How to get to Cat Ba Island

Overview and route map

Whether you are in Hanoi, Halong Bay, or Hai Phong city, Cat Ba Island remains easily accessible with a variety of transportation options available in 2025. For example, you can take a ferry or bus from Halong Bay, or opt for a Limousine car and a public bus from Hanoi and Hai Phong city to the island. 

If you're traveling from southern Vietnam or other countries, the best route is to take either direct or connecting flights to Cat Bi International Airport (Hai Phong city), then arrange a private transfer or public bus to Cat Ba Island.

If you're curious about your travel options to Cat Ba Island, this article will provide valuable information regarding transit from Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hai Phong city, and additional locations.

Route Map

Distance to Cat Ba Island

Location	Distance	Travel Time
Hanoi	131 km	1 hr 55 min
Hanoi International Airport (HAN)	149 km	2 hrs 04 min
Hai Phong	28 km	41 min
Tuan Chau Island	54 km	59 min
Halong City	58 km	59 min
Cat Bi International Airport (HPH)	25 km	37 min
Van Don International Airport (VDO)	109 km	1 hr 33 min

From Hanoi to Cat Ba island

Transportation from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island

In 2025, travelers from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island have various options including private cars/taxis, Limousine cars, and tourist buses. Most Limousine services and tourist buses run from Hanoi to Got Pier, utilizing the Tan Vu Lach Huyen bridge to catch a ferry to Cai Vieng Port (Cat Ba Island). From the port, additional transport will take you to the town center. The total travel time is approximately 3.5 hours.

By Private Car/Taxi

A private car or taxi is the most comfortable option for traveling from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island. It typically costs around 2,000,000 VND per car for a one-way trip.

Taxi Brands in Hanoi

• Mai Linh Taxi: 0243 936 1111
• Group Taxi: 0243 867 3535
• Thanh Cong Taxi: 0243 4 575 757

By Limousine Car

Limousine services provide a comfortable yet economical travel option. Several operators offer routes from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island, including Hoang Phu Limousine and Cat Ba Du Ky Travel.

Hoang Phu Limousine

Schedule:

• Hanoi - Cat Ba: 8:00, 10:30, 12:30, 14:30
• Cat Ba - Hanoi: 7:30, 9:00, 12:30, 16:00
• Ticket Price: 350,000 VND per person one-way
• Hotline: 1900 1085
• Website: xehoangphu.vn

Cat Ba Du Ky Travel

Schedule:

• Hanoi - Cat Ba: 8:00, 11:00, 15:00
• Cat Ba - Hanoi: 9:00, 12:30
• Ticket Price: 390,000 VND per person one-way
• Tel: 037 356 0338
• Website: catbaduky.vn

By Tourist Bus

Traveling by tourist bus remains the most affordable way to reach Cat Ba Island from Hanoi, with multiple options available.

Good Morning Cat Ba

Good Morning Cat Ba offers a 35-seater bus equipped with roomy seats and accommodating drivers. The operator schedules three buses daily from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island, with the return trip featuring another three buses. Total travel time is around 3 hours and 15 minutes.

Schedule:

• Hanoi - Cat Ba: 7:30, 10:39, 14:00
• Cat Ba - Hanoi: 9:00, 12:30, 15:30
• Ticket Price: 280,000 VND per person one-way
• Tel: 0913 096 281 / 0888 000 896
• Website: goodmorningcatba.com

Cat Ba Express

Cat Ba Express provides both Limousine and bus services from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island.

Schedule:

• Hanoi - Cat Ba: 7:45, 10:45, 14:00
• Ticket Price: 280,000 VND per person one-way by tourist bus; 400,000 VND per person one-way by Limousine car
• Tel: 0848 244 999 / 0243 873 4999
• Email: info@catbaexpress.com
• Website: catbaexpress.com

Daiichi Travel

Daiichi Travel offers high-quality tourist bus services from Hanoi to Cat Ba and back along the new highway. The total travel time is about 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Schedule:

• Hanoi - Cat Ba: 7:30, 9:00, 13:30, 16:00
• Ticket Price: 260,000 VND per person one-way
• Hotline: 0961 004 660
• Email: sale@daiichitravel.com
• Website: daiichitravel.com

Distance

The distance from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island is approximately 150 km (94 miles), making this one of the most popular travel routes in northern Vietnam.

From Halong Bay to Cat Ba Island

Transportation from Halong Bay to Cat Ba Island

Traveling from Halong Bay to Cat Ba Island can be easily done via two main modes of transportation: ferry and bus.

By ferry

The majority of visitors choose to take a ferry from Halong Bay to Cat Ba Island due to the short journey time and convenience. The ferry ride offers comfortable seating and onboard refreshments, usually lasting between 40 to 50 minutes. Ferries operate daily from Tuan Chau ferry terminal, located at No. 2 Ngoc Chau Street, Tuan Chau Ward, Halong City.

Generally, there are 5-7 ferry departures each day from Tuan Chau ferry terminal to Gia Luan Port on Cat Ba Island. Once you arrive at Gia Luan Port, you will need an additional 30-minute transfer to reach the center of Cat Ba Island. Ticket prices range from approximately 80,000 VND to 100,000 VND per person for a one-way trip, including luggage.

