Cat Ba Island is one of the best starting points for exploration of Halong Bay. Haiphong, one of the largest cities of Vietnam, is normally passed by on the route to the island. There are many ways to travel from Haiphong to Cat Ba Island. Travelers can choose to take a direct hydrofoil to Cat Ba Island or to travel there by a combination of bus and speed boat.
Hydrofoil from Haiphong to Cat Ba
There are 2 companies that provide service of hydrofoil between Haiphong and Cat Ba. All boats will depart from Ben Binh Pier (4 Bến Bính, Minh Khai, Hồng Bàng, Hải Phòng) in Haiphong and arrive at the centrally located Cat Ba Pier.
Traveling by hydrofoil is the fastest and most convenient way to get into the island because there is no need to change transportation on the way and the boat stops at the pier which is located in the very center of Cat Ba Town.
For a complete guide on getting from Haiphong to Cat Ba Island by Hydrofoil check Haiphong - Cat Ba by Hydrofoil.
Where to book hydrofoil tickets?
Hydrofoil tickets can be purchased at Ben Binh Pier in Haiphong, at Cat Ba Pier or online.
For anyone traveling to Cat Ba Island in June-September, it is recommended to book hydrofoil tickets in advance as it's a high season in Northern Vietnam and there are normally a lot of tourists using this service so.
How to travel to Ben Binh Pier?
When traveling from Haiphong City Center to Ben Binh Pier, you can take taxi or motorbike as the pier is located only about 4 km from the center of the city. Another alternative way is taking a local bus No. 2 directly to the pier.
We took a taxi from our hotel in Haiphong city center to the pier and taxi fare was just around 30,000 VND.
Bus and Speed Boat from Haiphong to Cat Ba
Another option for traveling from Haiphong to Cat Ba Island is taking a bus and speed boat. If choosing to travel by this mean of transport, you should check the trip itinerary offered beforehand because each company provides different services.
Some companies offer traveling from Haiphong to Cat Ba Island by taking a speed boat from Ben Binh Pier to Cai Vieng, then taking a bus from Cai Vieng to Cat Ba.
Other companies take you from Ben Binh to Dinh Vu by bus, change there to a speed boat going to Cat Ba Island and then bring you from the distant pier to Cat Ba Town by a shuttle bus.
If you will choose to use a bus and speed boat instead of hydrofoil, the journey will be longer but cheaper and the departure time will be more flexible as there are many departures during the day.
A combined bus and speed boat ticket normally costs about 140,000 - 150,000 VND.
Companies operating between Haiphong and Cat Ba
List of the companies providing boat and bus services between Haiphong and Cat Ba Island:
1. Cat Ba Island Resort & Spa
Route: Ben Binh Pier - (Hydrofoil Boat) -> Cat Ba Island
Time: 9:00, 13:00, 16:00
Travel duration: 1 hour
Price: 240,000 VND
2. Mekong Hoang Yen
Routes: Ben Binh Pier - (speed boat) -> Cai Vieng - (bus) -> Cat Ba Island
Time: 08:45
Travel duration: 1 hour
Price: 240,000 VND
3. Hadeco
Routes: Ben Binh Pier - (speed boat) -> Cai Vieng - (bus) -> Cat Ba Island
Speed Boat Departure Time: 7:00, 8:00, 10:00, 13:00, 15:00, 16:00
Bus Departure Times: 07:45, 08:45, 10:45, 13:45, 15:45 and 16:45
Travel duration: 1 hour
Price: 240,000 VND
4. Van Tai Cat Ba
Routes: Ben Binh Pier - (bus) -> Dinh Vu Pier - (speed boat) -> Cat Ba - (bus) -> Cat Ba
Time: 8:30, 10:30, 13:30, 15:30
Travel duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Price: 150,000 VND
5. Hoang Long
Routes: Ben Binh - (bus) -> Dinh Vu Pier - (speed boat) -> Cat Ba - (bus) -> Cat Ba
Time: 09:00, 14:30
Travel duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Price: 120,000 VND
Pickup: 4 Le Thanh Tong str, Haiphong City
6. Thong Nhat
Routes: Ben Binh - (bus) -> Dinh Vu Pier - (speed boat) -> Cat Ba - (bus) -> Cat Ba
Time: 12:00, 12:30
Travel duration: 2 hours
Price: 120,000 VND
From Haiphong Airport to Cat Ba Island
If you have no intention to visit Haiphong City on the way from Cat Bi Airport (HPH) to Cat Ba Island, you can book a trip all the way from the airport to the island. The journey will consist of transfers between a van, ferry and bus. It should take about 2 hours to get to the final destination which is Cat Ba Town. Tickets for a trip from Haiphong Airport to Cat Ba Island can be booked here: HPH Airport – Cat Ba Island.