About the Ride from Cat Ba to Hanoi
For the 125km (78 mile) journey to Hanoi from Cat Ba, the best option is a combined ticket for bus and ferry.
Some tourists decide to make their own way from Cat Ba to Halong Bay before then traveling from Halong Bay to Hanoi. And although both of those routes are available, it’s only a good idea to consider these if you want to spend time in Halong. However, If you’re more interested in getting straight to Hanoi from Cat Ba, a combined bus and ferry from Cat Ba to Hanoi is a much simpler option. It will save you the headache of having to book separate tickets.
After the magic of Cat Ba’s unique rainforests, glistening waters and jungle adventures, you might be craving a little more city life. And that’s exactly what Hanoi offers. Bustling Hanoi couldn’t be any more removed from the shimmering shores of Cat Ba, making it the perfect next stop on your Vietnam adventure.
With a combined bus and ferry ticket from Cat Ba to Hanoi, you’ll first enjoy a short bus journey on Cat Ba island, which will take you to the Cat Ba Port. From here, a boat will take you to the Ben Pha Got port on the mainland. Your second and final bus journey will take you from this mainland port right into the heart of Vietnam’s exciting capital, Hanoi.
Within less than 4 hours, you’ll go from small roads and ports to high-rise buildings and bustling alleys.
Once you reach Hanoi, you’ll be greeted by busy streets, the tooting horns of countless scooters and some of the world’s best street food. Hanoi is one of the world’s most exciting cities. On every corner there’s something to enjoy, whether it’s a steaming hot bowl of freshly made pho, cheap beer on a plastic chair or the enthusiastic high-fives of local kids.
What to see when traveling from Cat Ba to Hanoi
With the ferry and bus to Hanoi from Cat Ba, the journey itself is interesting and exciting.
Full of variety, the journey includes two bus trips and one ferry crossing.
The first stretch, which takes you from central Cat Ba to Cat Ba ferry terminal, takes around 40 minutes. This stretch of your trip takes you across Cat Ba island, with its forests, caves and small roadside food stops. The ocean to your left and the forest to your right, it’s the perfect summary of Cat Ba life. Full of small roads and small settlements, this part of the journey is a great way to get a final snapshot of Cat Ba before you move onto bigger things.
The stretch from Cat Ba ferry terminal to the mainland Ben Pha Got ferry terminal takes around 20 minutes. And it’s beautiful! You’ll see other boats going about their business, along with deep blue waters and other distant shores.
The final stretch of your journey takes you from Ben Pha Got ferry terminal to Hanoi. This section takes around two hours. During this part of the trip, you’ll notice that the roads get busier and the buildings get bigger. On your approach to Hanoi, small homes and businesses will make way to high-rise buildings, jam-packed roads and the sights and sounds of one of Southeast Asia’s most exciting cities.
How to get from Cat Ba to Hanoi
Taking a combined bus and ferry
The combined bus and ferry from Cat Ba to Hanoi is the simplest way to make this journey, saving you the headache of having to buy separate tickets for separate legs of your journey.
You will receive slightly different experiences depending on which provider you book your journey with.
For example, most bus companies offer to pick you up from a designated point in Cat Ba, but all providers are typically happy to pick you up from your hotel. Similarly, all providers are typically happy to drop you at your hotel in Hanoi.
When you reach the ferry terminal, some operators will drive on to the ferry, and therefore one bus will take you the entire way from Cat Ba to Hanoi.
In other instances, one bus will take you to the ferry terminal, where you’ll step off your bus and on to the ferry. When you step off the other side, you’ll board a different bus, which will then take you to Hanoi. If this is the case, you may find yourself on either a ferry or a speedboat.
You should check the specifics of each individual transport company to see exactly what type of journey is available, along with what perks are offered by each provider! But whatever provider you choose, your journey will be fun, simple and enjoyable. And you might even get drinks, snacks and a blanket!