Cat Co 2 is the middle child of Cat Ba Island's three cove beaches, and it acts like one — smaller, quieter, and largely ignored by the tour-bus crowd heading to Cat Co 1. That's exactly why it's worth your time.
What it is
Cat Co 2 sits on the southeastern coast of Cat Ba Island, wedged between Cat Co 1 and Cat Co 3. The three beaches are connected by a cliffside walkway cut into the rock, so you can technically hit all three in a morning. But Cat Co 2 is the one with the smallest footprint — maybe 150 meters of sand backed by limestone karsts and dense green canopy. There's no major resort parked on top of it (unlike Cat Co 1, which has the Cat Ba Island Resort & Spa dominating the beachfront). Instead, you get a handful of sun loungers, a bar or two, and actual breathing room.
Cat Ba Island is part of Hai Phong, which recently expanded its administrative boundaries by merging with the former Hai Duong province. For travelers, not much changes on the ground — Cat Ba was already administered by Hai Phong, and it remains the main island jumping-off point for Ha Long Bay boat trips from the eastern side.
Why travelers go
People come to Cat Co 2 because they walked from Cat Co 1 and realized it was better. That's genuinely how most visitors discover it. Cat Co 1 has more infrastructure — concrete steps, a big hotel, rows of loungers — but it also has every domestic tour group on Cat Ba. Cat Co 3 has its own loyal crowd, but the access trail can be slippery in wet season.
Cat Co 2 splits the difference. The water is the same clear green-blue you get along this whole stretch of coast, the sand is coarse but clean, and the karst walls on either side give it a sheltered, enclosed feel without being claustrophobic. It's a good place to spend three or four hours without someone trying to sell you a jet ski ride every ten minutes.
Best time to visit
Aim for May through September. July and August are peak domestic holiday season, so expect more company — but even then, Cat Co 2 stays calmer than its neighbors. June and September hit a sweet spot: warm water (28-30°C), fewer visitors, and enough sunshine between occasional afternoon rain showers.
Avoid December through February unless you're comfortable swimming in 18°C water under grey skies. Cat Ba gets properly cold and damp in winter, and the beaches empty out. March and April are transitional — warming up, sometimes foggy in the mornings, but increasingly pleasant by late April.
How to get there from Hanoi
From Hanoi, the most common route takes about 3.5 to 4 hours total:
- Bus to Hai Phong: Catch a bus from My Dinh or Gia Lam station. Tickets run 100,000-130,000 VND. Travel time is around 2 hours on the expressway.
- Speed ferry to Cat Ba: From Got Pier (Ben Binh) or Dinh Vu port in Hai Phong, speed ferries depart several times daily. Cost is roughly 250,000-350,000 VND depending on operator. The ride takes 45-60 minutes.
- Motorbike or taxi to Cat Co beaches: From Cat Ba Town pier, it's about 1.5 km to the Cat Co beach area. A xe om (motorbike taxi) costs 20,000-30,000 VND, or you walk it in 20 minutes.
Alternatively, several Hanoi (하노이 / 河内 / ハノイ) travel agencies sell combo bus-ferry tickets for 200,000-350,000 VND that handle the whole transfer. Hoang Long and Groupstar are two operators running this route regularly.
Once at the Cat Co area, you'll reach Cat Co 1 first. Walk south along the cliffside path — it's paved, with metal railings — for about five minutes to reach Cat Co 2. Entry to the beach area costs 30,000-50,000 VND (pricing changes seasonally).
Photo by Hugo Heimendinger on Pexels
What to do
Swim and do absolutely nothing
The water at Cat Co 2 is calm enough for casual swimming most of the season. There's no strong current inside the cove. Bring a book, rent a lounger for 50,000-100,000 VND, and settle in.
Walk the cliffside path to Cat Co 1 and Cat Co 3
The connecting walkway is one of the best short walks on Cat Ba. It hugs the limestone cliff face about 10-15 meters above the water, with views across the cove and out toward the karst islands. Total walk from Cat Co 1 to Cat Co 3 takes about 15 minutes. Some sections are steep — wear shoes with grip, not flip-flops.
Kayak around the cove
Some days there are kayaks available for rent at Cat Co 2 (150,000-200,000 VND/hour). Paddle out past the cove mouth and you'll see the scale of the limestone formations up close. This is the same geological system that makes Ha Long Bay (하롱베이 / 下龙湾 / ハロン湾) famous — you're just seeing it from a different angle.
Snorkel off the rocks
Bring your own mask. The rocky edges of the cove have reasonable visibility in summer months and some coral patches worth poking around. It's not world-class snorkeling, but it's free and uncrowded.
Sunset drinks at the beach bar
Cat Co 2 usually has at least one small bar operating during high season. A Bia Hai Phong or a cold Saigon Lager runs about 25,000-40,000 VND. The cove faces southeast, so you won't get a direct sunset-over-water view, but the light on the karsts turns a good amber in the late afternoon.
Where to eat nearby
Cat Co 2 itself has limited food — maybe a snack bar. For a proper meal, walk back to Cat Co 1 or into Cat Ba Town.
Seek out "bun cha" if any of the small places along the Cat Ba Town waterfront are serving it — some stalls do a respectable version, though it's obviously better in Hanoi. The local play is fresh seafood: grilled squid, steamed clams with lemongrass, or "bun rieu" with crab from the morning market vendors. A seafood meal for two at a waterfront place in Cat Ba Town runs 250,000-500,000 VND depending on what you order and how tourist-facing the restaurant is.
Where to stay
- Budget (300,000-500,000 VND/night): Cat Ba Town has dozens of mini-hotels and guesthouses within walking distance of the beaches. Nothing fancy — expect a clean room, air conditioning, and Wi-Fi.
- Mid-range (800,000-1,500,000 VND/night): A few newer hotels on the main road offer sea-view rooms, breakfast included. Cat Ba Sunrise Resort is one option on the higher end.
- Splurge (2,000,000+ VND/night): Cat Ba Island Resort & Spa sits right above Cat Co 1. You're paying for the beachfront location and pool access.
Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels
Practical tips locals would tell you
- Bring water and snacks to Cat Co 2. Supply is limited and overpriced at the beach.
- Wear proper shoes on the cliff path, especially after rain. The stone gets slick.
- Go early. By 10 a.m. on summer weekends, Cat Co 1 is packed. Cat Co 2 fills up an hour or two later. If you're there by 8 a.m., you'll have the cove mostly to yourself.
- Cash only at the beach. ATMs are back in Cat Ba Town.
- If you're visiting Cat Ba primarily for the beaches, consider staying two nights — one for the Cat Co coves, one for a boat trip around nearby Lan Ha Bay.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Only visiting Cat Co 1: Most people stop at the first beach and never walk five minutes further. Don't be that person.
- Coming in winter expecting beach weather: November through February is genuinely cold and grey on Cat Ba. Plan accordingly.
- Not checking ferry schedules: Ferries from Hai Phong don't run late. The last departure is typically around 3-4 p.m. Miss it and you're stuck overnight in Hai Phong.
- Skipping Cat Ba Town's seafood: The beachside snack bars charge tourist prices for mediocre food. Walk ten minutes into town for better meals at half the cost.
Practical notes
Cat Co 2 isn't a destination you build a whole trip around — it's the best reason to spend an extra day on Cat Ba Island instead of rushing straight to a Ha Long Bay cruise. Combine it with Lan Ha Bay, the national park hike, and a night eating seafood in town, and you've got a solid two or three days in the north that most visitors to Hanoi never bother with.
Last updated · May 19, 2026 · independently researched, never sponsored.
