National Geographic has included Vietnam’s Cat Ba among the best islands in Southeast Asia, calling it a ideal place for adventure.
Cat Ba Archipelago in the northern city of Hai Phong, adjacent to world heritage site Ha Long Bay, has 367 islands, of which Cat Ba is the largest.
The island is surrounded by limestone karst mountains rising from turquoise waters that make it an ideal destination for cruise tours.
“The limestone karst cliffs are a climbers’ playground; Butterfly Valley, rippling with caves and overhangs, is a popular spot for deep-water soloing (bouldering without ropes over deep water). A safer yet no less spectacular alternative is hiking Ngu Lam Peak, or paddling a kayak through bioluminescent plankton,” NatGeo wrote.
On travel platform Agoda, Cat Ba is among the most searched destinations by foreign tourists in Vietnam since the beginning of 2025.
With Tripadvisor platform, this place often receives positive reviews from international tourists.
Many people praise the wild beauty of Lan Ha Bay, the biodiversity of Cat Ba National Park, and the peaceful experience.
In addition to Cat Ba, NatGeo also recommended other destinations in Southeast Asia such as Koh Chang in Thailand, Penang in Malaysia, Komodo in Indonesia and Panay in the Philippines.