American newspaper praises Vietnam's Cat Ba Island among "the best in Southeast Asia"

(Dan Tri) - According to an article published in a famous American travel magazine, Cat Ba in Vietnam is an ideal destination for those who love adventure, exploring caves, and conquering limestone cliffs.

According to National Geographic , Cat Ba Island is ranked 3rd in the list of 8 most wonderful islands in Southeast Asia. The archipelago consists of 367 islands spread over an area of ​​about 300km2. There is Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve, Cat Ba National Park, with a world heritage area of ​​22,250ha.

The author of the article, Sarah Gillespie, said that most tourists only stop here for a day before continuing to visit other small islands, but for thrill-seekers, Cat Ba is an adventure paradise. Among more than 25,000 islands in Southeast Asia, this place is considered the most worth exploring island for those who love adventure.

With a diverse ecosystem, Cat Ba is home to many rare species of animals and plants (Photo: Huu Nghi).

The majestic limestone cliffs make this place an ideal climbing spot. Among them, the Butterfly Valley stands out - a system of caves and cliffs jutting out into the sea. Visitors can experience a form of free climbing without ropes (deep-water soloing).

For guests looking for a safer experience but still wanting to admire the spectacular scenery, they can choose to kayak, watch Cat Ba sea glow at night or conquer Ngu Lam peak - where there is a panoramic view of the immense green forest and the immense sea and sky.

The Cat Ba archipelago heritage site is an outstanding example of typical tropical and subtropical marine ecosystems in Asia with 7 adjacent ecosystems that have developed in succession.

These include the primeval rainforest ecosystem on the largest limestone island in Vietnam; the most developed coral reef ecosystem in the Gulf of Tonkin; the largest mangrove ecosystem on an island in Vietnam; an intertidal ecosystem with unique clinging organisms that are rarely found elsewhere; a saltwater lake ecosystem; a terrestrial cave ecosystem and a freshwater underground cave ecosystem, and the Cat Ba seabed ecosystem.

The area of ​​primeval forest of about 1,045 hectares on Cat Ba Island is one of the important factors that contribute to the ecological value and biodiversity of the heritage. In particular, the Cat Ba langur is a rare primate species listed in the World Red Book, currently existing only in Cat Ba.

In addition, researchers have discovered many endemic plants here, adapted to living only on limestone islands, which are found nowhere else in the world.

In September 2023, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee recognized Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba archipelago as a World Natural Heritage. From here, Cat Ba tourism is given more opportunities to break through and accelerate in the new period.

To seize that opportunity, in addition to promoting the value of natural treasures and expanding the four-season tourism experience to attract tourists, Cat Ba also aims to develop into an international-class green tourism destination.

Cat Ba is crowded with visitors during Tet holiday (Photo: Thu Tra).

During the peak tourist season in the fall and winter every year, Cat Ba often welcomes tens of thousands of visitors, most of whom are international visitors, to use services such as sightseeing, overnight stays on the bay, trekking, climbing through the forest, experiencing the ancient fishing village of Viet Hai...

Many guests want to use the overnight accommodation service on the cruises around the bay in Cat Ba. This is a high-class service.

According to statistics, in the first 8 months of the year, Cat Ba welcomed nearly 3.6 million visitors, reaching about 90% of the plan at the beginning of the year, up 31% over the same period last year. This figure shows that the number of tourists coming to Cat Ba this year is expected to far exceed the plan.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/bao-my-ca-ngoi-dao-cat-ba-cua-viet-nam-trong-top-tuyet-nhat-dong-nam-a-20251106224900394.htm