Trung Trang Cave, Cat Ba: 2026 Guide, History, Fees & How to Visit

By Jimmy, Halong Bay cruise specialist · Updated 9 October 2026

Trung Trang Cave 2026: Cat Ba National Park’s Roadside Cave, History and How to Visit

Trung Trang Cave is a limestone cave about 300 m long beside the main road in Cat Ba National Park, Hai Phong, about 15 km north-west of Cat Ba town and 1 km from the park headquarters. Recorded by archaeologists in 1938 and later used by the navy, it takes 20–45 minutes to walk through and is a common Day 2 stop on Lan Ha Bay cruises.

Fees (checked October 2026): Trung Trang is on the park’s central route (Kim Giao forest – Ngu Lam peak – Trung Trang Cave), listed at 120,000 VND for adults in Hai Phong’s fee table kept for 2026. Cat Ba National Park announced adjusted prices in April 2026, so confirm on site; cruises include the fee. Park hours are 07:00–17:00.

Trung Trang Cave at a Glance

Location	Cat Ba National Park, Cat Ba Island, Hai Phong
Distance	About 15 km north-west of Cat Ba town; about 1 km from the park headquarters; near Gia Luan pier
Size	About 300 m long
Steps	A stairway of roughly 100+ steps to the entrance
History	Recorded by Vietnamese and French archaeologists in 1938; once called Bat Cave (Hang Dơi); used by the navy in wartime
Visit time	20–45 minutes
Fee	Central route ticket 120,000 VND adult / 60,000 VND child (confirm April 2026 update)
Hours	07:00–17:00
Best time	October–April, mornings
Find it	Google Maps · TripAdvisor

Is Trung Trang Cave worth it? Yes as a short, easy cave on a Lan Ha Bay cruise or a Cat Ba day. It is smaller than Sung Sot in Halong Bay, but quieter and set in rainforest.

Jungle trail through Cat Ba National Park leading to Trung Trang Cave's wooden staircase entrance, Cat Ba Island Vietnam — The forest trail of Cat Ba National Park near Trung Trang Cave

What Makes Trung Trang Cave Special

A cave in a national park

You walk out of tropical forest into the cave, combining nature and geology in one stop.

Easy access

It sits by the road near the park headquarters, so it fits easily into a cruise morning.

History

The cave was recorded by Vietnamese and French archaeologists in 1938, according to the Hai Phong city portal. Locals knew it as Hang Dơi, the Bat Cave, and it was used by the navy during the wars.

Cat Ba National Park Background

Cat Ba National Park was established on 31 March 1986 and protects both forest and sea. Cat Ba became a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2004, and the archipelago joined the Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago World Heritage site in 2023. The park records more than 1,500 plant species and is the only home of the critically endangered Cat Ba langur.

Unique stalactite and stalagmite shapes inside Trung Trang Cave, resembling natural sculptures, Cat Ba Island Vietnam — Stalactites inside Trung Trang Cave, Cat Ba

What to See

1. The stalactite chambers

Formations lit with simple lighting along a concrete path; the passage is narrow and low in places.

2. Bats

Small colonies may be seen in quieter corners; do not disturb them.

3. The forest outside

Short trails nearby show the park’s rainforest; Ngu Lam peak and the Kim Giao forest are on the same ticket.

Trung Trang Cave interior — ancient stalactite formations inside a 300-meter limestone tunnel, Cat Ba Island Vietnam — The entrance area of Trung Trang Cave on Cat Ba Island

Fees, Hours and Rules

Item	Details (checked October 2026)
Central route	Kim Giao – Ngu Lam – Trung Trang: 120,000 VND adult / 60,000 VND child (Hai Phong table from August 2024; confirm April 2026 update)
Park entry	160,000 VND adult / 80,000 VND child for wider park access
Hours	07:00–17:00
Path	Steps and damp floors; not wheelchair accessible
Rules	No touching formations, no litter, no disturbing bats

Trung Trang Cave vs Hospital Cave

	Trung Trang Cave	Hospital Cave (Quân Y)
Type	Natural limestone cave	Wartime hospital built 1963–1965 inside a cave
Size	About 300 m long	About 2,000 m², three levels, 17 rooms
Location	National park, about 15 km from town	About 7 km from Cat Ba town
Best for	Nature and formations	History

Do not confuse the two; independent travellers on Cat Ba can visit both in a day.

How to Get to Trung Trang Cave

Option	Notes
Lan Ha Bay cruise	Day 2 morning via Gia Luan pier
From Cat Ba town	Motorbike or taxi, about 20–25 minutes
Park visit	Combine with the Kim Giao forest and Ngu Lam peak trails