TRAVEL CAT BA ISLAND WITH KIDS : TOP 5 THINGS TO DO FOR FAMILY WITH KIDS IN CAT BA ISLAND
Traveling Cat Ba island with kids is easy to do. Cat Ba is a kid-friendly destination with many fun things to do with kids. Your family will spend your time discovering the amazing beauty of towering limestone cliffs, trekking the national park, cycling around the town, hiking the Canon fort and kayaking around Lan Ha Bay
The Cat Ba island with Kids Complete Guide is written by David Nguyen, who is a local guide in Cat Ba island who has been working in the tourism industry in Cat Ba over 12 years. After doing well-researched about traveling for family with kids in Cat Ba, there is a few articles but they don’t provide enough information that cover anything you need to know about travelling for a family in Cat Ba
Where is Cat Ba island?
Cat Ba island is situated off the coast, Northeast of Hanoi. The distance between Hanoi and Cat Ba island is 155 kilometers or 96 miles which usually takes three and a half hour (including the drive from Hanoi to Pot Pier, ferry crossing, and drive from Got Pier to the Cat Ba town.
Is Cat Ba island with kids the right choice?
Cat Ba island is widely known as top 5 travel destination is Northern Vietnam, you could spend a couple of days here on Cat Ba island with your beloved kids with lots of fun things to do in Cat Ba island.
If Halong Bay is overcrowded and more expensive. Cat Ba Island is a great alternative to enjoy the trip with family with kids
How to travel to Cat Ba with kids from Hanoi?
There is are tons of options to choose from tourist buses, public buses and private transfers from Hanoi to Cat Ba island
By tourist bus
Getting to Cat Ba from Hanoi is super easy, comfortable and affordable. There are 3 companies to choose from Daichi Bus, Good Morning and Cat Ba Express
For my personal experience, Cat Ba Express is the best option for shuttle bus from/to Hanoi
You will be included pick up and drop off door-to-door so you don’t have to worry about your luggage.
Which option is right for you, tourist bus or private transfer
If you don’t carry many pieces of luggage, take a tourist-friendly bus with comfortable seats,
If you have lots of luggage, take a private transfer (based on the group size to choose suitable type of transfer)
By Local Bus
There is only one local company called Hoang Phu Limousine that offers Limousine Dcar service from Hanoi to Cat Ba with just one drive everyday
The cost is about $14 per person, which is affordable but the thing is that the staff doesn’t speak much English and the services aren’t as good as tourist buses.
At the end of the day, I don’t recommend this option.
Hanoi to Cat Ba by private transfer
If you can pay a bit extra, a private car from Hanoi to Cat Ba is the best option as always, The private car costs around $140 one-way transfer. The price is affordable whist taking a bus costs around $60 for a family of four.
We, Hanoi Eco Tour, offer private transfer services from Hanoi to Cat Ba , contact us via WhatsApp: +84.974.313.104
Read more : How to get to Cat Ba island from Hanoi
Top 5 things to do in Cat Ba island with kids
Taking a leisurely boat trip from Lan Ha Bay
Taking a day boat cruise in Lan Ha bay is a must-do from Cat Ba island.
There are 2 options that I think, it’s fun for kids
Option 1 : Cycling in Viet Hai village and Kayaking in Three Peach Beach
Viet Hai village is known as the best cycling spot when taking a Lan Ha Bay day trip , the village is quiet, beautiful and a place to learn about local life in Cat Ba.
There are hidden trails for kids to explore, fish massage spots to relax
Pro tips : Get there at noontime to avoid the crowd
Next, head to Ba Trai Dao (Three Peaches Beach), the best place to swim, kayak, and relax with lots of tiny white sand beaches. I love the place so much. It is sometimes busy with boat tours.
Trekking the Cat Ba National park
There are two trekking routes: A short trek to Ngu Lam peak (1 hour to hike up) or long trek (From the national park via Frog Lake to Viet Hai village – four and a half-hour trek)
The long trek route isn’t recommended for kids; it’s sometimes dangerous since you need to hike on the rock and the kid needs to be in good health and physical condition.
For the trek to Ngu Lam peak, please don’t expect to see any wildlife or animals in the national park, but the view from the summit is awesome.
