Cat Ba Travel Guides

Cat Ba Ferry Schedule 2026: Ferries, Speedboats and Cable Car

Name: Flamingo Cat Ba Sea & Sand Resort
Address: Cat Co 1 & 2 Beach, Cat Ba Island, Cat Hai Special Zone, Hai Phong, Vietnam, Cát Bà, Hải Phòng, VN
Telephone: +84 364 901 393

October 16, 2026Flamingo Cat Ba Sea & Sand Resort

Departure times, last boats and fares for every crossing to Cat Ba Island in 2026: car ferries, Hai Phong speedboats and the cable car.

Waters between Lan Ha Bay and Ha Long Bay

Every route to Cat Ba Island ends with a stretch of water. There are four ways across: the Dong Bai to Cai Vieng car ferry, the Cat Hai to Phu Long cable car, speedboats from Hai Phong and the Tuan Chau to Gia Luan ferry from Ha Long. Each has its own timetable, and the autumn and winter schedule is much thinner than summer's. This Cat Ba ferry schedule covers departure times, fares and last boats, so you can plan the crossing with time to spare.

Updated October 2026. Times and fares are for reference and can change with the season, the weather and the operator.

1. Which ferries go to Cat Ba Island?

Four crossings connect Cat Ba with the mainland, and the right one depends on where you start and whether you bring a vehicle.

Dong Bai to Cai Vieng ferry: links Cat Hai Island with the north of Cat Ba and carries foot passengers, motorbikes and cars. It runs from earliest in the morning to latest in the evening.
Cat Hai to Phu Long cable car: passengers only, 10 to 15 minutes over the water. It suits travelers on a Hanoi bus or anyone without a vehicle.
Speedboats from Hai Phong: leave from the Ben Binh area in central Hai Phong, handy if you arrive in the city by train, plane or bus.
Tuan Chau to Gia Luan ferry: links Ha Long with the northern tip of Cat Ba, a good way to combine both bays in one trip.

From Phu Long Station, Cai Vieng or Gia Luan Pier, Cat Ba Town and the Cat Co beaches are still around 20 km away, about 30 to 40 minutes by shuttle bus or taxi.

2. Dong Bai to Cai Vieng ferry schedule

The Dong Bai to Cai Vieng route is the busiest Cat Ba ferry and is operated by Bayview Cat Ba Co., Ltd. The old Got ferry pier closed on March 1, 2024, and the route moved to Dong Bai about 4 km away, so many bus tickets and maps still say "Got".

2.1. Departure times and last ferries

According to the Hai Phong newspaper Bao Hai Phong (September 3, 2026), the ferry runs fewer trips from September 1 to December 31, 2026, now that the summer peak is over:

Hours: daily from 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., sometimes until 7:00 p.m. depending on the weather and passenger numbers.
Last ferry from Dong Bai to the island: 6:00 p.m. (6:30 p.m. in summer).
Last ferry from Cai Vieng back to Dong Bai: 5:30 p.m. (6:10 p.m. in summer).
Frequency: 24 trips a day (38 in summer), no more than about 40 minutes apart.

The crossing itself takes only 15 to 25 minutes. On summer weekends and public holidays, cars can wait a long time. In peak season 2026 the ferry stopped taking cars toward the island between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. over the April 30 holiday and on weekends from May to September, so check the pier's notices before you drive.

2.2. Dong Bai to Cai Vieng ferry fares

These fares come from the price lists of Cat Ba travel companies updated in October 2026, and they are the same all year:

Foot passengers and bicycles: around VND 12,000 per crossing.
Motorbikes: around VND 45,000, including the rider.
Cars under 9 seats: around VND 190,000, passengers not included.
Vehicles with 9 to 23 seats: around VND 210,000; 24 to 31 seats: around VND 240,000; 32 seats and over: around VND 330,000.

Some sources list motorbikes at up to VND 60,000 and cars at up to VND 210,000, so check the board at the pier when you buy your ticket.

3. Cat Hai to Phu Long cable car schedule

Bao Hai Phong reported that from April 8, 2026, the Cat Hai to Phu Long cable car runs every day of the week, with six departures in each direction. Cars leave Cat Hai Station for the island at 9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. There are also six runs back; ask at Phu Long Station for the exact times.

The line is 3,955 m long and each ride takes 10 to 15 minutes. According to Sun Paradise Land, the operator's site, a ticket has cost VND 70,000 per adult or child over 1 m since September 7, 2026, and children under 1 m ride free. In strong wind, low pressure systems or storms the cable car can pause, and the ferry becomes the way across.

4. Speedboats from Hai Phong to Cat Ba

Speedboats to Cat Ba leave from the Ben Binh area in central Hai Phong and take around 45 to 60 minutes, depending on the route. Sun Paradise Land (September 2026) lists most fares at around VND 200,000 to 300,000 per person one way. There are several sailings a day, but they can be cancelled in rough seas.

