Cat Co or Tung Thu? Which Cat Ba beach is worth your time?
Cat Ba Island has four public beaches on the main island, plus several smaller beaches you can only reach by boat. For an easy swim with facilities nearby, go for Cat Co. If you'd rather spread out on the sand and enjoy a slower afternoon, try Tung Thu.
14 min read
Low sun turns the far bay gold, while the two coves below the towers keep their turquoise water.
Cat Co’s little sandy coves are tucked between limestone cliffs, while Tung Thu opens onto a wider stretch of shore with more room to relax. Only have one beach afternoon on Cat Ba Island? Go for Cat Co 1, with its easy access and convenient facilities. But if your idea of a good beach day involves stretching out on the sand without worrying too much about getting the perfect photo, Tung Thu deserves a look.
Where are the best beaches on Cat Ba Island?
When people talk about Cat Ba beaches, Cat Co 1, Cat Co 2 and Cat Co 3 usually come up first. They’re all close to Cat Ba’s central town area and accessible by road, making them convenient if you’re staying on the island. Tung Thu is in a different part of the main island, but it’s still reachable by road. No bay cruise required.
The three Cat Co beaches are separate coves divided by rocky headlands. Cliffside walking paths link certain sections, though parts of the route close at times.
Beyond these four beaches, you can also visit Cat Dua (Monkey Island), Van Boi, Nam Cat and Ba Trai Dao by boat. These spots have a different kind of charm: small sandy shores beneath towering limestone cliffs, with open water and rocky islands in every direction.
The trade-off is that actually stepping onto the beach depends on your boat itinerary, the tides and whether the landing area is open to visitors that day.
Cat Co 1 Beach
Easy Access and a Lively Seaside Atmosphere
Not sure which Cat Ba beach to choose? Start with Cat Co 1. It’s close to the town center, accessible by road and curves around the base of a rocky hillside. From the sand, the sea opens up between green limestone slopes.
It’s also one of the busier beaches, especially on summer weekends. You’ll see families playing in the sand, groups taking photos and plenty of people enjoying the water. Fans of a cheerful, lively beach atmosphere will feel right at home.
To sit quietly with a book and listen to the waves, come when there are fewer visitors.
Services such as beach chairs, umbrellas, drinks and freshwater showers may be available depending on which businesses are operating. Cat Co 1 is a public beach, and access to the public beach area is free. You pay separately for any optional services you use.
Mornings are good for walking along the sand and photographing the surrounding cliffs. Late afternoon is often more comfortable than midday, although you’ll need to check the beach flags and lifeguard schedule before swimming.
Families with children should pick a spot close to the lifeguard station and stay within the marked swimming area. Plenty of other swimmers around is no proof the water is safe, particularly when the waves or tides change.
Cat Co 2 Beach
A Small Cove for a Quieter Escape
Cat Co 2 feels more tucked away, surrounded by rocky slopes that give it a sheltered, intimate atmosphere. The sandy stretch isn’t especially long, but that’s part of its appeal.
If you’re traveling as a couple, enjoy sitting beside the water or want photographs with dramatic limestone cliffs in the background, Cat Co 2 is worth considering.
On a quieter day, a patch of sand and the sound of the waves are enough.
You can reach the beach by road from the central town area. The cliffside path from Cat Co 1 has sections with steps, stretches close to steep edges, and parts that may be restricted for safety or resort operations.
Ask staff which sections are open before setting off.
Like the other Cat Co beaches, Cat Co 2 has public beach access. Before using chairs, towels, changing rooms or showers operated by a nearby business, check the price. A neat row of beach loungers may still come with a charge.
Mornings suit a small cove like this best, when the light is softer and the beach may be less crowded. Whether it’s safe to swim, though, always depends on the lifeguards, swimming boundaries and current conditions, not just how calm the water looks.
Cat Co 3 Beach
Swimming Beside Seafront Resorts
Cat Co 3 is easy to recognize because of the hotels and resort buildings near the shoreline. Here, the natural scenery of limestone cliffs and blue water sits alongside a more developed seaside setting.
