Bai Tam Cat Co 1 (Hai Phong): A Traveler's Guide

Cat Co 1 is the beach most visitors to Cat Ba Island end up at first, and for good reason — it's a five-minute walk from the town center, wedged between limestone cliffs, and has just enough infrastructure to be comfortable without feeling overbuilt.

What it is

Cat Co 1 (full name: Bai Tam Cat Co 1) is one of three small cove beaches on the southern tip of Cat Ba Island, now part of the expanded Hai Phong municipality. The three Cat Co beaches — 1, 2, and 3 — sit in a row along the coastline, connected by clifftop walkways and tunnels carved through rock. Cat Co 1 is the closest to Cat Ba Town and the most developed of the three, with a proper entrance, changing rooms, and a handful of beachside drink stalls.

The beach itself is roughly 200 meters of coarse sand backed by steep karst cliffs. It's not a wide, sprawling stretch — think pocket beach. The water is typically calm inside the cove, which makes it popular with families and people who aren't strong swimmers.

Why travelers go

Cat Ba Island is the largest island in the Cat Ba Archipelago, and most people pass through on their way to or from Ha Long Bay. Cat Co 1 gives you a reason to slow down. It's the kind of beach where you spend a half-day swimming, eat grilled squid from a stall, and walk back to town for dinner. Nobody comes here for a beach resort experience — you come because it's right there, it's easy, and the setting between the cliffs is genuinely good.

The clifftop path connecting Cat Co 1 to Cat Co 2 and Cat Co 3 is also worth the walk. It takes about 15 minutes to reach Cat Co 3, and the views over the water and karst formations along the way are the real draw.

Best time to visit

The swimming season runs from May through September, with June to August being the warmest months. Water temperature hovers around 28-30°C in peak summer. July and August bring the most domestic tourists — weekends in particular get crowded, especially around the entrance area.

If you want the beach relatively quiet, aim for a weekday in June or September. October and November are hit-or-miss: some days are warm enough to swim, others are grey and windy. December through March is cool and often foggy — fine for hiking Cat Ba National Park, but not ideal beach weather.

How to get there

Most travelers start from Hai Phong city center or Hanoi.

From Hanoi

Take a bus from My Dinh or Gia Lam station to Cat Ba Island. Several operators run direct routes that include the ferry crossing — the whole trip takes around 3.5 to 4 hours and costs 250,000-350,000 VND one way. Hoang Long and Grouping Tour are two common operators. The bus drops you in Cat Ba Town.

From Hai Phong

Head to Ben Binh or Got ferry terminal. Speed boats to Cat Ba run frequently and take about 45 minutes (200,000-250,000 VND). The slower car ferry from Got pier takes around 1.5 hours and costs less, around 80,000-120,000 VND per person plus vehicle fees if you're bringing a motorbike.

Once in Cat Ba Town, Cat Co 1 is a 500-meter walk south from the main waterfront strip. Follow the road past the hotels and you'll see the signed entrance. Entry fee is 30,000 VND.

Photo by Gizem Çelebi on Pexels

What to do

Swim and lounge at Cat Co 1

The obvious one. Rent a beach chair (50,000-80,000 VND), swim in the sheltered cove, and order a cold beer or coconut from the stalls. The water is cleanest in the morning before foot traffic stirs up the sand.

Walk the cliff path to Cat Co 2 and Cat Co 3

The walkway is partly built into the rock, with short tunnel sections and metal bridges bolted to the cliff face. Cat Co 2 is partially occupied by a resort but still accessible. Cat Co 3 is smaller, quieter, and backed by denser vegetation. The whole walk is easy — wear sandals with grip, not flip-flops.

Rent a kayak

Kayak rentals are available at Cat Co 1 for around 100,000-150,000 VND per hour. Paddling along the base of the cliffs gives you a different perspective on the coastline and lets you peek into smaller inlets you can't reach on foot.

Hike in Cat Ba National Park

The national park entrance is about 15 km from Cat Ba Town (reachable by motorbike or taxi, around 100,000 VND one way). The main trekking route to Viet Hai village takes 3-4 hours one way through dense forest. It's a solid day trip that pairs well with a beach afternoon.

Take a boat tour through Lan Ha Bay

Lan Ha Bay is Cat Ba's neighbor to the east and far less touristed than Ha Long Bay (하롱베이 / 下龙湾 / ハロン湾). Half-day boat tours from Cat Ba Town cost around 300,000-500,000 VND and typically include kayaking, swimming stops, and floating village visits.

Where to eat nearby

Cat Ba Town's waterfront has dozens of seafood restaurants. Most display the day's catch in tanks out front — you pick what you want and they cook it. Expect to pay 150,000-400,000 VND per dish depending on the seafood.

Two things to seek out specifically: grilled "cha muc" (squid cake), which is Cat Ba's signature dish — dense, chewy, served with chili sauce. It's different from the version you'll find in Hanoi (하노이 / 河内 / ハノイ); the squid here is fresher and the texture is firmer. A plate runs 80,000-120,000 VND. Also try "bun cha" if any of the smaller local places off the main drag serve it — Cat Ba's version is no-frills but solid, and eating it with a cold "bia hoi" overlooking the harbor is one of the better cheap meals in the north.

Where to stay

Cat Ba Town has accommodation at every price point:

• Budget: Guesthouses and hostels along the waterfront, 150,000-300,000 VND per night. Basic but clean. Many have harbor views from upper floors.
• Mid-range: Hotels with air conditioning, hot water, and breakfast, 500,000-900,000 VND. Cat Ba Sunrise Resort and Cat Ba Dream Hotel are both walkable to Cat Co 1.
• Higher-end: A few resorts sit directly above Cat Co 2 and Cat Co 3, starting around 1,500,000 VND per night. You're paying for the cliff-edge location more than luxury amenities.

Book ahead on summer weekends — Cat Ba fills up fast from Friday afternoon.

Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels

Practical tips locals would tell you

• Bring water shoes or sturdy sandals. The rocks at the edges of Cat Co 1 are sharp, and the cliff path has uneven sections.
• The beach entrance closes around 6:00 PM. Don't leave valuables unattended — lockers are available near the changing rooms for a small fee.
• If you're arriving by motorbike on the car ferry, fuel up in Hai Phong first. Gas stations on Cat Ba exist but charge a premium.
• Haggle gently at seafood restaurants. Confirm the price per kilogram before they cook it. This isn't a scam warning — it's just how it works. Misunderstandings happen when nobody writes the price down.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Only visiting Cat Co 1. The cliff walk to Cat Co 3 takes 15 minutes and is arguably better than the main beach. Don't skip it.
• Coming on a summer weekend without a booking. Accommodation fills up, and the beach gets packed shoulder-to-shoulder by noon.
• Skipping Lan Ha Bay for Ha Long Bay. If you're already on Cat Ba, Lan Ha Bay tours are cheaper, less crowded, and leave from right here. You don't need to backtrack to Ha Long.
• Rushing through Cat Ba in a day. The island rewards two nights. One for the beach and town, one for the national park or a bay tour.

Practical notes

Cat Co 1 isn't a destination beach — it's a good beach on an island that has a lot more going on. Pair it with Lan Ha Bay, the national park, and the seafood strip in town, and Cat Ba becomes one of the more complete short trips you can do from Hanoi. Two or three nights is the sweet spot.