Short answer
Take a taxi or bus to Dong Bai on Cat Hai island (about 30–35 km), cross to Cai Vieng by car ferry or to Phu Long by cable car, then ride the connecting bus about 25 km to Cat Ba Town. Budget 1.5 to 2.5 hours in total.
01Step by step
Get to Dong Bai
From central Hai Phong or Cat Bi airport take a taxi or ride-hailing car to the Dong Bai ferry terminal on Cat Hai island. The road crosses the Tan Vu–Lach Huyen bridge, one of the longest sea bridges in Vietnam.
Choose your crossing
The car ferry to Cai Vieng runs throughout the day and carries vehicles. The cable car next to it glides across to Phu Long station in about 10 minutes.
Ride across Cat Ba
Buses and minivans wait at Cai Vieng and Phu Long for the arrivals. The road climbs through the hills and the national park edge before dropping into Cat Ba Town.
02Ferry or cable car?
Go if
- You want the view: the cable car swings high over the strait and the fish farms
- You are on foot or carrying light luggage
- It is a clear day and you arrive before mid-afternoon
Think twice if
- You have a scooter or car: only the ferry takes vehicles
- The wind is strong, when the cable car may stop
- You arrive late: the ferry generally runs later than the cable car
The cable car was built by Sun Group and opened in 2020. Fares have changed several times since, from 150,000 VND at the start to promotional prices of around 50,000–60,000 VND one way in 2025, sometimes bundled with the bus to town. Check the current fare and opening hours on arrival.
03Speedboats from Hai Phong city
High-speed boats have long linked Ben Binh pier, on the river in central Hai Phong, with Cat Ba. Schedules are seasonal, with more departures in summer and only a few, or none, in winter. The trip takes roughly 45–60 minutes and costs around 200,000–300,000 VND. The boats are enclosed and can be bumpy in a swell, so they are not ideal if you get seasick.
04From Cat Bi airport
Cat Bi (HPH) lies on the eastern side of Hai Phong, which puts it on the right side of the city for Cat Ba. A taxi to Dong Bai takes about 45 minutes to an hour. Several Hanoi–Cat Ba bus companies also offer pick-ups in Hai Phong if you book ahead.
05Coming back
Buses leave Cat Ba Town for Cai Vieng and Phu Long throughout the morning and early afternoon to meet the crossings. If you have a flight from Cat Bi, leave the island at least four hours before departure.
Where it is
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Pins mark approximate locations.
?Questions people ask
Is the Got pier still used?
The older Got ferry pier on Cat Hai has largely been replaced by the Dong Bai terminal, which sits next to the cable car station. Some maps and older guides still use the Got name.
How much is the car ferry?
Foot passengers pay a small fare. For vehicles, recent fares were about 45,000–60,000 VND for a motorbike and 190,000–210,000 VND for a car with fewer than nine seats.
Does the cable car run every day?
Usually, but it can close for strong wind, storms and maintenance. Its hours are shorter than the ferry's, so check before you rely on it late in the day.