Taste of Banh Mi in Vietnam cuisine

Banh Mi or bread arrived in the South of Vietnam in 1895 along with the French. From the first French bakery, the Vietnamese learned the secret of baking bread and turned it into a special of Vietnam cuisine.

Banh Mi in Vietnam cuisine

Banh Mi is not only served alone, but Vietnamese often increase ingredients in the baguette such as pork, bacon, eggrolls, pork paste and vegetables or mustard-a Vietnamese cuisine. The interfusion between Vietnamese and French cuisine has created a Vietnamese specialty – Vietnamese Banh Mi.

Listed among top 10 best street foods around the world by the National Geographic magazine, 5 unbelievable sandwiches from around the world voted by Huffingtonpost.com, written by numerous magazines, that is the Vietnamese Banh Mi or Vietnamese bread. It is available in the US for years and people love it. It is described as Vietnamese snack consisting of baguette bread filled with meat, vegetables and chili.Banh Mi officially became an English word in Oxford dictionary on March 24, 2011. Banh Mi has now helped Vietnamese cuisine become a permanent position to the world culinary map.

Banh Mi is a common fast food in Vietnam because people can eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. With various kinds of Banh Mi from traditional to fresh bread, Ho Chi Minh is often dubbed as the city of Banh Mi, because it is quick and light snack. Banh Mi has become a good friend of Ho Chi Minh City residents during the day. Bakers therefore crushed over dozens of Banh Mi to serve the taste of customers. Banh Mi arrived in Ho Chi Minh City at the end 19th century. Afterwards, the taste of Banh Mi became interfusion between French and Vietnamese culinary art.

In the old times, people often ate bread with pork. But today, it is difficult to find a real Vietnamese traditional store serving bread with pork which is cooked by traditional way like Sau Le bakery.  This store also adds many other kinds of ingredient but they keep the traditional way of cooking pork to sell with bread. Pork meat lean is the main ingredient using Banh Mi stuffing. It is marinated and cooked for hours to create the distinctive taste. Sau Le Banh Mi bakery has been in Ho Chi Minh City for years now. Baking is not only a job to make a living, the third generation of the Sau Le family wants to maintain traditional Banh Mi culture in Ho Chi Minh City.

With hundreds of bread types, ABC bakery could be called the home of bread.  The bread here is diversified from baguette, sandwiches to sweet bread. Quynh Hoa Banh Mi store is well-known in town by the diversification of filing for decades.  Customers coming here are not only impressed by quality of bread but also the friendliness of the seller. In Ho Chi Minh City, queuing up for bread is like a long standing tradition. No matter how many loaf of the bread they want to buy, people here don’t mind waiting a long line to get the favorite bread. Bread here includes 8 different types of fillings: pork, pressed meats, pork floss, sausage, another type of red pressed meats and 3 types of ham.

Along with Ho Chi Minh City, the port city of Hai Phong also owns a specialty, a very special kind of Banh Mi. This city still retains the tradition of Banh Mi Vietnam, but has also changed to serve different flavor enjoyed by local people. Almost three in the morning is the busiest time of the day for every bread maker in Hai Phong city when they get up and prepare the making bread. Mr. Cuong has been a baker in Hai Phong for 65 years now and is the inventor of Banh Mi stick. Mr. Cuong is the only Banh Mi stick in Hai Phong that has passed bread recipe down to next generation.

Doing exercises in the early morning, then buy some bread for breakfast, this has become a daily habit for the local people. Banh Mi often goes with pate. Mr. Cuong’s wife has 40 years of experience making pate. Pate is made from liver and fat creating the fragrance flavor. Different from the traditional Banh Mi, the filling of this special Banh Mi in Hai Phong City consists of only pate. In his free time, Mr. Cuong often helps put pate into the bread. They have done this job for the last 50 years and are good examples of couple keeping the local tradition. For Hai Phong people, eating some load of the special kind of Banh Mi becomes the daily habit. Customers ranged in all ages.  Whether bread is in the North or in the South, bread has always been an indispensable part of Vietnamese cuisine. Vietnamese love eating bread and it take place in the diversity and the taste of bread they made.  

