Cat Ba Island

Cat Ba is a beautiful island off Northern Vietnam mainland with lots to do and lots to see. Located just near to Ha Long and Lan Ha Bay, this is a great place to base yourself if you want to explore these breathtaking islands.

Thing to do: 

Day Trips to Ha Long Bay – you can snorkel, kayak around Ha Long Bay, find monkeys on Monkey Island and explore the caves.

Overnight Boat trips around Ha Long Bay – you can enjoy a 2 day trip around Ha Long and Lan Ha bay, with accommodation on the boat so you can wake up surrounded by the most beautiful landscape.

Monkey Island – take a boat over to Monkey Island and find wild Macaques roaming around the island.

Floating Village – explore the magical floating villages located just off Cat Ba pier.

Trekking in Cat Ba National Park – enjoy a full or half day hike around the National Park. Walking shoes or trainers and sports gear is recommended, as it’s a fairly sweaty hike especially if you climb the mountain. Alternatively, rent bicycles or motorbikes and make your own way to the NP (the route is easy, and overall around 25km) so that you can hike and enjoy the scenery at your leisure. If you’re lucky, you may even spot the elusive Golden Headed Langur, the rarest primate in Asia.

Hospital Cave – make your way up to the hospital cave (around 5km from Cat Ba Town) and discover the hidden cave used to treat wounded soldiers during the Vietnam war.

Cat Ba Beaches – there are 3 small beaches a short walk from Cat Ba Town.

 Explore Halong Bay & Cat Ba Island with Halong Majestic Cruise  >>>  Click here   <<<

Accomodation:

There are plenty of hotels and hostels lining the sea-front, so you’ll easily find somewhere to stay. There are a few bars and plenty of restaurants, however note that the town sleeps relatively early. After 11pm, few bars are open, and make sure to check whether your hotel is 24 hours, otherwise you may find yourself locked out after midnight.

Transport:

Motorbike: rent a motorbike for around 80,000VD per day, but make sure to ask whether this is inclusive or gas, as this may incur an extra charge.

Bicycle: you can rent mountain bikes for around 70-80,000VD daily. It’s a fairly hilly island, but it’s a beautiful way to explore the islands and the small villages in the mountains.

Taxis: taxis are available, but if you want to explore the island at your leisure, you may be better hiring a bicycle or motorbike. Expect to pay around 270,000VD for a ride up to the National Park, which is around 12km away.

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7 notices for a perfect trip to Halong bay

Summer time is the ideal time to head to the beach. Imagine a great sunny day sitting on the shore as the waves come rolling in! Ha Long Bay is a perfect place where your imagination can be your reality. The Bay is like a paradise on earth, which includes both stunning island landscapes and long white sandy beach with emerald seawater.

But you don’t know what you absolutely need to bring for a Ha Long Bay’s summer? Read this article and your problem will be solved.

1. Your original passport

You will need them for checking in and checking out. Remember to use a passport bag or a passport wallet to keep them in a clean and tidy condition.

2. Sunscreen and sunglasses

They are things that can’t-be-missed for a sunny summer day. Your skin and your eyes will be protected from sun damage. Most sunscreens with an SPF of 30 or higher do an excellent job in protecting your skin against UVB.

3. Beach hats/ Umbrellas

If you are a fan of outdoors activities but afraid of skin damage, then it is a good idea to wear a sun hat or bring an umbrella with. A wide brim hat can cover the whole face, neck, nape, and shoulders. Moreover, a protective sun hat or a nice umbrella is a stylish option for anyone.

4. Beach clothing

Swimsuits, bikini, flip flops, sandals, comfy cotton t-shirt, shorts, skirts, maxi dresses, etc. are all you need for an awesome summer. If you visit Ha Long Bay in the winter, do not forget to bring warm clothes, scarves and shoes to keep warm.

5. Insect repellent sprays and lotions + other useful medicines

You should not think that there are no mosquitoes or insectsin the sea.It is also a good ideato bring other common medicines, such as nausea medicines, digestion medicines, cold and flu medicines, or even first-aid kit, etc.Careful preparation is never wasted.

6. Camera, of course!

Ha Long Bay has a lot of beautiful sceneries to catch. A fancy camera will help you memorize everything. Waterproof cameras are perfect. Or you can just take selfies with your smart phone.

