Cat Co 3 is the smallest and least crowded of the three Cat Co beaches on Cat Ba Island, and that's exactly why it's worth your time. While Cat Co 1 draws the package-tour crowds and Cat Co 2 sits behind a resort gate, Cat Co 3 stays relatively low-key — a crescent of sand backed by limestone karst, with enough infrastructure to be comfortable but not so much that it feels like a theme park.
What it is
Cat Co 3 sits on the southeastern edge of Cat Ba Town, connected to Cat Co 2 by a cliffside walkway and about a 15-minute walk from the town center. The beach is maybe 200 meters long, hemmed in by forested hills on both sides. The water is calm most of the year thanks to the sheltered bay position, and the sand — while not powder-white — is clean and well maintained.
Cat Ba Island itself is part of Hai Phong, sitting in the same archipelago system as Ha Long Bay but with a rougher, less polished character. The island has been a national park since 1986, and the surrounding waters are a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Cat Co 3 was developed later than its neighbors, which kept it from getting the same density of concrete.
Why travelers go
People come here to swim without fighting for towel space. Cat Co 1 can pack tight on weekends, especially from June through August when Hanoi empties out to the coast. Cat Co 3 rarely hits that level. The water is clean enough for snorkeling close to the rocks on either side, and the cliff walkway connecting the three beaches is a decent little adventure on its own — narrow, slightly rusted in places, bolted into the karst face above the water.
It's also a solid base if you're planning boat trips through Lan Ha Bay, which offers the same karst scenery as Ha Long Bay (하롱베이 / 下龙湾 / ハロン湾) with a fraction of the boat traffic.
Best time to visit
April through August is swimming season. Water temperature sits around 26-29°C, and rain is short and sharp rather than all-day. May and June are the sweet spot — warm enough to swim, but the domestic holiday crush of July-August hasn't started yet.
September and October bring occasional typhoon weather. The beach stays open, but boats to Lan Ha Bay may cancel on short notice. November through March is cool and often overcast — fine for hiking in Cat Ba National Park, less appealing for the beach.
How to get there from Hanoi
The most common route from Hanoi (하노이 / 河内 / ハノイ) takes about 3.5 to 4 hours total.
Bus + ferry combo: Catch a bus from My Dinh or Luong Yen station to Cat Ba Island. Several operators run direct services that include the ferry crossing. Tickets run 200,000-280,000 VND one way. The bus drops you in Cat Ba Town, and from there Cat Co 3 is a 15-minute walk south along the coastal road, or a 20,000 VND xe om ride.
Private car + speedboat: Drive or hire a car to Got pier in Hai Phong (about 2 hours from Hanoi), then take a speedboat to Cat Ba (45 minutes, around 250,000 VND). Faster, but more coordination required.
From Cat Ba Town, follow the road past the harbor and keep right at the fork — signs point to the Cat Co beaches. Cat Co 3 is the last one you'll reach.
Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels
What to do
Swim and snorkel the edges
The center of the beach has a sandy bottom that drops off gradually — good for families. The rocks at both ends are where you'll find small fish and the occasional sea urchin (watch your feet). Bring a basic mask; rental gear on the beach is hit-or-miss.
Walk the cliff path to Cat Co 1
The metal walkway bolted into the cliff connects all three beaches. It takes about 20 minutes end to end and gives you views straight down into the water. Some sections are steep with narrow stairs. Flip-flops work, but proper sandals are better. Entry to the walkway costs around 30,000 VND.
Take a Lan Ha Bay day trip
Book a boat from any of the tour offices on Cat Ba Town's main strip. A full-day trip with kayaking, swimming, and lunch runs 350,000-600,000 VND depending on group size and whether you want to visit a floating village. Lan Ha Bay connects to the southern edge of Ha Long Bay but sees far fewer large cruise ships.
Hike in Cat Ba National Park
The park entrance is about 15 km from town (30,000 VND entry). The main trek to Viet Hai village takes 3-4 hours through dense forest. You won't see the endangered Cat Ba langur, but you'll hear things moving in the canopy. Hire a xe om to the trailhead for about 80,000 VND.
Sunset drinks on the beach
Cat Co 3 has a few small bars right on the sand. A Bia Hoi Hai Phong or a bottled Saigon runs 15,000-25,000 VND. The sun sets behind the hills rather than over open water, so the light goes golden-green through the trees — different from a classic ocean sunset, but worth sitting with.
Where to eat nearby
Cat Ba Town's food scene leans heavily on seafood. The row of restaurants along the harbor front all serve similar menus — grilled squid, steamed clams, stir-fried mantis shrimp — and prices are posted per kilogram. Budget around 150,000-300,000 VND per person for a seafood spread.
Seek out "bun cha (분짜 / 烤肉米粉 / ブンチャー)" at the small local places one block back from the waterfront — it's a Hanoi dish that migrated here with the tourist traffic, and some shops do a respectable version for 40,000-50,000 VND. For breakfast, look for "banh cuon" — the steamed rice rolls come thinner here than in Hanoi, served with fried shallots and a side of "cha gio."
Where to stay
Cat Co 3 has one resort property (Cat Co 3 Sunrise Resort) right on the beach — expect 600,000-1,200,000 VND per night depending on season. It's basic but the location is unbeatable.
Most travelers stay in Cat Ba Town and walk to the beach. Budget guesthouses run 200,000-350,000 VND; mid-range hotels with sea views go for 500,000-900,000 VND. Booking ahead matters in July and August. Outside peak season, you can walk in and negotiate.
Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels
Practical tips locals would tell you
- Bring cash. Card readers exist at the resort but nowhere else near the beach. The nearest ATM is back in Cat Ba Town.
- Arrive before 10 AM on weekends. The beach is small. Loungers fill up fast in summer.
- Reef shoes matter. The rocks at the beach edges are sharp, and sea urchins sit in the shallows.
- Don't drink the tap water. Buy bottled — 10,000 VND at any shop in town.
- Sunscreen before you leave town. There's no shop at Cat Co 3 selling it, and the one umbrella-rental guy charges triple.
Common mistakes to avoid
Booking a Ha Long Bay cruise and expecting to visit Cat Ba easily — most large cruises dock at Tuan Chau, not Cat Ba, and transfers between the two are awkward. If Cat Ba is your goal, go direct from Hai Phong.
Skipping Cat Co 3 because someone told you Cat Co 1 is "the main beach." Cat Co 1 has more loungers and a bigger restaurant, but it also has three times the people. Cat Co 3 trades scale for calm, and that's a good deal.
Trying to visit all three beaches plus a Lan Ha Bay trip plus the national park in a single day. Give Cat Ba at least two nights. The island rewards a slower pace — and Cat Co 3 is the kind of beach that's better the second time, once you've figured out where to sit and what time the light hits right.
Practical notes
Cat Co 3 isn't a destination beach — it's a reason to slow down on Cat Ba Island instead of rushing through. Two nights gives you enough time to swim, take a boat out, and eat your weight in seafood without turning the trip into a checklist.
Last updated · May 25, 2026 · independently researched, never sponsored.
