Cat Ba National Park covers roughly 17,000 hectares of forest, limestone and coast, and entry at the main gate costs 160,000 VND for adults, 80,000 VND for children. What almost nobody tells you is that the park sells cheaper tickets on some of its marked routes: the Kim Giao – Ngu Lam – Trung Trang route is 120,000 VND, and the Ninh Tiep and Phu Long routes are 80,000 VND. Which gate you walk in through changes what you pay. Here is what the park costs, what the trails are actually like, and which one to pick.
How much does Cat Ba National Park cost to enter?
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Entry, main gate | 160,000 VND adult, 80,000 VND child |
| Entry, Ninh Tiep or Phu Long route | 80,000 VND adult, 40,000 VND child |
| Taxi, Cat Ba town to main gate | ~350,000 VND |
| Guide | Arranged locally, priced per group |
| Luggage forwarded by boat | 350,000 VND |
The bay entrance ticket (120,000 VND) is a separate charge and applies to boats, not to the park.
Which trails are there in Cat Ba National Park?
Ngu Lam Peak (220 m) — 1.5 to 2 hours return
The short one everyone does. From the park headquarters it climbs steadily to a viewing platform with a panorama over the forest and, on a clear day, the bays. Steep in places, well trodden, no navigation needed. This is the right choice if you have half a day.
Navy Peak from Viet Hai — about 3 hours return
Navy Peak (Dinh Hai Quan, 259 m) sits in the Ninh Tiep area near the village and is a different hill from Ngu Lam. The Ninh Tiep route ticket is 80,000 VND for adults, and the walk delivers a 360-degree view taking in Lan Ha Bay, Ha Long Bay and the forest in one turn. Moderate difficulty, steep and slippery in sections. Details on our Navy Peak page.
Bat Cave and Frog Pond — a half day
The middle section of the cross-park route, and pleasant on its own. Caves, forest, no exposure. Good in the rain because caves do not care about weather.
Gate to Viet Hai, the full crossing — 4 to 5 hours
The serious one. Ten kilometres of jungle trail, a ridge in the middle, and a steep descent into the valley at the end. Not signposted after the first hour. Full write-up in trekking the national park to Viet Hai.
Getting here is the part most guests worry about. Tell us your arrival city and date and we will put the whole chain together — bus, boat and the cart from the pier — and meet you at Viet Hai. See how the transfer works, or just send us the dates.
What are the rules in Cat Ba National Park?
- Do not feed the macaques. They are bold, they bite, and feeding makes it worse for the next group.
- Carry your rubbish out. There are no bins on the trails.
- No drones near cliffs. The Cat Ba langur — fewer than 100 left, found nowhere else on earth — lives on coastal limestone, and disturbance matters.
- Stay on the trails. The limestone here is sharp, hollow in places, and unforgiving.
- Do not start a long route after 11:00 in summer.
What can you see in Cat Ba National Park?
Macaques, birds, butterflies in the wet months, geckos, and forest that changes three or four times as you climb. Not langurs — those live on remote coastal cliffs, not walking routes. More on that in our Cat Ba langur guide.
What is the best time to walk in Cat Ba National Park?
October to December is the best window: dry, 20–27°C, clear. January to March is cool and damp with poor visibility but perfectly good walking. June to August is 32°C with high humidity and afternoon storms — start at dawn or do not start.
What should you bring to Cat Ba National Park?
- Shoes with grip. Wet limestone is the most slippery surface on this island.
- 1.5 litres of water per person. Nowhere to refill.
- Cash for the gate. Card payment is not a thing here.
- Offline maps. Signal drops in the valleys.
- Repellent and sunscreen, and a rain layer from May to September.
Frequently asked questions
Answered by the Lan family in Viet Hai — the people who run the boats, cook the dinner and pick you up at the pier.
Do I need a guide?
For Ngu Lam Peak, no. For the full crossing, it is a reasonable idea — the trail braids and nobody is coming to find you.
Can I visit the park in a half day?
Yes, via Ngu Lam Peak. Anything longer needs most of a day.
Is it suitable for children?
Ngu Lam Peak, yes, for children who can manage steep steps. The long crossing, no.
Why is the Viet Hai entrance cheaper?
Different gate, different pricing. It is not a discount you have to ask for; it is simply what that entrance costs.
Is Cannon Fort part of the park?
No, it is a separate site above Cat Ba town. Access has been unreliable in recent seasons — check locally before going up.
Planning a walk?
Tell us the day and how long you want to be out, and we will match a route to it, arrange a guide if you want one, and book the taxi to the gate. WhatsApp +84 363 934 325 or message us here.
Read next
Fees and route information are published by Cat Ba National Park; ticket prices are set by Hai Phong city council.
Where to stay in Viet Hai
If this trip brings you into the village, the rooms and bungalows at Lan Homestay are a few minutes on foot from the centre: the garden bungalow (triple) works well for families, and the mountain-view double room for couples.
