Off to Cát Bà Island

From Chez Beo Homestay I took the QL10 to Nam Định then further the QL39A and a few other QL’s towards Hai Phong. From there you have to drive over very bumpy and dusty roads to find the ferry. My Google girl was a big disappointment – she did not know nothing and was very happy to let me drive in a big circle along that dusty road. With the help of some local bicycle driving girls I made it to the ferry stop at the coast.
There are two gates and I opted for the right one. Leading over another dust road to the “High Speed Boat” It is not really that fast but faster than the other boats that leave at the end of the street if you take the left gate.

Ninh Binh Town Gate – I somehow love that picture!

Express Butcher

Dusty factory – no clue what they produce there – looks like they need a lot of coal. So there must be a lot of heat somewhere.

The place is completely dusty, the bridge was super dusty as well.

Size matters – they do sort something – rocks – that is for sure

No clue what she sorts there and what they do with it. Please help me out in the comments below!

Waiting for the Express Ferry to Cát Bà

Work at Home – save commuting!

The High Speed Boat – the only way to get there is the narrow bridge where you see the man running. So if you come with your big BMW – no way to get there since your bike is to fat!

On the Express Ferry

Cát Bà Island

Did book my hotel at booking.com -> Mr. Zoom. Sure enough I booked a room with city view – the other option was mountain view. Mr. Zoom is quite central, has very good ratings and the price is right. He is really friendly and helpful – you find him most of the day at his desk in front of his hotel. Ready to answer questions or to arrange a trip for you.

When I got there Mr. Zoom did give me this room in the hotel to the left of his place. It is ok but – no window! Humid as the city was you can imagine what happens when you take a shower. And the Wifi was on and off.

View into the bathroom

Did check the App again and went down to complain. No problem – we went to the hotel on the right of his place and he gave me another room – and boy – that was a really good room.

Up on the 5th floor so nobody else was up here. A balcony outside, fridge, AC, fan, 2 big beds, closet and hot shower as well as a private toilet. And best of all: Only 20 US $ for 4 nights! Great Deal – where else do you get a room like that for 5US$???

View from the second bed towards the door

Not too much to see outside – from the balcony you can see the street down below. And some hotels on the other side of the street.

After check in I went down to the harbour. Great view with the gray sky. Quite depressing so let’s go for some food.

Vegetarian Soup

Vietnamese Coffee

After dinner I went to the local Bia Hoi place. 1 litre only 0,82 US $!! And it ir really drinkable :-)

Interesting sea animal – and quite big. Why do people have to eat everything :-(

The last Egg Coffee for this trip. A bit on the sweet side but as long as you are not Vegan – try one!

Took a trip with a friend on the bikes one day to see the island. Did not do a lot the other day’s since the weather was the same old gray gray all the time. On the last morning I went down to the harbour before breakfast to take some pictures with the big camera.

Morning at the harbour at Cát Bà

Taxi Boat

Man on his boat

Big wooden boat on the top left is ready for catching octopus. When they reach the fishing area they unfold the light construction and turn it on. Now the animal thinks the sun is up and comes to the surface. If you ever had a night flight over the South China Sea for example and fly over a fleet of such boats it looks like a very big city. Until you look on the map at your entertainment system only to find out you are in the middle of the water.