Cat Ba ferry from Halong and Hai Phong – The complete guide 2024
This article includes all information about Cat Ba ferry from Tuan Chau (Halong) and Got Pier (Hai Phong) to Cat Ba Island 2023, this is the complete guide for travelling to Cat Ba island by ferry by an expert guide.
Table of Contents
Cat Ba island : The quick facts
- Less touristy than Halong Bay
- Known as the “Pearl” island covered by jungles, trees
- Lan Ha Bay is the most well-known bay in Cat Ba island, less polluted than Halong
- Becoming a Unesco site in 2014
- Be popular amongst backpackers and budget travelers
- Hai Phong is the closest city to Cat Ba island.
- The third largest island in Vietnam after Phu Quoc island and Phu Quy island
- The Biosphere Reserve since 2004
Cat Ba ferry terminal
There are two main ferry terminals: Gia Luan and Cai Vieng. Gia Luan ferry terminal offers ferry ride from Cat Ba to Tuan Chau (Halong), while Cai Vieng ferry terminal offers ferry ride from Cat Ba to Hai Phong (Got Pier)
Cat Ba ferry from Tuan Chau (Halong)
Ferry to Cat Ba from Tuan Chau (Halong)
Tuan Chau ferry is the top choice for those traveling to Cat Ba Island from Halong. Since there is limited departure time, so the ferry from Cat Ba to Halong usually
Tuan Chau the ferry Timetable and Rate
Tuan Chau Ferry Price
| Description | Price |
| Walker | 80,000VND |
| Traveler with motorbike | 100,000VND |
| Car from 4 seats to 8 seats | 480,000 VND |
| Car from 9 seats to 15 seaters minibus | 520,000 VND |
| Minibus from 16 seaters to 23-seater minibus | 560,0000 VND |
| 24-seater bus to 29-seater bus | 600,000VND |
| Over 30 seaters bus | 650,000VND |
Tuan Chau ferry timetable
| Departure point | Tuan Chau – Gia Luan | Gia Luan – Tuan Chau |
| From 16th of April to 30th of Sept | 7:30am 9:30am 11:30am 1:30pm, 3:30pm | 9:00am, 11:30am 1:00pm, 3pm, 4pm |
| From 1st of Oct to 15th of April | 7:30am, 11:30am 3:00pm | 9:00am 1:00pm 4pm. |
Note : The ferry only operates with a minimum 30 passengers and the duration is 50 minutes
Hanoi Eco Tour only provides information about the ferry without booking the ticket. Please present at the ticket booth half an hours before the schedule to purchase the ticket
Why taking a ferry from Halong to Cat Ba
- Time savings. Instead of travelling from Halong to Dong Bai ferry which is one hour
- Great sightseeing option for Halong Bay (for free)
- It is less busy than taking a ferry from Dong Bai(Cat Hai) to Cat Ba island (Highly recommend if you want to travel with your own car from the mainland to Cat Ba)
Cat Ba ferry from Dong Bai Ferry (Hai Phong)
Got pier, Cat Hai, Hai Phong
Got ferry is the most common ferry to get from Hai Phong to Cat Ba since most big cruises offer cruise tours to Lan Ha Bay departing from Dong Bai Pier. There are hundreds of tourists from Hanoi to take an overnight Lan Ha Bay tour on a cruise every day.
