Short answer
Take the car ferry from Tuan Chau island in Ha Long to Gia Luan at the northern tip of Cat Ba. The crossing takes about 50 minutes; in the low season there are only three sailings a day. A bus or taxi then covers the 30-odd kilometres to Cat Ba Town.
01The ferry timetable
Timetables change with the season and the operator, so treat these as a guide and confirm locally. Outside the summer peak, the published pattern has been three crossings each way:
| Direction | Low season (about October to April) | Summer |
|---|---|---|
| Tuan Chau → Gia Luan | 07:30, 11:30, 15:00 | Extra sailings added, roughly every 1.5–2 h |
| Gia Luan → Tuan Chau | 09:00, 13:00, 16:00 | Extra sailings added, roughly every 1.5–2 h |
Ferries may not sail in rough weather, and some small departures are only run with enough passengers. On summer weekends arrive at least 30 minutes early, because cars queue and the boats fill.
02From Gia Luan to Cat Ba Town
Gia Luan is a pier, not a village. Buses timed for the ferry and taxis wait on arrival, and the drive south through the national park takes about 40–50 minutes. If you are staying near the park headquarters or in the Hung Son valley, you will pass your hotel on the way, so tell the driver.
03Combining a cruise with Cat Ba
Many overnight cruises that sail from Tuan Chau cover the Ha Long side, while others start from Cat Ba and explore Lan Ha Bay. A common plan is to cruise from Ha Long for one night, then take the ferry across rather than going back to Hanoi. Some cruise and tour companies offer transfers to Cat Ba as an add-on, which saves you the timetable juggling. See Overnight cruises and Ha Long Bay from Cat Ba.
04If the ferry is not running
When the Tuan Chau ferry is suspended or you miss the last one, the land route goes round through Hai Phong: about 1.5–2 hours by road from Ha Long to Dong Bai, then the ferry or cable car. It is longer but far more frequent.
Where it is
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Pins mark approximate locations.
?Questions people ask
Is there a speedboat from Ha Long to Cat Ba?
Occasionally, from Tuan Chau and as part of tours, but schedules are irregular. The car ferry is the reliable public option.
Can I take a scooter on the Tuan Chau ferry?
Yes. Expect a fare of roughly 80,000–100,000 VND for a motorbike with its rider.
Which is faster from Hanoi: via Ha Long or via Hai Phong?
Via Hai Phong, almost always. The Ha Long route only makes sense if you are already in Ha Long.