Source: VTV4 – VTV.vn

Horse fighting festival in Ha Giang

Horse fighting is a traditional festival in Ha Giang. The restoration of the horse fighting festival in Ha Giang has contributed to preserve the tradition of Tay ethnic people and create a unique festival attracting tourists to Ha Giang Plateau.

As a Southern district of Ha Giang province, lying along National Highway No.2 and 60km away from Ha Giang city, Bac Quang district covers a total area of 109,873.69 ha, and consists of 23 communes. Bac Quang is home to 19 ethnic groups, in which Tay ethnic people make up 50% of the district’s population; Kinh people 25%; and ither ethnic groups like Nung, Dao, Cao Lan, San Chi, Thai and Muong, the remaining 25%. Each ethnic group has distinctive customs, practices and cultural peculiarities, which makes Bac Quang district in particular and Ha Giang province in general stand out.

Apart from unique festivals, such as the festival to pray for good crops, the celebration of the new rice, the rite of maturity of Dao and Nung ethnic people, and traditional “then” singing of Tay ethnic people, Bac Quang is famous for the unique horse fighting festival of Tay ethnic people in Banh Hanh commune. The border province of Ha Giang, especially its mountainous districts, has many difficulties in traffic. Thus, the house has long been employed to serve life of people in Ha Giang.

In unfavorable transport conditions, the horse is the most popular means of transport. Girls and guys travel to the market by horses. Horses help the locals carry goods, maize and rice home. As for people in mountainous areas, the horse is the most familiar animal. As thought by Vietnamese people, the horse is a very strong, highly durable animal that can run very fast. Thus, there are many horse races across the country such as the horse race in Bac Ha, Lao Cai, and the Thi Thung mound horse race in Phu Yen. But the first horse fighting festival was held in Bang Hanh commune, Bac Quang district, on August 17 – 18, 2013.

The festival, the first of its kind, was warmly welcomed and supported by the local authorities and local people. From early morning, people in Bang Hanh commune and from neighboring areas flock to Thuy Lam Vien ecotourism site to attend the first unique horse fighting festival. 30 horses competing at this year’s festival are divided into 15 pairs. Owners of the horses come from communes in Trong Con zone and other districts in the province, as well as the neighboring districts of Lam Binh, Na Hang and Ham Yen of Tuyen Quang, Bac Ha district of Lao Cai and Luc Yen district of Yen Bai. These carefully selected horses are very strong and have good tricks.

Earlier horse fighting was part of folk festivals of Tay ethnic people in Bang Hanh. It fell into oblivion. Organizing this year’s festival is a good way to preserve and promote striking features of the local ethnic culture, enrich the locals’ cultural and spiritual life, and especially preserve and develop precious genes of domestic animals in Bac Quang. This is also a good way to encourage the locals to develop husbandry.

Pairs of horses fight against each other. The wining horses are selected for the final round. Two horses bite, kick and bump into each other until one of them gets out of the fixed circle. Before the matches start, the horses are numbered and cared. The female horse makes matches more thrilling. It becomes the reason for the fight. The two male horses try hard to show off their power and conquer the female one. This is a good way to provoke the fighting horses.

On normal days these horses are good friends of farmers. In the fighting site, they are brave competitors that pose stunning tricks to capture attention and arouse eagerness among viewers. It can be said that this unique event of Bang Hanh commune can be found nowhere else. A section of forests resound with the applause and cheers of the crowd when fighting horses start a match. This makes the match more thrilling. On normal days, they are good-natured pack horses. But in matches, they give double kicks and bite their rivals to defeat them. After 4 rounds within 2 days, the organizing board selects the best two horses for the final match.

In the end, the first prize goes to the horse No. 2 owned by Vu Van Phu from Ham Yen district, Tuyen Quang. The horse fighting festival in Bang Hanh commune is organized to promote Ha Giang tourism. More importantly, it is aimed at preserving the local ethnic culture, and developing the local herd of horses for economic purpose. This is also a striking cultural feature that should be preserved and promoted.

After the festival closes, the horses come back to daily life, helping their owners in production. It can be said that the horse has become an indispensable part in the people’s life in the mountainous areas. That explains why horses are always cared and loved by everyone. With the aim of promoting fine features of the annual horse fighting festival in Bang Hanh commune, following the success of the first festival, people care for the horses in a special way, with greater attention to their food, practices and bath.

