What to expect when visiting CatBa
Cat Ba is a biodiverse island along Vietnam’s northeast coast. The largest of the islands in Halong Bay, Cat Ba boasts a rugged karst landscape dotted with spectacular limestone cliffs, sandy beaches, lakes, grottoes, and waterfalls.
Popular activities include kayaking and rock climbing, but you can also just lounge by the beach and wait for the sunset at Cannon Fort. The island rose in popularity in recent years, but we love that most areas remain untouched in Cat Ba.
5 ways to get from Hanoi to CatBa
There are 5 ways to travel the distance of 150 kilometers (93 miles) from Hanoi to CatBa by bus (3 hours to 4 hours 30 minutes), limo Van (2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours), private Transport (2 hours), train (3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours 25 minutes) and organised Tour (3 days). The journey duration ranges between 2 hours - 3 days and the quickest way is by private transport. The lowest priced tickets start from €9.90 for the bus.Hanoi to CatBa by Bus
Taking a combined bus and ferry from Hanoi to CatBa is very convenient. With this option, you’ll only need to book a combined ticket and your tour operator will take care of everything for you.
Your itinerary will look like this:
- Step 1: Take a bus from Hanoi to Hai Phong.
- Step 2: Transfer to a ferry from Got Pier to Cai Vieng Port.
- Step 3: Go back to your bus, which will then take you to Cat Ba Town.
There is a good number of companies operating on this route so you are spoilt for choice.
We recommend travelling with Good Morning Cat Ba as they not only have the cheapest rates, but they also offer free hotel pick-up and drop-off.
Combined ticket prices start from 275,000 VND (€10.10) and the journey takes around 3 hours to 4 hours 30 minutes.
Departure and arrival station
Different bus companies have varying departure and arrival points, normally in their own offices in Hanoi and CatBa.
We recommend booking with a company that already offers free hotel pick-up and drop-off. This way, you won’t have to worry about finding your way to and from the designated bus stations.
Bus schedules from Hanoi to CatBa
It’s best to pre-book your tickets online beforehand for guaranteed seats. BookAway is our preferred booking website for its top-notch customer service.
Another option is to buy your ticket from one of the local agencies or hotels in Hanoi.
Hanoi to CatBa by Train
It is really more convenient to just take a combined bus/limo van and ferry from Hanoi to CatBa. These save you the hassle of booking ferry tickets and finding your way to ferry ports.
But if you still prefer to take the train, know that you’ll have to make several transfers. You are to take the train from Hanoi to Hai Phong, hop on a taxi to Pha Binh Harbour, and then transfer to a ferry bound for CatBa Island.
Step 1: Hanoi to Hai Phong by Train
There are 4 trains operating daily from Hanoi to Hai Phong. The first trip departs at 06:00 and the last trip leaves at 18:47.
If you want to arrive on CatBa Island on the same day, make sure to take a train that departs before noon. Otherwise, you’ll miss the last ferry bound for CatBa, which departs at 15:50.
Fares start from €3.60. Trains depart from Gia Lam Railway Station, located 5 km northeast of the French Quarter in Hanoi.
You are to get off at Hai Phong Railway Station, situated 2 km south of Pha Binh Harbour.
We recommend booking your tickets online through BookAway. Their site is intuitive, provides a clear picture of what you can expect, and offers great customer service. If you’re eyeing the best deals, you might occasionally find slightly cheaper tickets on Baolau.
Step 2: Hai Phong to Pha Binh Harbour by Taxi
Pha Binh Harbour is a taxi ride that takes 10 minutes or a 20-minute walk from the railway station in Hai Phong.
To get a taxi, just hail one outside of the train station. Rates start from 50,000 VND (€1.80) to Pha Binh Harbour. Make sure to agree on a price and the right harbour before you leave!
Some will try to scam you and bring you to Dinh Vu Harbour, which takes about 30 minutes by taxi.
Why we don’t recommend taking a ferry from Dinh Vu Harbour
There are no direct ferries from Dinh Vu to CatBa Island. This route requires several transfers and can be very complicated. Your itinerary from Hai Phong Railway Station will look like this:
- Step 1: Take a 30-minute taxi to Dinh Vu Harbour.