You’ll find out details about the Dong Bai Pier timetable and rate below
Got the ferry Timetable and Rate
Got Ferry Price
| Type of Vehicle | Price |
| Travellers without vehicle | 10.000VND |
| Travellers with motorbike/motorcycle | 45.000VND |
| Car under 9 seaters | 150.000VND |
| 9-seaters car to 24-seaters bus | 170.000VND |
| 24-seaters bus to 32-seaters bus | 240.000VND |
| 32-seaters bus to 47-seaters bus | 330.000VND |
Note : The exchange rate is 25.000VND for 1 USD
Dong Bai Ferry timetable
| Ordinal Number | Got Pier | Cai Vieng |
| 1 | 5.30am (Big ferry) | 5.00am (Big ferry) |
| 2 | 6.30am (Big ferry) | 6.00am (Big ferry) |
| 3 | 7.00am (Small ferry) | 6.30am (Small ferry) |
| 4 | 7.30am (Big ferry) | 7.00am (Big ferry) |
| 5 | 8.00am (Small ferry) | 7.30am (Small ferry) |
| 6 | 8.30am (Big ferry) | 8.00am (Big ferry) |
| 7 | 9.00am (Big ferry) | 8.30am (Big ferry) |
| 8 | 9.30am (Small ferry) | 9.00am (Small ferry) |
| 9 | 10.00am (Big ferry) | 9.30am (Big ferry) |
| 10 | 10.30am (Small ferry) | 10.00am (Small ferry) |
| 11 | 11.00am (Big ferry) | 10.30am (Big ferry) |
| 12 | 12.00pm (Small ferry) | 11.00am (Small ferry) |
| 13 | 1.00pm (Big ferry) | 12.00pm (Big ferry) |
| 14 | 1.30pm (Small ferry) | 1pm (Small ferry) |
| 15 | 2.00pm ( Big ferry) | 1.30pm (Big ferry) |
| 16 | 2.30pm ( Small ferry) | 2.00pm (Small ferry) |
| 17 | 3.00pm ( Big ferry) | 2.30pm ( Big ferry) |
| 18 | 3.30pm ( Small ferry) | 3.00pm ( Small ferry) |
| 19 | 4.00pm ( Big ferry) | 3.30pm ( Big ferry) |
| 20 | 4.30pm ( Big ferry) | 4.00pm ( Big ferry) |
| 21 | 5.00pm ( Small ferry) | 4.30pm ( Small ferry) |
| 22 | 5.30pm ( Big ferry) | 5.00pm ( Big ferry) |
| 23 | 6.30pm ( Big ferry) | 6.00pm (Big Ferry) |
Note : The ferry schedule can be changed without pier notice
If you miss the ferry, there is an alternative by taking speed boat to Cat Ba
Getting to Cat Ba from Dong Bai ferry
From 1st of March, Dong Bai Ferry will be operating to replace Got Ferry with double capacity to make sure that there is no traffic jam to get on the ferry and you won’t have to wait hours to get on the ferry during the summertime from late May to the middle of July.
The timetable is the same as Got Ferry (See above)
Location of Dong Bai ferry
Near the cable car station, this location isn’t listed on Google map, but you will see the sign for Dong Bai ferry on the left-hand side (direction from Hai Phong ) on Tan Vu- Lach Huyen road.
Tips when taking the ferry to Cat Ba
- It can be super crowded during the summertime from early May to the middle of August, be prepared and don’t bring your vehicle (car) because you may have to queue in a long line
- If you get seasick, take the pill half an hour before departure.
- If you miss the last ferry to Halong, take a ferry from Cai Vieng (Cat Ba) to Got Ferry.
- Booking tickets online is difficult, so you had better ask locals to check the schedule.
- Dong Bai ferry is not allowed private cars and trucks from 9am to 1pm
- If the ferry got stuck, you need better walk to the ferry ( 10 minutes) with luggage) or ask the driver to take a cable car ( from 8am to 3.45pm, every 1 hour or less, with ticket fare is 100,000 VND or 4 USD per person)
- During the weekend, you may get stuck from 3 hours to 6,7 hours if you try to cross the ferry with car
- It takes half an hours on the ferry to get to the otherside of Cat Ba
We do offer private car from Cai Vieng, Gia Luan, and cable car to the town of Cat Ba, please contact us via Whatsapp at +84974313104
Over to you
Hanoi Eco Tour hopes this Cat Ba ferry – the complete guide helps you with some ways to plan the trip to Cat Ba island, don’t forget to share this article to more readers.
