Cat Ba is a famous archipelago known for its poetic beauty of beaches and pristine forests. However, with only a short amount of time, traveling to Cat Ba for 2 days 1 night independently may leave many worried that it's not enough to explore all the beautiful landscapes here. Nevertheless, the travel experiences shared below will help you solve the problem, ensuring a short but incredibly memorable trip. Let's find out with Vietjet!
1. Where is Cat Ba - The romantic pearl of the Gulf of Tonkin located?
Cat Ba is a peaceful archipelago amidst the vast sea, belonging to Cat Hai district, Hai Phong province. Cat Ba Island is the largest island in the archipelago consisting of 367 large and small islands, with an average elevation of 70m, an area of about 300km2, and about 8,400 inhabitants. On the island, Cat Ba Town is the focal point for accommodation and entertainment for tourists when visiting the "Pearl Island" and is also the administrative area of the residents on this island.
In the Gulf of Tonkin, if you are already familiar with Ha Long Bay, Cat Ba Island is a destination you cannot miss. In addition to the beautiful beaches, Cat Ba is also famous for Lan Ha Bay and pristine forests, suitable for exploration activities, conquering nature, adventure sports, or outdoor activities.
The romantic beauty of the Cat Ba archipelago - known as the "pearl" of the Gulf of Tonkin.
2. Itinerary for a 2-day 1-night independent trip to Cat Ba
To have the most specific and comprehensive itinerary, Vietjet offers travelers a detailed itinerary to discover Cat Ba for 2 days 1 night as follows:
2.1 Sightseeing spots in Cat Ba on Day 1
- Cat Ba National Park: Cat Ba National Park is famous for its beautiful natural scenery. This is the habitat of many rare and precious animal and plant species. When visiting here, tourists have the opportunity to explore and learn about different types of forests, thereby understanding more about the diversity and value of the ecosystem at Cat Ba National Park. You can participate in mountain climbing for a few hours to immerse yourself in the diverse and magical nature. Besides, you can also hike, cycle, or take a car to admire the beautiful scenery of mountains and forests here.
- Quan Y Cave: Quan Y Cave in Cat Ba is a cave with unique beauty and is considered a magnificent historical symbol of the island district. It is located on the cross-island road, about 7km from Cat Ba Town, in Hai Son village (formerly known as Khe Sau) of Tran Chau commune. Around 1963 - 1965, Quan Y Cave was designed as a field hospital during the period of the resistance war against the US. It possesses the most unique beauty in the Cat Ba archipelago and is an attractive tourist destination that you should not miss.
- Canon Fort Cat Ba: This is an attractive tourist spot in Cat Ba for watching the sunset, checking in, and sightseeing. It is located on top of a hill with an elevation of 177m above sea level, impressing visitors with a battlefield of large coastal artillery and a system of tunnels and trenches built from the 1940s. To fully admire the pristine and captivating beauty of Cat Ba, this is a place you should not miss.
- Cat Co Beach: After a series of activities mentioned above, spend the end of the day immersing yourself in the blue sea and golden sun. Cat Co Beach in Cat Ba has its own unique beauty and is known as the "paradise of the sea islands" in the lower realm. In Cat Ba, there are up to 3 Cat Co beaches, each with its own characteristics and all are very popular with visitors.
2.2 Sightseeing spots in Cat Ba on Day 2
- Lan Ha Bay: Lan Ha Bay in Cat Ba is an attractive tourist destination with beautiful natural landscapes and many recreational activities. It is known for its beautiful beaches, diving spots with depths from 4-5m, suitable for admiring coral reefs and other marine creatures. Kayaking is a favorite sport of many tourists, especially foreign tourists. Mountain climbing on Lan Ha Bay is currently a favorite sport of many tourists. Not only beautiful natural landscapes, but this place also has many delicious specialties with the characteristic taste of the coastal region.
- Cai Beo Fishing Village: This is the oldest fishing village in Vietnam. When visiting Cai Beo, you can learn about the life of local people, step onto floating houses, buy fresh seafood, and row boats through floating houses...
