Cat Ba Island Sees Low Tourist Numbers During National Day Holiday

Cat Ba Island, a prominent tourist destination in northern Vietnam, is experiencing an unusual quiet period during the September 2 National Day holiday. On August 31, the first day of the holiday, both Cai Vieng and Dong Bai ferry terminals, typically scenes of kilometer-long queues on previous holidays, saw minimal waiting times, with passengers boarding ferries in about 10 minutes. The popular Cat Co 1 and 2 beaches were also sparsely populated with swimmers, despite the mild, sunny weather. Tourists from Hanoi reported on social media that the ferry terminals and beaches were "as quiet as an old pagoda," surprising those who expected holiday crowds. A representative from the Culture and Social Affairs Department of Cat Hai Special Zone confirmed that Cat Ba has been "quiet" this holiday. Reasons cited include lingering concerns among tourists about potential entrapment on the island due to recent typhoons, and the onset of the low season. Visitor numbers over the past three days have reportedly been comparable to weekdays during the summer tourism season. In contrast, during the late April holiday earlier this year, Cat Ba Island was one of the most popular destinations nationwide, welcoming over 70,000 visitors in the first two days, a more than 40% increase compared to the same period last year. Accommodation facilities were operating at 100% capacity during peak days. Additionally, starting September 1, new ferry schedules for Cai Vieng and Dong Bai terminals have been implemented. The last ferry from the island to the mainland is now at 5:30 PM, and from the mainland to the island at 6:00 PM, both 30 minutes earlier than the previous schedule.