I. Cat Ba National Park
Cat Ba National park is a part of Cat Ba island, including 15200 hectares of forest and water area. Located 60km away from the center of Hai Phong city, Cat Ba national park is one of the ideal destinations for tourists who want to experience the imposing wilderness. The National park consists of diferrent ecologies, which allows many flora and fauna to thrive here, some native to the area only. For instance, Cat Ba national park is home to the white-headed langur-an endangered species that can only be found in Viet Nam. In 2004, the park was recognize as one of the world’s biosphere reserve by UNESCO, making this a national gem.
Visiting Cat Ba park, you can see many magnificent natural lanscapes such as: limestone mountains, mysterious caves, grand waterfalls and unique islands. The most ideal time to visit might be from October to April since it’s the dry season. The park also offers several kinds of tour for you to choose from.
If you’re a bold person with an adventurous soul, you can choose to do a trekking tour through the forest. This kind of tour will take you about 4 to 8 hours. There are many routes that you can follow, each one with different stops and itinerary. One small note is that you need to have a good stamina because the trekking tour includes some steep slopes and rough terrain which requires you to do a lot of climbing. But what if you are not confident about your physical strength yet still want to take a trip through the forest? Don’t worry because there are shorter routes which only takes about 2-3 hours and you have the option to hire a motorbike or a bike. But remember to be careful because riding through the forest is not an easy task. Other than trekking, the park also offers a wide range of wildlife observation such as: bird watching, butterfly garden, orchids garden, night observation,…
Besides trekking and explore the wilderness, which is the highlight of the park, you can also take a look inside many fascinating caves with limestone stalacites coming from many different shapes and sizes. Moreover, you may have the chance to stop by local villages and have a glimpse of their daily life. And if you’re lucky enough to visit when the flowers are in season, you will definitely get blown away by the glorious beauty of nature.
II. Lan Ha Bay
Lan Ha bay is located on the east of Cat Ba island, right next to Ha Long bay. This is a group of 400 islands forming the shape of an arc. Unlike Ha Long bay, all 400 islands, large and small in Lan Ha bay, are all covered with trees or vegetation, even the smallest one. The bay is a peaceful area with small fishing villages that seems like a safe haven, separated from the rest of the world, a “forgotten paradise” like people usually say. If you want a getaway from the bustling life, then this might be your perfect destination with white sand beaches and calm water.
Scattering around the bay are many island rising from the water with unique shapes. Some famous islands with are: Hon Rua, Hon But
In the summer, from April till August, when the weather is hot and humid, there’s nothing better than submerge yourself in the crystal clear water of the bay. If you’re interested in bathing in the ocean then this is the ideal time to visit Lan Ha bay.
III. What To Do and Where To Visit?
Monkey Island (Cat Dua Island)
The name of the island comes from the fact that there are about 20 monkeys that the forest rangers brought here. The monkeys are pretty friendly and familiar with the tourists so you don’t have to watch out for them. Monkey Island has 2 arc-shaped beaches with extremely clear water-perfect for bathing.
Nam Cat Island
This is an island with unspoiled beauty. Visitors coming here can always enjoy the tranquil atmosphere. Human intervention on the island is as restricted as possible to preserve its natural look. You can choose to come here and stay in one of the wooden or bamboo houses in order to relax and feel closer to nature.
Kayaking
Kayaking around the bay is a great activity to explore the area. You can do this in Van Boi beach because the water here is very calm. To go kayaking, you need to hire a boat and go around the bay to choose an area without strong waves, or you can buy a kayaking tour, which is much simpler. The kayak will take you close to the foot of the rocky mountains, going under many caves to see numerous scenery of the marine life under the clear blue water.
Trekking In Cat Ba National Park
One of the most thrilling activities you should never miss when visiting the destination is joining a trekking tour in Cat Ba National Park.