- Monkey Island: Monkey Island in Cat Ba has a romantic natural beauty and is a bright spot in tourism in the Cat Ba archipelago. It is about 2km from Cat Ba Island and welcomes millions of tourists every year. Monkey Island has wild and romantic scenery, where you can admire the monkeys playing, living, and even bathing on the beaches.
Lan Ha Bay is one of the destinations that tourists should not miss when visiting Cat Ba.
3. Costs when traveling to Cat Ba independently for 2 days 1 night
3.1 Transportation to Cat Ba
From Hanoi, there are many ways to travel to Cat Ba, Hai Phong. However, to fit the 2-day 1-night itinerary, travelers should take a bus to Hai Phong city bus station with a ticket price of 280,000 VND/person/way. This journey takes over 3 hours.
In addition, tourists traveling from Hanoi can use the train to travel from Hanoi to Hai Phong. The ticket price is about 100,000 to 130,000 VND, and the travel time is from 2.5 to 3 hours.
From Ho Chi Minh City to Hai Phong, the most common means of transportation is by plane. In just over 2 hours, you will land at Cat Bi Airport. Travelers should consider booking flights to Hai Phong early to save costs and ensure the fastest travel. Currently, the ticket price to Hai Phong starts from only 237,000 VND. Refer to detailed information HERE.
3.2 Accommodation costs in Cat Ba
To save costs when traveling to Cat Ba independently for 2 days 1 night, you should stay by booking cheap hotel or homestay rooms. Specifically, the prices for these two forms are as follows:
- Hotel: On average, 3-star hotels in Hai Phong city have a price of 732,521 VND/night, and 4-star hotels cost 1,613,895 VND/night.
- Homestay: On average, homestays in Hai Phong city cost 306,693 VND/night.
Cat Ba has many affordable accommodation options, suitable facilities for various types of tourists.
3.3 Sightseeing costs in Cat Ba
For young people nowadays, the main activities when visiting the "fog city" are finding scenic spots for "virtual living". However, to have a reasonable and cost-saving trip, you should still make a list of places to visit, learn about prices, and balance with your own time. A small tip to save money for you is to prioritize choosing free or low-priced destinations.
The sightseeing costs at Cat Ba may vary depending on the places you want to visit and the activities you want to participate in. Some famous destinations in Cat Ba and estimated entrance fees are as follows:
- Cat Ba National Park: 40,000 VND/adult; 20,000 VND/child.
- Cat Ba Town Central Pier: Free
- Lan Ha Bay Ferry Ticket: 80,000 VND/adult; 40,000 VND/child.
- Cat Co Beach: Free
- Canon Fort (Canon 177): 30,000 VND/person.
- Quan Y Cave: 80,000 VND/ticket.
- Monkey Island: 80,000 VND/ticket.
These fees may change, and it is always better to check the official website or contact the venues directly for the most up-to-date information.
3.4 Food costs in Cat Ba
When traveling to Cat Ba, you will have the opportunity to enjoy many delicious and attractive dishes at quite cheap prices. Specialties such as Cat Ba shrimp noodles, seaweed soup, and fresh seafood dishes are dishes you should not miss. In general, food costs when visiting Cat Ba will range from 200,000 to 250,000 VND/day/person.
Above is a summary of the costs for a 2-day 1-night trip to Cat Ba that you can experience and conclude that with only 1,500,000 VND - 2,000,000 VND, you can have a fun and leisurely time at Cat Ba.
See more: Experience traveling to Hai Phong - A beautiful port city like a painting
With flight tickets to Hai Phong starting from only 263,333 VND, why hesitate? Visit https://www.vietjetair.com/en/flight-tickets/flights-to-hai-phong/ to explore detailed flight routes and the latest promotions. Also, don't forget the 0 VND flight ticket promotion program from 12-2pm daily at Vietjet!
Stay updated with Vietjet's travel guide through the following methods:
- Fanpge: https://www.facebook.com/vietjetvietnam
- YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/VietjetOfficial
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vietjetvietnam
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/vietjet
- Zalo: https://oa.zalo.me/vietjet

Booking
Skyshop
Hotel
E-Voucher
E-Sim
E-Visa
Buy foreign currency
Insurance
SkyJoy








