Ho Chi Minh City to Lan Ha Bay: How to Travel

The distance from Ho Chi Minh City to Lan Ha Bay is over 1.500km. There are several means of transportation covering this route namely airplanes and trains.

By airplane

The fastest way to reach Lan Ha Bay from Ho Chi Minh City is to take direct flights from Tan San Nhat International Airport to Cat Bi International Airport in Hai Phong City which will last around 2 hours. Domestic airlines that offer direct Ho Chi Minh City – Hai Phong flight route are Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, Bamboo Airways, and Pacific Airlines.

Upon arrival Hai Phong City, you can take a taxi or motorbike taxi to Got Pier The distance is around 30km. Then buy a ferry ticket to Cai Vieng Pier on Cat Ba Island. It takes only 20 minutes and costs 12.000 VND/pax without a vehicle.

However, Got Pier is quite crowded during peak tourist season. Therefore, alternatively, tourists coming to Lan Ha Bay now can take advantage of the new Cat Hai -Phu Long Cable Car to Cat Ba Island within only 9 minutes. The price is 150.000 VND/adult/one way and 100.000 VND/child/one way.

Once you reach Cat Ba Island, continue to transfer to Ben Beo Pier and buy a ticket to visit around Lan Ha Bay. The price varies depending on where you decide to go and whether you stay overnight or not.

By train

A more budget option to transfer from Ho Chi Minh City to Lan Ha Bay is to catch a train from Saigon Railway Station to Hanoi Railway Station. Afterward, you can choose to continue to get on a train from Hanoi to Hai Phong City, take a public bus, or private car to Cat Ba Island.

From Saigon Railway Station at 1 Nguyen Thong Street, Ward 9, District 3, you catch SE8, SE10, SE4, SE2, or SE6 to Hanoi Railway Station. The fastest trains from Saigon and Hanoi are SE4 and SE6 which usually depart at 8:00 am and 19:30 pm. Duration is around 29 – 32 hours and the price costs from 700.000 VND.

Option 1: take a train

Upon arrival in Hanoi, there are 4 trains including HP1, LP3, LP5, and LP7 running from Long Bien Train Station to Hai Phong Train Station. The total transfer time is about 2.5 hours and it costs you only from 110.000 VND/pax.

Option 2: take a bus

There are a variety of buses that drive directly from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island then you can visit Lan Ha Bay by boat.

Cat Ba Express

  • Price: US$11/pax
  • Departure time: 8:00 am, 11:00 am
  • Pick-up point: No.37B Nguyen Huu Huan, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
  • Hotline: +84 84 824 4999

Good Morning Cat Ba

  • Price: 220.000 VND/pax
  • Departure time: 7:30, 11:00, 14:00
  • Pick-up point: 9B Cho Gao, Hanoi Opera House, AEON Long Bien
  • Hotline: 0913 096 281/ 0888 000 896

Daiichi Bus

  • Price: 230.000 VND/pax
  • Departure time: 8:00, 9:30, 10:30, 12:30, 15:00
  • Pick-up point: 96 Nguyen Huu Huan, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
  • Hotline: 1900 2141

Cat Ba Discovery

  • Price: 220.000 VND/pax
  • Departure time: 8:00, 10:00, 14:00
  • Pick-up point: 56 Tran Nhat Duat
  • Hotline: 0243 9036 036

Option 3: private car

Using a private car is the fastest and most convenient way to reach Cat Ba Island, following Hanoi – Hai Phong Expressway.