Getting around the island

01On foot

The harbour front, the market, most hotels and restaurants and the Cat Co beaches are all within walking distance. Cannon Fort is a steep 20-minute climb from town. Beyond that, distances grow quickly and the hills are serious.

02Scooters

A scooter is the most popular way to explore. Rentals are everywhere in town at around 120,000–150,000 VND a day for an automatic, often less for several days. Check the brakes, lights and tyres, photograph any damage, and ask for a helmet that actually fits.

• Roads are steep and winding. Descents into the national park and towards Cai Vieng are long; use the engine and both brakes, and slow down for gravel and wet patches.
• Watch for buses and trucks. They swing wide on bends and often overtake on blind corners. Keep right and use your horn on bends.
• Do not ride at night outside town. Lighting is poor, livestock and potholes appear without warning, and drink-driving is not unknown.

03Taxis, electric carts and drivers

Metered taxis and electric carts wait around the harbour front. Electric carts are open-sided buggies that charge a fixed fare per trip, handy for Ben Beo pier, the Cat Co beaches and Cannon Fort. Ride-hailing apps work in Hai Phong but coverage on the island is patchy, so keep a local taxi number from your hotel. For a full day in the park, hiring a car with a driver through your hotel is a comfortable option for families.

04Bicycles

Bikes are available from some hotels and tour shops. They are great for the flat stretch through the valley towards the national park and on the quiet lanes near Viet Hai, but the climbs out of town are long and steep. Electric bicycles make the island far more manageable. See Cycling.

05Local buses

Buses run along the main road between Cat Ba Town and the northern piers (Cai Vieng, Phu Long and Gia Luan), mostly timed for ferry and cable car connections. They pass the national park headquarters and the Hung Son valley, so you can use them to reach a trailhead, but they are infrequent and you should confirm return times.

06Boats

Almost all trips into Lan Ha Bay start at Ben Beo pier, about 2 km east of the town centre. Small boats also shuttle visitors to Monkey Island, Cai Beo and island resorts. Agree the price, the return time and whether life jackets are on board before you leave.