Cat Ba Island, An Unspoilt Sanctuary

Cat Ba Island, the largest island in Halong Bay in the north of Vietnam and is renowned for its natural scenic beauty

. The breathtaking scenery of the island attracts a considerable number of visitors each year, as it offers adventure, a relaxed ambience and a unique cultural experience.

Cat Ba island is well known for its rocky limestone hills, tropical rainforest, cold and hot springs and coral reefs, in addition to its secluded beaches and relaxed traditional lifestyle. The area has been designated as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.

Seemingly a remnant of an earlier age, Cat Ba Island is an idyllic area with only a few fishing villages and a developing town. The island features many waterfalls, lakes and caverns in the imposing limestone hills which make it a fascinating area for hiking. Lan Ha Bay, located on the islands eastern side is particularly picturesque and offers many out-of-the-way beaches to explore.

The rocky land is unsuitable for agriculture and therefore most of the inhabitants derive their livelihood from sea-related activities and in recent times, the tourism industry. An area consisting of about half of the island has been designated as a national park in order to preserve the areas vital ecosystems which include freshwater swamp forests, evergreen forests, coastal mangrove forests, coral reefs and freshwater lakes.

The sea surrounding Cat Ba Island features 500 species of mollusks, 400 species of arthropod and 200 varieties of fish. Marine mammals in the region include dolphins and seals. The island can be visited from Halong Bay, from where a four hour boat trip will take you to Cat Ba Island, which will include breaks in your journey for visiting picturesque beaches, swimming and enjoying fresh seafood. If you lack the time for this sort of excursion you may board a hydrofoil at Hai Phong seaport which will take you to Cat Ba Island at speed.

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by: Pushpitha Wijesinghe

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