Hang out at the Monkey island
Monkey island in Lan Ha bay Vietnam
The boat cannot go to Monkey Island, so you must swim to get there. Also, be careful when playing with the monkeys; they are sometimes aggressive monkeys and state things, food, and drink from tourists.
The other side of the island used to be Monkey Island Resort, but it has gone now.
Join a Cat Ba fishing trip
It sounds fun, right? Absolutely, you will learn hands-on fishing experience with local fishermen to learn from fishing with rod and cast nest.
Apart from it, you can also kayak to hidden lagoons and little white-sand beaches. I have to say, it is a real paradise on board.
This Cat Ba fishing trip is one of the top fun tours in Cat Ba for kids
Admire the amazing panoramic view at the Canon fort
Canon fort Cat Ba
Cannon Fort is operated by the military, not a tourist attraction, so bear. in mind that it’s sometimes close. You can see some old canons from the World War 2 period and see spectacular views of Cat Ba and Lan Ha bay from above.
Pro tips: The toilet is not clean, so I suggested not to go to the toilet here.
You will be charged 50,000VND for the entry fee so make sure that you bring Cash on you.
How to get around Cat Ba with kids
Walking or taking a push bike ride is recommended if you want to get around Cat Ba town. It’s super flexible, stop to see things whenever you want. Please check with the bike rental shops if a baby seat is provided if you traveling with young kids
If you want to get to Cat Ba National Park or the island’s Northern side, taking his car is the best option, especially in the summertime with high heat.
Where to stay in Cat Ba with kids
There is a ton of options to choose from: homestays, bungalows, hotels, and resorts based on your interest and budget.
Top homestays and Bungalow around Cat Ba, the national park and Viet Hai village area
- Whisper Nature Bungalow (Viet Hai village)
- Cat Ba Spring Garden homestay (7 kilometers from Cat Ba town – Halfway between the town and the national park)
Middle-range and Deluxe accommodation in Cat Ba
- Cat Ba Eco Lodge
- Cat Ba Green Pearl hotel
- Quiri hotel
- Roza Palace
- Cat Ba Eco hotel
- Cat Ba view hotel
- Cat Ba Paradise hotel
Luxury Accommodation in Cat Ba
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Flamingo Cat Ba Beach Resort
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Hôtel Perle d’Orient Cat Ba – MGallery
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Wyndham Grand Flamingo Cat Ba
- Cat Ba ancient house (Viet Hai village)
Read more : Luxury accommodation in Cat Ba
Family-friendly restaurant in Cat Ba
Cat Ba is a tourist spot so it’s easy to find family-friendly restaurant. Cat Ba isn’t a place for kid-friendly local eateries. The option is just something light like Banh Mi cay (Spicy bread stick with pate), Banh Da Cua ( Vietnamese Yellow noodle soup with crab meat) or Che (Sweet Porridge with mung bean, black bean, read bean and jelly) for dessert and seafood.
Here is the list of kid-friendly restaurant
The Like coffee – I have eaten there a few times with my guests (family with kids) and they loved it. SO that it’s my top list of a family restaurant in Cat Ba.
Yummy restaurant, just another nice restaurant for families in Cat Ba with Vietnamese, and Western food and lots of cocktails, juices, and smoothies to choose from.
Quiri cocktail and restaurant – An excellent place for families with kids. Recommended dishes include chicken
Family travel tips for choosing accommodation in Cat Ba
- Look for hotels/homestays with pools when travelling during the summertime
- Mosquito net is recommended to sleep at night
- Check with your stay in Cat Ba if there is an onsite restaurant or nearby restaurant.
- When choose the Lan Ha Bay tour, choose either the option with cycling in Viet Hai or just full day tour with kayaking, swimming only.
Top Cat Ba family-friendly tour options
Private Lan Ha Bay day tour from Cat Ba
Cat Ba and Lan Ha bay 2 days 1 night
We hope this Cat Ba island with kids travel guide helps you plan an awesome family trip to Cat Ba.
If you would like a hassle-free short trips to Cat Ba, please get in touch with Hanoi Eco Tour for a guided tour to Cat Ba via via Whatsapp at +84.974.313.104
