How to go → HANOI to CAT BA? ☀️

Hanoi to Cat Ba by bus/van, taxi, train + ferry.

• • Cat Ba Island stands as the largest and most frequented island in Ha Long Bay, a prime destination for international tourists exploring northern Vietnam. While captivating, the island may sometimes be bustling with visitors. Do you want to know how to travel from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island? Cat Ba is not so far from Hanoi, the travel distance spans approximately 160 km, with four transportation options available. Optimal convenience lies in taking a tourist bus (+transfer by boat/ferry) from Hanoi, delivering you to Cat Ba Island in approximately 4-5 hours.
  • Alternatively, travel to Ha Long and from Tuan Chau Island (located 10 km from Ha Long city), board a boat/ferry bound for Cat Ba Island, or head to Hai Phong and catch a speedboat to Cat Ba Island. Prices for bus (+ferry) tickets from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island start at $11 per person, making this mode of travel highly popular. Before your arrival, acquaint yourself with essential information about the island’s weather through this article: Weather in Cat Ba Island.

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• • Speedboats departing from Hai Phong City provide direct access to the southern region of Cat Ba Island, specifically the town of Cat Ba, replete with numerous hotels and homestays catering to tourists. Alternatively, boat travel via Cat Hai and Cai Vieng port is also available. Personally, opting for a tourist bus from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island or a speedboat/ferry from Hai Phong to Cat Ba town represents the optimal and swiftest route for fair low-cost price. Since September 2017, travelers have been able to journey by tourist bus from Hanoi via the Tan Vu-Lach Huyen, Southeast Asia’s longest sea-crossing bridge, to Cát Hải. Additionally, boat/ferry transfers from Cát Hải (Bến phà Gót) to Cái Viềng (Bến phà Cái Viềng) are operational.
  • In June 2020, the first segment of the new cable car from Cai Vieng to Phu Luong (Cat Ba Island) was inaugurated. Despite the absence of flights to Cat Ba Island from Hanoi due to the lack of an airport, travelers can conveniently fly from Hai Phong city’s airport to central (e.g., Da Nang) or southern Vietnam (Saigon). Secure your bus + ferry tickets from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island or private transfer online. Private transfers to Cat Ba Island can also be arranged. Explore the detailed instructions on reaching Cat Ba Island from Hanoi, Vietnam, below in this article.

How do I get from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island?

1. BUS + FERRY from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island

The most popular option for all tourists traveling from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island is by bus + ferry via Hai Phong or Tuan Chau. Both variants via Hai Phong or Tuan Chau have their advantages and disadvantages. But this option is definitely suitable for low-cost travelers, the trip by bus and boat from Hanoi to Cat Ba costs about 10-17 USD / per person and takes about 3.5-5 hours, according to the transport company.

The cheapest bus tickets to Cat Ba cost around 9-10 USD / per person, you won’t find a cheaper option. The advantage of this option is a transfer with a combination of boat transport to Cat Ba Island, usually the price is also for transport by boat ferry. Boat transfers are mostly provided from Bến phà Gót port in Hai Phong or transfers from Tuan Chau, depending on the company that provides the transportation.

Hai Phong’s Bến phà Gót port is located east of Hai Phong city and is accessed via the long Tan Vu – Lach Huyen bridge. Boats from Bến phà Gót port arrive with a short transfer to Cái Viềng port and from there continue mostly by bus to the city of Cat Ba in the south of the island. Bus transportation from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island is provided by various private companies, among the well-known and well-rated ones are Goodmorning Cat Ba, Cat Ba Express, Daichi Travel, Grouptour, Full Moon Party Tour, To Vietnam Travel, Duc Duong, Vietnam Easy Go Travel, Vietnam Luxury Travel, Cat Ba Panorama, Viet Nam Travel Bus, King Express Bus, InterBus Lines, Cat Ba Discovery or Techbus VN.

Some of these private transport companies also provide suitable transfers to Cat Ba Island as well as from Noi Bai Airport, which is the main airport for Hanoi. A trip by bus + boat to Cat Ba is therefore a very suitable and safe transport option at a favorable price for all travelers.

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2. TRAIN + BOAT / FERRY from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island

Step 1 – If you want to get to know the large port city of Hai Phong, you can travel from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island via this city by a combination of train and ferry. The first step is a peaceful and comfortable train journey from Hanoi to Hai Phong. Trains to Hai Phong depart from Hanoi Railway Station, the journey takes about 2.5 hours and the tickets are cheap, costing about 3-4 USD/person for a comfortable seat.

