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Accommodation:
Most of the island’s 40 or so hotels are concentrated along the bayfront
in Cat Ba town. Room rates fluctuate greatly between high-season summer
months (May to September) and the slower winter months (October to
April).
Here are a few suggestions of where one may possibly stay at Cat Ba.
1. Hoang Huong Hotel
Front rooms of his family-run place have enormous windows looking out on
the water; communal balconies offer a bird’s-eye view of guys gambling
on the waterfront promenade.
2. Sunflower Hotel 3
All three of the Sunflower Hotels have good, clean rooms, but this one
is the best deal with a nice location on the waterfront.
3. Lan Ha Hotel
A nice hotel, definitely ahead of some seedier neighbors, this place has
basic rooms that are good value for the price.
4. Quang Duc Family Hotel
Cat Ba’s original family hotel, rooms here are equipped with satellite
TV. Hire kayak’s here from US$10 per day.
5. Giang Son Hotel
On the western side of town, this big place has some rooms with great
views of the rocky outcrop across the harbor. There’s restaurant
downstairs serving decent Vietnamese and Western food.
6. Hon Cat Dua Guesthouse
The national park has a guesthouse offshore on Hon Cat Dua (Pineapple
Island) if you want to camp and plan on being self-sufficient for the
night. Private boats and accommodation on the island can be arranged at
Quang Duc Family Hotel.
7. SLEEP ON THE BEACH!!!
Sleeping on the beach is also possible if you rent tents at the
guesthouse on Cat Co.
Where to eat:
1. Floating Seafood Restaurants
A not to miss dining experience are the floating seafood restaurants in
Cat Ba or Ben Beo harbours, where you choose your own seafood from pens
underneath the restaurant. A rowing boat there and back should cost
about 15,000 with waiting time; a feast for two should cost around
100,000d. Work out the fare beforehand so that you won’t fall victim to
overcharging.
2. Huu Dung Restaurant
Known as the Coca Cola Restaurant due to its former paint job, this
popular restaurant is up the hill near Cat Ba’s night club strip. It
serves good, fresh seafood.
3. Hoang Y.
This is an always busy restaurant, a testament to the great food they
serve. Located on the Western end of town, check out Hoang Y. for a
variety of delicious seafood and vegetarian dishes.
Getting there
Cat Ba Island is some 133km from Hanoi, 45km east of Haiphong and 20km
south of Halong City. Slow boats (trip takes around 2 ½ hours) and
hydrofoils (trip takes around 45 minutes-75 minutes) sail daily between
Cat Ba town and Haiphong.
An alternative way to reach Cat Ba is via the island way of Cat Hai,
which is closer to Haiphong. A boat leaves Haiphong for Cat Hai makes a
brief stop and continues on to the port of Phu Long on Cat Ba Isalnd.
Chartered private boats run trips between Cat Ba and Halong Bay.
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