Cat Ba Island
A trip to Cat Ba island can be separated or combined with a visit
to Halong Bay. This is the largest island in the Cat Ba Archipelago
that consists of 350 limestone outcrops adjacent to Halong. This
is an oasis where you can be apart for one or a few days during
a long voyage. You can contemplate the beautiful scenery of Halong
before reaching the island. You can also buy a ticket of the hydrofoil
departing from Hai Phong Seaport to reach Cat Ba if your itinerary
saves Halong for another visit.
With an area of 356 square km wide, Cat Ba encompasses forested
zones, coastal mangrove and freshwater swamps, beaches, caves, and
waterfalls. In 1986, the Northeast side of the island was designated
a National Park, including a protected marine zone. Cat Ba Island
supports a population of over 20,000, most of who live off fishing
or farming in the South, in and around Cat Ba Town. The town is
small and ancient, with clusters of fishing boats and inspiring
sunsets across the harbor. You can check out the catch of the day
in the early morning , see cuttlefish dried over hot charcoals,
or stroll around the old town. It's a short hike from Cat Ba town
through a tunnel to Cat Co Beach, whose mountains look like a throne
holding a marvelous sandy coast, or if you hike further along, you
will reach the rockier Cat Vang Beach.
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