Vietnam's Soul Food

Cat Ba Island


This TripAdvisor darling pulls the foreign crowd despite its overbearing service and overpriced and gentrified Vietnamese food. But it's a sensible choice for those spooked by eating at venues more authentic. Located 850m west of Cat Ba Town's pier.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Cat Ba Island attractions

1. Cat Ba Market

0.26 MILES

The market at the northern end of Cat Ba Town's harbour is a scruffy local affair with twitching crabs, jumbo shrimp and pyramids of fresh fruit.

2. Ho Chi Minh Monument

0.59 MILES

This monument stands up on imaginatively named Mountain No 1, the hillock opposite the pier in Cat Ba Town.

3. Cannon Fort

0.81 MILES

For one of the best views in Vietnam, head to Cannon Fort, where there are astounding panoramas of Cat Ba Island's jungle-clad hills, the harbour and the…

4. Cat Co Cove

0.82 MILES

A 10-minute walk southeast from Cat Ba Town, the three Cat Co Cove beaches boast the nearest sand to town, though all are being developed with hotel…

5. Cat Co 1

0.88 MILES

Cat Co 1 has a decent stretch of beach but is dominated by a rather ugly resort. Don't expect much peace and quiet here during the summer months as it's…

6. Cat Co 3

0.89 MILES

Cat Co 3 is the closest beach to Cat Ba Town but its blink-and-you-miss-it sliver of sand isn't really worth stopping for. Head here just to take the…

7. Cat Co 2

0.91 MILES

By far the nicest beach in Cat Co Cove is Cat Co 2 with a pretty swathe of white sand.

8. Hospital Cave

3.3 MILES

Hospital Cave served both as a secret bomb-proof hospital during the American War and as a safe house for Viet Cong (VC) leaders. Built between 1963 and…