Vietnam - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 143

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Cat Ba Island

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Rugged, craggy and jungle-clad Cat Ba, the largest island around Halong Bay, is emerging
as northern Vietnam's adventure-sport and ecotourism mecca. There's a terrific roll-call of
activities here - sailing trips, birdwatching, biking, hiking and rock climbing - and some
fine tour operators organising them.
Lan Ha Bay, off the eastern side of the island, is especially scenic and offers numerous
beaches to explore. You could spend a year here discovering a different islet every day,
while swimming and snorkelling the bay's turquoise waters. While the vast majority of
Halong Bay's islands are uninhabited vertical rocks, Cat Ba has a few fishing villages, as
well as a fast-growing town.
Much of Cat Ba Island was declared a national park in 1986 in order to protect the is-
land's diverse ecosystems and wildlife, including the endangered golden-headed langur,
the world's rarest primate. There are beautiful beaches, numerous lakes, water-falls and
grottoes in the spectacular limestone hills.
In recent years Cat Ba Town has experienced a hotel boom, and a chain of ugly con-
crete hotels now frames a once-lovely bay. But its ugliness is skin deep, as the rest of the
island and Lan Ha Bay are so alluring.

Sights

Lan Ha Bay
(admission 30,000d) The 300 or so karst islands of Lan Ha Bay are south and east of Cat Ba
Town. Geologically they are an extension of Halong Bay, but these islands lie in a differ-
ent province of Vietnam. The limestone pinnacles and scenery are just as beautiful as
Halong Bay, but these islands have the additional attraction of numerous white-sand
beaches.
Lan Ha Bay is a fair way from Halong City, so not as many tourist boats venture to this
side of the bay. In short, Lan Ha Bay has a more isolated, off-the-beaten-track appeal.

BAY