How to go → CAT BA to HOI AN? ☀️

1. Bus + Train to Hoi An
2. Bus + Flight to Hoi An
3. Tourist Bus to Hoi An
🎫 Book a Tour Online
🎫 Book Ticket / Flight

From Cat Ba to Hoi An you can travel by bus + train, plane or sleeper bus.

• • The distance from Cat Ba Island to Hoi An spans about 880 km by road via Hai Phong and Ninh Binh. Opting for the quickest route, travelers can embark on a journey by bus + plane via Hai Phong. Hai Phong Airport, approximately 40 km from Cat Ba town, serves as the starting point. From Hai Phong, catch a direct flight to Da Nang Airport, followed by a convenient shuttle bus or taxi ride to Hoi An. This route typically takes 7-9 hours, with affordable direct flights from Hai Phong to Da Nang. Alternatively, travelers can choose to traverse by bus + train via Ninh Binh
    
  • Begin by taking a bus to Ninh Binh, approximately a 4-5-hour journey, then hop on one of the various sleeper tourist trains bound for Da Nang, totaling about 15-17 hours. For budget-conscious travelers, the most economical option entails a tourist sleeper bus. Catch a bus from Cat Ba to Hoi An, costing around $35-55 per person and spanning a total travel time of approximately 20-22 hours. Secure your bus/train tickets or flights to Hoi An + Da Nang from Cat Ba / Hai Phong conveniently online in advance.

BOOK TICKETS with 12go.asia ➜

• • Hoi An is a captivating city nestled at the mouth of the Thu Bon River, luring in thousands of tourists with its enchanting ambiance reminiscent of bygone eras. It’s akin to stepping into a living museum, boasting thousands of meticulously preserved historical buildings that transport you back in time. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hoi An’s old town exudes charm with its pagodas, temples, Chinese assembly halls, and private residences, all retaining their original grandeur or meticulously restored to perfection.
  • Among its iconic landmarks stands the remarkable Japanese covered bridge, a testament to the city’s rich history. Visiting Hoi An is an absolute must when exploring central Vietnam. Situated approximately 30 km from Da Nang, which hosts an international airport, reaching Hoi An from Cat Ba Island offers several transportation options, including bus, bus + train, or bus + plane. Before embarking on your journey to the ancient town of Hoi An from Da Nang city, familiarize yourself with the local weather conditions by perusing this informative article: Weather in Hoi An. Once in Hoi An, explore further by traveling to Ho Chi Minh City or Quy Nhon.

BOOK TICKETS with Baolau ➜

---

How do I get from Cat Ba Island to Hoi An?

1. BUS + TRAIN from Cat Ba to Hoi An (via Ninh Binh)

An interesting low-cost transfer option from Cat Ba Island to Hoi An in central Vietnam is bus and train transport via the city of Ninh Binh. Ninh Binh is a very interesting and attractive place with many nice scenery and historical attractions. This city is about 160 km from Cat Ba and you can go there by bus / minivan (+ a short ferry transfer) and then from there you can continue by train to Da Nang. And from Da Nang it is only 30 km by bus or other private transfer to Hoi An.

So the first step is to travel by bus / minivan from Cat Ba to Ninh Binh. This trip takes approximately 3-5 hours by bus, depending on the company and type of bus. This trip also includes a short ferry transfer from Cat Ba Island to the mainland near Hai Phong, then continue by bus to Ninh Binh again. Transfer by bus + ferry from Cat Ba to Ninh Binh costs in the range of $9-20/pp, the transfer by modern comfortable minivan is usually more expensive.

Most buses or minivans depart from the city of Cat Ba in the south of the island and arrive at various places in Ninh Binh such as Tam Coc, Hoa Lu, Trang An or Ninh Binh city. You will always see this information when ordering tickets online, so check everything carefully to avoid any complications.

BOOK BUS TICKETS to Ninh Binh ➜

The second step is a train transfer from Ninh Binh city to Da Nang. This is a very long railway route through central Vietnam, which takes about 13-15 hours to Da Nang. Regular Vietnam Railways trains as well as some more comfortable sleeper tourist trains will be available for you. These tourist sleeper trains such as Livitrans Express, Lotus Train, Laman Express and Violette Train are arranged in regular trains.

Train tickets to Da Nang from Ninh Binh range from $20-50/pp (regular trains) and tourist sleeper train ticket prices are $65-135/pp per sleeper. Tourist trains are always a more expensive option, but they will offer you relatively better comfort and cozier trains. Trains arrive at Da Nang Train Station, which is a short distance from the city center, so everything is just a short distance away (see Vietnam Railway Map).

