1. Bus to Cat Ba Island
2. Bus + Train + Boat
3. Taxi / Car to Cat Ba
🎫 Book a Tour Online
🎫 Book Ticket Online
From Sapa to Cat Ba you can travel by bus, bus+train, car + ferry.
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- Wondering how to travel from Sapa to Cat Ba Island? There are several routes and modes of transportation available for this journey. A popular choice is to travel via Hanoi by bus, train + bus, or private car + ferry. While some tourist buses offer direct routes from Sapa to Cat Ba Island without a stopover in Hanoi, keep in mind that this option typically takes around 10-12 hours, with ticket prices ranging from $21 to $34 per person.
- Alternatively, you can take a bus to Ha Long and then a boat from Ha Long (Tuan Chau Island) to Cat Ba Island. Another option involves taking a train from Lao Cai Railway Station to Hai Phong via Hanoi, followed by a speedboat journey to Cat Ba Island. The most comfortable and fast way of getting to Cat Ba from Sapa town is to travel by private taxi/car, but this is the most expensive way of transfer.
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- You can also opt for traveling by regular train from Lao Cai (25 km from Sapa) to Hanoi, where you can then catch a bus (+ferry from Hai Phong) to Cat Ba Island. A brief boat/ferry transfer awaits in Hai Phong (Bến phà Gót port) to reach Cat Ba Island (Cái Viềng port). With a travel distance of about 500 km from Sapa to Cat Ba Island, expect considerable travel time. You can conveniently book bus, train, or ferry tickets to Cat Ba Island online.
- From Cat Ba, you can further journey to central Vietnam, such as Da Nang by train/bus or plane – Vietnam’s 4th largest city or you can go back to Hanoi. Ensure a smooth journey by carefully reviewing instructions on reaching Cat Ba Island from Sapa and Lao Cai, and secure your tickets effortlessly online.
| Transfer Mode – Sapa to Cat Ba Island: | Travel Time | Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist Bus + Ferry | 10-12 hours | $21-34/pp |
| Train + Bus + Ferry | 15-17 hours | $25+ |
| Private Car + Ferry | 8 hours | $240-320/car |
How do I get from Sapa to Cat Ba Island?
1. BUS + FERRY from Sapa to Cat Ba Island
A popular low-cost option for transportation from Sapa to Cat Ba Island is by bus + ferry/boat via Hai Phong. Alternatively, you can also travel by bus and boat via Tuan Chau Island, which is a tourist island near Ha Long city. In this description, we will focus on the transfer through Hai Phong city, through which most tourist buses go.
The bus and boat trip consists of a total of 3 steps, the trip from Sapa to Hai Phong to the port, the boat transfer from the port to Cat Ba and then the bus trip to Cat Ba town in the south of the island. The city of Cat Ba is the main tourist center in the south of the island and it is here that most of the buses with travelers go.
So expect that the transfer from Sapa to Cat Ba by bus and ferry or speedboat takes a total of 10-12 hours, according to the company. Several transport companies provide transport from Sapa to Cat Ba Island, which will also offer you a boat transfer with a combined ticket, you can buy these tickets online.
BOOK TICKETS to Cat Ba Island ➜
Buses to Cat Ba are offered by companies such as Sapa Ethnic Travel, Techbus VN, Cuong Lan, Ket Doan, Good Morning Cat Ba, Grouptour, Luxury Van Limousine, Full Moon Party Tour, Daiichi Travel, Sapa Discovery Travel, Phuc Xuyen. Most of these companies offer older or even very new modern sleeper buses on the way to Cat Ba.
Buses depart from various locations in Sapa and also arrive at various locations on Cat Ba Island. You will always see this information and departure and arrival points when ordering tickets online. The bus + ferry/boat trip from Sapa to Cat Ba Island costs between $21-34/pp and usually the boat transfer from Hai Phong to Cat Ba is included in this price.
You can search and buy combined tickets from Sapa to Cat Ba online even in advance. Always read all ticket instructions carefully and arrive at the departure point at least 30 minutes before the bus departs from Sapa.
2. BUS + TRAIN + FERRY to Cat Ba Island (via Hai Phong)
Another low-cost option for transportation from Sapa to Cat Ba Island is by bus + train + ferry via the city of Lao Cai and Hai Phong. However, this option has a total of 4 steps and takes more time, but it is an option to use the train journey through Hanoi. The first step is to travel by bus or private car from Sapa to the city of Lao Cai, which is a journey of approx. 30 km and the journey time is approx. 1 hour. There is a public bus on this route that goes all the way to Lao Cai Train Station. You can book tickets or even a private transfer from Sapa to Lao Cai online.
The next step is to travel by train from Lao Cai to Hanoi, these regular trains also include sleeper tourist trains. Regular trains have both seats and sleeping beds and are cheaper than the more comfortable tourist trains. Train travel time from Lao Cai to Hanoi is about 8 hours and tickets for regular trains start at about $14/berth. Tourist sleeper trains are more expensive and tickets for these trains cost between $28-40/pp. It is advisable to choose a sleeping bed on this route. It is advisable to book train tickets from Lao Cai to Hanoi in advance and online, this is a popular tourist route. Attention, these trains do not go to Hai Phong city, you need to choose another train connection from Hanoi to travel to this city.
The third step is to travel by train by Vietnam Railways from Hanoi to Hai Phong city. This is a shorter route, the journey time to Hai Phong from Hanoi takes about 2.5 hours and tickets cost about $3-6/pp per seat. Trains arrive at Hai Phong Railway Station (75 Lương Khánh Thiện), which is in the city center and from there you can take a combined transfer thanks to the bus and ferry to Cat Ba Island. Trains by Vietnam Railways from Hanoi to Hai Phong have a limited timetable and you can book train tickets online even in advance.
