Recently, travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler included Vietnam in the list of 15 most economical honeymoon destinations in the world. According to travel expert Claire B. Soares, Vietnam offers "luxury experiences at reasonable costs", suitable for couples who want to enjoy a romantic vacation while still optimizing their budget.
In addition to familiar destinations such as Da Lat, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang, Condé Nast Traveler also suggests Cat Ba Island as an ideal stop to explore Vietnam's famous natural wonders. Most of the island area is a national park with a diverse ecosystem, alongside small beaches located near the center of the Cat Hai special zone.
Cat Ba archipelago includes 367 large and small islands located in the south of Ha Long Bay with an area of more than 260 km2. Among them, Cat Ba island is called the "pearl island" of the North by many tourists thanks to its limestone mountain terrain interspersed with a peaceful blue sea. Many tourists only visit during the day before continuing their journey to explore the surrounding islands, but nature lovers often choose to stay for a long time to experience more fully.
In 2004, UNESCO recognized Cat Ba as a world biosphere reserve. In 2013, it was ranked as a scenic spot - special national relic and in 2023 became part of the world natural heritage of Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago.
This is not the first time Cat Ba has been praised by international newspapers. In March this year, Condé Nast Traveler once ranked Cat Co 3 beach in the group of "most wonderful" beaches. Unlike Cat Co 1 and Cat Co 2, this beach stands out with its fine sand, clear blue sea water and relatively quiet space, facing Lan Ha Bay.
Besides the natural landscape, this area also develops many modern resort services with resort systems, restaurants and entertainment activities such as kayaking, banana boat pulling or enjoying seafood right by the sea.
However, on weekends and summer peak seasons, the number of visitors usually increases sharply, causing many tourists to choose to experience it in the early morning or late afternoon to enjoy a more peaceful space.
Previously, in November 2025, National Geographic magazine also called Cat Ba a "playground" for those who love mountain climbing, exploring caves and conquering limestone cliffs facing the sea. According to the magazine's assessment, places like Butterfly Valley are particularly attractive to mountain climbers thanks to their unique cliff and cave system.
In addition to adventure activities, visitors to Cat Ba can also trek to Ngu Lam peak or kayak at night to see the phenomenon of light-emitting plankton on the water.
The attractiveness of Cat Ba is also reflected through online travel platforms. According to Agoda, this is one of the destinations most sought after by international visitors in Vietnam at the beginning of 2025.
On Tripadvisor, Cat Ba regularly receives positive reviews thanks to the pristine beauty of Lan Ha Bay, the rich ecosystem of Cat Ba National Park and the peaceful resort space.
During the April and May holidays this year, Cat Ba continues to be in the group of most attractive sea and island destinations in the North. According to the Hai Phong Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the room occupancy rate here reached 100%, welcoming about 70,350 visitors.
With the advantages of natural landscapes, diverse ecosystems and convenient travel, Cat Ba is forecast to continue to be one of the most crowded destinations in the North this summer.
