Cat Ba Island

Cat Ba Island is one of the largest and most beautiful islands amongst nearly two thousand islands in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay. In December 2004, it was honored by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve. Situated approximately 40km away from Hai Phong City or 23km from Halong City, Cat Ba Island is blessed with a pristine beauty consisting of forests, seas, mountains, hills, beaches, and pine trees - creating many gorgeous views.

Interestingly enough, "Cat Ba" translates to "Women's Island" in Vietnamese - as its original name was "Cac Ba," with “Cac” meaning all and “Ba” meaning women. Folklore claims that centuries ago three female warriors of the Tran Dynasty lost their lives in a fight against sea invaders; their remains were found on the beach and locals built a temple to honor them on the island - thus renaming it after them.

In recent years, a new route including Cat Ba Island and Lan Ha Bay has become increasingly popular for overnight cruises; it is an alternative less crowded than Halong Bay and the perfect choice for travelers.