BOOK TRAIN TICKETS to Hai Phong ➜
The last step is to travel by bus and ferry from Hai Phong to Cat Ba Island. You can use a combined transfer by bus and ferry. The bus will bring you to a nearby port and from there you will continue with a short boat transfer to Cat Ba. Then continue by bus to the city of Cat Ba in the south of the island. This combined transfer to Cat Ba from Hai Phong costs about $6-7/per person and takes about 1.5 hours. The bus departs from Pha Binh Port in Hai Phong (41 Bến Bính). These combined bus and ferry tickets are best purchased and reserved online in advance.
BOOK BUS + FERRY TICKETS to Cat Ba➜
3. PRIVATE TAXI / CAR from Sapa to Cat Ba Island
The most convenient, fastest, but at the same time the most expensive way to get to Cat Ba Island from Sapa is by private car/taxi. If you are traveling in Vietnam in a low-cost style, then this option is probably not the right one for you, but if you are not on a budget, you can definitely choose this option. Private cars from Sapa to Cat Ba Island are operated by private taxi companies Ouros Travel and Saigon DMC, which are well rated by other travelers in Vietnam.
These companies will offer you very modern and comfortable classic cars, SUVs and even minivans for several people traveling together. Driving time by private car/taxi from Sapa to Cat Ba Island takes approximately 8 hours and the fare ranges from $240-320/car, depending on the type of car.
Smaller cars are cheaper, minivans / minibuses for more people are the most expensive, but the advantage is that you can calculate the fare per person, so even a minivan can be advantageous in the end. Part of these private transfers is a boat transfer mostly from Hai Phong to Cat Ba Island, then the journey continues to Cat Ba.
It is therefore approximately a similar transport option to sleeper buses. You can search and book your private car/taxi from Sapa to Cat Ba Island online even in advance. Always read all instructions and conditions carefully when booking a private car to avoid any complications.
❓ FAQ + Tips – Travel route from Sapa to Cat Ba Island:
1. How to book and buy tickets from Sapa to Cat Ba Island?
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- You can book e-tickets from Sapa to Cat Ba Island online on Baolau ➜ or 12go.asia ➜.
- It is also possible to book various travel routes, e.g. Sapa to Lao Cai, Lao Cai to Hanoi….
2. How to search and book a tour to Cat Ba in Ha Long Bay?
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- You can search and book a tour or cruise to Cat Ba Island with KLOOK ➜.
3. How long does it take to travel from Sapa to Cat Ba Island?
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- Travel by sleeper bus + ferry from Sapa to Cat Ba Island takes about 10-12 hours.
- Travel by train + bus + ferry from Sapa to Cat Ba Island takes about 15-17 hours.
- Travel by private taxi/car + ferry from Sapa to Cat Ba Island takes about 8 hours.
4. How much does it cost to travel from Sapa to Cat Ba Island?
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- Travel by bus/minivan + ferry from Sapa to Cat Ba Island costs about $21-34/pp.
- Travel by train + bus + ferry from Sapa to Cat Ba Island costs about $25+/pp.
- Travel by private taxi/car + ferry from Sapa to Cat Ba Island costs about $240-320/car.
5. What is the travel distance from Sapa to Cat Ba Island?
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- Travel distance from Sapa to Cat Ba Island is about 500 km by train/bus/minivan + ferry. However, this travel route may vary slightly, depending on the route operated by the transport company.
6. Is it possible to travel by plane from Sapa to Cat Ba Island?
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- No, it is not possible to travel by plane because there is no airport in Sapa and on Cat Ba Island.
7. What is the fastest option of transport from Sapa to Cat Ba Island?
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- The most fastest way how to get to Cat Ba Island from Sapa is to travel by private taxi/car. This way of transfer takes totally about 8 hours.
8. Is it possible to travel by private taxi from Sapa to Cat Ba Island?
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- Yes, it is possible, there are some private taxi companies from Sapa to Cat Ba (Saigon DMC, Ouros Travel), or from Sapa to Hanoi and from Hanoi to Cat Ba. You can book your private car to Cat Ba also online with 12go.asia.
9. What is the bus schedule from Cat Ba to Hanoi?
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- There are various buses from Cat Ba to Hanoi, read this article: Buses from Cat Ba Island to Hanoi. Travel by ferry+bus from Cat Ba Island can take up to 4 hours and bus tickets cost about $11-17/pp.
10. How to travel from Cat Ba Island to Ninh Binh?
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- Another popular tourist travel route – Cat Ba to Ninh Binh. There are various tourist buses from Cat Ba to Ninh Binh, read this article> How to get from Cat Ba to Ninh Binh?
11. Which islands you can also visit in Vietnam?
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- There are various popular and tourist islands in Vietnam. You can read this article: 10 Best Islands in Vietnam.
12. How to travel solo in Vietnam?
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- Discover the wonders of solo travel in Vietnam as you explore ancient temples, cruise through scenic landscapes or karst sceneries, hike various national parks and ethnic villages and connect with the warm-hearted locals, creating a personalized journey of cultural immersion and breathtaking experiences.
BOOK a TOUR / ACTIVITY in Halong Bay ➜
🎫 Book your bus, train or ferry tickets from Sapa to Cat Ba Island:
(you can change your departure and arrival, eg. Sapa > Hanoi, Hanoi > Cat Ba, Hai Phong > Cat Ba)