After the success of the first horse fighting festival in Bang Hanh commune, the horse seems to play a more important role in local life. It is hoped that the next horse fighting festivals organized on the 15th day of the 1st and 7th lunar months every year, will bring wonderful moments to the locals and tourists, making a contribution to preserving and promoting unique features of Vietnamese folk festivals.

Source: VTC10 - NETVIET

Da Nang travel - Heaven for relaxation

Da Nang is the fourth largest city and one of top destinations in Vietnam as well. Apart from some tourist highlights and historical sights, the main reason for most tourists coming here is its proximity to the well-known Da Nang attractions such as handicraft villages, stunning beaches, and modern amusement parks... The ideal time to travel Da Nang is from May to August. With an airport having daily flights from across cities in Vietnam, Da Nang is easily accessible, along with other means of transportation. It is just over 760km from Hanoi, and almost 950km from Ho Chi Minh City. There are many good hotels in Da Nang to choose; no matter the type of accommodation you are looking for. Let’s check some of top tourists attractions in Da Nang to vary your holidays in Da Nang now.

Non Nuoc Stone Carving Village

Perhaps, no one coming to Marble Mountains (Ngu Hanh Son Mountains) misses a chance to visit Non Nuoc Stone Carving Village. The traditional village was established by an artisan from Thanh Hoa (a province in north central coast of Vietnam) in the 18th century. Visiting the village, tourists will have the opportunity to explore the process of making sophisticated items and products from special stones in this land. The material of those products is marble stones exploited in Ngu Hanh Son Mountains. Emotionless stones carved by skillful hands of artisans become amazing products containing the soul of makers. The process undergoes many hard steps; yet, the admiration of enjoyers to these products supports local artisans to be closer to their job and to the village. Products of Non Nuoc Stone Carving Village are diverse from Buddha statues, statues of humans, animals and deities… to colorful and meticulous-made bracelets… In Da Nang tours to Ngu Hanh Son Mountains, tourists can freely choose souvenirs made of marble stones for family and friends.

Pham Van Dong Beach

Pham Van Dong Beach

Da Nang is so lucky when it is bestowed many world striking beaches. Swimming and playing on beaches in Da Nang have been daily routines of locals and tourists. On summer days, the number of locals and tourists coming to beaches rises significantly. And, Pham Van Dong Beach is one of the most visited beaches in Da Nang. The beach lies at the end of Pham Van Dong Street near East Sea Park. When going through Han River Bridge, down to Pham Van Dong Street, and then you will reach the wonderful beach. Among Da Nang beaches, Pham Van Dong Beach gains many big investments, and becomes the most modern public beach in Da Nang. Being the precious gift of the nature with turquoise waters, white smooth sand and useful auxiliary works, Pham Van Dong Beach becomes a “hot” attraction in the city. Near the beach, there are many hotels ready to serve such as Golden Sea Hotel and Monaco Hotel… Also, a series of restaurants and bars are built near the beach to serve all demands of tourists after swimming.

Asia Park Da Nang

Sun Wheel Da Nang

Asia Park Da Nang is located in the southeast of the Memorial on 2/9 Street along the west bank of Han River near Tuyen Son Bridge, with an area of about 89ha. This is a leading amusement park in South East Asia with the huge investment of 4000 billion dong. The park has areas of cultural exchange area, roller coasters, Monorail, free-fall tower and speedy slides, and Sunwheel Da nang. Nine typical cultures of Asia as Japan, India, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea, China, Nepal and Vietnam will be present at the cultural exchange area in the park. Each culture has featured miniatures for visitors to explore. Meanwhile, Monorail will help tourists to enjoy great view of the entire park. For those as fans of adventure games, free-fall tower and speedy sliders in Asia Park Da Nang are great choices. The most highlight of the park is Sunwheel Da Nang – one of 10 biggest wheels in the world.

These above mentions tourist places are some of many attractions in this city. To explore more and experience more, let’s book flights to Da Nang now. Your Vietnam holidays in Da Nang will be memorable and meaningful if having time to know more about local culture and people in this city.