7. Other things

You might want to bring a diving tube, swimming goggles, towels, a book or an Ipod to relax while sipping a cup of cocktail on the sundeck. If you have kids, your children will definitely need buckets and shovels for building sandcastles on the beach... Read more Tips for cruising with children in Halong Bay

Prior to going to Ha Long Bay, you should plan how much stuff you want to bring with. Vietnam Typical Tours hope that those useful tips above are of great help to you in preparation for a wonderful vacation in Halong Bay. 

Check Best Cruise in Halong Bay at Best Halong Cruise

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Weather in Halong Bay

1. General Climate

Halong Bay belongs to the Northern Patterns of Vietnam so it is generally cooler than the Southern of the country. It experiences two main distinct seasons.

In winter months, the weather gets colder and colder from November to March and considerably warmer in April (a leap into summer). This is also time to observe much cloud and frequent drizzle. The average winter temperature is 17.2°C (62.9°F). Particularly, deep inside bay is often colder; temperature may keep below 10°C (50°F) for long period.

In the summer (from May to October), the whole region is quite hot. Temperature may rise to 37°C (98.6 °F) in the peaks of June and July. Halong City enjoys equitable weather with high average humidity (80%) all year round though they may occasionally be subjected to typhoons and heavy rain in late summers (September to November). The distinct features: pleasant spring (typically March-April) and autumn (October-December), a chilly winter (December- February) and a hot summer (June – July).

2. Best Time to Travel

It is possible to visit Ha Long Bay year-round, with the best time to visit from October through April, although during the winter months of December, January and February, the weather can be cool and overcast with low visibility. During the summer months from May to September, temperatures rise and storms are more likely during the rainy season.

Halong Bay Four Seasons

    Spring: February to April: Temperature ~ 17°C – Misty with drizzle
    Summer: May to July: Temperature ~ 28°C – Clear blue sky with occasionally pouring rain
    Autumn: August to October: Temperature ~ 25°C – Partly cloudy, partly windy, high chance of storm
    Winter: November to February: Temperature ~14°C – Cloudy, cool and rainy

3. How to Wear
 

It is highly recommended that you check the weather forecast before packing up, some tips are:

The hot season is from May to September with the temperature is 25 – 35 degree: Shorts and skirts and short sleeve shirts

The cold season in Halong Bay is from October to April and the temperature is 10 – 15 degree: Sweaters, jumper, light jacket, scarf

During kayaking/swimming: Swimming suits, sun block, hat, anti-insect repellent, sunglasses

During visiting the cave and grottoes, visiting fishing village: Walking shoes, crocs shoes, scandals, comfortable clothes

4. Cancelation Due To Bad Weather

Without prior notice, the cruise trip could be postponed, shortened or canceled due to unexpected bad weather, including Storm/ Typhoon (summer), Foggy days (winter), Monsoon (winter). The cruise operation is out of Majestic cruise’s control so we suggest that Guests should check the Weather Forecast at least 1 day before the cruise for better preparation of backup plan.

Explore Halong Bay with Halong Majestic Cruise 2 days

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Tips for cruising with children in Halong Bay

It is a great experience when your family can spend time travelling together. However, travelling with children can cause some difficulties for parents. Here are some tips that parents should know when joining a cruise in Halong Bay:

Preparation

Travelling with children, parents should have a list that their children need like:

Food: it is obvious that the chefs on board prepare meals for your children (the same menu with parents), but for the small babies, you should add: milk, tea or cookies, snack…

Clothes: make sure that you bring warm clothes in the winter and comfortable clothes in the summer for the children.

Others: you also should bring some medicine in case your children are not fine.

Safety on board

The safety on board is very important, especially for children, parents should:

Always take notice of the children, keep them in your sight.

Make sure that children do not climb on the handrail or the railing on boat. Children are not allowed to stand on the bow.

Ask the staffs on board to show you the life vests for children.

Activities on board

Children can join the activities on board like: cave visiting, kayaking, swimming or fishing village but they need their parents’ attention. Before each activity, children need to be told in advance about the safety so that they are more careful to follow the instructions.

Children also need to be well- equipped with life vests during all the activities.

The role of the tour guide and staffs on board

Take care more, playing and chatting with them.

