Located 160 km to the northeast of Hanoi, 20 km offshore, Cat Ba is the biggest island in the Gulf of Tonkin and one of major travel locations for tourists in the region. Stretching from east to west, forming the backbone of Cat Ba archipelago, Cat Ba island resembles a giant whale moving forwards. Due to its size, the island features may different forms of landscape ranging from beach, mountain, limestone mountain to even flat land. The most famous location on the island is no doubt Cat Ba National Park, home to thousands of wild animals and precious plants- many of which can't be found anywhere else. Moving from the center to the shore, mountains and jungles are grandually replaced by beautiful pritine beaches and limestone islets, forming the jewel of Cat Ba. Other locations include Butterfly valley, Hospital cave and Canon Fort.
Tourists are recommended to take a trekking or mountain climbing trip to explore the wildlife of Cat Ba National Park. A quick trip to Butter vally, Hospital cave and the Canon fort is also worth trying, especially when you don't minf the effort at all. Lastly, don't miss the nightlife in CatBa town and nearby beaches as it is arguably the best part of the trip.
