Where to stay in Cat Ba Island, Vietnam

by - December 09, 2022

 

Can you spot me? This is the view from our room ....the South China Sea with the innumerable limestone cliffs; the very reason of our trip to Vietnam


What's your first priority when it comes to choosing a stay on vacation? For us, it depends. Like the nature of the destination as well as our accompaniments. Of course, budget is a very big deciding factor, especially when abroad. We don't like to squander n luxurious properties mindlessly because of mainly two reasons. Firstly, we hardly spend any time in the property because we are there to explore, right? Secondly I feel that all five star properties provide more or less the same amenities all over the world. For example, there isn't much difference in the amenities of Pullman New Delhi Aerocity and Novotel Hyderabad Airport. Similarly the properties like Rennaissance Powai, Mumbai and ITC Maratha are similar (although I love ITC properties more). I can quote endless examples based on my say and am totally confident in my claim. Of course there are numerous luxurious properties that deserve a stay like Atlantis The Palm in Dubai, Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, Ocean villas (of any property) in Maldives, etc. What I mean to say is that budget is a major factor for us (and most travellers like us) and hence we should opt for expensive properties only when such experience is absolutely unique.



We love to feel the local ambiance to the fullest and that's the reason why we love Air B n Bs so much. A home of someone opens the doors to that particular culture and lifestyle, something which I crave for while travelling abroad. However Air B nBs may not be family friendly, so this trip had to take into account everything. We were travelling with two small kids and my two elderly parents.
Cat Ba Island is a protected site in Hai Phong district, Vietnam. Very sparsely populated, with tourism being the main occupation. There were Air Bnbs, but far from the city centre. That was a No No since we needed to buy milk and bread from the department stores on a daily basis for the kids. So we decided to go the conventional way and started scouring for hotels near the sea.
Thankfully we found a property that ticked all my boxes. It was at a five minute walking distance from the beach (a must when on a beach vacation), had a beautiful pool and above all, the balconies provided view of the south China Sea with its limestone cliffs along with being situated n the main road; just across the sea promenade. The reviews were mixed, people complaining of service and cleanliness while raving about the location. We took a leap of faith and booked the higher end rooms praying they would be cleaner. The other properties nearby on this budget were not even half as pretty as this one.

The resort was Cat Ba Oasis Bunglows. Thankfully, the rooms were sparkling clean but it lacked many things like tea coffee, mirror in the bedroom, etc. Also, since it was a sea view room, it was on a hill and we had to climb lots of stairs to reach our room. That was a bit of a hassle for my parents and the kids.

However, the view from the room was a million dollar one. We had travelled all the way to see those limestone cliffs; and I could stare at them throughout our stay from the bed itself! Such a surreal feeling!
Our room faced the tall thickly forested hills of the island on one side and the sea on another side. It was best of both worlds!




The pool was super inviting and I had fun with my girls. There was a swing too and games in the reception area like Snooker and football.
The "I love Cat Ba" sign was just outside our resort, overlooking the sea. The walk along the promenade was unforgettable, every time we pranced along the water.


There was no breakfast included and service was almost nil. But still I feel it was one of the best stays given the view and the location at a good price. Food we could eat everywhere, but looking at those limestone cliffs studded blue sea...priceless...

What kind of property do you go for while travelling abroad? Let me know in the comments below!




This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla.
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20 comments

  1. Samata10 December 2022 at 19:05

    I noticed the mermaid in the pool in the first pic and you beautifully described property to make the reader understand what one should look for in a good property in Vietnam.

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  2. Madhu Bindra11 December 2022 at 18:13

    I agree with you about the 5 star properties that look the same from the inside. Sometimes these lesser known places are better. It depends on what you prioritize.

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  3. Anuradha sowmyanarayanan12 December 2022 at 19:53

    This blogpost is pretty much useful for the people with travel plans and sure to lead them to pick up the right choice for their stay.

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  4. Kaveri Chhetri12 December 2022 at 20:05

    Lovely post, lovely pics lovely you as always Mandira... I feel so happy that u travel to these exotic places and soak in the local feel. Apart from the little inconveniences you faced with the room, looks like everything else compensated for it.

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  5. Ritu13 December 2022 at 00:19

    I love the gems you share. The view is breathtaking. I totally agree with the ambiance of the BnBs. The high end resorts begin to look cookie-cutter after a point.

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  6. Shail Thosani13 December 2022 at 07:57

    Beautiful pictures! Even we opt for Air BNB in many if our vacations. This place also looks amazing.

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  7. Akkie13 December 2022 at 12:10

    Yes! I can spot you in the first pic.This is such a beautiful place. I am dying to visit this place now. saving it for my future travel plans. 
    -Anjali

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  8. Flavia Cutinho13 December 2022 at 12:57

    Want a get away from the city side noise then this looks like a lovely suggestion, the pics are so lovely took me away in thots for a bit

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  9. Vasumathi_The Scarlett Dragonfly13 December 2022 at 15:09

    I haven't been to this part of Vietnam. It is a beautiful country & is just perfect for a relaxed holiday to rejuvenate oneself. I visited Da Nang, Ho Ann, Ha Noi & did the overnight boat cruise.

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  10. Memory Flies13 December 2022 at 16:28

    Love the place Cat Ba. It is always good to have local places. Me and Mr. Hubby like to travel off bit place which are local and not on the list. I love the bungalow and you look pretty in that dress.

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  11. Monidipa13 December 2022 at 22:41

    Your pictures are fabulous as usual and I love your crisp description.

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  12. Anonymous14 December 2022 at 07:15

    I don't know much about Vietnam and this place is amazing!!!I got to look more into this and plan a quick vacay here. Truly a must visit place to unwind!-MommyWithAGoal

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  13. Harjeet Kaur14 December 2022 at 19:32

    Vietnam is on the cards in the near future. I am going to bookmark this post. The pictures are so tempting. Apart from that I really love your dress.

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  14. Anonymous14 December 2022 at 23:22

    Wow, this place looks really nice and comfortable with a beautiful view. Would surely save it for my. Travel

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  15. Anonymous18 December 2022 at 09:26

    I enjoyed reading this post & concur with your thoughts. I too don’t like to spend much on luxurious properties during travel coz we are there to explore that city & not the hotel.

    This property looks stunningly beautiful & tour honest review will help travellers a lot.

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  16. Jenifer18 December 2022 at 09:27

    I enjoyed reading this post & concur with your thoughts. I too don’t like to spend much on luxurious properties during travel coz we are there to explore that city & not the hotel.

    This property looks stunningly beautiful & tour honest review will help travellers a lot...

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  17. Raksha Solopassport18 December 2022 at 10:15

    This looks like a lovely property. I have to plan for Vietnam next year and will consider this island for visit and stay at this property. Thanks for this detailed review.

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  18. Monidipa19 December 2022 at 17:40

    The place looks so good. I like returning on this post again and again. I'd definitely look up to your suggestions.

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  19. Bedabrata19 December 2022 at 20:03

    I have been to Vietnam but somehow missed this spot! But intent to visit again and next time I shall go to Cat Ba as well Cat Ba Oasis Bunglow looks like the perfect place to put up and thank you for the recommendation. Also I was happy to spot a Bengali mom somewhere who would never ditch her saree.

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  20. A Lady Lawyer24 January 2023 at 21:39

    You look great! I'm hoping to visit Vietnam soon!
    Noor

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