Vietnam Airlines tips at Lien Khuong International Airport

Inspired by the tree marigold - the typical flower of Dalat Plateau, LienKhuong International Airport bears a separate feature of the Di Linh Plateau making modern but high-faluting feeling for tourists to Dalat. If passengers do not want to miss the Vietnam Airlines flights to Dalat, get traffic jams and do check-in procedures, security screening late, passengers must fully prepare necessary documents. VietnamAirlines following tips suggested by http://www.vietnamairlines.travel/ will help passengers to be more convenient when doing procedures at the Dalat International Airport.

Preparing necessary documents

-   Ticket

-   Valid passport

-   Visa (if required)

-   Personal papers (Identification Card, certificate of the armed forces, and other papers as: Parliamentary Deputy Card, Party Member Card, Journalist Card, driving license, birth certificate (for children under 14 years old)...

In addition, Vietnam air suggest passengers should remember time for check-in. Observance of time will help passengers not to miss your flight or avoid trouble from the process.

Vietnam Airlines in Lien Khuong airport

Opening time of check-in counters:  

-   Opening time for international flights: 2 hours 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time.

-   Opening time for domestic flights: 2 hours before the scheduled departure time. 

Closing time of check-in counters:

-   International flights: 40 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time.

-   Domestic flights: 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time.

If passengers do not present at the check-in counter on time, they will not be accepted to travel on the flight. Depending on their fare condition, a failure to check-in on time may also result in:

-   Ticket is invalid and non-refund in case there are restrictions on changes.

-   Passengers need to make a new Vietnam Airline booking and purchase a new ticket.

-   Paying change fee and fare difference for new applicable fare.

As for the flight, luggage will be divided into two categories with specific regulations for each type:

-   Cabin baggage is items which passengers can bring on plane and place on seat, under the seat or next to them. Please be advised that doing procedures at Lien Khuong International Airport or any airport, passengers should pay attention to weight, size and number of bags, as the regulations of each airline are different. According to regulations, the maximum weight of each cabin baggage does not exceed 07 kg and the sum of three dimensions is less than 115cm.

-   Checked baggage is often clothing and checked items. After completing check-in procedures, it will be transported to cargo hold and passengers can only get it at the next airport.

Vietnam Airlines checkin

Check-in

Passengers will find check-in counters of airlines at the departure zone of Lien Khuong Airport. If passengers want to select seat, they should come early to line up. Before coming to check-in counters, they must go through the security point.

Passengers have to present tickets, ID or passport/ visa at VietnamAirline check-in counter. If passengers have checked baggage, they should put it on a scale. Airline staff can check hand baggage of passengers at the same time. 

If ticket does not have seat number and the flight time is short, passenger can ask to sit next to the window. The airline staff will check and arrange seats. Passenger should sit next to the window to avoid being disturbed by people sitting inside, or to admire the landscapes when plane takes off/ lands. 

After completing the check-in procedures, passengers will receive tickets, documents and boarding pass and baggage tag. Passenger must hold counterfoil until out of the airport. Boarding Pass includes information of departure gate, opening time of waiting lounge and the seat number on the fight.

Vietnam airlines at airport

Boarding time

It is time for boarding on plane, the airline staff will appear at the lounge. Please get on your flight according to pre-boarding announcement of the airline. Passengers with high-class ticket have boarding priority. After that, the boarding sequence will be the disabled, those flying with infants/ children, and other passengers.  

Check baggage

After arriving at the final destination, if passengers do not find your baggage, they should immediately contact Lost and Found office of Vietnamese airlines at the airport for the help. If passengers leave the airport without making a declaration of lost baggage, they cannot complain anymore. 

Vietnam Airlines excess baggage tips

Having a chance to own cheap Vietnam Airline tickets, or tickets of low-cost airlines, passengers can save travel expense more by skipping baggage. On departure date, passengers can bring only 07kg of hand baggage into aircraft. Yet, with the following tips of Vietnamairlinestickets.com, passengers can bring excess baggage easily.

