October and early November are the months we would choose ourselves: the storms are mostly done, the water is still warm, and the island empties out after the Vietnamese summer. We live in Viet Hai, the village at the back of Cat Ba island with no road in, and this is the stretch of the year when guests stay longest, walk furthest and ask us least about the weather. Below is what the two months are actually like week by week, what you can still do on the water, and the one risk that does not fully go away until the middle of October.
Cat Ba in October and November at a glance
| Daytime temperature | Around 26–29°C in October, falling to 22–26°C by late November |
| Sea temperature | Warm enough to swim through October; cooler but still fine for most people into mid November |
| Rain | October can still bring a wet spell; November is one of the driest months of the year |
| Typhoon risk | Real until roughly mid October, then low. Bay closures are announced a day ahead |
| Crowds | Vietnamese summer crowds are gone; international visitors arrive but Viet Hai stays quiet |
| Lan Ha Bay entrance ticket | 120,000 VND adults, 60,000 VND children |
| Getting to Viet Hai | Boat from Ben Beo harbour, about 15 minutes, then 10 minutes by electric cart to the house |
Why we like October and November more than summer
Vietnamese families holiday on Cat Ba from May to August, and the town beaches, the ferries and the day boats fill up. By the first week of October the school year has started, the heat has broken and the island goes back to being a working fishing and farming place with visitors on the edge of it. For us that means three things: the boat to the village is rarely full, the trails in Cat Ba National Park are dry enough to walk without sliding, and the evening air is cool enough that people sit outside after dinner instead of under a fan.
It is also harvest time in the Viet Hai valley. The rice around the village is cut in October, the fields turn from green to gold to stubble, and the buffalo are back in them. If you have seen photographs of the valley with long shadows and a pink sky, most of them were taken in these two months.
Week by week: temperature, rain, sea and how busy it is
The figures below are what we see in a normal year. They are not a forecast, and a single tropical storm can rewrite a week, so treat them as the shape of the season rather than a promise.
| Period | Daytime / night | Rain | Sea | How busy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early October | 28–30°C / 23–24°C | Still humid, showers possible, storm risk not over | Warm, good swimming | Quiet after the summer rush |
| Mid October | 27–29°C / 22–23°C | Drier week by week; last typhoon window | Warm | Quiet; weekends slightly busier |
| Late October | 26–28°C / 20–22°C | Mostly dry, clear mornings | Warm, our favourite swimming weeks | International visitors building |
| Early November | 25–27°C / 19–21°C | Dry, occasional northern cold front | Cooling, still comfortable for a swim after kayaking | Steady, never crowded in Viet Hai |
| Mid November | 23–26°C / 17–20°C | Dry; first grey, misty days | Cool; most people swim briefly or not at all | Steady |
| Late November | 21–25°C / 15–18°C | Dry, some haze; bring a layer for the boat | Cool; kayaking yes, long swims no | Quieter again before December |
The one thing to plan around: the tail of typhoon season
Northern Vietnam’s storm season runs roughly from July to October, and the last storms of the year can still arrive in the first half of October. When a typhoon is forecast, the authorities close Lan Ha Bay and Ha Long Bay to tourist boats, usually a day in advance, and the ferries from the mainland can stop for a day or two. We wrote about exactly what happens in our typhoon season guide, and the short version is: nobody is in danger, you simply lose a bay day and wait it out in the village.
What we do in practice: if you book October dates with us, we watch the forecast from about five days out and message you on WhatsApp if a storm is on the track. If the bay is closed on your boat day, we move the trip to the next day where we can, or swap it for a walk in the park, which stays open unless the rain is heavy. By late October the risk is low, and in November we cannot remember the last time a boat day was lost to weather rather than fog.
What you can still do on the water, and when it changes
October is a full-activity month. The full-day Lan Ha Bay trip runs with swimming stops, kayaking is at its best because the afternoon wind is lighter than in summer, and the sunset and night kayak is popular because the evenings are clear and the water still carries some of the summer’s bioluminescence. Sightings are luck, not schedule, and they fade as the water cools, so if the glow matters to you, come earlier in October rather than later.
By mid November the picture shifts. Kayaking and boat days carry on, and the light is often better than in October because the haze lifts in the mornings, but swimming becomes a quick dip rather than an hour in the water. Guests from colder countries still swim; guests from Singapore and Thailand usually do not. We say this plainly rather than sell a swimming trip to someone who will sit on the boat.
On land, nothing closes. The Navy Peak hike and the trek from the national park gate to Viet Hai are both easier in November than in any summer month, and cycling the valley on one of our bikes (30,000 VND a day) is pleasant at any hour instead of only before nine in the morning.
What to pack that you would not pack in summer
October needs the same bag as summer plus a light rain jacket. From early November add one warm layer for the boat and the evenings: a fleece or a thin down jacket is enough. The boat ride from Ben Beo to the village is only about 15 minutes, but the open bay in a November breeze is cooler than the town. Our rooms have blankets and hot water; we do not have heating, and in late November you may want socks. The full list is in what to pack for Cat Ba.
October and November compared with the rest of the year
| Season | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| October–November | Swimming (Oct), hiking, kayaking, clear evenings, quiet village | Storm tail to mid October; cool water by late November |
| December–February | Hiking, photography, low prices | Grey mist, cold rooms, no swimming. See Cat Ba in winter |
| March–May | Warming water, green fields, flowers | Drizzle in March, Vietnamese holiday crowds around 30 April |
| June–August | Hot, sunny, long swims | Heat, afternoon storms, full ferries and beaches |
If you are still choosing dates, our month-by-month guide goes through all twelve months, and what to do when it rains covers the wet days that any season can throw at you.
How we handle October and November bookings
We keep the day boat and kayak trips running right through both months, and we tell you honestly whether your dates fall in the storm window rather than sell you the trip and hope. For October arrivals we send a forecast note a few days before you travel. For November we suggest a boat day with a swim stop early in your stay and the park walks later, so the warmest day goes on the water. Rates move with the season and the size of the group, so message us with your dates and we will reply with what is possible.
Questions we get about autumn on Cat Ba
Is October a good time to visit Cat Ba?
Yes, and the second half is better than the first. The water is still warm, the summer crowds have gone and the trails are drying out. The only caveat is that a late typhoon can close the bay for a day or two before mid October, so leave a spare day in your plan if you come early in the month.
Can you still swim in Lan Ha Bay in November?
In the first half of November, yes for most people; the sea is cooler than in October but comfortable after a paddle. By late November it is a short dip rather than a swim, and guests from warm countries usually stay on the boat. Kayaking and boat trips continue regardless.
Is Cat Ba quiet in late October?
Cat Ba town has a steady flow of international travellers, but it is nothing like July. Viet Hai village, on the far side of the national park, is quiet all year, and in late October you will often have the valley trails to yourself in the afternoon.
Does the ferry to Cat Ba run normally in October and November?
Yes. The Dong Bai ferry from Hai Phong runs on its usual schedule except during a typhoon warning, when crossings pause for a day or two. Our Hanoi to Cat Ba guide has the current route.
Anything else about your dates, send us a message and we will answer from the village.
Read next
- Best time to visit Cat Ba island, month by month
- Cat Ba island in winter: what December to February are like
- Typhoon season on Cat Ba: what actually happens
- Two days in Viet Hai village
