Viet Hai Village, Cat Ba: 2026 Cycling Guide, History & How to Visit

By Jimmy, Halong Bay cruise specialist · Updated 8 October 2026

Viet Hai Village 2026: Cycling Cat Ba’s Hidden Valley and How to Visit

Viet Hai is a village of about 89 households and 297 people in a valley inside the core zone of Cat Ba National Park, on the Lan Ha Bay coast about 10 km from Cat Ba town. There is no road from town: you arrive by a 30-minute boat ride from Ben Beo pier or on a long forest trek, then cycle or ride an electric cart past rice fields, gardens and old houses. Many Lan Ha Bay cruises include it.

Good to know (checked October 2026): Viet Hai is becoming a green village: on 30 September 2026 local households received 88 electric motorbikes under a Hai Phong programme, and the plan is for all tourist transport here to be electric by 2027. National park entry applies if you trek in (160,000 VND per adult in the Hai Phong table; the park adjusted prices in April 2026). Cruises include the visit in their price.

Viet Hai Village at a Glance

Location	Core zone of Cat Ba National Park, Hai Phong, on Lan Ha Bay
Population	About 89 households, 297 people in two hamlets (October 2026)
Age	Settled 100–150 years ago by fishermen who found fresh water while sheltering from storms
Access	Boat from Ben Beo about 30 minutes, then bike or e-cart along a road of about 5 km; or a forest trek of about 10 km
Electricity	Connected to the grid in 2015
Known for	Cycling, rice fields, community tourism, homestays
Visit time	2–3 hours on cruises; overnight in homestays
Fee	Included in cruises; park entry if trekking
Best time	March–May and September–November
Nearby	Trung Trang Cave, Ao Ech forest pond
Find it	Google Maps · TripAdvisor

Is Viet Hai Village worth it? Yes. It is the best way to add a land experience to a Lan Ha Bay cruise: quiet lanes, a green valley ringed by forest and a glimpse of rural island life.

Traditional wooden houses in Viet Hai Village with open unlocked doors — the famous no-lock culture of Cat Ba Island's hidden valley community — A traditional house in Viet Hai Village, Cat Ba National Park

What Makes Viet Hai Special

A village inside a national park

Surrounded by forested limestone and reachable only by boat or on foot, Viet Hai Village stayed isolated for generations, which kept its rural character.

Easy cycling

A flat concrete lane runs about 5 km from the landing through rice fields and fruit gardens to the village centre, ideal for casual riders.

Community tourism

Fewer than ten households run homestays, cafés and activities, so tourism income goes directly to local families.

A green model

Plans call for solar public lighting by 2027, electric tourist transport by 2027 and clean energy for all vehicles by 2030.

History of Viet Hai

According to local accounts, fishermen sheltering from storms in Lan Ha Bay found a freshwater source in the valley and settled there more than a century ago; the village chief puts its age at about 150 years (VnEconomy, August 2025). For decades villagers lived without grid power, which only arrived in 2015. The population has fallen as young people left for Cat Ba town, but tourism is now bringing some back. In 2024 a fleet of 20 electric carts employed 20 young villagers, and in September 2026 households received electric motorbikes, as reported by Tien Phong.

Working rice paddies in Viet Hai Village hidden valley, surrounded by limestone mountains inside Cat Ba National Park, Vietnam — Rice fields in the valley of Viet Hai Village

Things to Do in Viet Hai

1. Cycle or ride an e-cart

From the landing to the village centre; bikes are usually provided by cruises, and the e-cart is popular with families.

2. Walk the village

Stone and timber houses, gardens, rice paddies and a small temple.

3. Try local activities

Depending on the season: a stream where small fish nibble your feet, rice-wine distilling, and short walks such as Hai Quan hill or Tien Duc cave.

4. Trek in

Fit walkers can hike across the park’s core zone from the headquarters area, about 10 km, passing the Ao Ech forest pond. Go with a guide.

5. Stay overnight

Homestays offer simple rooms, home cooking and a quiet night far from the bay’s cruise traffic.

Fees, Prices and Rules

Item	Details (checked October 2026)
Park entry (trekking)	160,000 VND adult / 80,000 VND child (Hai Phong table; adjusted April 2026, confirm)
Boat from Ben Beo	Local ferries and chartered boats; prices vary, ask us
Bikes / e-cart	Included on cruises; locally, bike hire has been quoted at about 50,000–100,000 VND a day
Park hours	07:00–17:00
Rules	Stay on roads and trails; no hunting, plant picking or litter

How to Get to Viet Hai

Option	Notes
Lan Ha Bay cruise	Many 2D1N and 3D2N itineraries include cycling here
Boat from Ben Beo pier	About 30 minutes, then bike or e-cart
Trek through the park	Full-day hike; go with a guide

Best Time to Visit

Months	Conditions
March–May	Green rice, mild
June–August	Hot, wet; storm risk; busiest
September–November	Golden fields, clear
December–February	Cool, quiet

Visitor numbers are rising fast: more than 900 foreign visitors a day were recorded in early 2026, with over 2,000 a day expected in peak summer. Go early in the day for the quietest lanes. See Halong Bay vs Lan Ha Bay for planning.