If you’re staying at one of the nearby properties, Cat Co 3 can be particularly convenient. You can spend time by the sea and return to your room without arranging another journey.
It’s also a nice place for photographs, especially with the cliffs rising around the bay.
Public beach access and resort facilities are two separate things here.
You may access the public part of the beach under local regulations, but sun loungers, towels, swimming pools, showers and other resort amenities may be reserved for paying guests or require an additional fee.
Ask reception which beach services your ocean-view room actually includes.
Want to take photographs around a resort’s terrace, infinity pool, private walkway or guest-only areas? Ask the staff first. Taking pictures from the public beach is different from entering private resort property.
Cat Co 3 can also experience strong waves and deeper water in certain areas. It’s not the place to learn to swim or to let children venture far from shore.
If warning flags are displayed, enjoy a walk or take photographs instead of getting into the water.
Tung Thu Beach
More Space for a Relaxed Afternoon
Away from the Cat Co cluster, you’ll find Tung Thu Beach, roughly 2 km from central Cat Ba town. It’s on the main island, accessible via Tung Dinh Road and Tung Thu Road, so you can reach it by land, no boat or cruise ticket involved.
Tung Thu is wider and more open, with space for groups to spread out, sit together or simply enjoy the sea without squeezing into a small cove.
It gets lively during busy periods, but the overall setting feels different from the compact Cat Co beaches.
Tung Thu is a good choice for groups of friends and families who want to alternate between swimming and relaxing on the sand. Solo travelers can also find a comfortable place to sit, read or unwind.
As one of Cat Ba’s public beaches, Tung Thu doesn’t require a general admission ticket for public beach access. Optional services such as chairs, freshwater showers, food, drinks or recreational activities are charged separately.
Come early in the morning or around 4 pm, when the sunlight is gentler. That’s a suggested time to enjoy the beach, not a guarantee that lifeguards will be on duty. Always check the flags and confirm whether swimming is allowed.
If your group wants an easygoing beach afternoon without constantly moving between photo spots, head to Tung Thu.
Beaches beyond the main island, in Lan Ha Bay
The small beaches scattered across Lan Ha Bay have a special appeal, particularly when you first see them from a boat.
Boat itineraries come in three kinds: ones that pass a beach, ones that stop offshore for sightseeing, and ones that actually let passengers land.
Only the last option guarantees the chance to spend time on the sand.
Cat Dua (Monkey Island)
A Boat Trip to a Beach with Wild Monkeys
Cat Dua, commonly called Monkey Island, lies within the Lan Ha Bay area. From central Cat Ba town, head to Ben Beo Pier, approximately 2 km away, and ask about boats heading to the island.
Boat journeys usually take around 10-25 minutes, depending on the vessel and route.
The island has small sandy beaches beneath limestone cliffs, good for sitting on the sand and taking photographs.
But because monkeys live here, you’ll need to be careful with snacks, bags and phones. Don’t feed the monkeys, hold out food to encourage them closer or attempt to touch them for a photograph.
Check whether boats can currently land.
Cat Dua Island has not been closed as a whole. The 2021 enforcement action against construction at Cat Dua 1 was a one-off incident and has nothing to do with closing the island today.
Still, even with the island open, individual beaches can be off-limits for boat landings or swimming on a given day.
Before leaving Ben Beo Pier, ask which beaches are currently accessible, whether your boat will let passengers ashore and what time the return pickup is scheduled.
Getting onto Monkey Island usually costs around VND 50,000-80,000 per person, but each trip is priced its own way. Boat transport, sightseeing fees and any services on the island may be charged separately.
Van Boi Beach
A Small Sandy Hideaway in Lan Ha Bay
Van Boi Beach lies away from the main island, surrounded by the limestone scenery of Lan Ha Bay. You can’t reach it on foot or by road from Cat Ba town; you’ll need a boat itinerary that includes a stop there.
Van Boi suits anyone who loves small beaches with limestone cliffs close by and relatively little development in the background.
A stop here means stepping onto the sand, finding a dry spot to sit and watching boats move through the bay.
Small offshore beaches like this may have no beach chairs, lockers, showers or lifeguards, unlike the public beaches on the main island.
