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Hanoi To Cat Ba Island: 3 Best Ways To Travel with Ease

It's very easy to travel from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island. The local tourist bus takes around 3 hours and 45 minutes and costs 300,000 VND.

Hanoi To Cat Ba Island: 3 Best Ways To Travel with Ease

Cat Ba island has become a promising destination for tourists, just after Halong Bay, particularly during the peak summer season. However, an increasing influx of visitors puts a strain on the ferry system, causing ferry congestion. If you are departing from Hanoi, here are the best routes to effectively resolve this issue and get to Cat Ba island effortlessly.

Trip: 150km / 4 hours

By private car/ taxi

Hanoi in the morning - Photo: @hanoicapital / Instagram

Transfer time: Around 4 hours

With a distance of about 150 kilometers (94 miles) including 100 kilometers of road transfer and 50 kilometers of water transport, driving your own car or renting a private taxi is an optimal way to approach Cat Ba island. From Hanoi, you follow the Hanoi-Hai Phong expressway then pass the Dinh Vu - Cat Hai bridge to Got pier. Many may think of using their private car to travel around the island but it is not necessary because the island is quite small and the high volume and density of private vehicles cause traffic jams on the ferry.

Usually, upon arrival at Got pier, you’ll park your car there and then take a ferry to Cai Vieng pier (Cat Ba island). The ticket price is only 12.000 VND/per person/ one way without personal vehicle and the total transfer time is around 30 minutes. Ferries depart daily every 30 minutes during the daytime so you can easily transfer at any time.

Got - Cai Vieng ferry schedule

Cai Vieng ferry - Photo: @luong.duong.7165 / Instagram

No

Got pier

Cai Vieng pier

1

5:30 (big ferry)

5:00 (big ferry)

2

6:00 (big ferry)

5:30 (big ferry)

3

6:30 (big ferry)

6:00 (big ferry)

4

7:30

7:00

5

8:00 (big ferry)

7:30 (big ferry)

6

8:30

8:00

7

9:00 (big ferry)

8:30 (big ferry)

8

9:30 (big ferry)

9:00 (big ferry)

9

10:00 (big ferry)

9:30 (big ferry)

10

10:30 (big ferry)

10:00 (big ferry)

11

11:00

10:30

12

11:30 (big ferry)

11:00 (big ferry)

13

12:00

11:30

14

12:30 (big ferry)

12:00 (big ferry)

15

13:00

12:30

16

13:30 (big ferry)

13:00 (big ferry)

17

14:00

13:30

18

14:30 (big ferry)

14:00 (big ferry)

19

15:00

14:30

20

15:30 (big ferry)

15:00 (big ferry)

21

16:00

15:30

22

16:30 (big ferry)

16:00 (big ferry)

23

17:00 (big ferry)

16:30 (big ferry)

24

17:30 (big ferry)

17:00 (big ferry)

25

18:00 (big ferry)

17:30 (big ferry)

26 

18:30

18:00

Alternatively, you can take a hydrofoil speedboat which costs from 120.000 VND to 250.000 VND/ per person/one way. You can book from notable brands such as Cat Ba Island Resort & Spa and Mekong Hoang Yen.

If you are in Hai Phong city and choose Cat Ba Island Resort & Spa hydrofoil, there is also a shuttle bus to pick you up to Got pier with a ride cost of only 30.000 VND. Meanwhile, the hydrofoil ticket price is 120.000 VND/per person/one way.

Cat Ba Island Resort & Spa hydrofoil schedule

From Got pier to Cat Ba island

Got ferry - Photo: @allmymoneygoto/ Instagram
 

Morning route

Afternoon route

Pick up at Binh ferry station

9:00

13:00

Arrive at Got pier

9:40

13:40

Arrive at Cat Ba center harbor

10:00

14:00

From Cat Ba island to Got pier

 

Morning route

Afternoon route

Pick up at Cat Ba center harbor

10:20

14:20

Arrive at Got pier

10:40

14:40

Arrive at Binh ferry station

11:20

15:20

Once you arrive at Cat Ba island, you can take a stroll, a public bus, or an electric car to access and explore the town center. If you must take your vehicle directly to the island, you should avoid traveling during the peak hours between 8 am and 11 am.

By high-quality tourist bus

Transfer time: Around 4 hours

There are many tourist buses serving the Hanoi - Cat Ba route such as Good Morning Catba, Discovery, Daiichi, and Catba Express which depart several times during the day. All bus operators pick you up at their offices in the Hanoi Old Quarter then follow the new Hanoi-Hai Phong expressway to Got ferry. From there, you’ll board a ferry or high-speed boat to Cai Vieng pier (the bus will not get on the ferry). Subsequently, another bus will take you to your designated destination on Cat Ba island.

The total travel time is approximately 4 hours and you need to pay around 300.000 VND/per person/one way.

Good Morning Catba

Good Morning Cat Ba brand - Photo: @goodmorningcatba/ Instagram

Good Morning Cat Ba is a reputable bus company serving routes from Cat Ba to Hanoi, Sapa, Ninh Binh, Ha Giang, and vice versa. The ride is smooth, time-saving, and pre-arranged with buses on both sides of the port, thus you do not have to book your own bus on the island.

