Go to Cat Ba island by motorbike: Travel experience

Go to Cat Ba island by motobike: Travel experience

Go to Cat Ba island by motobike was my best experience. I found my happiness, freedom and freedom! Today, let Hai Phong Tours shares my all travel experience after my trip in June 2020.

Where is Cat Ba island?

Cat Ba Island is island district of Hai Phong. It is the largest of the 367 islands spanning 260 km2 (100 sq mi) that comprise the Cat Ba Archipelago, which makes up the southeastern edge of Lan Ha Bay in Northern Vietnam. Cat Ba island has a surface area of 285 km2 (110 sq mi) and maintains the dramatic and rugged features of Halong Bay.

Local people usually come here in weekend to relax, swim and enjoy freshair. So if you come here in weekends, the island’s so crowded. But when you come here in weekdays, the island’s less touristy and you are free to explore your own island.

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Location of Cat Ba island
Location of Cat Ba island

How to Go to Cat Ba island by motobike?

Before you go, make sure you have proper helmet (3 layers), fullfil petrol, well checked tires. If you are not familiar to the way to, Google map takes important part in this trip! Remember, motobike is not allowed on highway.

There are 2 ways that you can drive you motobike to Cat Ba island: from Tuan Chau ferry harbor in Halong and Got ferry harbor in Hai Phong.

1. Go to Cat Ba island from Tuan Chau ferry harbor in Halong

Gia Luan harbor
Gia Luan harbor

On arrive in Tuan Chau ferry harbor, just go to ticket counter to buy ticket to Gia Luan harbor.

Ferry schedule from Tuan Chau to Gia Luan harbor: 7h30’, 9h00’, 11h30’, 13h30’, 15h00’.

Ferry schedule from Gia Luan to Tuan Chau: 9h00’, 11h30’, 13h00’, 15h00’, 16h00’.

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Ticket fares Tuan Chau <> Gia Luan:

  • Only passenger: 80.000VND/person/way
  • Passenger with motobike: 90.000VND/bike/way
  • Car under 9 seater: 450.000VND/car/way
  • Van from 9-15 seater: 500.000VND/van/way
  • 16-23 seater bus: 550.000VND/bus/way
  • 24-29 seater bus: 600.000VND/bus/way
  • Bus from 30 seater up: 650.000VND/bus/way
  • Under 1 ton truck: 350.000-450.000VND/truck/way
  • From 1-3 tons truck: 400.000-500.000VND/truck/way
  • Truck from 3-5 tons: 450.000-550.000VND/truck/way

On arrival at Gia Luan harbor, just go ahead on the unique road to Cat Ba.

2. Go to Cat Ba island from Got ferry harbor in Hai Phong

Got ferry harbor Hai Phong
Got ferry harbor Hai Phong
Cai Vieng ferry harbor
Cai Vieng ferry harbor on Cat Ba island

This seems to be the shortest way to go even from Hanoi or from Hai Phong city. From city center, you may follow the Nguyen Binh Khiem road and head to Tan Vu – Lach Huyen bridge. When you reach the intersaction of 356 road, turn left and keep straight . You will see the Got ferry harbor next to petrol station.

On arrival at Got ferry harbor, just go to ticket counter to buy ticket to Cai Vieng harbor on Cat Ba island.

Ticket fares Got harbor <> Cai Vieng harbor:

  • Passenger: 12.000VND/person/way
  • Motobike: 45.000VND/way

Ferry schedule from Got harbor to Cai Vieng harbor: from 5h30 to 18h30 (30 minutes/turn)

Ferry schedule from Cai Vieng to Got harbor: from 5h to 18h (30 minutes/turn).

After arriving, if you would like to head to Cat Ba town directly, please stick on the right hand to drive. But if you want to experience Cat Ba national park, Hospital cave, Tung Thu beach, let’s follow the green arrow.

Way to Cat Ba national park
Way to Cat Ba national park

If you are flexible in timing, you’d better go on weekdays. If you go on weekend, please have look following photo :D. Those cars, buses are in line to ferry. Then I believe you can imagine how crowded the island is!

