Vietnam is is a well-traveled destination in Southeast Asia, that means there’s usually more one way to hop around the places you want to visit. Thinking of making the trip from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island? You’re in the right place!

Vietnam’s capital city is full of highlights, and many visitors to Hanoi put this city high on their list of places to visit. And the love for Hanoi is justified. With a dark history, this bustling city holds much charm. Visit Hoan Kiem Lake, or watch a traditional puppet performance (even without translation, it’s a fun experience).

Cat Ba is one underrated place to visit in Vietnam. The much more popular Ha Long Bay is right around the corner, but Lan Ha Bay is a quieter and relatively peaceful place, while still have unforgettable scenery to be inspired by.

Exploring the limestone karsts and floating villages, while having fewer boats and tourists to compete with the picturesque views makes Cat Ba Island a perfect travel destination.

There are a number of ways to get to Cat Ba Island from Hanoi, but not all of them are equal. If you’re looking to travel from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island by bus, plane or train, everything you need to know is below.

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How can I catch a bus from Hanoi to Cat Ba?

The easiest way to get from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island is by bus. Well, two buses and a ferry – Cat Ba is an island after all.

Cat Ba Express Office is located in Hanoi, and as the name suggests, provides express service to Cat Ba Island from Hanoi. They are located around a 10-minute walk from Hanoi’s Old town.

Buses from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island leave multiple times throughout the day – 7 am, 10 am and 2 pm. The journey takes around 3 hours, maybe a tad longer if you have rough seas.

The cost of the combination boat and bus ticket from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island 360,000 VND ($15 USD).

You can book your online bus combination tickets right here.

 

What should I expect from the bus and boat from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island?

Since I believe the bus is the best way to get to Cat Ba Island from Hanoi, I’ll give you a quick rundown on what I experienced so you’re ready for the journey.

So, to be totally clear, I traveled from Phong Nha on an overnight bus the night before, and then changed buses early in the morning before heading to Cat Ba Island. Well, at least I was supposed to. If you’re thinking about catching the overnight bus from Phong Nha to Hanoi, and then the early morning bus from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island, you’re looking at 460,000 VND ($20 USD) per person.

My bus was scheduled to leave around 7 am but was delayed for around 3 hours. If you have the time, seek out one of Hanoi’s specialty egg coffee.

When we finally left, everything else went smoothly. We picked up a few more passengers and then set off towards the largest island in the Cat Ba Archipelago.

The bus from Hanoi is pretty fancy. Good air conditioning, WiFi and charging outlets are available if you need. Plus the seats are comfy and plenty of legroom.

The combination ticket to Cat Ba included three steps:

• A bus from Hanoi to Cat Hai Island. This bus route takes you over the largest bridge crossing in Southeast Asia, Tan Vu Lach Huyen Bridge connects Cat Hai Island to the mainland. Expect around 2 hours for this trip from Hanoi to Cat Hai Island.
• Once at the port of Cat Hai Island, you will board a ferry. The ferry takes around 45 minutes and is a scenic boat ride through the South China Sea. The ferry leaves from Ben Pha Got Port and docks on Cat Ba Island at Cai Vieng Port.
• Once you dock on Cat Ba Island, you will board the waiting shuttle bus to take you to the main town on Cat Ba Island. This bus takes around 45 minutes and follows the coastal edge of Cat Ba National Park.

 

Flights from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island?

Cat Ba Island has no airport. So, while it isn’t possible to fly from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island directly, a plane can get you pretty close.

The closest airport to Cat Ba Island is on the mainland city of Hai Phong. The issue is with this route, you’re not able to fly from Hanoi to Hai Phong directly, you need a layover in either Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City, making flight times over 4.5hours long (probably much longer).

After arriving at Hai Phong Airport you will need a taxi to the ferry pier and then the ferry itself to Cat Ba Island.

