Halong Bay and Cat Ba are neighbors on the same archipelago — most guests can't see the border on a map, and from the water there isn't one. So why are they treated as separate trips? Because the crossing between them is a route that not many travelers know how to do without backtracking through Hanoi. Here's the direct way.

Cruise boat at anchor among limestone karsts in Halong Bay — Halong Bay from the water — same archipelago as Cat Ba, different vantage.

The fast version

Distance: ~70 km (Halong City → Cat Ba Town, including the ferry crossing)
Door-to-door time: 2.5 to 3 hours
Easiest option:Tuan Chau → Gia Luan ferry (only option that doesn't loop through Hai Phong)
Cheapest option: Public bus + ferry — under 200,000 VND, but with several transfers

Option 1 — Tuan Chau → Gia Luan ferry (recommended)

This is the route locals actually use. From Tuan Chau Pier on the Halong side, a passenger ferry runs across to Gia Luan Pier on the north end of Cat Ba Island. From Gia Luan, it's a 30-km drive through the national park down to Cat Ba Town — one of the prettiest approaches to the island.

What you actually do:

Get to Tuan Chau Pier — most Halong City hotels can arrange a 10-minute taxi (~80,000–150,000 VND).
Board the Tuan Chau → Gia Luan ferry. Crossing takes ~45 minutes.
From Gia Luan pier, take the included shuttle bus (on our combined ticket) or a local taxi through the national park to Cat Ba Town. ~45 minutes of scenic mountain road.

Daily departures (Tuan Chau → Gia Luan, 2026):

08:00
11:30
15:00
In high season (April–October), extra departures at 07:30, 09:00, and 13:30.

Pricing. Combined ferry + shuttle bus from 110,000 VND/person for the standard ticket. Private Limo D-Class transfer with included ferry crossing: 510,000–610,000 VND.

We bundle the ferry, the shuttle, and the pickup on our Halong → Cat Ba transport page — one ticket covers all three legs.

Halong Bay seascape with traditional boats and limestone islets — The crossing from Tuan Chau traces along the karst ridges.

Option 2 — Cruise boats that drop off in Cat Ba

Some Halong Bay overnight cruises will drop passengers on Cat Ba at the end of the second day. If you're already on a cruise, ask before you book — it's a common request and many operators accommodate it. Typically your bag is transferred to the Cat Ba pier by speedboat.

This is the right move if you're sequencing a multi-day trip: Halong cruise → wake up on the boat → finish at Cat Ba instead of going back to Halong City and re-routing.

Option 3 — Halong → Hai Phong → Cat Ba (the long way)

Possible but rarely worth it. Take a bus or taxi from Halong City to Hai Phong (~2 hours, ~150 km), then the speedboat from Ben Binh to Cat Ba. Total trip: 4–5 hours, often more expensive than the direct Tuan Chau ferry, and you're backtracking on yourself.

Only useful if the Tuan Chau ferries are fully booked or weather has closed the direct route — both rare.

Which option to pick

For nearly everyone: the direct Tuan Chau → Gia Luan ferry. Faster, cheaper, more scenic. 110,000 VND is hard to beat.

Already on a Halong cruise: ask the cruise to drop you in Cat Ba. Cleanest sequence for a multi-stop trip.

Private group, family with luggage: upgrade to the Limo transfer including ferry. Smoother boarding, private vehicle through the national park.

Aerial view of Lan Ha Bay islands and turquoise water — The Cat Ba side — Lan Ha Bay, quieter and less cruised than Halong.

What the journey actually looks like

The Tuan Chau ferry isn't a speedboat — it's a traditional drive-on/walk-on passenger ferry, slower but with open deck space and bay views. The 45-minute crossing tracks along the edge of the limestone karsts that span both Halong and Lan Ha bays. You won't really notice when one bay turns into the other.

From Gia Luan, the road into Cat Ba Town climbs over the spine of the island, through dense national park forest. There's a viewpoint about halfway where the road opens onto a wide panorama of bays on both sides. On the combined ticket, the shuttle bus pauses there for photos.

Arrival tips

Tuan Chau Pier is a 10-minute taxi from Halong City center — don't confuse it with the cruise port further south.
The ferry sells food and drinks but options are limited. Eat in Halong before boarding or wait for Cat Ba Town.
Weather can disrupt this crossing more than the Hai Phong speedboat — check forecast a day ahead in monsoon season (September–November).
The road from Gia Luan to Cat Ba Town has motorbike rental shops along the way. If you want a bike for your stay, you can arrange one at the Gia Luan side of your arrival.

Solo kayaker in conical hat paddling beneath a limestone overhang — Once you arrive, the karsts you cruised past are now ones you can paddle around.

What's next on Cat Ba

Coming from Halong, you've already seen limestone karsts from a cruise deck. Cat Ba is the same scenery from a different vantage: kayak between the islands instead of cruising past them, or trek into Cat Ba National Park to walk through them. Our kayaking guide covers the activity most travelers say is the highlight of the island. For deeper local culture, the Viet Hai village guide is what travelers ask for next.

Ready to book the crossing? Head to Halong → Cat Ba transport for the combined ferry + shuttle ticket, or message us if you're sequencing this into a longer Halong cruise.

Getting to Cat Ba from Halong Bay: The Direct Tuan Chau Ferry Route