Got harbor in weekend
Got harbor in weekend

Where to go on Cat Ba island

Following are the most attractive places that can be visited by motobike.

Cat Co beaches

There are 3 Cat Co beaches: 1, 2 and 3. At the moment, the Cat Co 1 is under mainternance. So the Cat Co 2 and Cat Co 3 are available now. When I reached the Cat Co 3 in the afternoon (around 17h), the waves are very strong with high tide and coved sand. If you are looking for strong feeling, this’s perfect!

  • Use of locker: 40.000VND/locker
  • Fresh water shower: 30.000VND/person
  • Use of toilet: 5.000VND/person
  • Tube rental: 50.000VND/unit
  • Life vest: 50.000VND/unit
  • Ball: 200.000VND/unit
Services at Cat Co beach 3 Cat Ba island
Services at Cat Co beach 3 Cat Ba island
Cat Co beach 3 in the afternoon
Cat Co beach 3 in the afternoon

If you are looking for calmer beach with sand, go there in the morning!

Cat Ba beach 3 in the morning
Cat Ba beach 3 in the morning

The way to Cat Co beach 1, 2 has barrie that only allow electric car to enter. Then if you plan to drive to the beach, the Cat Co 3 is idea. They have parking area right at barrie. Parking fee for motobike is 10.000VND, 30.000VND for car.

Tung Thu beach

Are you looking for more quite beach on Cat Ba island? Tung Thu beach is good choice. Waves here sound weaker than in Cat Co but Tung Thu beach has larger sandbank that allow tourists to hold event, party, games. The beach is located around 2km away from Cat Ba town, so I do not find it too far to go.

  • Use of locker: 30.000VND/locker
  • Fresh water shower: 20.000VND/person
  • Use of toilet: 5.000VND/person
Tung Thu beach Cat Ba
Tung Thu beach Cat Ba
Services at Tung Thu beach Cat Ba island
Services at Tung Thu beach Cat Ba island

Cannon fort

The Cannon fort Cat Ba is located 2km away from the town, nearby Beo harbor.

Entrance fee: 80.000VND/person

What to expect in Cannon fort Cat Ba?

  1. Fortress headquarters: The entire fortress is under the direction of the Headquarters. Orders from Headquarters will be issued to all departments. This is also the place where the fortress commander lives.
  2. No. 1, No. 2 cannons: Cannon No. 1 and No. 2 control the entire gateway of Hai Phong port.
  3. Military airport: This place used to be the place for transporting helicopter of the French army.
  4. Exhibition room: This room records traces of a time when Cat Ba bravely fought with the weapons, tools kept from the mighty wars.
  5. Bomb bunker: The bomb bunker is also known as the U-shaped tunnel.
  6. Enjoy sunset on Lan Ha bay: From Cat Ba cannon fort’s peak, you are free to enjoy cup of coffee and admire sunset on the Lan Ha bay.
U shape Boom bunker Cat Ba cannon fort
U shape Boom bunker Cat Ba cannon fort
Cannon on Cat Ba
Cannon on Cat Ba
Exhibition room Cannon Fort Cat Ba
Exhibition room Cannon Fort Cat Ba

Hospital cave

The Hospital Cave was built into an existing cavern in the middle of Cat Ba Island between 1963 and 1965. Fortified doors were placed either side of a corridor flanked by basic medical rooms, where troops would be treated in horrendous conditions with very rudimentary equipment. In the upper chambers, the army generals held meetings in command centres, but also ensured to engage in some downtime at the swimming pool and cinema that was also built here to raise the morale of the troops.

Secret chamber inside Hospital cave Cat ba island
Secret chamber inside Hospital cave Cat ba island
Entrance gate Hospital cave
Entrance gate Hospital cave
Main chamber of hospital cave
Main chamber of hospital cave

Cat Ba national park

Cat Ba National Park is located 15km north – west of Cat Ba Town. It was established in 1986. It spans an area of 15,200ha, of which 9,800ha are forest, and contains lots of particularly interesting caves. The original tropical forest spans an area of 570ha, with extremely varied wildlife and vegetation.