Do not buy baggage early

It is highly recommended that passengers should not book baggage when purchasing a cheap Vietnam Airlines ticket. It is because the departure date is far from the time of booking; it will be wasteful to deposit baggage fee, if passengers or Vietnam Airlines cancel flight due to personal or weather reasons. Passengers should only buy excess baggage one day before or on departure date. Passengers can add baggage online. For those who are backpackers, buying Vietnam Airlines baggage is needless. Most of them bring carry-on baggage. Passengers should request checked baggage for the return if there are many gifts, items as liquid or bulky items which are not allowed in hand baggage. You do not have to worry anything if you do not have excess baggage.

Tips for overweight hand baggage

Vietnam Airline Tips

According to regulation of Vietnam Airlines hand baggage and of other airlines, each passenger is allowed to bring only 07kg of hand baggage. At some airports in ASEAN, they do not check too strictly, depending on flight, airline, and security staff. Passengers can bring a carry-on baggage and a backpack. It means that passengers do not have to buy excess baggage, but they can bring a hand baggage and a small backpack. Almost Vietnamese airlines accept this; however, to avoid the check of security staff, passengers should do the following things:

- Passengers should represent hand baggage (7kg) at the check-in counter. And, your backpack should be kept by your relatives or friends, and then give to you later. After check-in, passenger gets his backpack and pass through security checkpoint. It is ensured that staff at security checkpoint will not ask you about your baggage, unless you have restricted items in your bag. All they have to to is checked your items in baggage allowed or prohibited.

Vietnam Airlines checkin in

- You wait at the lounge to prepare for boarding. About 15 - 20 minutes before the scheduled departure time, all passengers will be called to get onboard. For Vietnam Airlines flights, passengers can travel though tube cage, or by bus for other carriers' flights. Then, Vietnam Air staff will be waiting to check passengers' boarding pass, and may check your bag one more time.

- To avoid being checked for the last time, you can open your hand baggage and stuff your bag inside, if it is possible. If there is no room for your bag, you should wear your backpack suitably. For example, you should stand behind a group of people to avoid being recognized. Do not stand at the beginning or the end of queuing line, you will be checked easily by airline's staff. If passengers can act more careful, they can get on board easily.

- For those who do not have a suitcase, they can bring a bag and a nylon bag. The bag can weigh 07kg, and the nylon bag can weigh about 3-4 kg. In theory, you are bringing overweight baggage; thus, you should not present both of them at check-in counter. After the staff at the check-in counter check your 7-kg bag, he will attack a tag on the bag, which shows that the bag was allowed to bring into aircrafts of Vietnam Airways.

Vietnam Airlines checkin in

For alone travelers, they can take both bags to check-in counter, but the smaller one should be hidden. Then, take both bags flexibly and smartly to to avoid being recognized by staff. When passing through checkpoint, passengers should be confident as the security staff will not check again. At the waiting lounge, you will sit until the boarding time. At the boarding gate, the staff may request to check bag again. They may ask why tag is only attached on one bag, what about another? Therefore, to avoid being asked, passengers can put their smaller bag in the bigger one, if there is enough room. Although your bag may weigh more than 10kg, you can wear it on your shoulder with tag attached. In short, you should arrange you hand baggage into two bags. The main bag weighs 07kg. The rest one will be kept by relatives standing away from the counter. Passengers should use a big backpack to put small bag inside in case your baggage will be checked again when boarding. 

Vietnam Airlines useful tips at Da Nang International Airport

Not just bestowed many wonderful landscapes and seascapes by the nature, Da Nang is also the worthiest city to live in Vietnam. Therefore, the city is also one of the most busiest destinations of Vietnam Airlines. The following tips at Da Nang International Airport suggested by vietnamairlines.travel will help passengers to have a perfect departure.

Vn Air-Da Nang Airport

Da Nang International Airport is located in Cam Le District, Da Nang City, Vietnam. It is the third international airport in the country, besides Noi Bai International Airport and Tan Son Nhat International Airport. The airport has only one single terminal as departure and arrival. The terminal is serving all airlines, including Vietnam Airlines, and Vietnam Airline booking system. All check-in counters are locatd on the first floor.

Check-in time at Da Nang International Airport:

Passengers who buy cheap Vietnam Airlinetickets will have to come to the airport and complete the check-in procedure as the time prescribed as follows:

Check-in counters’ opening time:

- International flights: check-in counters are opened 2 hours and 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time.

