyDeleteIt has been 6 years since my last 3-day cruise in Ha Long bay.
I can't recommend the good/best Ha Long cruise operator for you now.
02 years ago, I went back to Cat Ba island and then just took a 1-day cruise.
I will be on the move for 01 week.
Please keep in touch. I will come back with useful Ha Long bay cruise information for you (from some Vietnam travel forums)
Cheers