Cat Ba - is the largest of 366 islands in the Cat Ba archipelago and has an area of approximately 140 square km. The area is one of the best examples in the world of a Karst landscape invaded by the sea. Some 1,500-2,000 islands and cliffs, large and small, rise steeply from the shallow seawater. Many of these islands reach towering heights of 100 to 150 meters with steep vertical cliffs on all sides. Cau Vong Island is the highest island rising to 331 meters above sea level.
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When you come to Cat Ba National Park, you can choose a variety of tourist activities to explore the beauty of the park.
Cat Ba National Park was established in 1986. Cat Ba National Park was Vietnam's first national park.
Half of this large island has been declared a national park and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The beautiful National Park of Cat Ba is home to 32 species of mammals, including most of the 65 surviving golden-haired langurs, the world's most endangered primate. There are some good hiking trails here, including a two-hour return trip to Ngu Lam peak and a day-long hike to Viet Hai village. |
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Walking through the park
To reach the park headquarters along the road in Trung Trang, take the Song Tung bus from Cat Ba Town, or rent a motorcycle taxi or regular car taxi. The park entrance is in the center of the island. On arrival at the park, some food outlets try to swing you in for free parking. You are not sure what the intention is. Do you have to pay or do you have to buy something? So go to the official parking lot, where you have to pay parking fees.
The Park is absolutely beautiful. This mountainous area is covered with deep green forests. In the dense forests live twenty different wild animal species such as wild boars and hedgehogs. One of the more eccentric species is the Gold Headed Langur, a monkey species, which, as the name suggests, has a golden coat. Unfortunately, this animal is on the list of 25 most threatened animal species. A 200 species of fish and 20 different reptiles swim in the surrounding tropical waters.
You can take a short but strenuous hike to the top of the Ngu Lam peak. Here you have a beautiful view of the surrounding jungle.
It is a challenging 9 km walk through the park to the village of Viet Hai (you start north of the park entrance). It is best to hire a guide. The trekking through the park takes between 2 to 3 hours. It is best to wear comfortable shoes and clothes for climbing. Take enough water and as little luggage as possible and be prepared for a long walk. It is doable for everyone with a normal condition. Lunch and host families are available in the village of Viet Hai. The return to the city can also be arranged here with a means of transport.
Gold Headed Langur
In addition to the land area, the sea area in Cat Ba National Park also has its distinctive beauty. To explore the tremendous riches of Cat Ba, you can choose from water activities such as kayaking to discover the bay and the golf ecosystems, climb to the cliff of beautiful islands, dive deep to admire coral with its fish and swim in the sea. You can enjoy exciting water sports on beautiful beaches. Each sea trip in the Cat Ba National Park takes 2 to 5 hours, depending on the activities you choose.
Two tips:
- Trung Trang and Uy Ban are 2 famous caves in the park. In this path you will marvel at the abundance of mysterious stalactites and the variety of resting bats.
- If you drive to the Cat Ba National Park, you will pass the Hospital Cave on the way. A nice place to make a stopover. Here you can see a cave, which was used as a hospital during the war. You will be done with it within half an hour, but it still makes an impression if ... you consider that here wounded and sick people were treated during the war. All in a cave.
Take a rest after walking
