1. Bus + Boat to Cat Ba
2. Bus + Train to Cat Ba
3. Bus + Flight to Cat Ba
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Travel distance from Phong Nha to Cat Ba Island by land is about 600 km.
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- The fastest way to reach Cat Ba Island is by taking a flight from Dong Hoi (located 45 km from Phong Nha) to Hanoi, followed by a bus journey to Cat Ba Island. However, if you’re looking for the most economical option, consider traveling by sleeper intercity bus. The bus ride from Phong Nha to Cat Ba Island can last up to 12-16 hours. This transport option also includes a short ferry / boat transfer to cat ba island, mostly from Hai Phong (or Ha Long town). Bus tickets from Phong Nha to Cat Ba are priced around $30-50 per person and you can book the measily online. You can also travel by sleeper bus via Ninh Binh, there are buses between Phong Nha – Ninh Binh – Cat Ba Island. Secure your tickets or flights from Phong Nha-Ke Bang to Cat Ba Island online.
Explore Multiple Travel Options from Phong Nha to Cat Ba Island.
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- Cat Ba Island in Ha Long Bay ranks among the most popular destinations in northern Vietnam. However, traveling from Phong Nha-Ke Bang in central Vietnam to Cat Ba Island can be time-consuming. You have several travel options available, including a combination of bus, train, plane, or ferry. Dong Hoi, located approximately 45 km from Phong Nha, serves as the nearest town with an airport. From Dong Hoi, you can catch a direct flight to Hanoi, with a flight duration of about 1 hour. Alternatively, you can opt for a land journey, such as traveling from Phong Nha to Ninh Binh and then proceeding to Cat Ba, although this route takes considerably more time. Upon reaching Cat Ba Island, you can further explore your travel options, including bus + ferry services to Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam.
| Transfer Mode – Phong Nha to Cat Ba: | Travel Time | Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| Sleeper Bus | 12-16 hours | $30-50/pp |
| Bus + Train + Bus (via Ninh Binh) | 17-20 hours | $30-60/pp |
| Bus + Plane + Bus | 7-8 hours | $100+/pp |
How do I get from Phong Nha to Cat Ba?
1. BUS from Phong Nha to Cat Ba Island
The most suitable low-cost transportation option to get from Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park to Cat Ba Island is by sleeper bus. The disadvantage is a longer drive time and a little less comfort during the trip. The bus service also includes a ferry transfer from Hai Phong (or Ha Long) to Cat Ba Island, usually this is also included in the fare.
Duy Khanh Transport, Full Moon Party Tour, Grouptour, Vietnam Easy Go Travel, Sapa Discovery Travel, TP Travel and The Long Travel mostly operate sleeper buses from Phong to Cat Ba. Travel time may vary depending on the company and travel route, how and where the buses go.
The average sleeper bus travel time from Phong Nha to Cat Ba is approximately 12-16 hours. It is necessary to take into account that buses in Vietnam may also have delays on departure and arrival, you better count on that. It is recommended to arrive at the departure point in Phong Nha at least 30 minutes before departure.
Sleeper intercity buses depart from various locations and places in Phong Nha and mostly arrive in Cat Ba town in the south of the island. The price of bus tickets may vary by company and route, but on average, a bus trip from Phong Nha to Cat Ba costs about $30-50/pp.
Older buses are usually cheaper, more modern, and new buses are more expensive. You can search and buy bus tickets from Phong Nha to Cat Ba Island online with enough prestige. Always read carefully all the instructions and conditions of the transport company in order to avoid possible complications.
2. BUS + TRAIN from Phong Nha to Cat Ba Island
If you would like to travel by train, it is also possible, but only from Dong Hoi city to Ninh Binh and from there use a bus transfer to Cat Ba. So this option has a total of 3 steps, the first step is a transfer from Phong Nha to Dong Hoi, then a train trip from Dong Hoi to Ninh Binh and then a bus transfer from Ninh Binh to Cat Ba.
The disadvantage of this option is that there are more steps and therefore a longer transfer time, so it is more of an alternative to a bus transfer. The first step is to travel by local bus or private taxi/car from Phong Nha to Dong Hoi.
The journey by local bus to Dong Hoi takes about 1.5 hours and the buses arrive at Bến xe Nam Lý station, which is a short distance from the train station. The local bus is the cheapest form of transport, tickets cost around $2/pp. A private transfer is a more expensive but more convenient option.