Ticket and schedule

 

Hanoi - Cat Ba

Cat Ba - Hanoi

Departure time

7:30, 10:30, 14:00

9:30, 12:30, 15:30

 

Route

Hanoi Old Quarter - Got pier - Cai Vieng port - Cat Ba town

 

Cat Ba town - Cai Vieng port - Got pier - Hanoi Old Quarter 

One-way ticket

US$13/pax

US$12/pax

Round-trip ticket

US$25/pax

Transportation

Bus + speedboat + bus

Address: 9B, Cho Gao street, Hang Buom ward, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

Website: https://goodmorningcatba.com/

Catba Express

Cat Ba Express buses - Photo: @catbaexpress/ Instagram

Cat Ba Express provides high-class and comfortable buses to Cat Ba island from destinations such as Hanoi, Sapa, and Ninh Binh. Additionally, there are offers for tours and cruises on Halong Bay for you to explore the area with affordable prices and inclusive services.

Ticket and schedule

 

Hanoi - Cat Ba

Cat Ba - Hanoi

Departure time

7:45, 10:45, 14:00

9:30, 12:30, 15:30

 

Route

Hanoi Old Quarter - Got pier - Cai Vieng port - Cat Ba town

 

Cat Ba town - Cai Vieng port - Got pier - Hanoi Old Quarter 

One-way ticket

US$13/pax

Round-trip ticket

US$26/pax

Transfer time

3.5 hours

Address: 106 Tran Nhat Duat street, Hang Buom ward, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

Website: https://catbaexpress.com/

Daiichi Travel Cat Ba

Daiichi Travel Bus - Photo: @namnguyen532 / Instagram

The bus operator specializes in a variety of transfer routes namely Cat Ba - Sapa, Hanoi - Cat Hai - Cat Ba, Ninh Binh - Cat Ba, Ninh Binh - Halong, and so on. The company offers new and high-quality buses with free mineral water and guarantees time efficiency, bringing you the utmost comfort while traveling.

Ticket and schedule

 

Hanoi - Cat Ba

Cat Ba - Hanoi

Departure time

8:00, 10:30, 12:30, 14:00

7:30, 9:00, 12:30, 16:00

 

Route

96 Nguyen Huu Huan - Thach Ban Co Linh crossroad - V52 Hai Duong - Vinfast - Sunworld - Got pier - ferry - Cai Vieng port - Phu Long - Hien Hao - Tran Chau - Cat Ba town center - Ben Beo - Daiichi bus office.

Cat Co three-way crossroad - Ben Beo - Daiichi bus office - Cat Ba town center - Tran Chau - Hien Hao - Phu Long - Cai Vieng - ferry - Got pier - Sunworld - Vinfast - V52 Hai Duong - Thach Ban Co Linh crossroad - 96 Nguyen Huu Huan.

One-way ticket

US$12.5/pax

Round-trip ticket

US$25/pax

Transfer time

3.5 hours (the bus picks you up 30 minutes prior to the departure time.)

Address: 96 Nguyen Huu Huan street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

Website: https://daiichitravel.com/

By cable car

Cat Hai - Phu Long cable car - Photo: @miumiluv / Instagram

Transfer time: Around 3.5 hours

Getting to Cat Ba island by Cat Hai - Phu Long cable car is an extraordinary and fantastic way for you to admire the scenery from a high altitude. You still have to drive your own car or take a taxi to Cat Hai Cable Car station which is about 3 kilometers from Got pier. The ticket price is 100.000 VND/per person/one way.

Note: The cable car system has been temporarily closed from October 2023 until the latest announcement.

Summary

Cat Ba national park - Photo: @timwhybrow_ / Instagram

Ways to travel

Pros 

Cons

By private car/taxi

  • Fastest and most convenient
  • The most expensive way to transfer
  • You are advised to park your vehicle before boarding the ferry

By tourist bus

  • Hassle-free with a pre-arranged bus schedule to pick you up at the designated destination  in Hanoi and at the island’s port
  • Time and money-saving
  • Quickly fully-booked
  • Quite crowded and uncomfortable

By cable car

  • A chance to admire panoramic scenery
  • Money-efficient
  • There are only a few trips throughout the day

Suggested Hanoi - Cat Ba island day trip

Cat Ba Island - Photo:@cat_ba_island / Instagram
  • 8:00: The tourist bus picks you up from your hotel in the Hanoi Old Quarter to Got pier.
  • 11:30: You get on a ferry to Cat Ba island. Another bus will transfer you to your location on the island.
  • 12:00: Have lunch with local specialties such as horseshoe crab, mantis shrimp, garrupa, and shrimp noodles.
  • 13:00: Head to Cat Ba National Park and start trekking to Ngu Lam peak, passing through Kim Giao forest. You have a chance to enjoy photography of panoramic views over Lan Ha Bay.
  • 14:30: You’ll then transfer to Cat Co beach 1, the largest and most beautiful beach among Cat Co 1,2, and 3.
  • 16:00: Get on the bus and return to Hanoi.

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Frequently asked questions

1. What is the latest time for a tourist bus to return to Hanoi?

The last tourist bus from Cat Ba to Hanoi is around 4 pm.

2. Can I take my personal vehicle on the ferry?

Yes. It costs you more money to transfer with your vehicle on the ferry. You should avoid peak hours from 8 am to 11 am.

3. What is the most convenient way to travel to Cat Ba?

The fastest and most comfortable way to get to the island is to drive your private car or take a taxi from Hanoi to Got pier. Then, you leave your car and board a ferry to the town center.

4. Where do tourist buses to the Cat Ba depart?

Most buses depart from their head offices in Hanoi Old Quarter.

5. What is the cheapest way to transfer from Hanoi to Cat Ba island?

The most economical way to travel from Hanoi to Cat Ba island is to take a tourist bus and then a ferry. The total cost is around US$13 - US$15/per person/one way. You choose from several reputable bus operators such as Good Morning Catba, Discovery, Daiichi, and Catba Express.

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