How to Get from Hanoi to Cat Ba (Bus, Ferry, Cable Car, Private Car)

Most travelers get from Hanoi to Cat Ba in three to four hours, on a bus that drives to the coast, crosses a short stretch of sea by ferry and finishes in Cat Ba Town. You can also ride the cable car from Cat Hai, take a speedboat from Hai Phong or sail across from Ha Long. Here's how each route works and what it costs.

Updated October 2026.

1. How long does it take to get from Hanoi to Cat Ba?

Plan on three to four hours from central Hanoi to Cat Ba Town, and longer on weekends or holidays. Every route ends with a water crossing, because Cat Ba is an island.

Here's a quick comparison as of 2026:

• Bus and ferry combo: Around three and a half to four hours from Hanoi's Old Quarter, usually VND 230,000–350,000 per person.
• Private car: Around three to four hours door to door, roughly VND 1,500,000–2,500,000 per car.
• Cable car from Cat Hai: About 10 to 15 minutes in the air, but it runs at set times and you still need a ride to town.
• Speedboat from Hai Phong: About 45 minutes from Ben Binh Pier, plus a drive on the island.
• Ferry from Ha Long: About 45 to 50 minutes from Tuan Chau to Gia Luan Pier, then around 40 minutes by road.

2. Hanoi to Cat Ba by bus and ferry

The bus and ferry combo is the easiest way from Hanoi to Cat Ba for most people. One ticket covers the bus, the crossing and the drive into town, and most companies collect you from your hotel or their office in the Old Quarter.

2.1. How the bus and ferry combo works

The bus takes the expressway toward Hai Phong, crosses the long Tan Vu–Lach Huyen bridge to Cat Hai and stops at the ferry terminal. Depending on the company, the bus either rolls onto the car ferry with you or you walk on and change to a connecting bus on the other side.

The ferry lands at Cai Vieng Pier on the north of the island. From there it's about 22 to 25 km to Cat Ba Town, a drive of 30 to 40 minutes through the hills. Buses usually stop at their own offices in town, so ask whether they'll continue to your hotel.

2.2. Booking the bus

Companies on the route include Cat Ba Express, Good Morning Cat Ba and Daily Limousine. Limousine vans are smaller, with wider leather seats, and cost more: one October 2026 listing showed VND 300,000 for a coach seat and VND 420,000 for a limousine seat.

Book a day or two ahead, and earlier for Fridays and public holidays. Your Hanoi hotel can usually book for you, and platforms such as 12Go and Baolau sell seats online. Be in the lobby 30 minutes before pickup.

See also: Best Time to Visit Cat Ba: Weather Month by Month

3. Crossing to the island: ferry or cable car?

You can cross the strait from Cat Hai to Cat Ba by car ferry or by the Sun World cable car. The ferry runs all day and carries vehicles. The cable car is quicker and has the better view, but it keeps limited hours.

3.1. Dong Bai (Got) to Cai Vieng car ferry

The old Got ferry pier closed on March 1, 2024, and the route moved to the new Dong Bai terminal about 4 km away. Many tickets and maps still say "Got", so don't worry if the names differ. Ferries run from about 5:00 or 5:30 a.m. until 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., depending on the season, roughly every 30 to 45 minutes.

The crossing takes around 20 to 35 minutes. Fares are low and paid in cash: about VND 10,000–14,000 for a foot passenger, around VND 45,000 for a motorbike and around VND 190,000 for a car with under nine seats, as of 2026.

3.2. Cat Hai to Phu Long cable car

The Sun World Cat Ba cable car runs almost 4 km (3,955 m) from Cat Hai station to Phu Long station on Cat Ba Island. The ride takes about 10 to 15 minutes, and one of its towers, at 214.8 m, holds a Guinness World Record as the tallest cable car pylon.

It isn't a round-the-clock service. In 2026 it has closed on Tuesdays and run in morning and afternoon windows, with reported one-way adult fares between VND 60,000 and 150,000 depending on promotions. Children under 1 m ride free. Large suitcases may cost extra, and Phu Long is still a drive from town, so check Sun World's official channels and arrange onward transport first.

4. Hanoi to Cat Ba by private car

A private car takes around three to four hours and suits families, small groups and anyone with heavy luggage. Expect to pay roughly VND 1,500,000–2,500,000 for a sedan or small SUV, more for a van. The car drives onto the ferry, so you never change vehicles.

The driver can collect you from your hotel or Noi Bai Airport. Because the ferry stops in the evening, leave Hanoi by early afternoon.

5. Via Hai Phong: speedboat from Ben Binh Pier

If you're already in Hai Phong or flying into Cat Bi International Airport, take the speedboat from Ben Binh Pier. Several operators run from about 7:00 a.m. into the afternoon, with fares around VND 150,000–250,000 one way and a crossing of about 45 minutes, as of mid-2026.

Most boats dock at Cai Vieng, about 22 km from Cat Ba Town, so confirm where yours lands and how you'll reach town. Sailings thin out in winter. From Cat Bi Airport, allow around two hours from landing to Cat Ba Town.

6. Via Ha Long: Tuan Chau to Gia Luan ferry

If you're combining Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba, take the car ferry from Tuan Chau to Gia Luan Pier on the northwest of the island. The crossing takes about 45 to 50 minutes through the karst islands, a scenic preview of the bay.

There are about three sailings a day in winter and five in summer, roughly between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Fares are around VND 60,000 for a foot passenger, VND 80,000 for a motorbike and VND 300,000 for a car, as of 2026. The ferry may wait for about 30 passengers before it leaves.

7. Which route should you choose?

For a first trip, book the bus and ferry combo and let the bus company handle every connection. Families and small groups often find a private car worth it, since the cost split four ways is close to a limousine seat. If you want the view, ride the cable car on a day it's running. Coming from Ha Long, use the Tuan Chau ferry rather than doubling back toward Hai Phong.

See also: Cat Ba Itinerary: How to Spend 2 or 3 Days

8. Good to know

Keep these points in mind before you travel:

• Storms: In typhoon season, roughly June to October with the peak from July to September, authorities can suspend sailings. Leave a spare day before an international flight.
• Weekends and holidays: Buses fill and ferry lines grow on Fridays, Sundays and public holidays.
• Cash: Carry small notes for ferry tickets, taxis and snacks at the piers.
• Evening cutoff: The last ferries leave in the early evening, so a late start from Hanoi can leave you stuck on the mainland.
• Cat Ba Town works: Parts of the waterfront have been under reconstruction since Typhoon Yagi in September 2024, and bus drop-off points can move.

9. FAQs about getting from Hanoi to Cat Ba

Getting from Hanoi to Cat Ba is easier than it looks: one bus ticket, one short crossing and you're on the island in about four hours. Choose the cable car or the Ha Long ferry if you want the view to start before you arrive.

When you arrive, Flamingo Cat Ba Sea & Sand Resort sits right on Cat Co 1 and Cat Co 2 beaches, a short ride from Cat Ba Town. Drop your bags, swim at the beach or in the Shell Pool, then watch the light fade over Lan Ha Bay from Lan Ha Sky Bar on the 17th floor. Our Reception team can help you plan the trip back.

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