The second step is to travel by Vietnam Railways train from Dong Hoi to Ninh Binh. Even from Ninh Binh there are buses to Cat Ba Island, theoretically you can go by train to Hanoi and then use a bus transfer to Cat Ba. This train journey takes approximately 10.5-13 hours and you can use regular Vietnam Railways trains as well as more comfortable tourist sleeper trains such as Livitrans Express, Laman Express, Lotus Train or Violette Train.
BOOK TRAIN TICKETS to Ninh Binh ➜
Regular trains offer you seats and sleeping beds in cabins for 4-6 passengers, it is advisable to use sleeping beds, as it is a longer route. Trains arrive at Ninh Binh train station, which is a short distance from the city center and about 5 km from the popular Tam Coc. It is advisable to stay at this place for a while and then continue by bus to Cat Ba.
So your last step will be a bus transfer from Ninh Binh to Cat Ba. Different companies travel between these places and offer classic buses or even more comfortable minivans for groups of people. You can use companies such as Daiichi Travel, Techbus VN, Grouptour, Full Moon Party Tour, Cat Ba Panorama, Ninh Binh Footprint, Duc Duong or VietNam Travel Bus.
You can find and book tickets from Ninh Binh to Cat Ba online and prices range from $7-15/pp. Most buses depart from various locations and arrive mostly in the city of Cat Ba in the south of the island. The bus transfer also includes a short ferry ride mostly from Hai Phong to Cat Ba.
3. BUS + FLIGHT + BUS from Phong Nha to Cat Ba
The last way you can travel to Cat Ba from Phong Nha is to use bus and plane transport via Dong Hoi and Hanoi. This option has 3 steps and if you have fast connecting transport connections, it can be the fastest transport option. But it also belongs to the most expensive transport options, because of the flight to Hanoi.
The first step is to travel from Phong Nha to Dong Hoi Airport, which is approximately 45 km away. There should be local buses to the airport from Phong Nga, but it is better to ask about this option directly in Phong Nha. An alternative is a private transfer from Phong Nha to Dong Hoi Airport.
The second step is a direct flight from Dong Hoi to Hanoi, which takes only 1 hour. These flights to Hanoi are operated by Vietnam Airlines, but the flight schedule is very limited and there are no flights on some days. Vietnam Airlines is the largest and most popular airline in Vietnam.
A direct flight from Dong Hoi to Hanoi costs between $60-100/pp and flights are operated to Noi Bai Airport, which is approximately 30 km north of Hanoi. Therefore, if you want to use a direct flight, it is advisable to do some research about the flight schedule first, so that you can establish a good connection.
The third step will be for you to travel by bus from Hanoi to Cat Ba. You can also use some connections directly from Noi Bai Airport, but it is also advisable to visit Hanoi – the capital of Vietnam and then continue your journey to Cat Ba.
Various companies operate between Hanoi and Cat Ba such as 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, King Express Bus, InterBus Lines or Cat Ba Discovery. The bus ride from Hanoi to Cat Ba takes approximately 4 hours and tickets cost between $9-17/pp, the price usually includes a ferry transfer from Hai Phong to Cat Ba.
📍 Ha Long Bay + Cat Ba Island + Quan Lan – Map:
❓ FAQ + TIPS – Transport from Phong Nha to Cat Ba:
1. How to book tickets from Phong Nha to Cat Ba Island?
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- You can book tickets from Phong Nha-Ke Bang to Cat Ba Island online on Baolau ➜ or 12go.asia ➜.
2. What is the travel time from Phong Nha to Cat Ba Island?
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- Travel by bus from Phong Nha-Ke Bang to Cat Ba Island takes about 12-16 hours.
- Travel by bus+train+bus from Phong Nha-Ke Bang to Cat Ba Island takes about 17-20 hours.
- Travel by bus+plane+bus from Phong Nha-Ke Bang to Cat Ba Island takes about 7-8 hours.
3. How much does it cost to travel from Phong Nha to Cat Ba Island?
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- Travel by bus from Phong Nha-Ke Bang to Cat Ba Island costs about $30-50/pp.
- Travel by bus+train+bus from Phong Nha-Ke Bang to Cat Ba Island costs about $20-60/pp.
- Travel by bus+plane+bus from Phong Nha-Ke Bang to Cat Ba Island costs about $80+/pp.