Tuan Chau ferry terminal - Gia Luan Port ticket prices

Type of passenger	Ferry ticket price
Adult Passenger	3.5 USD/pax/one-way
Passenger with a motorbike	4.5 USD/pax/one-way
Passenger with an under 9-seat car	20 USD/vehicle/one-way

Ferry schedule

Route	Terminal	Schedule		Duration
		Low season (1st October - 29th April)	Peak season (30th April - 30th September)
Halong Bay - Cat Ba Island	Tuan Chau ferry terminal - Gia Luan port	8:00, 11:30, 15:00	8:00, 9:30, 11:30, 14:00, 15:30	50 minutes
Cat Ba Island - Halong Bay	Gia Luan port - Tuan Chau ferry terminal	9:30, 13:00, 17:00	9:30, 12:00, 13:30, 16:00	50 minutes

How to book:

Booking your ticket is straightforward. You can reach out to the ferry operator via phone, email, or through the Tuan Chau App (available on both iOS and Android platforms):

• Tel: 0203 3842134
• Hotline: 0934 367 555
• Email: info@tuanchauhalong.vn
• Website: tuanchau-halong.com.vn

By bus

If you prefer a scenic drive and are not constrained for time, taking a bus may be the ideal choice. The Son Tung bus company operates daily routes from Halong City to Quang Yen, Ha Nam, Cat Hai Town, and Cat Ba Town, with a total travel duration of approximately 2.5 hours. The bus fare is around 180,000 VND per person for a one-way journey.

How to book

Route	Schedule	Contact
Halong - Cat Ba island	13:00	02253 688 699
Cat Ba island - Halong	7:00	0979 495 496

Distance

The distance from Halong Bay to Cat Ba Island is approximately 14 km (8.7 miles) when measured over water. Conversely, if traveling by road, the distance is about 50 km (31 miles) from Halong Bay to Cat Hai Town. For more information, please refer to our guide on getting from Halong Bay to Cat Ba Island.

From Hai Phong city to Cat Ba island

Transportation from Hai Phong City to Cat Ba Island

By Ferry

To reach Cat Ba island from Hai Phong city, you can either take a taxi or use public transportation to go to Got Pier, which is approximately 26 km (16 miles) away. For public bus service, you can catch bus 16C from Thuong Ly bus station directly to Got Pier (located in Cat Hai town). The bus runs frequently, offering about 20 departures each day from 6:00 am to 12:00 pm. A ticket costs around 20,000 VND per person for a one-way journey.

Route: Thuong Ly bus station - Tam Bac Bridge - Nguyen Duc Canh - Tran Phu - Dien Bien Phu - Le Hong Phong - Nguyen Binh Khiem - Dinh Vu - Tan Vu Lach Huyen Bridge - Got Pier

Upon your arrival at Got Pier, you can purchase a ferry ticket to Cai Vieng Port on Cat Ba island. The ferry operates every 30 minutes from 5:30 am to 6:30 pm. Once you arrive at Cai Vieng Port, expect an additional 40-minute drive to reach Cat Ba Town, where buses are available to take you to the town center.

Got Pier - Cai Vieng Port Ticket Prices:

By Cable Car

Another option for traveling from Hai Phong city to Cat Ba island is the cable car ride, an exhilarating way to enjoy stunning views of the surroundings. This cable car system, once completed, will span a total length of 21 km (13 miles) and will be one of the longest in the world.

Currently, you can travel from Hai Phong city to Cat Hai Station located in Cat Hai town and purchase a ticket for the Cat Hai - Phu Long cable car. The ticket price is approximately 120,000 VND per person for a one-way trip. Each of the 60 cabins can accommodate up to 30 passengers, allowing the system to serve an impressive capacity of 4,500 people per hour. The journey lasts around 15 minutes.

Cable Car Schedule

How to Book

• Tickets can be purchased either at the counters directly upon arrival or online.
• Address: Chan Hamlet, Dong Bai Commune, Cat Hai District, Hai Phong City, Vietnam
• Hotline: 1900 123 456
• Email: catba.booking@sunworld.vn

Distance

The distance from the center of Hai Phong city to Cat Ba island is approximately 40 km (25 miles).

From southern Vietnam and other countries

If you are planning to travel to Cat Ba Island from southern provinces of Vietnam such as Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City, the best way is to take a direct flight to Cat Bi International Airport (Hai Phong City). After that, you can either book a private transfer or use public transportation to reach Got Pier. From Got Pier, you have the option to take a ferry or a cable car to access Cat Ba Island.

Flight schedule from Da Nang City to Hai Phong City

Route	Airlines	Airfare	Schedule
Da Nang City - Hai Phong City	Vietnam Airlines	1,600,000 VND/pax/one-way	Details
Da Nang City - Hai Phong City	VietJet Air	1,200,000 VND/pax/one-way	Details
Da Nang City - Hai Phong City	Bamboo Airways	1,500,000 VND/pax/one-way	Details

Flight schedule from Ho Chi Minh City to Hai Phong City

Route	Airlines	Airfare	Schedule
Ho Chi Minh City - Hai Phong City	VietJet Air	1,700,000 VND/pax/one-way	Details
Ho Chi Minh City - Hai Phong City	Vietnam Airlines	1,800,000 VND/pax/one-way	Details
Ho Chi Minh City - Hai Phong City	Bamboo Airways	1,700,000 VND/pax/one-way	Details

For travelers from other countries wishing to visit Cat Ba Island, you can take direct or indirect flights to Cat Bi International Airport (Hai Phong City) or Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi). From either airport, you can follow the transportation directions to Cat Ba Island as provided above.