Hang Quan Y (Hospital Cave) Cat Ba- The Ultimate Insider Guide

Hang Quan Y, widely known simply as the Cat Ba hospital cave, is one of Cat Ba Island's most unusual historic sites, a full field hospital built inside a natural limestone cave during the Vietnam War. This guide to the hospital cave in Cat Ba, Vietnam covers where it is, what it used to cost, and the story behind its old name, along with the latest on why it is closed.

Update: Military Hospital Cave is now permanently closed to visitors. This closure is not related to the flooding currently affecting other Cat Ba attractions such as Trung Trang Cave. There is no announcement about a reopening at this time. Last checked August 31, 2026.

Last updated: 4 September 2026

Where is Hang Quan Y and how far is it?

The Military Hospital Cave on Cat Ba Island is situated right next to the cross-island road, halfway up a mountainside in Hai Son Village (formerly known as Khe Sau), Tran Chau Commune, Cat Hai District. According to official tourism information from Cat Hai District, the site is located approximately 7 km from the center of Cat Ba Town and near the eastern edge of Cat Ba National Park.

What it used to cost and when it used to open?

Before it closed, entry cost 80,000 VND for adults and 40,000 VND for children under 1.2 meters tall, and the site was open daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, cash only.

These numbers are no longer relevant for planning a visit, since the ticket booth and entrance are closed. They are kept here only for reference, since travelers researching Cat Ba's attractions still search for them.

Planning your Cat Ba trip now that the cave is closed

Hang Quan Y is just one of many Cat Ba Island caves, and because it is no longer open, most travellers now build their Cat Ba itinerary around Cat Ba National Park, a Lan Ha Bay boat trip, and the island's other historic sites instead.

If Cat Ba's wartime history is what drew you here, ask a local guide which nearby caves and lookout points are open before building a half day around this part of the island.

The legend behind the cave's old name, Hung Son

Long before it became a hospital, this cave was known as Hung Son, named after a young man from Lang So village, now Nghia Lo commune on Cat Hai island. According to local legend, Hung Son raised a small navy and fought off invaders from the north during the reign of the sixth Hung King, one of Vietnam's earliest ruling dynasties.

After he died in battle, his body is said to have drifted back to his home island, where local people built a shrine in his honor and named him the guardian spirit of the village. The road linking Cat Ba town to Gia Luan ferry still carries his name today, and so did this cave, until the war gave it its current one.

How the cave became a wartime field hospital

Between 1963 and 1965, American bombing of North Vietnam intensified, and Cat Ba's soldiers and residents needed a safe place to treat the wounded. They built a field hospital inside the natural cavity of this limestone cave, and from that point on it became known as Hang Quan Y, meaning Military Hospital Cave.

The staircase leading up to the entrance was built from wood on purpose, rather than stone or concrete. A wooden staircase could be taken apart and pulled up quickly if enemy troops landed nearby, which kept the hospital's location hidden. It has been rebuilt several times over the years, always in wood, to preserve that piece of history.

Inside the hospital cave

The removable staircase and the curved iron door

Past the wooden staircase, the first thing you would have reached is a heavy iron door with a curved, dome like shape. That curve was a deliberate design choice, since it deflects shrapnel and blast fragments sideways instead of letting them strike the door head on.

Behind the main door are four smaller iron bolts and one main lock securing the entrance to the hospital. From there, a corridor about 200 meters long runs through the mountain, connecting a west facing front door to an east facing back door on the other side.

Floor 1: The 14-room medical wing

The main working floor was built from reinforced concrete and held 14 functional rooms, including a rest room for surgeons, a patient ward, an emergency operating room, a rehabilitation room, a meeting hall, a medicine dispensary and storage room, a kitchen, a reception room, a bathroom, a toilet, a water tank, and staff rest quarters.

In total, the underground hospital covered around 2,000 square meters across its three levels, built to treat and shelter hundreds of patients and staff at a time, lit throughout by its own electrical system.

Floors 2 and 3: The cinema, fitness checks and command rooms

The upper two levels were left as natural cave space rather than built up with concrete. The second floor served as a small cinema and a fitness and health check area for staff and recovering soldiers, while the third floor held a reception hall, a guard post, and rooms for officers.

Hang Quan Y remains one of the clearest reminders of what Cat Ba's residents built to survive the war, even though you can no longer walk through it yourself. For more of the island's beaches, caves and boat trips, head back to the Beka Travel homepage to keep planning your trip.

Frequently asked questions

Is the hospital cave on Cat Ba Island still open to visitors?

No. As of August 2026, Hang Quan Y is permanently closed, with no announced reopening date.

Where is Hang Quan Y cave located?

It sits beside the cross island road in Hai Son hamlet, Tran Chau commune, about 7 km from Cat Ba town center.

How much did it cost to visit before it closed?

Entry used to cost 80,000 VND for adults and 40,000 VND for children under 1.2 meters, with the site open daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Why was the cave once called Hung Son?

It was named after a local hero from the sixth Hung King era, said to have defended the island by sea. The cave kept that name until it became a field hospital in the 1960s.

What was Hang Quan Y used for during the war?

Between 1963 and 1965, it served as an underground field hospital, treating wounded soldiers and residents while sheltering them from American bombing.

Can I still see the cave from outside?

The hillside and exterior can still be seen from the road, but the entrance itself is closed off and there is no public access inside.

What should I visit instead near this Cat Ba hospital cave?

Most travellers now spend that time at Cat Ba National Park or on a Lan Ha Bay boat trip instead, both of which remain open.

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