4. What is the travel distance from Phong Nha to Cat Ba Island?
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- Travel distance from Phong Nha to Cat Ba Island by land is about 600 km by bus/train/ferry.
5. There is a boat/ferry transfer from Hai Phong to Cat Ba?
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- Yes, from Hai Phong to Cat Ba Island – there is a short boat transfer. If you travel by bus from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island (it is not necessary to book another ferry ticket to Cat Ba Island, you book only one bus ticket).
6. How to get from Cat Ba Island to Hanoi?
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- From Cat Ba to Hanoi you have to travel by combination of ferry+bus, read this article: Cat Ba to Hanoi – Bus Schedule. There are various bus companies on this travel route.
7. Is there a direct flight from Phong Nha to Cat Ba?
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- No, there are no flights from Phong Nha to Cat Ba, these places have no airports. The closest airport to Phong Nha is in Dong Hoi and the closest airport to Phong Nha is in Hai Phong.
8. Is there a direct train from Phong Nha to Cat Ba?
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- No, there is no direct railway between Phong Nha and Cat Ba. There are trains from Dong Hoi to Hanoi and from Hanoi to Hai Phong. Phong Nha-Ke Bang has no railway station and there is no railway on Cat Ba Island.
9. Where you can also travel from Phong Nha?
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- Before you come to Cat Ba Island, you can also visit Ninh Binh. It is also one of the most popular sites in northern Vietnam. There is no flight to Ninh Binh, you have to travel by bus or bus + train via Dong Hoi.
10. How to travel from Cat Ba Island to Sapa/Lao Cai?
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- From Cat Ba Island to Sapa you can travel by tourist bus (about 11-12 hours) or by combination of bus and train to Lao Cai. Read this story: How to travel from Cat Ba to Sapa?
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.
13. What are the most interesting things or facts about Vietnam?
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- Vietnam, a country with a captivating allure, is celebrated for its breathtaking landscapes, including the mesmerizing limestone karsts of Halong Bay, the terraced rice fields of Sapa, and the bustling waterways of the Mekong Delta. Its rich history unfolds through ancient temples in Hanoi, the imperial city of Hue, and the Cu Chi Tunnels, providing a glimpse into Vietnam’s resilience during wartime. The country’s vibrant culture, delicious cuisine, and warm hospitality further enhance the allure of this Southeast Asian gem. Read this: 15 Interesting Things of Vietnam.
14. What to expect from Vietnam Culture?
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- Expect a vibrant cultural tapestry in Vietnam, characterized by traditional values, a strong sense of community, and a deep-rooted respect for family. You’ll encounter a fusion of French, Chinese, and indigenous influences in art, architecture, and cuisine. Traditional water puppetry, folk music, and dance performances showcase the country’s artistic flair. The importance of rituals and festivals in daily life adds a colorful dimension, while the warmth and friendliness of the Vietnamese people make for a welcoming and enriching cultural experience.
15. What is the weather in Vietnam and what to expect?
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- Weather in Vietnam varies with a tropical climate featuring distinct wet and dry seasons. In the north, the dry season (October to April) brings cooler temperatures, while the wet season (May to September) is marked by higher humidity and heavy rainfall. Central Vietnam experiences a dry period (January to August) with lower humidity and a wet season (September to December) characterized by increased rainfall. In southern Vietnam, the dry season (December to April) offers warm temperatures, while the wet season (May to November) brings higher humidity and occasional heavy rainfall. For accurate information, check local forecasts.
🚢 Looking for a cruise in Ha Long Bay/Cat Ba? Choose from these boats:
| ⭐ The Best Rated Cruises in Ha Long Bay:⭐ | |
|---|---|
| ➡️ Signature Halong Cruise | ➡️ Alise Cruise Halong |
| ➡️ Victory Star Cruise | ➡️ Halong Athena Cruise |
| ➡️ La Regina Legend Cruise | ➡️ Era Cruises Halong |
| ➡️ Paradise Luxury Sails Cruise | ➡️ Victory Cruise |
| ➡️ Halong Sapphire Cruise | ➡️ Santa Maria Cruise |
| ➡️ Royal Palace Cruise | ➡️ Peony Cruise |
🎫 Book your bus, train, flight from Phong Nha to to Cat Ba Island:
(You can change your departure and arrival place, eg Dong Hoi > Hanoi, Dong Hoi > Ninh Binh, Hanoi > Cat Ba…)