Cat Ba Island
The largest island in Halong Bay, which is also the most famous, is Cat Ba. The island is located southwest of the bay. In Vuon Quoc Gia Cat Ba National Park you can admire impressive primitive forests with very diverse fauna. There are also crystal-clear beaches, caves, fishing villages, and panoramic views of Lan Ha Bay. This bay is part of the archipelago of Cat Ba and has about 400 islets, which makes her the “little sister” of Halong Bay. A cruise around the island is possible.
The caves of Cat Ba
Halong Bay has other treasures that deserve to be seen, such as its caves and museums collecting remnants of the past. Among the best known are the Cave of Wonders (Hang Dau Go) on Dau Go Island (meaning “island of wooden sticks”). On the island of May Den, we can also see the cave of the Three Palaces, or Tam Cung, where we can see statues and drawings of gods and animals.
Another cave to visit: the Celestial Palace cave (Dong Thien Cung). With a surface of more than 10,000 m2, a legend tells that a wedding took place in this cave, that of May (Cloud), and the Dragon Prince, during 7 days and 7 nights. We can see the lively atmosphere of the wedding drawn on the walls of the cave (dragons, elephants dancing), in the middle, where the four pillars support the ceiling, also called “Roof of paradise”. One of the most popular caves in Halong Bay is the Cave of Surprises (Hang Sung Sot) on the island of Titov, which has been designated by the Association of Tourist Offices and Brokers of the Czech Republic, as one of the ten most beautiful caves in the world.