How to get to Cat Ba Island from Noi Bai Airport

Cat Ba Island is regarded as the sleeping beauty on her wakening. It has the pure charm of sky and sea, covered by the jungle green coat.

Thousands of arrivals every day, both domestic and international to Hanoi, have Cat Ba in their lists of ideal destinations.

Some of them do not have enough time to stay in the city center, and some simply just want to skip it and go directly to the Cat Ba Island.

You are in the right place to learn about the newest information and updates on transportation options from Noi Bai Airport to Cat Ba Island.

To go from Noi Bai airport to Cat Ba island, we must transit in Hanoi Old Quarter or Hai Phong city.

Recommend ⇒ Book a Cat Ba Island - Lan Ha Bay day tour from Hanoi Old Quarter or Hai Phong City → Click to Book or here.

Option 1: Noi Bai Airport - transit Hanoi Old Quarter - go to Cat Ba island

Cat Ba Express offers you the choice of a private car to pick you up at Noi Bai airport with cars from 4-16 seats, depending on your needs, with prices ranging from $18-20/ way.

Booking the service is easy via the website or WhatsApp at +84976951999. → Book via the website here

The car will drop passengers off at the Hanoi Old Quarter or Cat Ba Express office to continue the journey to the next Cat Ba Island.

The distance from Noi Bai Airport to Hanoi Old Quarter is 29 km, and travel time takes about 50-70 minutes.

After arriving in Hanoi's Old Quarter, you can continue to take the Cat Ba Express bus to Cat Ba Island easily.

Cat Ba Express has a daily bus from Hanoi to Cat Ba, departing at 7:30, 10:45, and 14:00. You can choose a suitable departure time.

To book one-way bus tickets → here. To book round-trip bus tickets → here. or WhatsApp at +84976951999.

Option 2: Noi Bai Airport - transit Hai Phong City - go to Cat Ba island

Go directly to Cat Ba Island by local bus

There's no separate bus service from Noi Bai Airport to Hai Phong but Ket Doan Bus is going to Cat Ba from Sapa that passes Noi Bai Airport at around 1 AM.

You have to be attentive and keep contact constantly with the escort in order not to miss the bus. Contact to book the bus at their hotline:  +84 986 880 880.

Go to bus station to take local bus

You can take Noi Bai taxi or rent a car (15 - 17 USD) or take the public bus number 17 to get to Gia Lam bus stations. From Gia Lam bus station, take bus Hai Au or O Ho to Hai Phong City.

The private car from Noi Bai Airport to Gia Lam bus station → click to book

From Gia Lam bus station you can take Bus Hai Au, or O Ho to Hai Phong. The special thing in Vietnam that is worth keeping in mind is that almost every bus conductors name their bus after their name or some fancy words; therefore you will more than often see people's names printed in front of the bus, like Son Thuy, Hai Long, etc.

From Hai Phong City to Cat Ba Island

I suppose you are not familiar with any of the places mentioned here so before we get down to the road of island - port – ferry terminal – flyover – etc., here are 3 parts of the journey with their associated spots:

1. (1) In Hai Phong City (mainland), we have a very important spot: Binh ferry terminal.
2. (2) Then we have the transit island called Cat Hai Island. In this island, please remember the Got ferry terminal.
3. (3) Finally, our final destination – Cat Ba Island. There’s two spots to remember: Cai Vieng ferry terminal and Phu Long port.

See the map below to have a better visualization.

Now it’s time to choose the route that fits you the best.

Option 1: You can take a speedboat from Binh ferry terminal and go directly to Cat Ba Island (~250,000 VND – 45 mins). It’s fast but expensive.

Timeline of Binh Speedboat

The speedboat will temporarily stop operating from September to April next year.

Option 2: You can go to the flyover called Tan Vu – Lach Huyen which connects the mainland to Cat Hai Island.

There’s a parking lot at the Got ferry terminal where you can park your motorbike/car or you can just bring them with you and pay some extra fees.

Then from Got ferry terminal in this island, you take ferry (12,000 VND – every 30 minutes from 5 AM to 19 PM - duration: 30 mins) or speedboat (80,000 VND – duration: 8 mins) to Cat Ba Island.

Depends of what means you choose, you will arrive in different places in Cat Ba Island. When you arrive in Cat Ba Island, take the bus to center town. Distance 23km.

Book a bus or private car to Cat Ba town → WhatsApp +84976951999

Ferry price

Timeline Got Ferry

Timeline of Got speed boat

Option 3: Bus Hai Phong to Cat Ba

Bus Hai Phong to Cat Ba

Timeline of bus

Office address and pick-up point: 16 Ben Binh and 41 Ben Binh, Hong Bang, Hai Phong

Hope you have an unforgettable journey!

Read more →

1. → Cat Ba Island, Vietnam - an unforgettable holiday
2. → Things to do in Lan Ha Bay
3. → Lan Ha Bay – the forgotten paradise