Ask the parents if the children need to have dinner early as they need to go to bed earlier than adults.

Check with the parents if the menu for adults is also suitable with children; otherwise, the alternative food should be prepared.

Prepare some games for children.

In general, travelling with children takes you more time and more preparation but it is a unforgettable memory for them and a happy time for your family that brings family members close to each other.

See more itineraries of  Majestic Halong cruise:

- Majestic Halong cruise 2 days tour

- Majestic Halong cruise 3 days tour

- Majestic Halong cruise and Catba Island 3 days

- Majestic Halong cruise and Monkey Island 3 days

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Safety Notice for Halong Bay Tours

1. Particular individuals

For safety reasons, these below Guests are not recommended to cruise overnight in Halong Bay:

People with disability, such as blindness, two hand amputee. People who are unable to walk on 2 m high stairwells

People who have health problems, including people with sleepwalking syndome, people who have Illusions, people with epilepsy, people who have got anxiety when being in a small place.

People who are on medicines that need to be stored at a special temperature and without it their lives are in danger

People who is older than 80

People who is more than 100kg weight

People who is over 2 meters height

2. Poisonous plants and animals

During summer, especially May, June, July, before going to swim, Guests should ask the guide or captain for advice because it is when the poisonous jellyfish are most active

3. Safety Facilities

Life vest in each cabin, at public area, life buoys, life raft that enough for guests and crew on board.

Lighters and hammers for emergency case in each cabin. Fire alarm, fire extinguishers at different areas on board, following the standard guide and ready to use

Oxygen-tub inside each cabin

Diagram to exit in emergency case .

Marine equipment: VHF radio, GPS plotting, walkie-talkie, Walter licking alarm system, water pump system, fire alarm system and fire extinguishers.

4. Onboard safety

Brief introduction about the trip with itinerary, crews, activities and safety, weather information

Activity warning: our guide will give short introduction and warning to visitors, depending on weather conditions and seasons features, we recommend you to listen carefully to this information.

The speed canoe to transfer guest immediately to harbor in the short time regarding health safety.

Medical aid available on board

Marine Search and Rescue team with essential skills and training, equipment to deal with emergency.

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How to get to Halong bay from Hanoi

If you plan to visit Halong Bay – the UNESCO World Heritage Site but you don’t know how to get to Halong Bay from Hanoi. Don’t worry, Vietnam Typcial Tours will give you some main ways to transfer from Hanoi to Halong Bay. You can see few option below and choose the best way to visit Halong Bay.

By bus: From Hanoi, you can catch a mini bus to Quang Ninh at Gia Lam, My Dinh and Luong Yen bus station (the ticket counter from 120,000 VND). HaLong Bay is located 160 km from Hanoi, this would take you about  4 hours in the bus, and the bus will stop to pick up passengers along the way. Air-conditioning is minimal, so be prepared to break a sweat in summer. Larger sized tourists will not find it to be a pleasant ride, but it is a nice authentic Vietnamese experience.

By shuttle bus: A shuttle bus is strongly recommended. It will take you directly from Hanoi to Halong Bay without any stops. However, you need to stay in Hanoi Old Quarter because it will pick up & drop off passengers there. Fare from 10 US/ way. If you book a tour with Halong Majestic Cruise directly, the cost of traveling by bus is included in the price. The Halong Majestic Shuttle Bus departs daily from central Hanoi to the Tuan Chau Marina, Halong Bay.

By train: you can decide to take a train from Yen Vien (Gia Lam Railway Station) and then to Halong Train Station. The first train departs at 7:05 Am and arrive Halong Bay at 12:00 Am. On the way back, it departs at 3:00pm to get back Hanoi at 8:05pm. As reviewed, this train schedule is inconvenient and takes much longer than shuttle bus. And if you go by train, you must get off at Ha Long Station. After that, you can take taxis or motorbike taxis for about 3,2 km more to get to Halong.

By rent a private car / van: The most convenient transportation would be your private car / van from Noi Bai airport to Halong, or from Hanoi center to Halong bay.The price for private cars depend on the seats they have. The driver also can pick up or collect you at the airport or your hotel. Contact us if you want to hire your own car. A 165 km driving journey in 3 .5 hours will not make you tired because of natural and the countryside landscape always inspire you.

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