Overview Compare Bus Limo Van Train To Stay
How to get from CatBa to Hanoi
Hanoi is the bustling capital of Vietnam. Chaotic and colourful, this city is a vibrant mix of heritage and modernity.
At its heart is the Old Quarter – a lively mix of cosy hotels, residential buildings and neighbourhood cafes. Composed of 36 streets, just walking around this area will reward you with many amazing discoveries.
Make sure to try as much street food as you can, lounge at one of their many coffee shops, and stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake. Must-visit sites include Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and the 19th-century Gothic St. Joseph’s Cathedral.
3 ways to get from CatBa to Hanoi
When travelling the 150 km distance from CatBa to Hanoi, you have 3 options: a 3.5-hour bus, a 3.5-hour limo van, and a 4-hour train. Rates range between 275,000 VND ($11) and 353,000 VND ($14). Note that all options include a ferry ride from CatBa to Hai Phong.
A combined bus and ferry is the most convenient way to get from CatBa to Hanoi. With rates from 275,000 VND ($11), you can just sit back and relax because your tour operator will already take care of all your transfers. Travel time is around 3.5 hours.
If you want to take comfort a notch higher, you can also take a more expensive limo van & ferry from CatBa to Hanoi. Limo vans offer more spacious seats and a generally more luxurious ride. Combined prices start from 353,000 VND ($14).
There is also an option to take a combination of ferry, taxi, and train from CatBa to Hanoi. But unlike the other options, you’ll have to book your own ferry and train tickets. Total rates start at 295,000 VND ($11.50).
Itinerary from CatBa to Hanoi
Train
- Cat Ba
- 1.5 hours
- Pha Binh Harbour
- 10 minutes
- Hai Phong Railway Station
- 2.5 hours
- Hanoi
CatBa to Hanoi by Bus
There are at least four companies operating combined bus & ferry rides from CatBa to Hanoi: CatBa Express, Good Morning CatBa, Daiichi Travel, and Full Moon Party.
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 ($11).
The bus and ferry journey from CatBa to Hanoi takes around 3.5 hours. 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.
Bus schedule from CatBa to Hanoi
For easy booking and a comfortable ride, buy your ticket beforehand via BookAway.
You can also book your bus & ferry ticket with one of the local agencies in CatBa. Their rates might be a bit cheaper, but note that their buses take more time since they usually use a different harbour or ferry. Also, don’t expect the same comfort as offered by one of the previous options.
CatBa to Hanoi by Limo Van
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 3.5 hours. Ticket prices start from 353,000 VND ($14).
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.
Limo Van Schedule from CatBa to Hanoi
CatBa to Hanoi by Train
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.
Step 1: Cat Ba to Pha Binh Harbour by Ferry
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).
Ferries dock at Pha Binh Harbour, also called Ben Binh. From here, Hai Phong Railway Station is about 2 km away.
Ferry schedule from CatBa to Pha Binh Harbour
It’s best to book online beforehand through Baolau to ensure ferry seats on your desired date and time.
You can also book a ferry through the local agencies on the island. Thong Nhat 05 and Mekong Hoang Yen operate daily ferry trips from CatBa to Pha Binh Pier. They are a bit cheaper (around 120,000 VND ($4.80)) but also slower.
Why we don’t recommend taking a ferry to Dinh Vu Harbour
First of all, there is no direct ferry from CatBa to Dinh Vu Harbour. If you choose to arrive at Hai Phong’s Dinh Vu Pier, your itinerary will look like this:
- Step 1: Take a 45-minute bus from CatBa Town to Cai Vieng Port.
- Step 2: Take a 20-minute ferry to Got Harbour.
- Step 3: Transfer to a 30-minute bus to Ninh Tiep Pier.
- Step 4: Hop on a 45-minute ferry to Dinh Vu Harbour.
- Step 5: Take a 30-minute taxi to Hai Phong Railway Station.
Looks complicated, right? Because it is. This is why we highly recommend that you take a direct ferry from CatBa to Pha Binh Harbour instead.
Step 2: Pha Binh Harbor to Hai Phong Railway Station by Taxi
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 ($2) 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.
Step 3: Hai Phong to Hanoi by Train
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 85,000 VND ($3.40) and travel time is around 2.5 hours. 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 ($3.75).
Train schedule from Hai Phong to Hanoi (Soft Seat)
Where to travel next?
- Hanoi to Sapa: 6-9 hours
Explore the rice fields in Sapa
- Hanoi to Ninh Binh: 2-3 hours
Paddle through the Tam Coc or Trang An river while passing karst mountains and rice fields
- Hanoi to Phong Nha: 3.5-11 hours
Visit the world’s largest caves in Phong Nha
- Hanoi to Hoi An: 3-17 hours
Enjoy the great atmosphere of Hoi An with a mixture of Japanese, Vietnamese and French influences
Our favourite places to stay in Hanoi
Nova Luxury Hotel
Just landed in Hanoi? In this hotel, you will get the best night of sleep you had since ages. The friendly staff will give you a warm welcome and serve a wonderful breakfast buffet the next morning! Located in the middle of the center, but completely isolated from all the noise.
Double rooms with city view from: $42
Visiting Halong Bay
For many travellers, Halong Bay is one of the highlights of Vietnam. The stunning landscape and breathtaking views over the limestone rocks look almost unreal!
To experience Halong Bay in the best way, you can book a boat cruise departing from Hanoi. Organized tours departing from Hanoi are often cheaper than tours sold by agencies in Halong Bay and another advantage is that you don't need to organize your transport to get there.
We recommend to book your boat tour online to get the best prices and be certain that you book with a trusted company. I already spoke to many travellers who booked boat trips from a random agency on the street and were very disappointed by the service and conditions of this boat.
See here our recommendtion of well-rated boat cruises
- Halong Bay Day trip (from $39 pp)
- Halong Bay Cruise (from $185 for 2 pers)
*Both tours include free pick-up and drop-off in Hanoi.
Want to have a broader choice of tours? Check out Halongbaytours for more boat cruises around Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay (Cat Ba).
