If you’re wondering how to get to Cat Ba island from Hanoi, or simply looking for how to reach Cat Ba from other cities in northern Vietnam, in this article we walk through all the available options so you can plan your trip as well as possible.
Cat Ba island sits around 3 hours from the capital, Hanoi. However, since no bridge connects the island to the mainland, you first have to reach the port and then cross to the island by ferry.
If you’re thinking of visiting Cat Ba and still aren’t sure how to get there, keep reading — in this post we explain every option for traveling from Hanoi to Cat Ba, along with alternatives for arriving from other places in northern Vietnam, such as Ninh Binh and Ha Giang.
And if you don’t yet know what to do in Cat Ba, we cover it in this other post.
Putting together your full route? This guide is part of how to get around Vietnam, where you’ll find all the country’s main connections gathered on a single page.
In this post
How to get from Hanoi to Cat Ba
Traveling to Cat Ba from the country’s capital, Hanoi, is the most common route among those of us exploring the north — so if that’s your case, you’re in the right place.
It’s a simple trip without many complications which, depending on the transport you choose, will take between 3 and 4 hours approximately.
Prices vary slightly depending on the transport option you pick, so here are the main ones.
The best option: bus and ferry to Cat Ba
The best way to reach Cat Ba from Hanoi is buying a combined bus + ferry ticket: you cover the first leg to the port by bus or minivan, and once there, you board the boat to Cat Ba island.
The beauty of this option is that it’s affordable, comfortable, includes the speedboat instead of the regular ferry, and they usually pick you up in Hanoi’s Old Quarter — sparing you hassle and unnecessary transfers.
Companies such as Cat Ba Express, Good Morning Cat Ba, Cat Ba Discovery and Hoang Long, among others, run the route and handle the whole journey, fast ferry included, right up to dropping you on the island.
- The trip takes around 3-4 hours.
- Prices run between 325,000 and 450,000 VND (~US$12.50-17.30) per trip, all included.
- Pro tip: The limousine-style buses with reclining seats, Wi-Fi, USB sockets and air conditioning are the best option.
You can check prices and schedules, and book, at this link.
Alternative option: bus and cable car to Cat Ba
If boats aren’t your thing, a different take on the ferry is doing the final stretch to the island on the Cat Ba cable car instead.
You can book the bus from Hanoi and buy the cable car ticket separately (55,000 VND per trip); the duration and price are similar to the first option.
The cable car station is located very close to the Đồng Bài port, where the ferry departs.
The advantage of doing it this way is, without doubt, the panoramic views from the cable car — as long as you’re not afraid of heights, of course.
Train to Hai Phong + ferry
If trains are your thing, from Hanoi you have the option of combining train and ferry.
Several trains depart daily for the city of Hai Phong, both from Hanoi station and from Long Bien (in the Old Quarter), taking between 2.5 and 3 hours depending on where you start.
The train ticket costs around 200,000 VND (~US$7.70) per person.
Mind you, on arrival you’ll need to negotiate with a taxi or order a Grab (recommended, to avoid scams) to reach the Đồng Bài port, the new ferry terminal for Cat Ba.
From there you can take the boat to the island; the ferry costs 12,000 VND per person. Tickets are sold at the port — no need to book in advance.
Departures run roughly every 30 minutes from 5:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Here are the train schedules.
Pro tip: Honestly, this option only pays off if you absolutely prefer the train — or above all if you’re traveling by motorbike.
Book a boat tour from Hanoi
A great idea for visiting Cat Ba if you’re not especially keen on sleeping on the island is doing it on a boat tour from Hanoi.
It’s a pricier option, but it lets you see both Lan Ha Bay and the main sights of Cat Ba island without worrying about organizing the logistics — plus it’s an excellent, less crowded alternative to Halong Bay.
Here’s the top-rated day tour, and here’s one if you’d rather do two days.
From Hanoi to Cat Ba by private car or taxi
Hiring a private car is the fastest and most flexible way to reach Cat Ba island.
The benefits are clear: they pick you up at your hotel at whatever time you like, and it takes only about 2-2.5 hours to reach the Dong Bai port, where you catch the ferry.
Of course, comfort has its price: a private transfer costs between 2,000,000 and 4,000,000 VND (~US$77-154) depending on the type of vehicle and number of seats. You can negotiate in Hanoi or ask your accommodation to arrange it for you.
Once at the port, take the ferry or the speedboat.
From Hanoi to Cat Ba by motorbike
If you love the freedom of traveling by motorbike, or you’re simply touring Vietnam that way, riding to Cat Ba is an excellent option. If you don’t have a bike, you can rent one in Hanoi (around 225,000-300,000 VND per day).
If you take the main route, follow National Road 5 and the Tan Vu – Lach Huyen bridge — though if you’re not in a hurry and set out early, you can always chart your own course along smaller, quieter roads.
At its shortest, it’s about 135 km from Hanoi to the Dong Bai port, covered in around 4-5 hours.
Since you arrive right at the port, all that’s left is loading the bike onto the ferry to bring it over to the island. The price is 50,000 VND per motorbike.
How to get to Cat Ba from Ninh Binh
If you’re in Ninh Binh and Cat Ba is your next destination, but you’re still not sure how to get from Ninh Binh to Cat Ba, the simplest way is — just as from Hanoi — a combined bus and ferry ticket.
They normally pick you up in Tam Coc, where you’re most likely staying, and take you straight to the port to then board the boat to the island.
Departures from Ninh Binh usually run from early morning until 2:00 pm.
- The full trip takes around 5 hours, depending on traffic.
- Prices are somewhat higher than from Hanoi, at around 300,000-700,000 VND (~US$11.50-27), ferry included, depending on the type of bus you choose.
- As from Hanoi, we recommend taking the limousine-style bus.
You also have the option of booking only the transport to the Đồng Bài port and taking the ferry on your own from there; the ride to the port takes about 4 hours, depending on traffic.
You can check schedules and book here.
How to travel from Ha Giang to Cat Ba
Ha Giang sits at Vietnam’s far northern edge, close to the Chinese border, so it’s a fair distance from Cat Ba.
If you’re there, it’s probably because you’ve just finished the Ha Giang Loop, one of Vietnam’s essentials. If you’re wondering how to get from Ha Giang to Cat Ba, beyond accounting for the long stretch between the two, hold on to a single idea: the night bus is the way to go.
Night bus from Ha Giang to Cat Ba
The best way from Ha Giang to Cat Ba is, in our view, taking a night bus — you spend the night sleeping on the bus and connect early in the morning with the ferry to Cat Ba.
The total journey takes between 10 and 12 hours, including the ferry crossing. From Ha Giang, buses run every day from late afternoon, arriving at the port in time to catch the first ferries to Cat Ba in the morning.
Although you can find them from 550,000 VND (~US$21), we recommend spending a bit more on the cabin bus — slightly pricier, but far more comfortable.
You’ll find the schedules, and can book, at this link.
Alternative via Hanoi
If you’d rather make a stop in the capital, you can first travel to Hanoi on the night bus (about 6 hours from Ha Giang) and then, whenever you like, continue on to Cat Ba with any of the options we covered at the start of this article.
Pro tip: In high season it’s worth booking a few days ahead, since the cabin buses in particular fill up. It tends to get cold on board thanks to the air conditioning, so we recommend bringing a hoodie.
