Monkey Island, Cat Ba: beach, viewpoint and the macaques

Monkey Island is the local name for Cát Dứa, an island in Lan Ha Bay about 2 km southeast of Cat Ba town. Boats from Ben Beo (bến Bèo, the harbor next to Cai Beo fishing village) reach it in about 10 minutes. It has a main beach where the tour boats land, a quieter second beach with a small resort, a steep trail to a viewpoint, and a troop of macaques that live off what visitors drop or leave unattended.

It is a short stop rather than a destination. Most people see it as part of a Lan Ha day boat from Cat Ba, together with the fishing village, a swim and lunch on board.

What is on Monkey Island

• Cát Dứa 1: the main beach, where tour boats land. This is where you meet the monkeys.
• Cát Dứa 2: a quieter beach on the resort side.
• The viewpoint: a steep, rocky trail of about 15–20 minutes climbs to a 360° viewpoint over the bay. Wear shoes with grip, not flip-flops, and carry water.

There are no shops or services to speak of beyond the resort. Bring what you need from Cat Ba town.

The monkeys are macaques, not langurs

The monkeys on the island are macaques. They are not the Cat Ba langur, the Critically Endangered golden-headed monkey that lives only in this archipelago. About 90 langurs survive on remote sea cliffs, and tourists rarely see them. A tour that promises langurs on Monkey Island is wrong.

The macaques are used to people and they snatch food, phones, sunglasses and bags. Simple rules:

• Do not feed or tease them. Feeding is what makes them bold.
• Keep food sealed and out of sight, and do not eat on the beach where they gather.
• Hold your phone firmly and keep sunglasses and hats in a closed bag.
• Do not chase a monkey that has taken something. Ask your guide or the boat crew.
• If you are bitten or scratched, see a doctor the same day. Monkey bites carry a rabies risk.

Children should stay close to an adult on the main beach.

How to get to Monkey Island

There is no public ferry. You go by boat from Ben Beo pier on Cat Ba:

• On a Lan Ha day boat from Cat Ba. The easiest option: several boats from Ben Beo include a Monkey Island stop with Cai Beo fishing village, a swim and lunch.
• On a short Monkey Island tour. Half-day trips combine the island with Cai Beo, fishing or a swim.
• With a resort package. Packages for Monkey Island Resort include the round-trip boat from Cat Ba.

To reach Ben Beo from Hanoi, take a combo bus to Cat Ba town (from $11, about 3–3.5 hours), then a short ride to the pier. See Cat Ba Island and how to get to Lan Ha Bay.

Monkey Island tours and day boats

GetYourGuide sells several Cat Ba day trips that include the island, mostly from Ben Beo and from about $27–29 per person. Read the itinerary: on some, Monkey Island is a 30-minute beach stop; on others, it is the main event with a hike to the viewpoint.

Monkey Island trips worth booking

1

Most reviewed

A full day on Lan Ha with a Monkey Island stop, from Cat Ba or Hanoi. Hundreds of reviews and a low price.

GetYourGuideDay trip

Cat Ba/Ha Noi: Lan Ha and Monkey Island Full Day Boat Trip

4.7 (360)

from $29Check dates

2

Cheap Lan Ha day with the island

A day boat with a swim and a kayak stop where allowed, plus Monkey Island.

GetYourGuideDay trip

Lan Ha Bay Cruise and Kayak, Monkey Island

4.7 (12)

from $27Check dates

3

Small and slow

A short trip to Cai Beo fishing village, Monkey Island and a kayak outing, with few reviews so far.

GetYourGuide3.5 hours

Cat Ba: Cai Beo Fishing Village, Monkey Island & Kayak Tour

5.0 (4)

from $65Check dates

GetYourGuideDay trip

Cat Ba/Ha Noi: Lan Ha and Monkey Island Full Day Boat Trip

4.7 (360)

from $29Check dates

GetYourGuideDay trip

Lan Ha Bay : Boat Tour, Kayaking,Swimming at Monkey island

4.4 (2)

from $37Check dates

GetYourGuide9 hours

Cat Ba- Monkey Island - LanHa, HaLong Bay - Viet Hai Village

3.2 (3)

from $19Check dates

GetYourGuide4 hours

Magical Sunset Private Tour in Lan Ha Bay & Monkey Island

No reviews yet

from $88Check dates

See everything on GetYourGuide →See everything on Klook →Prices checked on October 16, 2026

Read the listing title carefully: some trips with "Monkey Island" in the name are actually plankton or night tours with a brief stop. Check the timetable before booking.

No fee, no pier, no rescue post

In 2024 Hai Phong removed Cát Dứa from the official list of sightseeing fees, because the island lacks visitor and swimming facilities (Nhân Dân). So there is no state entrance fee. Old guides that quote 40,000, 50,000 or 80,000 VND are out of date. If someone asks you for an "entrance ticket", it is a private charge, not an official one.

The same lack of facilities is a safety point. Operators complained as early as 2019 that the island had no landing pier, no rescue service and no medical post. Without a pier, landings depend on the boat and the tide, so wear shoes that can get wet. There is no lifeguard; swim only where your guide says and only in calm water.

Since June 2026, after a fatal collision of two day boats near Van Boi in Lan Ha, Cat Hai Special Zone requires every passenger to wear a certified life jacket from boarding and throughout the trip. That applies on the short crossing from Ben Beo too (Tien Phong). If your boat does not hand them out, ask for one.

Staying on Monkey Island

Monkey Island Resort sits on Cát Dứa 2 beach and has 29 rooms. Its own website returned an error in October 2026, so book through a hotel platform and confirm the boat transfer from Cat Ba in writing: the island has no public boat. For most people it is easier to stay in Cat Ba town, where budget hotels cost about 500,000–1,000,000 VND a night, and visit the island for a few hours.

Combine Monkey Island with

• Cai Beo fishing village, next to Ben Beo: over 500 households living from fishing and floating fish cages. Most Monkey Island boats pass it.
• A Lan Ha day boat with Ba Trai Dao beach and the Dark and Bright Cave area. See our day cruises guide.
• Cat Ba National Park, 07:00–17:00, 120,000 VND for the central route to Ngu Lam peak and Trung Trang cave. See Cat Ba National Park.
• Viet Hai village, about 30 minutes by boat from Ben Beo and then by bicycle or electric car. See Viet Hai village.

For the whole list, see things to do in Lan Ha Bay.

When to go

Monkey Island is a beach stop, so warm, calm months suit it best. October and November are dry and sunny, with the sea at about 25–28 °C. May to September is hot and often wet, with summer weekend crowds on Cat Ba. In the storm season (June to November) boats stay in port when the authorities issue a sea ban. Details in best time to visit.

FAQ