Covering a short distance from Hai Phong and Halong Bay, Cat Ba Island has several ferry ports, simplifying travel. If you plan to visit this lovely island, follow our guide on the Cat Ba ferry terminal for the latest information on schedules and prices.
Known as the largest island in Halong Bay, Cat Ba Island is home to over 360 islets scattered over an area of 259 km2 in the Cat Ba archipelago. Thanks to the rise of tourism and transport, you can easily take a ferry to reach Cat Ba Island.
So, you might be wondering which Cat Ba Island ferry you can take from the mainland, what common route you can follow, and how much you need to pay for transportation. Keep scrolling to find the answers.
About Cat Ba Ferry Terminals
On Cat Ba Island, there are 3 main ferry terminals for tourist transportation. All ferries are well-equipped with life-saving equipment, firefighting devices, as well as other medical and safety equipment to meet the requirements of tourist ferries.
1. Cai Vieng Ferry Port
Location: 356 Phu Long, Cat Hai, Hai Phong
Peak Hours: 8 AM – 10 AM & 1 PM – 4 PM, especially between Friday and Sunday
Located in an island district, the Cai Vieng ferry port serves a large number of tourists coming from Got Port, Hai Phong. From Hai Phong city, it takes you nearly 40 minutes via the Tan Vu – Lach Huyen bridge to get to Got Port, then another 30 minutes.
2. Gia Luan Ferry Port
Location: Cat Ba Cross, Gia Luan, Cat Hai, Hai Phong
Peak Hours: 8 AM – 9 AM & 2 PM – 3 PM, slightly busier at midday on weekends
Located about 25 km from Cat Ba town, the Gia Luan pier is at the end of the trail that cuts across the island, where most tourists are transferred from Tuan Chau, Ha Long. A Tuan Chau – Cat Ba ferry ride will take you about 45 to 50 minutes by ferry and 30 minutes by speedboat.
3. Ben Beo Ferry Port
Location: Cai Beo, Cat Ba Town, Cat Hai, Hai Phong
Peak Hours: 8 AM – 9 AM & 2 PM – 3 PM, especially on weekends
Considered the gateway to Lan Ha Bay, the Ben Beo terminal is just 2 km from Cat Ba town and 15 km from Cat Ba National Park.
Besides riding a motorcycle/car, you can walk from downtown to get to the Ben Beo pier in 20 minutes. From this terminal, you can rent a boat for a day to visit numerous attractions like Monkey Island, Van Boi fishing village, the floating market, etc.
Ferry Schedule and Prices for Cat Ba Island
As mentioned above, each terminal is suited to a travel route to Cat Ba Island by ferry. Below are the 3 most popular routes with detailed schedules and ticket prices for you to sit down and take note of.
1. Got Ferry (Hai Phong) – Cai Vieng (Cat Ba)
From Hanoi and Halong Bay, you can take a shuttle, bus, or rent a private transfer to Hai Phong.
Using the highway connecting the Tan Vu overpass, you’ll reach Got Port, where the ferry (30 minutes) and speedboat (20 minutes) are available to take you to Cai Vieng.
Upon arrival at Cai Vieng, you have to take a bus or a taxi to Cat Ba town, which takes about 30 to 40 minutes.
Got Pier – Cai Vieng Ticket Price (one way / person)
Ferry Ticket: 0.5 €
Speedboat Ticket: 10 €
| Passenger Type | Ferry Ticket Price |
| Passenger | 0,5 €/ one way/ person |
| Passenger with a bicycle | 0,5 €/ one way/ person |
| Passenger with a motorcycle | 2 €/ one way/ vehicle |
| Passenger with a 9-seater car | 8 €/ one way/ vehicle |
Got Pier – Cai Vieng Ferry Schedule (every 30 min / trip from 5:30 AM to 6:30 PM)
| From Got Pier | From Cai Vieng |
| 5h30 * | 5h00 morning * |
| 06h00 * | 5h30 * |
| 6h30 du matin * | 06h00 * |
| 7h30 | 07h00 |
| 8h00 * | 7h30 * |
| 8h30 | 8h00 |
| 09h00 * | 8h30 * |
| 9h30 * | 09h00 * |
| 10h00 * | 9h30 morning * |
| 10h30 * | 10h00 * |
| 11h00 | 11h30 morning |
| 11h30 * | 11h00 * |
| 12h00 | 11h30 morning |
| 12h30 * | 12h00 * |
| 13h00 | 12h30 |
| 13h30 * | 13h00 * |
| 14h00 | 13h30 |
| 14h30 * | 14h00 * |
| 15:00 | 14h30 |
| 15h30 * | 15h00 * |
| 16h00 | 15h30 |
| 16h30 * | 16h00 * |
| 17h00 * | 16h30 * |
| 17h30 * | 17h00 * |
| 18h00 * | 17h30 * |
| 18h30 | 18h00 |
2. Dinh Vu (Hai Phong) – Cai Vieng (Cat Ba)
From Hai Phong, you need to get to the Dinh Vu pier about 25 minutes away to take a ferry to Cat Ba Island. Indeed, there is no direct boat from Dinh Vu to Cai Vieng so you have to follow one of the two following paths.
