Cat Ba's nightlife is increasingly vibrant, offering many new culinary and entertainment options. Below is a suggested itinerary to help you fully enjoy an evening here.
16h30 – 17h30: Travel to Cat Ba by cable car
From the mainland, the most convenient way to reach Cat Ba is by the Cat Hai – Phu Long cable car. The departure station is located in Dong Bai Commune, Cat Hai District (Hai Phong), about 30km from the city center. The cable car operates from 9am to 3:30pm, and from 8:30am to 3pm on Fridays and weekends. However, on days with the “Green Island Symphony” show (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday), the cable car operates until 10pm. Each trip takes less than 15 minutes, saving time and cost compared to traditional transportation.
From Phu Long station, an electric bus takes guests directly to Cat Ba Central Bay. The route operates from 8am to 10pm, with discounted prices from 80,000 to 100,000 VND round trip. On this journey, don't forget to admire the “paper flower road” with artistic murals adorned with blooming paper flowers. This is a small but poetic highlight amidst the pristine natural landscape, providing a sense of serenity even before you reach the island's center.
Within the area, the electric buggy system operates from 7:30am to 11pm, connecting points such as the pier, square, restaurants, and beach, with prices starting from 10,000 VND/trip.
17h30 – 18h30: Stroll around the square, watch the water show, and explore the Vui-Fest night market
If you're already familiar with the traditional night market in Cat Ba town, this is a different experience worth trying.
From the entrance, Vui-Fest impresses with its glittering lights and vibrant flags strung across the street. The stalls are uniformly designed in a green style, inspired by unique cardboard. A small tip is that visitors should choose brightly colored outfits, as the lights and background of the stalls at Vui-Fest are very photogenic – ideal for unique check-in photos in Cat Ba.
At Vui-Fest, children will love the interactive play area, claw machines, and cute souvenirs. Adults can stroll, enjoy local specialties, or shop for handicrafts. For young groups, this is the perfect chill spot – enjoying the night sea while watching street minishows with international artists or acoustic performances on the mini-stage. Visitors can also stop to enjoy the water music show – watching the moving water columns in changing lights, creating a magical scene.
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM: Dinner by the Sea
In the evening, if you are looking for a new space, diverse menu, professional service and late opening hours, the beachfront restaurant chains The Forest Beach Club and The Sea Beach Club are excellent choices.
The Sea serves fresh seafood, prepared with a modern twist, perfect for those who want to savor the "taste of the sea" in an open space. The Forest leans towards a grilling style, with savory meat dishes, especially Cat Ba's signature mountain goat. Both serve Sun Kraftbeer craft beer – appearing for the first time in Northern Vietnam.
You can book a dinner combo with tickets to the "Green Island Symphony" show from just VND 850,000/person on the Sun Paradise Land app, including a meal and show tickets, plus a free beer or 500ml Sun Kraftbeer craft beer. This is the most economical and convenient way to have a satisfying dinner without much travel.
8:30 PM - 9:00 PM: Fireworks and World Record-Breaking Extreme Sports Show
If you are in Cat Ba on one of the five Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays each week, arrive at the stands before 8:30 PM to catch the "Green Island Symphony" – Vietnam's first extreme sports and art show combined with fireworks, holding 2 Guinness World Records.
Individual ticket prices currently range from 1,000,000 to 1,200,000 VND (Friday, Saturday). However, when booking in advance through the Sun Paradise Land app, you will receive a discount, with prices reduced to 550,000 VND and 750,000 VND (Friday, Saturday). In addition, customers paying using the NCB iziMobile app from the National Commercial Joint Stock Bank will receive a discount of up to 45%, along with 3 vouchers for a 20% refund on services at Sun World Cat Ba and partner establishments.
Booking in advance ensures you get a good seat to fully enjoy the entire water stage – where nearly 40 international athletes from around the world will gather to perform flyboard, jetski, and jetsurf extreme sports in high-speed synchronized performances, perfectly coordinated with lasers, music, and artistic fireworks. Don't forget to fully charge your phone – you'll want to capture every moment unfolding before your eyes.