BOOK TRAIN TICKETS to Da Nang ➜

The last step is the transfer by bus or minivan from Da Nang to Hoi An. This is a route where these connections are operated by a number of different companies and the journey time is approx. 1-1.5 hours. Bus tickets cost between $2-16/pp, classic big buses tend to be cheaper than more modern and comfortable small minivans or minibuses.

Some buses or minivans also leave from Da Nang train station, and others leave from various places in the city or the surrounding area. And in Hoi An they also come to various places. You will always see all this information about departures and arrivals when ordering tickets online. You can again easily find and buy tickets to Hoi An online, even in advance.

BOOK BUS TICKETS to Hoi An ➜

2. BUS + FLIGHT from Cat Ba to Hoi An (via Hai Phong)

If you are looking for the fastest and most comfortable way to get from Cat Ba to Hoi An, you can use a bus transfer and a flight via Hai Phong and Da Nang. This option has a total of 3 steps and will save you several hours compared to traveling by train or sleeper bus. First, you need to take a bus or private transfer to Cat Bi Airport in Hai Phong, this journey is about 50 km long if you depart from Cat Ba city.

Cat Bi Airport is the closest airport to Cat Ba Island. It is best to ask about this option in Cat Ba city, some companies should go to this airport as well. The transfer can take up to 1.5 hours and includes a short ferry transfer to the mainland near the city of Hai Phong.

The second step is a direct flight from Hai Phong to Da Nang, which takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. These direct flights are operated from Cat Bi Airport in Hai Phong to Da Nang International Airport (see map of airports in Vietnam). These flights between these cities are operated by VietJet Air, which is a low-cost airline but has very good reviews and references from other travelers.

The price of a direct flight from Hai Phong to Da Nang is approximately $50-130/pp, prices may change slightly during the year, they are not fixed. However, it is good to know that the flight schedule between these cities is very limited and there are always about 2 flights in operation every day. Arrive at Cat Bi airport at least 2-2.5 hours before your flight to Da Nang. Search and buy flights from Hai Phong to Da Nang online.

BOOK DIRECT FLIGHT to Da Nang ➜

The third step is a transfer by bus or minivan from Da Nang Airport to Hoi An city. From Da Nang Airport to Hoi An there are many different local or private buses, minivans, or even private taxis. The cheapest is a transfer by bus or minivan. The bus journey or other private transfer from Da Nang Airport to Hoi An takes about 1-1.5 hours, depending on the company and the traffic situation in the area.

You can use different companies for transfer to Hoi An, such as Barri Ann Travel, Vietnam Explore Travel, Viet Nam Travel Bus, April Adventure. Transfer by bus or minivan to Hoi An from Da Nang airport will cost you about $5-15/pp, depending on the type of bus or minivan.

Again, you can find and buy these tickets from Da Nang Airport to Hoi An online in advance. Buses and minivans arrive at various locations in Hoi An, please read all route information carefully before booking tickets.

BOOK BUS TICKETS to Hoi An ➜

3. SLEEPER BUS from Cat Ba to Hoi An

The last low-cost land transport option from Cat Ba Island to Hoi An is a sleeper intercity bus trip. Again, this is a long route that takes a lot of time and the buses also have other stops along the way. The travel time by sleeper bus from Cat Ba to Hoi An is approximately 20-22 hours, but you also have to take into account that the buses may also be delayed on departure and therefore also on arrival.

It’s also a good idea to consider whether you really want to spend almost the whole day on a sleeper bus, it’s not for everyone. Companies that operate bus routes from Cat Ba to Hoi An are, for example, Full Moon Party Tour, Sapa Discovery Travel, Vietnam Luxury Travel, Vietnam Easy Go Travel or Duy Khanh Transport.

BOOK BUS TICKETS to Hoi An ➜

Some of them already offer very new and modern comfortable buses, some may be older classic sleeper buses. Bus transfer from Cat Ba to Hoi An costs between $35-55/pp and you can search and buy tickets online in advance. These buses can take you to various places in Hoi An, but also to the nearby city of Da Nang. You will always see all this information when ordering tickets online, please read them carefully.

It is also recommended to arrive at the departure point in Cat Ba at least 30 minutes before the bus departure. If you are thinking whether to travel by train, then a suitable option is to travel by bus to Ninh Binh and from there by Vietnam Railways train to Da Nang. Sleeper trains are also popular and tickets are almost the same as buses in terms of price. The bus transfer to Hoi An is mainly suitable for solo travelers who are looking for a cheaper transport option.

❓ FAQ – Travel route from Cat Ba Island to Hoi An:

BOOK a TOUR / ACTIVITY in Hoi An ➜

BOOK your HOTEL in Hoi An ➜

---

🎫 Book your tickets or flights from Cat Ba to Hoi An + Schedule:

(You can change your travel route and book another tickets, eg. Cat Ba > Hanoi, Hanoi > Hoi An…)

Hoi An to Phu Quoc Island ➔