The train station is in the center of Hai Phong, so everything is within easy reach. From there, you can continue to Bến Phà Got port, from where boats leave for Cat Ba Island (to Bến Phà Cái Việng port). Some boats may also depart from Pha Binh Port in Hai Phong (4 Bến Bính), which is in the northern part of the city. You can travel to Bến Phà Got harbor by taxi or you can use a combination of bus and ferry to Cat Ba by booking tickets online.  Book and buy train tickets from Hanoi to Hai Phong online on Baolau ➜

Step 2 – If you use the bus and ferry trip via the port of Bến Phà Got as the 2nd step, the journey will take approximately 1.5 hours in total, including a transfer to Cat Ba Island. It’s an ideal option and tickets are cheap, with a combined bus and ferry ticket costing around $6 per person. The bus from Hai Phong departs from the bus stop at 41 Bến Bính Street, goes to Bến Phà Got Port, and from there continues by boat to Cat Ba Island, to Bến Phà Cái Viềng Port. You can take a backpack with a maximum weight of 20 kg on the ferry. You can find and book a combined ticket online in advance.  Book bus + ferry ticket from Hai Phong to Cat Ba Island on Baolau ➜

3. TAXI / CAR + FERRY from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island

You can also travel to Cat Ba Island from Hanoi by private taxi, car with your own driver. It can be stated that this is the most convenient and fastest option of transfer to the island, however, it is also the most expensive option of transportation to Cat Ba. For those who do not care about the budget and do not travel low-cost, this option can be recommended, you will save time, possible transfers and a private taxi will usually take you even with a short boat transfer to the city of Cat Ba in the south of the island.

A private taxi / car with a driver from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island takes approximately 2-4 hours in total, depending on the company and type of car and travel route. In the menu you can find very modern and comfortable cars, minivans or minibuses for more people or even SUVs and Jeeps. As said, private transfer is the most expensive option to get from Hanoi to Cat Ba, costing around 100 – 340 USD / full car. A boat transfer to Cat Ba is usually included in the price. Again, the price is based on the type of car and the number of people being transported.

Various private companies operate on the route between Hanoi and Cat Ba Island, among the well-rated ones are Booking Car, Saigon DMC, Grouptour, Cat Ba Express, PacknGo and Ouros Travel. The advantage of a private transfer is that you can book a taxi or car directly from Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi.

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4. Travel on a Motorbike to Cat Ba Island

For those who are experienced in driving motorbikes, they can also take advantage of the Hanoi to Cat Ba transportation thanks to the motorbike trip. You can also visit Cat Ba Island with your motorbike, both from Tuan Chau in Ha Long and from the harbor in Hai Phong you can use the motorbike transportation by boat. The fee for transporting a motorcycle is relatively low, often on the order of a few dollars.

However, this option is of course not suitable for everyone, it is good to know the conditions of the roads in Vietnam, you should also have protective equipment while driving and you must follow all the rules of the road. However, a motorbike can be an ideal means of exploring Cat Ba Island, as traffic on this island is rather more limited. In theory, you can rent it on the island, just like, for example, a bicycle.

To drive a motorcycle in Vietnam, you must have an International Driving Permit with a valid motorcycle license. The trip by motorbike from Hanoi to Hai Phong or Ha Long may not be as interesting as, for example, elsewhere in the north. It is not a scenic drive in nature, it is mainly driven on the plain or around industrial areas. Therefore, consider whether it is at all appropriate to carry out the transport on a motorbike or whether it is not better to just rent it on the island of Cat Ba.

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5. FLIGHT from Hanoi to Tuan Chau Island (Seaplane)

You cannot use a plane transfer to Cat Ba Island, as this island does not have an airport. However, you can have a fantastic experience and take a scenic flight over Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba Island thanks to Hai Au Aviation or use this flight to transfer from Hanoi to Tuan Chau. The journey by Cessna Grand Caravan 208B-EX aircraft takes approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour from Hanoi to Tuan Chau if you also use the scenic flight over Ha Long Bay.

The plane takes off from Noi Bai Airport and flies to Tuan Chau Island Marina to see a piece of the Red River Delta in northern Vietnam. You can book a one-way or return flight between Hanoi and Tuan Chau / Ha Long. The price for such a one-way flight ranges from 300-450 USD and you can use only a direct flight to Tuan Chau or a sightseeing flight over Ha Long Bay in combination with a direct flight. You can also get closer to Cat Ba Island with this flight, as you can use a boat transfer from Tuan Chau to the northern part of the island.