For this trip, expect to pay over $400 USD just for the flight. It isn’t my first choice for how to get to Cat Ba Island from Hanoi, but it’s good to have options.

 

Can I catch a train from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island?

It isn’t possible to take a train directly from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island as there is no train line running between the two places to visit in Vietnam. However, catching a train from Hanoi can get you pretty close to Cat Ba Island.

Catching a train to Cat Ba Island from Hanoi has similar constraints to flying, but it is a lot quicker and cheaper option.

Hanoi’s train station is pretty central, around a 20-minute walk from the city’s old quarter. The train from Hanoi to Hai Phong leaves multiple times a day – 6 am, 9 am, 3:20 pm and 6:15 pm. It’s a good idea to book your trains in advance from Hanoi and double-check departure times as they will shift over time.

The cost of the train from Hanoi to Hai Phong varies from 65,000 to 85,000 VND ($2-3 USD). If you’re traveling on a weekend, the price will be a little higher, as well if you choose a soft seat over a hard (definitions below).

Pha Vinh ferry port is where the boat to Cat Ba Island leaves, and takes around a 25-minute walk from Hai Phong Train Station. You will have to buy separate tickets and there is more information below about catching the ferry from Hai Phong to Cat Ba Island below.

 

What’s the difference between a hard sleeper and a soft sleeper?

There’s a pretty simple difference between the hard and soft seats on trains in Vietnam (a lot of Southeast Asia use similar definitions).

Hard Sleeper – cannot recline, hardwood, not very comfortable, cheaper than soft seated tickets.

Soft Sleeper – recline-able, padding and much more comfortable. A little bit more expensive than hard seats.

The difference in cost is usually only a couple of dollars, and at that price, I would rather sit in comfort for multiple hours.

 

How do I catch the ferry from Hai Phong to Cat Ba Island?

Catching the ferry from Hai Phong to Cat Ba Island takes around 45 minutes. You throw your bags down on the deck and can sit outside for beautiful views and wind, or shelter from the elements inside.

There are usually 4 trips from Hai Phong to Cat Ba Island daily and each ticket will set you back 180,000 VND ($8 USD). Currently, the ferry to Cat Ba Island from Hai Phong leaves at 7 am, 9 am, 1 pm and 3 pm – but these times may change, or may be canceled due to weather conditions – always check ahead of time.

The water is usually pretty calm but if you’re prone to seasickness, stock up on seasickness tablets. They are a pretty common item in pharmacies.

 

Conclusion on how to get from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island

Visiting Cat Ba Island, 150km south-west of Hanoi, is an easy trip to make. Cat Ba Island is the gateway to Lan Ha Bay, and although not as popular as Ha Long Bay, is well worth the visit – in fact, it’s a great alternative to the busy bay waters filled with tourists and boats.

Catching buses and ferries in Vietnam does have its challenges, but the beautiful scenery of Cat Ba and the adventures through Lan Ha Bay makes it worth the effort in the end.

Have you taken transport from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island? What did you think? What am I missing? Leave a comment below with any questions or suggestions!

 

How else can I prepare for my trip to Vietnam?

There are a couple of other things you can do to make your travels throughout Vietnam run smoother and easier.

• Buying the right travel insurance is so important. World Nomads is who I use and I love them for their great plans and fast customer service.
• Guide books aren’t dead – especially those who cover a destination so well. Lonely Planet’s guide to Vietnam will give you plenty of tips and recommendations.

 

If you found this post useful, here are the next two things to do:

• Share this post to social media to help others travel through Vietnam better
• Sign up for Horizon Unknowns Newsletter for more travel tips and information! You’ll also get a free 8-page travel checklist to help you travel better!

 

Read more about Vietnam:

• Visit Da Nang – Vietnam’s underrated city
• Hiking SaPa and choosing the right company to go with
• Ho Thuy Tien is an abandoned water theme park just outside of Hue

 

Thanks for reading!

Happy and safe travels,

Ben – Horizon Unknown