How to get from CatBa to Hanoi

Why visit Hanoi?

Hanoi is Vietnam’s bustling capital, where heritage and modernity collide. At its heart is the iconic Old Quarter bustling with cosy hotels, old residential buildings and neighbourhood cafes. Composed of 36 streets, just walking around this area will reward you with many amazing discoveries.

Must-visit sites include the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and the 19th-century gothic St. Joseph’s Cathedral. We recommend munching on as much street food as you can, strolling around Hoan Kiem Lake, and our favourite: watching the world go by from one of the many coffee shops in Hanoi.

There are 4 ways to travel the 150 kilometers (93 miles) from CatBa to Hanoi. You can choose between the bus, Limo van, private transport and train. The journey takes 2 hours to 6 hours 30 minutes and the quickest way is by private transport. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 286,000 VND ($11).

There are at least ten companies operating combined bus & ferry rides from CatBa to Hanoi.

We recommend travelling with Good Morning CatBa because they get good reviews and also offer free hotel pick-up & drop-off. A combined bus & ferry ticket costs 275,000 VND ($10.60).

The bus and ferry journey from CatBa to Hanoi takes around 3 hours to 6 hours 30 minutes. The tour operator takes care of all your transfers, so you won’t have to worry about anything throughout the journey.

Departure and arrival station

Different companies have varying departure and arrival points. Make sure to check these details before booking your ride.

Better yet, just choose a company that will pick you up from your hotel in CatBa and drop you off at your destination in Hanoi.

We advise booking a combined bus and ferry ticket from CatBa to Hanoi since this is a cheaper and more convenient option.

However, if you prefer to split this journey or want to do it independently, you can also take a combination of ferry, taxi, and train from CatBa to Hanoi.

There are at least eight ferry trips available daily from CatBa to Hai Phong’s Pha Binh Harbour.

You can catch a ferry from 05:30 in the morning to 15:50 in the afternoon. These ferries depart from CatBa Pier, located just within the town centre. You shouldn’t have a problem getting here on foot from your hotel.

The journey takes about 1.5 hours, depending on which ferry you take. Ticket prices start from 160,000 VND ($6.10).

Ferries dock at Pha Binh Harbour, also called Ben Binh. From here, Hai Phong Railway Station is about 2 km away.

From Pha Binh Harbour, you will then have to take a short taxi ride to Hai Phong Railway Station.

Taxi fares start from 50,000 VND ($1.90) and the journey takes just around 10 minutes.

If you’re not carrying a lot of luggage, you can also consider walking to the train station for about 20 minutes.

Vietnam Railways operates at least four daily trips from Hai Phong to Hanoi.

Note that the last trip departs at 18:40. You should still have enough time to catch this even if you take the last ferry trip from CatBa, just make sure to not make unnecessary stops.

Train fares start from 103,000 VND ($4) and travel time is around 1h 54m - 2h 42m. Trains depart from Hai Phong Railway Station in Hai Phong city centre.

You are to get off at Gia Lam Railway Station, located 5 km northeast of Hanoi’s Old Quarter. You can take a 10-minute taxi to get to your hotel. Taxi rates start from 94,000 VND ($3.60).

A more luxurious alternative to the combined bus & ferry ride is a combined limo van and ferry.

With this option, you’ll get a more spacious ride with even more comfortable seats. Some also offer Wi-Fi and charging ports.

Travel time with a combined limo van & ferry from CatBa to Hanoi takes around 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours. Ticket prices start from 422,000 VND ($16.20).

Departure and arrival station

Like the buses, limo vans don’t have designated departure and arrival stations. They usually depart from their office in CatBa and park at their corresponding office in Hanoi.

Make sure to double-check beforehand if they offer free hotel pick-up and drop-off.

A private transfer is a convenient option when travelling in a group from CatBa to Hanoi.

Private Transport options from CatBa to Hanoi