Things to do in Cat Ba Island
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Green Mango
For inventive, creative cuisine this is the restaurant of choice in Cat Ba Town. There’s an incredibly tempting menu that includes lamb shank, smoked duck and blackened barramundi (160,000d) as well as more inexpensive pasta dishes. It is also a great venue for a cocktail or three, either in the lounge bar–style interior or outside on the terrace.
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Cat Ba National Park
This accessible national park is home to 32 types of mammals – langurs and macaques, wild boar, deer, civets, several species of squirrel including the giant black squirrel – and more than 70 species of birds, including hawks, hornbills and cuckoos. The golden-headed langur is officially the world’s most endangered primate with around 65 remaining, most in this park. Cat Ba lies on a major migration route for waterfowl, which feed and roost on the beaches in the mangrove forests. Over a thousand species of plants have been recorded here, including 118 trees and 160 plants with medicinal value. The park is also home to the Cay Kim Gao tree. In ancient days, kings and noble…
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Cat Ba National Park
The accessible Cat Ba National Park is home to 32 types of mammals - including langurs, wild boar, deer, squirrels and hedgehogs - and more than 70 species of birds have been sighted, including hawks, hornbills and cuckoos. The golden headed langur is officially the world's most endangered primate with just 60 left in the park. Cat Ba lies on a major migration route for waterfowl, which feed and roost on the beaches in the mangrove forests.
There are 745 species of plants recorded on Cat Ba, including 118 timber species and 160 plants with medicinal value. The park is also home to a species of tree called Cay Kim Gao. In ancient days, kings and nobles would eat only with …
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Hospital Cave
This oozes historical significance, as it served both as a secret, bomb-proof hospital during the American War and as a safe house for VC leaders. Built between 1963 and 1965 (with assistance from China), this incredibly well-constructed three-storey feat of engineering was in constant use until 1975. A guide (most know a few words of English) will show you around the 17 rooms, point out the old operating theatre and take you to the huge natural cavern which was used as a cinema (and even had its own small swimming pool). The cave is about 10km north of Cat Ba Town on the road to the national park entrance.
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Xuan Hong
Xuan Hong is a 'floating' seafood restaurant, a fish-farm-cum-restaurant at Ben Beo Pier, where you can get up close and personal with your dinner first. Select a live victim or two from the pen and they’ll be grilled, fried or steamed for your table in no time. Prices simply go by weight and type of seafood; you can eat your fill of a selection of fish for around 100,000d per person.
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Cat Ba Water Park Resort
Of course it has a swimming pool - after all it's a water park. But unlike most water parks, it also offers smart rooms for those that want to linger at Cat Co 1. It's a better bet during the week or low season, as the water park draws huge crowds on summer weekends.
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Huu Dung Restaurant
This place has always served up wholesome food, but it's best to eat early, as the Lan Song Xanh Disco is right across the road and cranks up the volume from 20:00 or so. The house special is whole steamed fish with lashings of garlic and soy sauce.
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Hoang Y
The extensive menu at this well-run restaurant, run by the highly talkative chef-patron Mr Long, includes a few Western treats (including shakes and pancakes) and some vegie choices, but it’s the fresh seafood that really stands out.
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Blue Note
Although not quite as popular as it once was, this singalong-style bar has a karaoke list including alt-rock anthems, alongside plenty of the usual cheesy hits.
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Flightless Bird Café
Small pub with a dart board, chilled beer, Californian wine and posters of the Kiwi motherland plastered over the walls. There’s also a small book exchange.
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Hang Trung Trang
Hang Trung Trang is easily accessible, but contact a ranger to make sure it is open. Bring a torch (flashlight) as it is gloomy inside.
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Dolphin Restaurant
This place is popular with travellers thanks to a selection of Western dishes to complement the reliable Vietnamese fare. Don't worry, definitely no dolphin!
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