Option 1: Dinh Vu – Ninh Tiep – Got Port – Cai Vieng
Dinh Vu – Ninh Tiep
By waterway, it is possible to take a ferry from Dinh Vu to Ninh Tiep Pier, another ferry terminal on the same island as Got Port. The ferry ticket costs 0.5 €/one way/person. There are daily shuttles that run from 6:30 AM to 5:00 PM, every 1 hour.
Got Pier – Cai Vieng
From Ninh Tiep, you can get to Got Pier, where there are a multitude of shuttles to Cai Vieng every 30 minutes.
| From Dinh Vu | From Ninh Tiep |
| 6h30 * | 6h30 morning |
| 07h00 | 7h30 * |
| 8h00 * | 8h30 |
| 09h00 | 9h30 * |
| 10h00 * | 10h30 |
| 11h00 | 11h30 * |
| 12h00 * | 12h30 |
| 13h00 | 13h30 * |
| 14h00 * | 2h30 afternoon |
| 15:00 | 15h30 * |
| 16h00 * | 16h30 |
| 17h00 | 17h00 * |
Option 2: Dinh Vu – Got Port – Cai Vieng
Those who are afraid of seasickness can travel from Dinh Vu to Got Port by road. From there, you can board a ferry or a high-speed boat to the Cai Vieng terminal. As mentioned above, the Got Port – Cai Vieng Ferry runs daily from 5:30 AM to 5:00 PM, every 30 minutes.
3. Tuan Chau (Halong) – Gia Luan (Cat Ba)
Finally, Tuan Chau – Gia Luan is the most convenient way to travel from Halong Bay to Cat Ba Island. From Tuan Chau, the Cat Ba Island ferry only runs 3 times/day in winter and 5 times/day in summer. You can choose a 50-minute ferry or a 30-minute speedboat to get to the Cat Ba ferry terminal. Once arrived, it is essential to traverse the road across the island for 45 minutes to Cat Ba town.
Tuan Chau – Cat Ba Ticket Price (one way/person)
Ferry Ticket: 3.5 €
Hydrofoil Boat: 7.5 €
Speedboat: 12 – 15 €
| Passenger Type | Ferry Ticket Price |
| Passager | 3,5 €/ one way/ person |
| Passenger with a motorcycle | 4 €/ one way/ person |
| Passenger with a 9-seater car | 19 €/ one way/ vehicle |
Ferry schedule Tuan Chau – Cat Ba
| Departure point | Summer schedule (25 April – 5 September) | Winter schedule (6 September – 24 April) |
| Tuan Chau | 7h30 – 9h30 – 11h30 – 13h30 – 15h | 8h – 11h30 – 15h |
| Gia Luan | 09h – 11h30 – 13h – 16h | 09h – 13h – 16h |
Note: In the case where you opt for the hydrofoil speedboat, the frequency is lower, notably no more than 2 departures per day.
From Tuan Chau: 8:30 AM & 12:30 PM
From Gia Luan: 10:30 AM & 3:00 PM
Local tips for traveling on the Cat Ba ferry
- Book your ticket in advance as there are a large number of passengers traveling on the ferry to Cat Ba
- Bring your ID card and passport when purchasing the ticket
- Prepare yourself with motion sickness medications
- Avoid holidays in Vietnam if you do not want to immerse yourself in the crowd of national visitors
- Ask for help from a local travel consultant or hotel reception, as there is a lack of online booking sites for ferries.
