Trung trang cave

Trung Trang (Trung Trang Cave) is easily accessible, but you will need to contact a ranger to make sure it is open. Bring a torch (flashlight) as it is gloomy inside. There is a challenging 18km hike through the park and up to one of the mountain summits. Arrange a guide for this six-hour hike, and organise a bus or boat transport to the trailhead and a boat to get back to town. All of this can be easily organised with rangers at the national park headquarters or at the hotels in Cat Ba if you’re travelling independently.

Many hikes end at Viet Hai, a remote minority village just outside the park boundary, from where boats shuttle back to Cat Ba town (about 250, 000d per boat). Don’t get stranded or you’ll get stiffed. Take proper hiking shoes, a raincoat and a generous supply of water for this hike. Independent hikers can buy basic snacks at the kiosks in Viet Hai, which is where many hiking groups stop for lunch.

This is not an easy walk, and is much harder and more slippery after rain. There are shorter hiking options that are less hard core. If you’re planning to join an organised tour from Hanoi, check the trekking options before you book, as many of the cheaper trips don’t actually hike through the park at all.