Ask your boat operator about swimming conditions and whether passengers can actually go ashore.
Costs are generally connected to the bay excursion and transportation rather than a universally applicable entrance fee for the beach itself.
Nam Cat Island
A Beach with a Small-Island Resort Atmosphere
Nam Cat lies within Lan Ha Bay and can be reached by boat from the Ben Beo area when services are operating.
It’s known for its small beach, surrounding limestone hills and a history of eco-style accommodation and island resort activities.
Nam Cat suits travelers who would rather spend an extended period on a little island than stop for a quick swim before moving on.
The combination of sandy shoreline, wooden buildings and blue water also makes an appealing backdrop for photographs.
Visitor access, accommodation operations and the availability of boats change. There have also been periods when the island stopped welcoming visitors.
Before making plans, contact an operating boat provider or accommodation business to confirm whether landing is possible, what services are available and how much they cost.
Nam Cat is not a public beach you can reach freely by road like Tung Thu.
Ba Trai Dao Beach
Beautiful Sandbars Shaped by the Tide
Ba Trai Dao is known for small sandy beaches beneath limestone formations, with striking blue-green water and rocky scenery.
It’s one of the most photogenic areas you might encounter on a journey through Lan Ha Bay.
The amount of exposed sand depends on the tide.
At certain times, the beaches may look broad and inviting. As the tide rises, however, the available sand can shrink considerably.
If your goal is to walk along the shore, sit on the sand or take photographs on land, ask your boat operator about the tide schedule and whether a beach landing will be possible that day.
A cruise can list Ba Trai Dao and still only sail past it.
With children or anyone who’s not a confident swimmer, don’t pick a remote beach just for the photos. Safe boarding, a permitted swimming area and a reliable return journey matter just as much.
Free beach access and paid extras on Cat Ba
For Cat Co 1, Cat Co 2, Cat Co 3 and Tung Thu, public beach access is free under the applicable regulations. You pay for optional services such as parking, luggage storage, beach chairs, umbrellas, freshwater showers or drinks.
A charge from a resort, parking operator or beach chair provider pays for that service only, not entry to the beach.
Price not clear? Ask exactly what you’re paying for, whether it’s charged per visit or per hour, and whether towels or showers are included.
For beaches reached by boat, the budget is different.
Before booking a boat trip or cruise, confirm whether the advertised price includes the sightseeing fee, whether there’s an additional landing charge, whether a smaller transfer boat is required and how much time you’ll actually spend on the beach.
An old online price list for beach chairs, drinks or private boats is a shaky base for a fixed budget. These costs depend on the provider and the conditions on your travel date, so check the prices displayed on the day.
Getting to and between Cat Co 1, 2 and 3
From central Cat Ba town, the Cat Co area is an easy walk, a short ride, or a local transfer away.
Cat Tien Road leads toward Cat Co 1 and Cat Co 2.
During the 2026 peak tourist season, local authorities restricted motorcycles, cars and tourist electric vehicles on this road from 5:30 am to 6:30 pm daily, between April 30 and September 5, 2026, with certain exceptions.
That was a seasonal restriction that has now ended, not a permanent year-round ban.
Future summer visitors should check for updated traffic notices before planning to drive directly to the beaches.
On the cliffside walking paths between the Cat Co beaches, some sections open onto wide sea views, but others include steps and run close to rocky edges. Parts of the route may also be closed for safety or operational reasons.
If you see a barrier or staff tell you a section is closed, turn back and use another permitted access route.
When is the best time to swim at Cat Ba beaches?
Late spring through the warmer months is generally more comfortable for swimming than the cold season.
But even in summer, not every day is suitable for getting into the sea.
Under Hai Phong’s beach management regulations, the general operating hours are 5:30 am to 7 pm during summer (April 1-October 31) and 7 am to 6 pm during winter (November 1-March 31).
These are general beach operating hours. Within that window, swimming at a particular beach still hinges on the weather and lifeguard availability.
On a sunny day, the best hours are around 6:30-8:30 am or from about 4 pm until before the lifeguards finish their shift.