Several companies run the route, each on its own timetable. Some booking sites list departures from Ben Binh between about 7:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., with return boats between about 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Autumn and winter can bring fewer sailings, so call the operator to confirm times and book at least a day ahead. Ask where your boat docks on the island, since that decides how far you are from your hotel.

5. Tuan Chau to Gia Luan ferry from Ha Long

The Tuan Chau to Gia Luan ferry runs to two seasonal timetables, and each crossing takes about 50 to 60 minutes. According to the winter schedule published by a Cat Ba travel company in early October 2026, there are around three ferries each way from October to mid-April:

From Tuan Chau to Gia Luan: 7:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
From Gia Luan to Tuan Chau: 9:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

From late April to September there are about five ferries each way. Sources don't fully agree on the times, and one notes the ferry may wait until around 30 passengers are on board. Reference fares are around VND 80,000 for foot passengers, VND 90,000 to 100,000 for motorbikes and VND 450,000 to 480,000 for cars under 9 seats.

6. Last boats to and from Cat Ba at a glance

Missing the last crossing is the main risk on an autumn or winter trip. Here are the reference last departures for October to December 2026:

Dong Bai to Cai Vieng ferry: 6:00 p.m. to the island, 5:30 p.m. from the island.
Cat Hai to Phu Long cable car: 3:30 p.m. to the island; ask at Phu Long Station for the last run back.
Speedboats from Hai Phong: usually mid-afternoon, around 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. depending on the company.
Tuan Chau to Gia Luan ferry: 3:00 p.m. to the island, 4:00 p.m. from the island.

The piers are 30 to 40 minutes from Cat Ba Town, so leave your hotel at least an hour before the last departure.

7. Which crossing should you choose?

No single crossing suits everyone. Choose by where you start and what you carry:

Driving a car or motorbike: the Dong Bai to Cai Vieng ferry is the only option from the Hai Phong side.
Coming by bus from Hanoi with light luggage: the cable car is quick and scenic; pick an early bus to make the 3:30 p.m. run.
Starting in central Hai Phong, or arriving by train or plane: a speedboat from Ben Binh is the simplest choice.
Already in Ha Long: the Tuan Chau to Gia Luan ferry saves you a long detour through Hai Phong.

8. Good to know

Check times the day before you travel, as ferry, speedboat and cable car schedules change with the season, the weather and public holidays.
During tropical depressions, storms or strong northeast monsoon winds, crossings can be suspended. Keep the numbers of your bus company, boat operator and hotel handy.
Bring a jacket for a winter speedboat ride; it gets cold on fast boats.
Carry small cash for ferry tickets in case the counter doesn't take transfers.
On a Hanoi bus, ask whether your ticket includes the cable car or ferry, and which crossing your bus uses.

9. FAQs about the Cat Ba ferry schedule

What time is the last ferry to Cat Ba?

From September 1 to December 31, 2026, the last Dong Bai to Cai Vieng ferry to the island leaves at 6:00 p.m., according to Bao Hai Phong. In summer it runs later, until 6:30 p.m. in 2026.

What time is the last ferry from Cat Ba?

In autumn and winter 2026, the last ferry from Cai Vieng leaves at 5:30 p.m. From Gia Luan, the last ferry to Ha Long leaves at around 4:00 p.m.

How much is the ferry to Cat Ba?

The Dong Bai to Cai Vieng ferry costs around VND 12,000 for foot passengers, VND 45,000 for a motorbike and VND 190,000 for a car under 9 seats. The Tuan Chau to Gia Luan ferry from Ha Long is pricier, at around VND 80,000 per foot passenger.

How long is the speedboat from Hai Phong to Cat Ba?

Around 45 to 60 minutes depending on the route, with fares of about VND 200,000 to 300,000 per person one way.

Does the Cat Ba cable car run in winter?

Yes. Since April 8, 2026, it has run every day, with six departures each way, though it can pause in strong wind or storms.

Can I take a car to Cat Ba?

Yes, on the Dong Bai to Cai Vieng ferry or the Tuan Chau to Gia Luan ferry. On summer weekends and holidays the queue can be long, so a small group may find it easier to leave the car on the mainland and take the cable car.

With this Cat Ba ferry schedule in hand, you can time the crossing instead of racing for the last boat, which matters most in autumn and winter when sailings thin out. Check the times the day before, and leave a buffer on the way home.

Once you're across, Flamingo Cat Ba Sea & Sand Resort sits beside Cat Co 1 and Cat Co 2 beaches. Check-in starts at 3:00 p.m., the in-resort buggy takes you between the Sea, Sand and Sun towers, and Lan Ha Sky Bar on the 17th floor stays open until 11:00 p.m. for an evening over the bay.

Plan your stay at Flamingo Cat Ba Sea & Sand Resort:

Book your stay at Flamingo Cat Ba Sea & Sand Resort Hotline +84 364 901 393

Photo: Christophe95, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.