This park is famous for Ngu Lam peak with amazing panoramic view and Kim Giao forest.

Kim giao forest Cat Ba national park
Kim giao forest Cat Ba national park
Amazing view from Ngu Lam peak Cat Ba national park
Amazing view from Ngu Lam peak Cat Ba national park
The way to Ngu Lam peak
The way to Ngu Lam peak

Trung Trang cave

Trung Trang cave is on the island’s crossing road, 12 km north-west from Cat Ba town to north pole of Cat Ba island. It is the largest valley of Cat Ba island, 300 ha of area and 10-30m lower than the sea level.Inside the cavern, you will see a diversity of shapes formed by stalactites. On the roof, a vestigate of sediment is proved by sellfish shell stuck to the ceiling. The music of rock acoustic instrument is unique in Cat Ba with high rising or low falling sound.

Trung Trang cave Cat Ba island
Trung Trang cave Cat Ba island
Inside Trung Trang cave
Inside Trung Trang cave

Motobike parking

Outside the Cat Ba town, you can leave your motobike anywhere and it’s very safe. But when you reach Cat Ba town center, you can see “no parking” sign everywhere. Do not park after this sign.

No parking sign in Cat Ba town
No parking sign in Cat Ba town

To find the right place to park, you may need help from reception where you are staying.

Where to stay on Cat Ba island?

There are many budget hotels, guesthouses on Cat Ba island. The room price is higher when you choose hotel nearby the Cat Ba harbor, the center of Cat Ba town. But when you go further such as Nui Ngoc street, you may find other cheaper room at around 20USD per room in weekend or 15USD per room in weekdays. For example the Cat Ba Dream hotel. Room rate is 275.000VND/superior room/night in week day (around 12USD). And the Sea Dragon hotel sells almost 20USD/room in weekend. [ go to Cat Ba island by motobike ]

Sea Dragon hotel Cat Ba
Sea Dragon hotel Cat Ba

If you are looking for hotel nearby the beach, please consider Hung Long harbor hotel (3 star), M Gallery hotel (5 star – brandnew), Flamingo resort (5 star – brandnew) or Cat Ba sunrise resort (under contruction – updated on 10 June 2020).

M gallery hotel Cat Ba
M gallery hotel Cat Ba

Where to eat on Cat Ba island

It seems that all hotels, guesthouses on Cat Ba island provide dinning service. You can send them request for breakfast, lunch or dinner served at hotel’s restaurant. When you use breakfast at hotel, they may surcharge around 80.000VND/person. If you would like to eat outside, the “Banh Da” served right on the  roadside at around 40.000VND/bow. They also have floating restaurant on the Lan Ha bay that need to go by boat for around 2 minutes. But please aware that eating on floating restaurant costs you more than usual!

Floating restaurant on Lan Ha Bay Cat Ba island
Floating restaurant on Lan Ha Bay Cat Ba island
Cat Ba View restaurant
Cat Ba View restaurant

Buy souvenir

Cat Ba island is famous for fish sauce, fresh seafood, dried squid, dried edible fish, jellyfish…You can find them easily at small night market right opposite to Cat Ba harbor. If you are looking for fresher food, go to Cat Ba market in day time.

Night market Cat Ba island
Night market Cat Ba island
Cat Ba island souvenir
Cat Ba island souvenir

I’ve shared my experience “go to Cat Ba island by motobike: Travel experience” after my trip on 10 June 2020, If you have more experience or want to ask more details, please leave your comment and I am happy to answer if I know. Or if you do not mind, please contact me: Contact

Thank you for reading!

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Trending now... Don't miss

Best seller
US$68
Day tour
Sung Sot, Titop, Luon cave
Cave visit, sightseeing, hiking, swimming, kayaking/boat ride

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