- Domestic flights: check-in counters are opened 2 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Check-in counters’ closing time:

- International flights: check-in counters are closed 40 minutes before the scheduled departure time.

- Domestic flghts: check-in counters are closed 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time.

If passengers checked in late, VietnamAirlines cancellation of passengers’ flights will be applied. Depending on rules of Vietnam Airlines ticket, that passenger cannot check-in on time causes some consequences as below:

- Ticket is invalid; or VietnamAirlines refund cannot be conducted if there is the limitation noted on ticket. Passenger has to book flight again if he or she still want to travel.

- Passenger has to pay extra changing fee and the difference of airfares.

To avoid some incidents during the time before reaching the airport, it is highly recommended that passenger should leave for the airport early and present about 2 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Vietnam Airlines-Da Nang airport

Check-in at Da Nang International Airport

When check-in at Da Nang Airport, to avoid baggage loss and damage, passenger should cover checked baggage by nylon bag; you have to do this step before scale baggage, and the baggage must meet the standard of Vientam Airline checked baggage regulation. In addition, you should have outside note with passenger’s name, address, phone number written on baggage to prevent lost baggage, along with the tag given by the staff at the airport. After that, passenger should enter the waiting room 40 minutes in advance.

Da Nang International Airport

Customs gate at Da Nang International Airport

Passenger should reach the customs gate 01 hour in advance to complete the procedure. Here, passenger will be required to scale hand baggage, and then the customs staff orders to see passenger’s travel document and checked carry-on baggage. As regulation of Vietnamese airlines, passengers should not bring liquids, and items as scissors or knife in hand baggage which may harm other passengers.

At waiting lounge

After finishing all airport procedures, passengers can get around the terminal or reach the waiting lounge. There is a series of restaurants and duty-free shops in the terminal. Passengers should pay attention to the announcement from speakers and electric boards. It is suggested that you should have a map of airport to decide where to go and what to do before reach the lounge.

These are some useful experiences at Da Nang International Airport that you should remember and have a perfect departure for your trip. To book flights to Da Nang, please access vietnamairlines.travel, just click to buy tickets you will get more saving with the benefit worth 20USD/passenger unitl December 30.

Cat Ba Island should be your next family trip

Cat Ba Island is the largest island in Halong Bay. The rugged, craggy and jungle-clad island is one of the most family-friendly vacation spots in Vietnam. It is no doubt that the island is becoming more modern with hotels and services booming, but many attractions in Cat Ba Island are still untouched, including idyllic Lan Ha Bay. Beloved for white smooth sandy beaches and abundance of natural treasures and wildlife, Cat Ba Island is an ideal destinations for families in Vietnam holidays this summer.

How to get there

Cat Ba

If traveling by coach/long shuttle to Cat Ba, the simplest and shortest way is getting on a Hoang Long coach from Hanoi to Cat Ba. Besides, travelers can get the island by speed boat at Ben Binh tourist wharf, after getting off the bus at Lac Long Bridge.

If traveling by motorbikes, you drive to Hai Phong City, and then ask for direction to Dinh Vu - Ninh Tiep Ferry, and Cai Vieng Ferry. It takes from two or two and a half hours to reach the island. Car and motorbikes can can be loaded by these two ferries. There are six big ferries and six smaller-size one working with 37 turns/day and the capacity of nearly 2000 passengers. Dinh Vu Ferry is open from 6:30 to 17:00 with the frequency of 1 hour/turn, while that at Cai Vieng Ferry is 30 minutes/turn, open from 6:00 to 18:00. The distance from the ferry terminal to the town center is about 20km.

Those from Halong Bay to Cat Ba Island can travel on Tuan Chau Ferry running to Gia Luan pier. Though traveling with Tuan Chau ferry can be somehow convenient, it wastes quite much waiting time if traveling during May and August, sometimes it is overloaded. If arriving late, you have to wait for one to two turns. There is another way to save time for those who want to visit Cat Ba after Halong Bay tours. It is boat transplantation. The Tuan Chau ferry is often closed at 15:00. Thus, there is no chance to reach Cat Ba Island after 15:00 every day from Halong Bay by boat.

