Travel By Jury

Ha Long Bay’s famous limestone karsts just out from every side of Cat Ba Island, a beautiful little piece of Vietnam situated on the Eastern Sea (or South China Sea, depending on who you ask). Cat Ba is both beautiful and shabby, a tourist attraction and then again not – there are a total of three ATMs on the island, whose main means of income is still farming and fishing, but a huge resort, currently under construction, will likely ruin the secluded feeling that Cat Ba brings. Getting there is half the fun – you take a bus from Hanoi to Haiphong, and from there you get on a hydrofoil boat (don’t bring much luggage – it’s hard to heave it across the small gangplanks onto the boats) to take another bus to Cat Ba Town. The main things to do in Cat Ba are, of course, take in the beaches, eat fresh seafood, and hike, climb, and swim among the beautiful karsts in the bay. Recently named a UNESCO site, the area is used to tourists from all over the world, and you’ll see many Australian, American, and European ex-pats mixing in with the locals as the island’s popularity grows. Don’t miss kayaking (and swimming and climbing – try Noble House (now Asia Outdoors) or Blue Swimmer for packages) and strolling around the waterside, try your hand at rock climbing, and see if you can spot one of the rare Cat Ba langurs, an endangered species that is a symbol of the island. History lovers might enjoy checking out Hospital Cave, a Japanese-built Vietnam War site with one of the goofiest tour guides you’ll ever meet – the ride out to the cave alone, on the back of a xe om (motorbike taxi) is worth the visit. The island also has a national park with several different hiking trails (and a pretty nice vista view point – the xe oms will gladly take you there and wait if you’re in a rush), and Cat Co #2 is touted as the best public beach. Go to Cat Ba now, before it becomes a seaside resort and loses some of its shabby chic charm.

Filed under: Asia | Tagged: Asia, Asia Outdoors, beaches, Blue Swimmer, boating, Cat Ba Island, Cat Ba Park, Cat Co #2, climbing, fresh seafood, Ha Long Bay, hiking, Hospital Cave, how to get from Hanoi to Cat Ba, karsts, kayaking, seafood, swimming, UNESCO, Vietnam, xe oms | Leave a Comment »