Nestled in the heart of the beautiful Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba not only captivates visitors with its charming landscapes, pristine beaches, and majestic National Park but also stands as a culinary paradise with countless unique specialties.

Carrying the salty flavor of the sea and the freshness of the mountains, a gift from Cat Ba is a wonderful way to share memories of your trip with family and friends. If you’re still wondering, “What should I buy as a gift in Cat Ba?”, let’s explore the following list of meaningful souvenirs and the most reputable shopping addresses to make your trip complete.

Top Cat Ba Specialties to Buy as Gifts

Each specialty here tells a story about the nature and people of Cat Ba. Choosing the right gift will help you convey your feelings perfectly.

Cat Ba Wildflower Honey (Mật Ong Hoa Rừng Cát Bà)

Cat Ba honey is famous for its purity and unique flavor, diligently collected by bees from the diverse flowers within Cat Ba National Park, home to a unique tropical forest ecosystem on limestone mountains. The honey typically has an amber-brown color, is thick, clear, and has a mild, pleasant aroma that isn’t overpowering. When tasted, you’ll feel a pure, delicate sweetness that lingers in the throat, unlike the harshness of industrial honey.

More than just a food item, Cat Ba wildflower honey is also a valuable natural remedy. It helps boost the immune system, supports the treatment of respiratory ailments, soothes the throat, is good for the digestive system, and is an effective ingredient for skin care and maintaining a healthy physique.

• Reference Price: 250,000–500,000 VND/liter.
• Where to Buy:
  • Product introduction counters at Cat Ba National Park.
  • Large, reputable specialty stores in the town center.
• Tip: Real honey dissolves very slowly in water, has a slight fizziness, and won’t immediately spread out when dripped onto a paper towel.

Dried Squid and Sun-Dried Squid (Mực Khô và Mực Một Nắng)

The squid from the waters around Cat Ba is known for having a thicker body and a sweeter, more fragrant meat than squid from many other regions. Cat Ba dried squid is made from the freshest tube squid, which are split and dried directly under the island’s crisp sun. A quality dried squid has a thick white powdery coating, a straight body, a natural light pink color, and is not sticky or wet to the touch.

Grilled over charcoal, shredded, and dipped in chili sauce, dried squid is the perfect snack. Alternatively, you can use it in stir-fries, tamarind-rimmed dishes, or salads. Sun-dried squid (mực một nắng) is softer and suitable for deep-frying or stir-frying with pineapple.

• Reference Price: 660,000–1,300,000 VND/kg, depending on the size and type of squid.
• Where to Buy:
  • Cat Ba Market: The place with the widest variety.
  • Kien Khanh or Tuan Phuong Dried Seafood: These are famous shops with clearly listed prices.

Cat Hai Fish Sauce (Nước Mắm Cát Hải)

Cat Hai Fish Sauce is a brand with a long history and is the pride of the people of Hai Phong. Fermented using traditional methods from fresh anchovies, round scads, and other fish in large wooden barrels for a whole year, the fish sauce has a beautiful reddish-brown amber color, a rich characteristic aroma, and a deep, savory aftertaste from natural fish protein.

This is a traditional, rustic, yet incredibly meaningful gift. A bottle of pure fish sauce not only enriches family meals but also represents a piece of the “soul” of Cat Ba’s island culture.

• Reference Price: 80,000–150,000 VND/liter.
• Where to Buy:
  • Cat Ba Market.
  • Official distributors of Cat Hai fish sauce: Chuan Hien, Cat Ba Fish Sauce Processing Factory.

Sun-Dried Mackerel (Cá Thu Một Nắng)

The freshest mackerel are cut into steaks, washed with seawater, and then dried for exactly one session under the strong sun. This method allows the outer skin to dry and firm up while the meat inside remains fresh, sweet, soft, and tender. Cat Ba’s sun-dried mackerel is not hard like fish dried for many days, nor is it overly salty.

Sun-dried mackerel is very easy to prepare; simply fry it until golden, serve it with tomato sauce, or braise it with black pepper for a delicious, rice-accompanying dish. It is carefully vacuum-packed, making it a convenient gift.