- Step 2: Hop on a 45-minute ferry to Ninh Tiep Pier.
- Step 3: Transfer to a 30-minute bus to Got Harbour.
- Step 4: Take a 20-minute ferry to Cai Vieng Port.
- Step 5: Finally, take a 45-minute bus to CatBa Town.
Total travel time takes around 3 hours. Looks exhausting, right? This is why we highly recommend departing from Pha Binh Harbour. From here, you only need to take 1 ferry, which will bring you directly to CatBa Town. Read on for more details!
Step 3: Pha Binh Harbour to Cat Ba by Ferry
There are 7 ferries operating daily from Pha Binh Harbour to CatBa Town. What we like about these ferries is that they will take you straight to the island’s town centre, where most hotels are located.
The first ferry departs as early as 05:45, while the last trip leaves at 15:50. Travel time is around 1.5 hours, depending on which ferry you take.
Ticket prices for a ferry from Pha Binh Harbour to Cat Ba Island start from 160,000 VND (€5.90).
Ferries depart from Pha Binh Harbour, sometimes also called Benh Binh. Again, we recommend departing from this port as this is the most convenient route to CatBa.
Ferries dock at CatBa Pier, which is just within walking distance from many hotels in town.
We recommend pre-booking your tickets online through Baolau for guaranteed seats. This will also save you the hassle of dealing with touts, who often try to sell tickets at a higher price.
Hanoi to CatBa by Limo Van
Looking for a more comfortable way to get from Hanoi to CatBa? Limo vans operating this route are very spacious and luxurious. Apart from plush seats, some also offer charging ports and blankets for the ride. But of course, those perks come with an extra cost.
Rates for a combined limo van and ferry ride from Hanoi to CatBa start from €14.70. Travel time is around 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours.
Departure and arrival station
Like the bus, there is no one specific departure and arrival station for limo vans. They usually depart from their office in Hanoi and park at their corresponding office in CatBa.
Limo Van Schedules from Hanoi to CatBa
Hanoi to CatBa by Private Transport
A private transfer is a convenient option when travelling in a group from Hanoi to CatBa.
Rates start from €100 for a 4-seater private transfer. Divide the cost and that’s just about per person. Travel time is around 2 hours.
Private Transport options from Hanoi to CatBa
Hanoi to CatBa by Organised Tour
Are you also planning to visit Halong Bay from Hanoi? If yes, you can join a 3 days group tour that will take you not just from Hanoi to CatBa Island, but to Halong Bay as well.
With this option, you will travel from Hanoi and enjoy the first day cruising around the limestone islands of Halong Bay. Here, you will spend the night in your luxurious cruise accommodation.
The next day, you will proceed to CatBa Island and visit the CatBa National Park. You will spend the 2nd night on a 3-star hotel on the island.
Throughout the tour, you will have a chance to go kayaking, swimming, and squid fishing. Onboard the cruise ship, you will also learn how to make spring rolls and taste the so-called three-kiss wine, a specialty of Halong fishermen.
All these for 3,500,000 VND (€130) per person when you book with Klook.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hanoi to CatBa
What is the distance from Hanoi to CatBa?
The distance from Hanoi to CatBa is 150 kilometers (93 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from Hanoi to CatBa?
The fastest way to get from Hanoi to CatBa is by private transport and takes 2 hours.
What is the cheapest way to get from Hanoi to CatBa?
The cheapest way to get from Hanoi to CatBa is by bus with ticket costs starting from €9.90.
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Hanoi to CatBa. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.
PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!
Routes from CatBa
Most popular routes in Vietnam
Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she’s not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines… Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she’ll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
Based in Bali, Maarten’s passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you’ll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.
Hi Marteen,
Thanks a lot for all the information on your blog, it’s very helpful! 🙂
We are trying to find how to go from Phong Nha to2 Cat Ba. Do you know the options?
Many thanks!
Great to hear! Unfortunately, I don’t have a page about this route, but I have one in the opposite direction which is basically the same. Unfortunately, there are no direct tickets available so you will have to go via Hanoi or Ninh Binh / Tam Coc. See here the route from Cat Ba to Phong Nha.