Cat Ba Island lies about 150 km east of Hanoi, at the southern edge of the Lan Ha – Ha Long archipelago. Getting there is easier than most travellers expect: a direct bus with hotel pickup takes around 3 to 3.5 hours, and the ticket already includes the crossing to the island. This guide, written by our team who live on Cat Ba, compares every option – bus and speedboat, bus and cable car, a cruise via Ha Long Bay, private car and transfers from Noi Bai Airport and Ninh Binh – with real schedules and prices.
Quick comparison
| Option | Time door to door | Price per person (one way) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus + speedboat | 3–3.5 hours | from US$11 | Most travellers, best value |
| Limousine + cable car | 3–3.5 hours | from US$15 | Comfort and views, no boat |
| Tour with transfer included | Included in tour | Tour price | Short trips, no planning |
| Luxury cruise via Ha Long Bay | Full day | Tour from US$136 | Seeing both bays on the way |
| From Noi Bai Airport | About 4 hours | from US$19 | Arriving straight from a flight |
Option 1: Bus and speedboat (best value)
This is how most travellers reach Cat Ba. A pickup vehicle collects you from your hotel in Hanoi’s Old Quarter or Hoan Kiem district 30–60 minutes before departure. You change to a comfortable coach or limousine van, drive on the expressway towards Hai Phong, then cross to the island by speedboat. On Cat Ba, the bus drops you at your hotel anywhere on the island.
Departures from Hanoi run throughout the day – 06:00, 07:00, 08:00, 09:00, 10:45, 12:30, 14:30 and 15:30 – and the return from Cat Ba leaves at 07:00, 09:00, 11:30, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00 and 17:00. From November to March a standard bus with the speedboat costs about US$11 per person, and a limousine about US$13. Prices rise slightly from April to September. The speedboat ticket, drinking water, insurance and one 20 kg bag are included.
Option 2: Bus and cable car
If you prefer not to take a boat, choose the route via the cable car, which glides over the water to the island with wide views of the bay. Buses on this route leave Hanoi at 08:00 and 10:45 and return from Cat Ba at 09:00, 11:30, 12:30 and 14:00. Expect to pay about US$13 with a standard bus or US$15 with a limousine. Note that the cable car does not run on Tuesdays – on those days we move you to the speedboat route.
Option 3: Book a tour that includes transport
If you plan to cruise Lan Ha Bay anyway, a tour with transfers is the simplest choice – you are collected in Hanoi and brought back, with nothing to organise in between. Popular choices are:
- Lan Ha Bay cruise & Cat Ba Island 2 days 1 night – day cruise, a night in Cat Ba Town and a motorbike day
- Glowing plankton kayaking tour – sunset at Monkey Island and night kayaking
- 2-day overnight cruise from Hanoi – sleep in a cabin on the bay
- Cat Ba trekking & Lan Ha Bay adventure – for active travellers
Option 4: Travel via Ha Long Bay on a luxury cruise
Want to see Ha Long Bay on the way? Drive about 2.5 hours to Tuan Chau Harbour near Ha Long City, spend the day on a cruise through Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay, then cross to Gia Luan pier in the north of Cat Ba and continue by road to Cat Ba Town. It turns a travel day into a sightseeing day. Our Hera luxury cruise & Cat Ba 2-day tour works exactly like this, with a seafood buffet, kayaking and a cooking class on board.
Option 5: From Noi Bai Airport
Landing in Hanoi and heading straight to the island? A combined ticket takes you from Noi Bai Airport to your hotel on Cat Ba in about 4 hours, with a private 7-seat car for the airport leg. Pickup is at both the international and domestic terminals, with departures between 04:00 and 14:30. For two or more passengers it costs about US$19 per person with a standard bus or US$21 with a limousine.
Option 6: Private car
A private car with driver is the most flexible choice for families and small groups: you leave when you want, stop for photos and travel door to door. The drive including the crossing usually takes around 3 hours. Contact us with your group size and we will quote a price.
Coming from Ninh Binh?
Many travellers combine Ninh Binh’s rice fields and caves with Lan Ha Bay. Direct buses from Ninh Binh and Tam Coc to Cat Ba take about 4 hours. Our Ninh Binh to Cat Ba 2-day tour includes the transfer, a sunset cruise and a national park trek.
Which option should you choose?
- On a budget: bus and speedboat – about US$11.
- Want comfort: limousine and cable car, or a private car.
- Only 2 days: a tour with transfers included, so no time is lost.
- Want to see Ha Long Bay too: the luxury cruise route via Tuan Chau.
- Arriving by plane: the direct Noi Bai Airport ticket.
Tips for the journey
- Book at least a day ahead in summer (June–August), at weekends and on Vietnamese holidays, when buses sell out.
- Around Tet (Lunar New Year) and 30 April – 3 May a holiday surcharge of about US$1 per person applies.
- The pickup driver arrives 30–60 minutes before departure. Wait in your hotel lobby and keep your phone on.
- Keep a light jacket with you – bus air-conditioning can be cold – and some Vietnamese dong for snacks at the rest stop.
- Free cancellation is possible up to 24 hours before departure on normal days.
Book your ticket
See all routes, schedules and prices on our bus tickets & transfers page and send a request – nothing is charged online, and we confirm your seat and pickup time by WhatsApp or email. Questions? Message us on WhatsApp; our office on Cat Ba replies every day from 09:00 to 22:00.