Where to stay

Cat Ba Sunrise Resort

Some popular hotels in Ca Bat Island are Cat Ba Beach Resort, The Whisper of Nature Bangalow, Sunrise Resort, Cat Ba Palace Hotel, Hai Long Hotel Cat Ba, and Hung Long Harbour Hotel Cat Ba Island... There are two traveling seasons in Cat Ba Island: low season and high season. During low season, the hotel rate is about 150,000 - 300,000 VND (7-14 USD)/room. During high season, the rate fluctuates from 300,000 - 500,000 VND (14 - 23USD). To know more information of hotels in Cat Ba Island, you should call first. If you come here during low season, you do not have to book in advance, just come here and ask directly.

What to do

Beach in Cat Ba

Swimming

Almost tourists come to Cat Ba in summer to enjoy the cool and turquoise sea water. There are two most famous beaches near Cat Ba Town: Cat Co 1 Beach and Cat Co 2 Beach (about 1km from the town center). These beaches captivate tourists as their spacious and comfortable. Besides, Cat Co 3 Beach or Tung Thu Beach is a great choice for your family when enjoying Vietnam tours in Cat Ba Island. Yet, Tung Thu Beach does not have too much waves like other beaches, as the beach is surrounded by islets. To make your family vacation more interesting and unforgettable, you should hire a boat to explore Lan Ha Bay, enjoy beaches in the bay or Monkey Island, and free kayaking. Unlike beaches near Cat Ba Town, beaches in Lan Ha Bay are more beautiful and less crowded.

Sightseeing

Lan Ha Bay

Lan Ha Bay is located in the south of Halong Bay. Initially, you will see Lan Ha Bay looking like Halong Bay; yet, the bay still has its own unique features. There are some small islands with sand fields at the foot of limestone mountain blocks. Here, you can drop by to wander along the sand fields and enjoy the cool sea water of these pristine beaches, visit Cai Beo Floating Village - the village has been existing for thousands of years, or drop by Three Peaches Island and Monkey Island.

From Lan Ha Bay, tourists can travel to Viet Hai Fishing Village by boat; it takes about 45 minutes. It is possible to travel by motorbikes or bicycles through 6km of forest road to reach the village. Some tourists having good health condition can approach Viet Hai Fishing Village on foot. The village is surrounded by high mountains and old jungles of Cat Ba National Park. Notably, there are few domestic tourists coming the village, yet Viet Hai increasingly attracts foreign tourists. Local people in Viet Hai Village remain their "pristine" life, though there are convenient restaurants and stores for tourists.

Village in Cat Ba

Families can hire motor-taxi to Cannon Fort near Cat Co Beaches to contemplate the entire view of Cat Ba Island from high above. From the Cannon Fort, Cat Ba Island appears wonderfully and put all your senses in sight of the island's beauty. Cat Ba Island is grasped all in your view. At sunset, the beauty of this bay is more breathtaking.

Like its name, Monkey Island is the home to hundreds of lovely monkeys. Here is an ideal place for your kids to be lured into the interesting time of exploring more about the nature. Cat Dua Beach in Monkey Island is the most beautiful and cleanest beaches in Cat Ba Island. In front of the beach, there are majestic mountains, creating a striking scenery. The distance from Cat Ba Town to Monkey Island is about 2km as the crow flies. You can book a book at Monkey Island Resort and then experience the friendly-nature life in this island.

Biking

Cat Ba Town

Your family can hire double-bike or motorbikes to running along the coastal road and enjoy the fresh atmosphere. The bike rental rate for four people is 30,000 VND/hour (about 1.5USD/hour). Yet, there are no vehicles allowed entering the town on weekend; therefore, walking is the best choice. Some tourists adoring to wandering along the roads connecting three most popular beaches to feel the cool of sea wind and free your mind.

Exploring

Cat Ba National Park

The world's biosphere reserve - Cat Ba National Park with a diverse and untouched flora and fauna system is one of the most should-not-miss attractions in Cat Ba Island. You and your family members can have great experiences on forest trekking and riding bicycles int he forest. This is a great opportunity to meet wild rare animals and plants. Some specialties in Cat Ba National Park are premium honey and unique local tea...