Travel Guide Cat Bà Island

Cat Bà literally means "Island of the Ladies". According to legend, three women from the Tran dynasty (13th century) were killed here, and their bodies, recovered from three different beaches by fishermen, were each honored with a temple. The island is the center of the Cat Bà archipelago, which comprises over 300 islets spread over 300 km2. Since 1986, this former haunt of Chinese and Vietnamese pirates has been home to a national park covering 50% of its surface area. It is home to a wide variety of plant and animal species, including lush tropical vegetation, birds and reptiles. In addition to this exceptional environment, there are archaeological sites dating back 6,000 years, such as the Cai Beo cave (discovered in 1938), located 2 km from the village of Cat Bà.This island of 13,000 inhabitants is experiencing rapid tourist growth, with new mini-hotels springing up regularly. At the end of 2004, UNESCO included the island in its List of World Biosphere Reserves. Many travellers prefer to discover Halong Bay from Cat Bà, as the Bai Chay coastline is of no interest, disfigured by anarchic construction. It is to be hoped that the same mistakes will not be made again, and that the island will be able to maintain a reasonable level of development. Outside the high season (June, July, August), the island remains relatively untouched by tourists. You can enjoy the beaches, the peaceful village and the starting point for excursions in the park and the archipelago.