• Reference Price: 250,000–400,000 VND/kg.

Cat Ba Squid Sausage (Chả Mực Cát Bà)

Unlike squid sausage from other places which is often ground, Cat Ba squid sausage is hand-pounded from fresh squid, so the patties retain a uniquely chewy and crunchy texture. The sausage is seasoned moderately, with fragrant notes of pepper and dill, and turns an attractive golden-brown when fried.

You can eat it hot after frying, in a sandwich, or with sticky rice. This is a popular gift for families, especially children.

• Reference Price: 350,000–500,000 VND/kg.
• Where to Buy:
  • Cat Ba Market: In the fresh seafood section.
  • Floating platforms on Lan Ha Bay.
  • Tuan Phuong Seafood Store.

Other Dried Seafood

Head straight to Cat Ba Market to buy a variety of dried seafood:

• Yellowstripe Scad (Cá chỉ vàng): Marinated and dried, perfect for grilling or frying, making an excellent snack.
• Dried Shrimp (Tôm khô): Sea shrimp from Cat Ba are boiled and then dried, resulting in a natural bright red color, firm meat, and sweet flavor. They are great for soups, salads, or braised dishes.
• Dried Peanut Worms (Sá sùng khô): A high-end specialty, hailed as the “gold of the sea” for its high nutritional value and unique natural sweetness. Dried peanut worms are used for grilling or for making broth for phở or other noodle soups, creating a rare, delicate sweetness.

Local Cakes & Crackers

Coconut Griddle Cakes (Bánh Chả Dừa): This is a simple but very popular snack, especially with children. The cakes are thin, round, and grilled to a crispy golden brown. When you eat them, you’ll taste the sweet, rich flavor of fresh coconut and the fragrant aroma of roasted sesame. They are light, easy to transport, have a long shelf life, and are very affordable.

Price: 20,000–30,000 VND/pack.

Red Rice Noodles (Bánh Đa Đỏ): Crab noodle soup (bánh đa cua) is the soul of Hai Phong cuisine, and you can enjoy it in Cat Ba. While you can’t bring a hot bowl home as a gift, you can buy the dried Red Rice Noodles – the key ingredient of this famous dish. Hai Phong’s red rice noodles have a distinctive dark brown color and are wide and flat. When cooked, they become chewy and soft without falling apart.

Reference Price: 40,000–55,000 VND/kg for the dried noodles.

You can find both of these items at:

• Cat Ba Market: Widely available and cheap.
• Grocery stores and mini-marts on 1/4 Street and Nui Ngoc Street.

Golden Tips for Buying Cat Ba Specialties as Gifts

• Explore Cat Ba Market: The market is the largest and most diverse shopping center on the island. Take some time to walk around, look at the products, and compare prices between stalls before deciding to buy. Don’t be afraid to bargain—it’s part of the shopping culture here—but do so reasonably and politely.
• Prioritize Products with Clear Origins and Packaging: For packaged products like honey and fish sauce, prioritize larger stores and products with labels that clearly state the place of production and expiration date to ensure quality and safety.
• Carefully Check Product Quality:
  • Dried Seafood: Good dried squid has a light pink color, a thick powdery coating, and no strong fishy or strange smell. Dried shrimp should have a natural orange-red color and no mold.
  • Fresh Seafood: The fish’s eyes should be clear, the gills bright red, and the body firm. Shrimp, crabs, and mantis shrimp should be alive and active.
• Ask for the Price Before Buying and Avoid Street Vendors: Always ask for the price before deciding to buy anything, especially from street vendors who do not have listed prices, to avoid being overcharged.

Your journey to explore Cat Ba wouldn’t be truly complete without the specialty gifts that carry the rich flavors of its sea and mountains. From a sweet bottle of honey and a savory bottle of fish sauce to fragrant dried squid, each gift is a way for you to preserve and share the beautiful memories of this pearl island.

Hopefully, with the detailed suggestions shared by WISTARIA HOTEL CAT BA, you will no longer have to wonder “what to buy in Cat Ba” and can easily choose the most satisfying gifts for your loved ones.