A corner of Cat Ba Island. Photo by Dantri/Dtinews
Cat Ba in Haiphong City ranks third on the regional list, following Koh Chang in Thailand and Penang in Malaysia.
At 101 square miles, Cat Ba offers prime adventure opportunities, according to reporter Sarah Gillespie. While many stop here for just a day en route to the group’s smaller islands, adrenaline seekers often stay longer.
The limestone karst cliffs provide a climbers’ playground, while Butterfly Valley, with its caves and overhangs, is popular for deep-water soloing (bouldering without ropes over deep water), the publication notes.
For a safer but no less spectacular alternative, visitors can hike Ngu Lam Peak or paddle a kayak through bioluminescent plankton.
Other islands among the top eight to explore in Southeast Asia include Komodo in Indonesia, Panay and Isla Verde in the Philippines, Java in Indonesia, and Don Khong in Laos.
