National park · Bhutan
Singye Dzong
Singye Dzong is closed to non-Bhutanese visitors. If you are a Bhutanese pilgrim, plan a 3-day walk from Kildung near Khoma in October only; carry all food and camping gear; the monastery offers basic shelter but is often full.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
263 km² (102 sq mi)102 sq mi (263 km²)
approximate
Established
1986
Best months
Apr–May, Oct–Nov
UNESCO
World Heritage
Rules in force · 5
- South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
- South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
- Bhutan ↗Sustainable Development Fee: USD 100 per adult per night for international visitors until 31 Aug 2027 (children 6–11 half rate, under 6 free); Indian nationals pay in rupees at a lower rate. Confirm the current rate on the official tourism site before booking.
- Bhutan ↗Visa: apply through the official Bhutan tourism visa system, cleared before you board; plan the trip through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator.
- Bhutan ↗Paro is Bhutan's only international airport: approaches are visual, flights run in daylight only, and cloud or wind cancels them; keep a spare day at both ends.
At a glance
- Country
- Bhutan
- Area
- 263 km² (102 sq mi)102 sq mi (263 km²)
- 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
- Lhuentse
Singye Dzong is not a fortress but a sacred valley in Lhuentse district, near the Tibetan border. The temple was established by Yeshe Tsogyal and Guru Rinpoche. Due to its location in a highly sensitive border area and its profound spiritual significance, the valley is closed to non-Bhutanese visitors. For Bhutanese pilgrims, the only reliable month to walk the challenging trails is October.
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 km² (102 sq mi)102 sq mi (263 km²) · 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. Nearest base: Lhuentse.
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
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
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
Take the points offline
6 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions from the headquarters to Việt Hải, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
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
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- ₫60,000–80,000≈ US$3–4
- ₫500,000–1,000,000≈ US$20–40
- ₫200,000–400,000≈ US$8–16
- ₫40,000–60,000≈ US$2–3
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago before you go.
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
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
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
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