Cat Ba island, the 'pearl' of the north for tourists
Cat Ba island, the 'pearl' of the north for tourists
With 367 islands, more than 300 beaches, and a diverse and rich ecosystem, Cat Ba archipelago in Cat Hai district, Hai Phong city, is an attractive destination to both domestic and foreign tourists all year round.
An aerial view of Cat Ba archipelago. (Photo: VNA)
Hai Phong (VNS/VNA) - With 367 islands, more than 300beaches, and a diverse and rich ecosystem, Cat Ba archipelago in Cat Hai district,Hai Phong city, is an attractive destination to both domestic and foreigntourists all year round.
The dramatic landscapes are characterised by limestone cliffs,coral reefs, lagoons, beaches, and mangrove forests. In 2004 UNESCO recognisedthe archipelago as a World Biosphere Reserve.
Cat Ba has been included in the bucket list of many nature-loverswho wish to explore its variety of natural ecosystems. Particularly, Cat BaNational Park has 4,500 hectares of primeval forest, providing habitat for manyrare flora and fauna as well as animals that have been listed in the Red Bookof Vietnam such as langurs, black squirrels or Chittagong wood.
To those keen on exploring bays, islands and caves, they couldtake one of the many cruise ships sailing along Lan Ha Bay and you may even bewelcomed by the monkeys, 'hospitable' residents of Ca Dua island that is dubbedas 'Monkey island'.
They could also kayak to explore Sang (Light) Cave and Toi (Dark)Cave or scuba dive to get immersed in the colourful world of corals.
One of the most popular tourism activities in Lan Ha Bay is rockclimbing, a thrilling experience that is popular abroad but still quite rare inVietnam.
Endowed with diverse and rich ecologicalresources, trekking has also thrived and attracted many tourists, especiallyyoung ones, to Cat Ba. The routes that they favour are mainly those passing lowmountain terrain or valleys with beautiful, unspoiled natural landscapes andcultural-historical heritage sites like Quan Y Cave or Trung Trang Cave.
In order to protect and properly exploit thenatural resources of the archipelago, the Hai Phong authority is making adossier seeking UNESCO’s recognition of Ha Long Bay-Cat Ba archipelago as aWorld Heritage site./.
The imminent loss of tourism revenue due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic has prompted the tourism sector in the northern port city of Hai Phong to outline plans to recover local tourism after the epidemic ends.
After nearly 2 years of hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism activities on Cat Ba Island in Cat Hai district, Hai Phong city, have become bustling once again, promising a positive revival of the key economic sector.
Located east of Cat Ba Island off Hai Phong northern port city, Lan Ha Bay was once off the beaten path, thought of only as a ‘forgotten paradise’. The destination is now a showpiece for travelers and nature lovers to the north Vietnam coast.
The Cat Ba langurs, or Golden-headed langurs, are found only on Cat Ba Island in the Gulf of Tonkin, off the coast of northern Vietnam. They are one of the world’s most critically-endangered primates.
The first and only direct service connecting the two countries at the moment is set to operate three times per week using the modern wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
Mu Cang Chai is home to nearly 83,000 hectares of forest, including almost 60,000 hectares of unspoiled natural woodland. Recognising this potential, local authorities have embraced a holistic strategy that protects biodiversity while promoting tourism.
Phu Quoc ranks among the top 10 leading tourist islands in Asia. As the largest island in Vietnam, it boasts stunning natural beauty, with expansive coral reefs resting beneath the sea and a number of beautiful, poetic beaches such as Sao, Truong, and Khem, known for their fine white sand and crystal-clear waters.
Vietnam's national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet are among the exhibitors, promoting key destinations such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Phu Quoc, as well as distinctive tourism products.
Alexander Musikhin, Vice President of ATOR and CEO of the Intourist travel agency, highlighted Vietnam as a top destination offering a unique blend of beach holidays and cultural excursions.
According to Seoul’s Tourism Industry Department, approximately 20,000 Vietnamese visitors travel to the city each year for medical treatment. Vietnam consistently ranks among the top 10 countries with the highest number of medical tourists to Seoul.
An analysis of accommodation search data based on check-in dates for June and July revealed that Nha Trang surpassed all other destinations in popularity among Korean users.
The programme is organised by the Khanh Hoa provincial Youth Union and the “Khanh Hoa people speak English” Project, and aims to promote the culture, history, cuisine and other tourism products of Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa to international visitors.
VNAT Director General Nguyen Trung Khanh called visa a golden ticket to pulling in crowds, but he is clear that it needs coordinated efforts across multiple sectors to keep the momentum going in this fast-moving global travel scene.
As a tourism hub, Hanoi is now actively developing strategies to attract Muslim travellers. In recent years, the city has seen a notable uptick in visitors from countries with large Muslim populations.
When tourists witness firsthand the passion and care of farmers, they’re willing to pay higher prices because they see the genuine worth behind every product.
During the first five months, China continued to be Vietnam's largest source market of tourists, followed by the RoK, China’s Taiwan, the US, and Japan.
After more than three months of operation, the popularity of the free tours in Bac Ninh province shows no signs of cooling down. Many tourists return every week in hopes of experiencing all the tours and visiting every destination.
Typical products of Phu Tho are being showcased at the Lao Cai International Travel Mart 2025, held in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai from June 5-8.
Featuring 130 stalls and delegations from 120 travel agencies representing more than ten countries and territories, the event is expected to provide a platform for establishing partnerships and attracting more visitors to Lao Cai in the future.
Kicking off the festival on the evening of June 7 will be the grand music concert titled “Nha Trang Say Hi”, featuring popular artists from the trending show “Anh Trai Say Hi”. The event will be broadcast live nationwide and conclude with a fireworks display over Nha Trang Bay.
Data from Booking.com reveals that during the peak summer vacation in June and July, beach trips continue to be a top priority for Vietnamese travellers.
The northern midland province of Phu Tho has carried out all-round measures to improve tourism infrastructure, services, and offerings, elevating visitor experience and reinforcing the province’s unique cultural identity.
Hanoi has directed lodging providers and tourist destinations to bolster preparations in staffing, service quality, security, and sanitation. Community-based lodging platforms such as Airbnb are also being promoted strongly to expand housing supply during the holiday period.
An aerial view of Cat Ba archipelago. (Photo: VNA) 
