Cat Ba National Park serves as the intersection and connecting point of the “Two Heritage Regions: Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago.” The uniqueness of Cat Ba National Park lies in its harmonious and masterful combination of various distinct ecosystems: evergreen forests on limestone islands, high-altitude freshwater swamp forests (Ao Ech / Frog Pond), coastal mangrove forests, intertidal ecosystems with nearshore coral reefs, and countless caves of all sizes, each with its own distinct characteristics. Located approximately 45 km southeast of Hai Phong city center and nearly 30 km from Quang Ninh province to the northwest of the island, Cat Ba National Park appears to visitors as a green pearl off the coast of the Gulf of Tonkin. The diversity of forest types here has fostered a rich and unique flora and fauna system on this limestone island.

Cat Ba National Park was established on March 31, 1986, under Decision No. 79/CT by the Chairman of the Council of Ministers (now the Prime Minister). It was the first national park in Vietnam’s special-use forest system to be established with a marine component. Most notably, Cat Ba National Park is the only place in the world that harbors and conserves a primate species endemic to Vietnam and the globe—the Cat Ba Langur (Trachypithecus poliocephalus poliocephalus). Due to these paramount endemic and unique values, under the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, UNESCO officially recognized Cat Ba National Park and the Cat Ba Archipelago as a World Biosphere Reserve on December 2, 2004, making it Vietnam’s third biosphere reserve at the time. Later, in May 2020, Lan Ha Bay was certified as an official member of the Club of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World.

At the 45th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago was officially recognized as a World Heritage Site. This region is celebrated for its wild, rugged, and untamed natural beauty that gently embraces every visitor.

Cat Ba National Park is a vital part of the Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago World Natural Heritage and World Biosphere Reserve, formed by 366 “green pearl islands” that are highly renowned among international tourists for their unique forest-and-sea ecotourism products. It is rare for foreign visitors to arrive here without taking the time to explore the National Park and enjoy its fascinating, one-of-a-kind natural landscapes. These include the freshwater swamp forest on a limestone peak, the pure Kim Giao forest, mangroves, caves, and rare, precious, and endemic wildlife such as the Cat Ba Langur, the Cat Ba Leopard Gecko, and the diverse marine ecosystem. This is an ideal destination for ecotourism, trekking, caving, and hands-on experiences like tree nursing and planting, environmental protection education, and plastic waste collection and sorting.

Chương trình du lịch học đường

Detailed Itinerary:

06:00 – 08:00: Departure from Hai Phong City Center to the sightseeing, educational, and experiential destination with the theme “Nature Protection”.

08:00 – 11:30: At Cat Ba National Park:

  • The on-site guide introduces and communicates the values of the Biodiversity Conservation Area, integrated with ecological environmental education, the Cat Ba Archipelago Biosphere Reserve, and the Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago World Natural Heritage Site.

  • Experience the “A Day as a Forest Ranger” program, tree nursing, and tree planting. Through these environmental protection activities, participants will explore the values of natural resources, including:

    • Learning the characteristics, traits, and identification methods of various rare, precious, and endangered forest flora and fauna.

    • Learning about certain forest animals that can pose risks to human health and how to safely avoid them.

    • Basic first aid, snakebite prevention, survival skills, and life skills tailored for school and university students.

    • Briefing and hands-on experience of “A Day as a Forest Ranger”: learning to use GPS devices and forest navigation maps; identifying and dismantling various types of illegal forest traps to rescue wildlife; and learning safety protocols when encountering such traps.

11:30 – 13:00: Lunch break and rest at the Cat Ba National Park canteen.

13:30 – 15:30:

  • Visit and experience Trung Trang Cave: Explore and learn about the geological and geomorphological values of the cave ecosystem. Discover the archaeological traces of ancient Vietnamese people who once inhabited the caves of the Cat Ba Archipelago. Additionally, learn about the cave’s historical significance as a safe haven for revolutionary soldiers of the Vietnam People’s Army during fierce periods of war.

  • Participate in tree nursing and plant commemorative trees under the campaign “For a Green Vietnam” (Vì một Việt Nam xanh).