National park · Vietnam
Cát Bà National ParkVườn quốc gia Cát Bà
Spend one morning of a Cát Bà stay in the park: take the short climb to Ngự Lâm peak before 9:00, or the full-day trek to Frog Lake and Việt Hải with a park guide in October–April; leave the langurs alone (they are seen only from boats on permitted routes), and use the Lan Hạ excursion page for the bay itself.Spend one morning of a Cát Bà stay in the park: take the short climb to Ngự Lâm peak before 9:00 AM, or the full-day trek to Frog Lake and Việt Hải with a park guide in October–April; leave the langurs alone (they are seen only from boats on permitted routes), and use the Lan Hạ excursion page for the bay itself.
Map to the park
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Area
263 km²102 sq mi
approximate
Established
1986
Best months
Apr–May, Oct–Nov
UNESCO
World Heritage
Rules in force · 7Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Vietnam ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal; lookalike sites charge extra.
- Vietnam ↗Crossing streets: walk slowly and steadily; motorbikes flow around you — do not stop or run.
- Vietnam ↗Carry Vietnamese đồng in small notes; many stalls and taxis are cash-only.
- North Vietnam ↗Dec–Feb in the north is cool and damp (10–18°C): pack a warm layer.
- North Vietnam ↗Sa Pa and Hà Giang can drop near freezing in December–January and fog in for days; keep a spare night and do not plan a single-day summit.
At a glance
- Country
- Vietnam
- Area
- 263 km²102 sq mi
- Figures vary by source and by boundary revision: roughly 170 km² of land and 90 km² of sea (check).
- Established
- 1986
- Best months
- Apr–May, Oct–Nov
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Hai Phong
Cát Bà National Park covers much of the largest island in the Hạ Long – Lan Hạ archipelago: forested limestone, freshwater swamps, mangroves and a marine zone. It holds the last few dozen Cát Bà langurs, one of the rarest primates in the world, found nowhere else. Since 2023 the archipelago shares World Heritage status with Hạ Long Bay. Next door, across the water in Quảng Ninh, Bái Tử Long National Park protects the quieter islands east of Hạ Long; it is reached by boat from Vân Đồn and has little visitor infrastructure.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO Biosphere Reserve · 2004Cát Bà Archipelago Biosphere Reserve.
- UNESCO World Heritage · 2023Hạ Long Bay – Cát Bà Archipelago (extension of the 1994 Hạ Long site).
Size and age
263 km²102 sq mi · national park since 1986
Figures vary by source and by boundary revision: roughly 170 km² of land and 90 km² of sea (check).
This page covers the park itself. For the visit — transfers, a day-by-day plan and bags — see Cát Bà and Lan Hạ Bay. Nearest base: Hai Phong.
Why go
- A real forest walk on an island most people see only from a boat.
- Ngự Lâm peak gives a 360° view over karst hills to Lan Hạ Bay in under an hour of climbing.
- The cross-island trek to Việt Hải village ends at the water, where boats run back to Cát Bà town.
- Conservation you can support: the langur project works with the villages around the park.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepCaution
- OctBest
- NovBest
- DecGo
- JanCool, grey; dry paths
- FebDrizzle; slippery rock
- MarMild; mist on the peaks
- AprWarm, clearing skies
- MayWarm; sea swimming starts
- JunHot; storms and domestic crowds
- JulTyphoon risk; boats may stop
- AugTyphoon peak; trails muddy
- SepStorm tails; clear spells
- OctDry and clear; best walking
- NovDry and mild
- DecCool, often clear
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cát Bà langur (sightings from permitted boats only)All year · Rare; do not pay anyone promising a close view. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Forest birds and butterfliesMar–May | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Macaques on the headquarters trailsAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Leeches on the long trekMay–Sep | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Hải Phòng
Bus and ferry via Đình Vũ, or speedboat to Cát Bà town, then 25 min by road to the park gate.
1.5–2.5 h
Open the page →
From Hanoi
Combined bus and boat tickets to Cát Bà town, then a taxi or motorbike to Trung Trang.
3.5–4.5 h
Open the page →
From Hạ Long
Tuần Châu ferry to Gia Luận, 20 min by road to the gate.
1.5–2 h
Open the page →
From Bay and island plan
Lan Hạ boats, kayaking and where to sleep on Cát Bà.
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Trung Trang headquarters | Gate, visitor centre, Ngự Lâm peak trail and short forest paths. | Open with a ticket. |
| Kim Giao and Frog Lake forest | The central ridges and the swampy Ao Ếch lake on the cross-island trail. | Guided only. |
| Việt Hải village | A village inside the park reached by the trek or a boat and a short ride. | Open; homestays. |
| Marine and langur zone | Coves and cliffs in the east where the langurs live. | Restricted; seen only from permitted boats. |
Sketch map
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry (Trung Trang headquarters) | ₫60,000–80,000 (≈ US$3–4) | person | Covers the Ngự Lâm peak trail (check). |
| Park guide for Frog Lake – Việt Hải trek | ₫500,000–1,000,000 (≈ US$20–40) | group | — |
| Boat from Việt Hải back to Cát Bà town | ₫200,000–400,000 (≈ US$8–16) | boat | Or a tour's boat pick-up. |
| Hospital Cave (outside the park, near the road) | ₫40,000–60,000 (≈ US$2–3) | person | — |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Long trek (Frog Lake to Việt Hải) permit or guide
Langur area permit or guide
Park rules
- Drones
- Not allowed without permission from the park and the World Heritage authorities (check).check
- Guides
- Required for the Frog Lake – Việt Hải trek and for any trail away from headquarters.
- Camping
- Not allowed in the forest; sleep in Việt Hải homestays or Cát Bà town.
- Langurs
- No approach by kayak or on foot to langur cliffs; boats keep their distance.
- Fires and litter
- No fires; carry out all rubbish.
Where to stay
In the park
Việt Hải village homestays
Simple rooms inside the park; quiet nights.
Near the park
Cát Bà town
Hotels and hostels of every level, 25 min from the gate.
Safety
Heat and steep steps on Ngự Lâm medium
Getting lost on the long trek high
Typhoons medium
Accessibility
- The headquarters area and Trung Trang cave are reachable by car with short walks.
- Ngự Lâm peak and the long trek are steep and rough; not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Never book 'langur tours' that promise close sightings; they stress the last few dozen animals.
- Choose bay boats that use the permitted routes and do not dump waste.
- Stay in Việt Hải or buy lunch there so the village benefits from the park.
Questions people ask
Is Cát Bà National Park the same as Bái Tử Long?
No. Bái Tử Long is a separate national park on the islands east of Hạ Long in Quảng Ninh, reached by boat from Vân Đồn. Cát Bà is the park on Cát Bà island in Hải Phòng. Both border the Hạ Long – Cát Bà World Heritage area.
Can I see the Cát Bà langur?
Only with luck, from boats on permitted routes, at a distance. There are only a few dozen left; responsible operators do not promise sightings.
Can I do Ngự Lâm peak without a guide?
Yes. The trail starts at the headquarters and is signed; buy the entry ticket at the gate.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go