The light is gentler, the temperature is more comfortable and it’s often a nicer time for walking and photographs.
Still, you must stop swimming when lifeguards announce the end of their shift, when darkness approaches, or when thunderstorms, rough seas or warning flags make conditions unsafe.
Even if other people are still in the water, don’t swim without active lifeguard supervision.
At offshore beaches, swimming time also depends on the boat schedule and tides.
Don’t stay behind just to catch the perfect golden-hour photograph if your return boat is about to leave.
How to enjoy Cat Ba beaches safely
The sea can look calm in the sunshine while currents, waves and underwater conditions tell a different story.
This matters especially at small coves surrounded by rocky cliffs, where water depth and wave conditions can change.
For boat trips to Cat Dua, Nam Cat and other Lan Ha Bay beaches, passengers are required to wear life jackets throughout the journey under safety requirements reinforced from mid-June 2026.
Choose a properly fitting jacket, fasten it securely and follow the crew’s instructions.
Don’t jump from the boat into the water, attempt to depart during maritime warnings or sailing bans, or drink alcohol before or during the trip.
Wear sandals or water-friendly footwear with good grip if you’re walking across steps, wet sand or rocks.
Slippery sandals might look great in photographs, but they’re no fun on a steep path beside the sea.
Which Cat Ba beach should you choose?
For a family trip where convenience matters most, go to Cat Co 1. It’s relatively easy to reach, close to central Cat Ba and convenient when you need basic services.
Couples who enjoy photography and want an unhurried day should try Cat Co 2 during a quieter period, provided the access route is open and swimming conditions are safe.
Cat Co 3 lets beachfront resort guests enjoy the sea without spending much time traveling. Just check which beach services are included in your room rate.
Groups of friends who want to spread out a towel, relax together and swim whenever conditions allow will be comfortable at Tung Thu.
For a little sandy beach surrounded by limestone islands, Cat Dua or one of Lan Ha Bay’s offshore beaches is worth the extra planning.
Just make sure the boat trip actually includes a permitted beach landing before booking.
Cat Ba’s coastline has more than one kind of beauty. Sometimes it’s a lively stretch of sand full of families and friends. Other times, it’s a small pocket of turquoise water between two limestone cliffs.
Frequently asked questions
How can I keep my belongings safe when visiting a Cat Ba beach alone?
Bring only what you need and avoid carrying large amounts of cash or expensive items. If the beach offers luggage storage or lockers, check the price, keep your receipt or locker key, and ask about responsibility for valuables. If there's no reliable storage option, leave your valuables at your accommodation before swimming. Don't leave your phone and wallet unattended on the sand or rely on strangers to watch them.
Should I bring swimming goggles to Cat Ba?
Yes, if you're comfortable swimming and want to protect your eyes from saltwater. Well-fitting goggles can make swimming more pleasant, especially when small waves splash your face. They're not essential if you only plan to paddle near the shore. Goggles don't make swimming beyond the marked boundaries any safer, and you shouldn't dive near rocks in restricted areas.
Does light rain make the seawater cleaner?
Not necessarily. Rain can wash soil, litter and polluted runoff from land into the sea, so the water doesn't automatically become cleaner after rainfall. Light rain doesn't always mean the water is contaminated, but it doesn't guarantee safe swimming either. After heavy rain, or if the water looks unusually cloudy, contains floating rubbish, smells strange or is subject to a water-quality warning, it's better to stay out and follow local advice.
Can I enter the beachfront resorts at Cat Co to take photographs?
You can generally photograph the sea from accessible public beach areas. However, resort swimming pools, terraces, internal walkways and other facilities may be reserved for hotel guests or paying visitors. If you'd like to take photographs inside a resort, ask reception or staff for permission first. Don't enter guest-only areas or cross restricted entrances without approval.
Is Monkey Island in Cat Ba still open for swimming?
Yes. The island has not been closed as a whole. However, access to individual beaches depends on current operating conditions, the weather and available boat routes. Before purchasing a ticket at Ben Beo Pier, ask which beaches currently allow landings, how much the boat costs and when you'll be picked up for the return journey.
