Your base for exploring this destination is the city of Hanoi. For travel information about Hanoi, go to Hanoi Travel Guide. Looking for budget accommodation in Hanoi? Use our Budget Accommodation Guide!
Cat Ba National Park is centred on Cat Ba Island, the largest island in Halong Bay. The Cat Ba archipelago itself comprises 366 islents and islands. Together they cover an area of 20,000 hectares of limestone islands. When I visited Halong Bay with a group of AsiaExplorers members, we had an opportunity to kayak in Cat Ba National Park. The kayaking session was long and exhausting, but ultimately fulfilling, as we rowed from island to island, and on our return journey, even had to row across the open sea.
Most of the islets dotting Cat Ba National Park is covered with vegetation, although there are sheer limestone cliffs where hardly anything grew. Nonetheless, it is not uncommon to sea tenacious shrubs clinging to those otherwise barren cliffs, and on occasion, we even saw mountain goats and monkeys on the cliffs. The feeling of kayaking through the labyrinthine maze of islands, where the only sound was that of your oar on the water, was simply magnificent.
There is at least one floating village in the national park. They earn a living through shrimp and fish farming, and from the occasional tourist boat that drop by. As soon as our junk arrived, the villagers rowed towards us with their wares, nothing of value and nothing that we need.
Junks carrying tourists anchored off Cat Ba National Park.
How to go to Cat Ba National Park
The easiest way to reach Cat Ba National Park is to book a tour of Halong Bay. There is plenty to choose from in Hanoi, but if you wish to use the tour that I used, you can contact Mrs Moon of Golden Sun Hotel, 23 Hang Hahn Street, phone: +84-4-8286316, email: goldensun_hotel@yahoo.com. Tell her that Tim of AsiaExplorers sent you, and perhaps you'd get a discount. No, I am not getting any commission from Mrs Moon, but I would recommend any establishments that satisfied me, so that, should I return to Golden Sun Hotel, I can expect VIP treatment!
Bo Hon Photo Gallery
Let us show you the beauty of Halong Bay in pictures. Click to enter.
Halong Bay Travel Guide
Useful information to help you prepare for your trip to Halong Bay.
Halong Bay Photo Gallery
Photo Album of the panoramic sights in Halong Bay.
Halong Bay at Night
View Halong Bay when darkness falls and the lights come on.
Bo Hon Island
Click enter to see scenic views of beautiful Bo Hon Island.
Cat Ba National Park
We went kayaking at this national park to explore its beautiful caves and passages.
Fighting Cock Island
This is a pair of rocky outcrops in Halong Bay.
Me Cung Cave
This is a cave in Halong Bay.
Sung Sot Cave
This is the biggest and grandest grotto in Halong Bay.
Titov Island
This is the island with a scenic viewpoint pavillion at its highest point.
Places of Interest in Vietnam
Vietnam is a land of cultural and natural beauty. Click enter to view many of the sights in Vietnam.
About the Author: AsiaExplorers is researched and written by Timothy Tye. We take reasonable care to check and verify the accuracy of the content. However, we disclaim any responsibility for any inconvenience, mishap, injury or death resulting from following the advice provided directly or indirectly by AsiaExplorers and the comments on its pages. All the photographs in AsiaExplorers are available for publication. Please contact AsiaExplorers at the following email address for your enquiries:
