4 Best Ways to Go to Cat Ba Island
How to get to Cat Ba Island from Ha Long Bay is one of the biggest concerns for travelers who want to take a wonderful Halong Bay cruise. In fact, like Ha Long Bay, Cat Ba Island is renowned for its spectacular beaches and tourist spots. Here are some ways to get to Cat Ba Island.
You can find my article for route Hanoi – Halong Bay
The distance between Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba Island is 19.6 km. It is the largest island among nearly 2,000 islands in the Halong Bay region.
Take the Tuan Chau ferry from Halong Bay to Cat Ba Island
This is one of the most convenient ways to get from Ha Long Bay to Cat Ba Island, the most convenient way is to take a ferry from Tuan Chau Port to Gia Luan Port on Cat Ba Island. The Tuan Chau – Cat Ba ferry route started operations in 2009. At the same time, it is also the fastest ferry route.
Travel itinerary: A ferry will pick you up from Tuan Chau Port and take you to Gia Luan Port.
Duration : Usually, it will take you around 1 to 1.5 hours by ferry. On normal days, ferries depart at 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 3 p.m.
Price: This is the cheapest and most convenient way for only €3 per person.
How to book: Usually, it is recommended to purchase the ferry tickets directly after reaching Ha Long. Otherwise, you can contact the ticket office via the hotline.
Advantages and disadvantages
- Pros: As mentioned before, this is the cheapest way to get to Cat Ba Island from Halong Bay. Therefore, you can easily opt for when you come to Halong Bay.
- Cons: During the trip, you will have to share space with many other people, which is quite uncomfortable for those who prefer privacy.
Bai Chay High Speed Boat Halong Bay to Cat Ba
A high-speed boat is another option to choose when transferring from Halong Bay to Cat Ba. The main route is: “Bai Chay – Tuan Chau – Gia Luan – Cat Ba Town”, this type of transfer is quite quick and takes you about 30 minutes to Cat Ba Island. Ticket fees are approximately €12 per person and a maximum of 13 guests per trip.
Travel itinerary: Most speedboats to Cat Ba Island follow a fixed route from Bai Chay to Tuan Chau and eventually to Gia Luan Port.
Duration : Usually a speedboat will only take you 20-30 minutes, which is much faster than taking a ferry. Additionally, there are more speedboats to Cat Ba than ferries. These speedboats leave at 7:15 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Price: As a speedboat can take you to Cat Ba faster, its price is higher than that of a ferry. To have a speedboat, you will have to pay around €12/person.
Advantages and disadvantages
- Advantages: A speedboat can take you quickly; therefore, you can have more time to enjoy your vacation.
- Disadvantages: Those who may get seasick should not choose this option, as the high speed will make you tired.
High Speed Hydrofoil Tuan Chau Halong Bay – Cat Ba
It is recommended to take a high-speed hydrofoil from Tuan Chau Port (Halong Bay) to Cat Ba Island, which is safer and faster. In the case of a long ferry ride and low speed boat capacity, a hydrofoil might be the perfect alternative. Travel time is approximately 10-12 minutes. Prices of around €9.50 for a one-way ticket (for information purposes only). Visitors will have new experiences traveling in high-speed hydrofoils at an affordable cost.
Here are some hydrofoil companies for your reference:
- Paradise Express: Price €7 one way – contact: (+84) 33 3842 368
- Kalong Hydroptère: Price €9.50 one way – contact: (+84) 912 729 627
There is actually no official English-language booking site for these boats. Therefore, booking can be inconvenient for tourists. You can ask your hotel receptionist to do this for you.
Halong Bay – Cruise to Cat Ba Island
Travel itinerary: Now you can freely choose from the itinerary to your liking in Halong Bay – Cat Ba Island cruise, because there are different cruise offers. Each of them follows a typical path.
Hourly : Likewise, each cruise has its own schedule. Therefore, you should find out before starting your trip. Generally, there are 4 options to choose from: 1-day tour, 2-day, 1-night tour, 3-day, 2-night tour, and 4-day, 3-night tour.
Price : Depending on the type of cruise, itinerary, tourist services, activities, etc., the price varies from €90 (usually for a day cruise) to €600 (for a private cruise). Additionally, there are still additional charges for services such as spa, massages, etc.
