Cat Ba is the largest island in Halong Bay. The island has a few fishing villages and a small town. On the east side of the island you will find Lan Ha Bay which has numerous beaches and excellent scenery. There are two white sand beaches (Cat Co 1 and Cat Co 2) located 1km from Cat Ba town. The two beaches are connected by a wooden walkway about 700 metres long. Cat Ba National Park occupies a large area of the island and is well worth a visit especially if you enjoy hiking. Getting There The best way to organise a trip to Cat Ba Island is to book a tour with one of the agents, hotels or cafes in Hanoi. Costs vary but all are reasonably priced and usually include accommodation as well as transportation to and from Hanoi. There is a chartered helicopter service from Hanoi to Halong Bay if you feel like spending a bit of extra cash. From Halong you can take a boat to Cat Ba. When To Kayak The best time to visit Cat Ba is during October and November. Temperatures are a littlecool from December to February, and you can expect rain during March and April. June through to August is hot and humid.