Cat Ba Island is the largest inhabited island in Lan Ha Bay, off the coast of northern Vietnam. Its only 4 fours from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island and from there you can take a boat trip around Lan Ha Bay, which is a much cheaper alternative to a boat trip around the busier and more famous Ha Long Bay and just as good.
Bus Times Hanoi to Cat Ba Island
There are 7 bus services a day from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island which can book online.
Hanoi | Cat Ba | Cost | Company |
07:45 | 11:45 | $ 13.37 | Grouptour |
07:45 | 11:45 | $ 13.80 | Cat Ba Express |
10:15 | 14:15 | $ 13.37 | Grouptour |
11:00 | 15:00 | $ 13.80 | Cat Ba Express |
12:15 | 16:15 | $ 13.37 | Grouptour |
14:15 | 18:15 | $ 13.37 | Grouptour |
14:15 | 18:15 | $ 13.80 | Cat Ba Express |
Buy Tickets to Cat Ba Island
Use the Search Box to buy tickets from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island.
Hanoi SSB Bus Stop
Hanoi CBExpress Bus Stop
Cat Ba SSB Bus Stop
Cat Ba CBExpress Bus Stop
Travel to Cat Ba Island
The first stage of the journey from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island is a 2 hour bus journey travelling 137 km from Hanoi’s Old Town area to Ben Pha Got Ferry Pier. Bus services from Hanoi will typically stop once for about 20 minutes on this journey at a roadside service station with a restaurant, shops and a toilet.

For the next leg of the journey the bus goes onto the car ferry from the mainland to Ben Pha Cai Vieng ferry terminal in the north west of Cat Ba island. This is a very short crossing over 1 km of sea separating the island from the mainland.

From Ben pha Cai Vieng ferry terminal the bus leaves the ferry and travels 23 km south to Cat Ba town. Most of the accommodation on the island is either in Cat Ba Town or located on the road which goes from the ferry terminal to Cat Ba Town. Cat Ba Town is wonderful place located on a beautiful bay with lots of restaurants and bars. For a budget room with air-conditioning and satellite TV we recommend staying at Lang Chai Hotel at the southern end of Cat Ba Town.