Gia Luan Ferry, Cat ba Island

Halong Bay Map- Way to Gia Luan Ferry of Cat Ba Island

Ready for boarding the Ferry at Gia Luan station of Cat Ba Island

Cross the water at Gia Luan Ferry of Cat Ba Island

Cat Ba Island

Cat Co Beach on Cat Ba Island

Cat Co Beach on Cat Ba Island

Monkey beach Cat Ba Island (some 20 minutes boat cruise to the Island)

The island was formerly known as Cat Dua Island because there are the great number of luxuriant high pandanus shading around. The fruits of pandanus here looks fairly good, yet they are not edible. The fishermen here usually pick them up for drenching or drying as medicines. Cat Dua Island is also an ideal rendezvous for swimming with blue water and white sandy shores formed from coral debris. Cat Dua Island today is call Monkey Island by the locals here thanks to the presence of several dozen of monkeys. Almost all of monkeys in Cat Dua are brought here for living by the rangers. They are thus quite bold with the locals and tourists. They even seize food right from tourists' hands and might bite if provoked. However, it is the untouched uniqueness that makes the island become famous alluring the large number of tourists in Cat Ba tours. Discovering Monkey Island is definitely one of the most unforgettable things to do in Cat Ba.

Monkey beach Cat Ba Island

On top of a mountain, just in a walking distance from Cat Ba town, great view over the Cat Ba Island

There are astounding panoramas of Cat Ba Island's jungle-clad hills rolling down to colourful tangles of fishing boats in the harbour and out to the karst-punctuated sea beyond.The entrance gate is a steep 10-minute walk from Cat Ba Town and from the gate it's another stiff 20-minute walk to the fort, or take a xe om from Cat Ba Town

Cannon Fort Cat Ba Island
The tunnels and gun emplacements here were first installed by the Japanese in WWII, but were also utilised by the French and Vietnamese during subsequent conflicts.

Lan Ha Bay- Cat Ba Island

Lan Ha Bay- Cat Ba Island

Cat Ba National Park, some 12 km from the town

Viet Hai Village, some 15 km from the town
Viet Hai is a small village in the midst of jungles, covered by high mountains range of the Cat Ba National Park

Cat Ba National Park, some 12 km from the town

Viet Hai Village, some 15 km from Cat Ba town, a great place for trekking, biking or home-stay
Last 10 years, Viet Hai was absolutely separated with the outside world. The local residents lived their self supply life as the primitive human of thousand years ago. Because of this cultural practice, foreign visitors to this village increase gradually. In recent years, together with the recognition of Cat Ba Archipelago as the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, thousands tourists have trekked through the mountains, jungles, springs to visit this unique attraction. They are interested in this wild area in the midst of the Biosphere Reserve, the Cat Ba National Park

Viet Hai Village, some 15 km from Cat Ba town, a great place for trekking, biking or home-stay

The luxury Bhaya Boat in Halong Bay

Cruise Halong bay

There is some cruise from Halong bay to Cat Ba island, or you also can take a boat cruise for 2days 1night from Cat Ba Island

Sunset over the Halong Bay, the area is very close to Ba Trai Dao islet, near Cat Ba island
Some 5 hourse cruise from Halong dock to Cat Ba Island with slow wooden tourist boat

Cruise Halong bay and Cat Ba island 2days 1night is a best choice for your family vacations Vietnam

Cabin on boat for 2days 1night cruise trip

The ferry cruises leisurely on the turquoise waters of the Eastern Sea from Gia Luan Ferry to Tuan Chau Island about 50 minutes away, but a lot of things are on offer along the way for passengers aboard to watch and immerse themselves in a world of beautiful landscapes.

The ferry is a new option for travelers who want to approach the UNESCO-listed bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh after they have swum in the sea and toured Cat Ba National Park and other attractions on Cat Ba Island in northern Vietnam.
Tuan Chau Group launched the ferry route earlier this year to cater to the increasing demand of people frequenting the two destinations and especially travelers interested in sightseeing.
The landscapes along the way are karst limestone rock formations that have been carved by sea winds, sunshine and time into eye-catching shapes. All nature lovers must appreciate these natural formations and open their eyes wide to enjoy one of the best sights they have ever seen in Vietnam.
When to be on the ferry as part of my recent trip to northern Vietnam, where breezes blowing through the karst rocks soothed our eyes and the beauty of nature inspired our senses during the ferry trip of more than 7.5km.
Amazingly, a lot of bonsai-shape trees dot the karst limestone rock mountains and hills, creating a beautiful water-color painting in which evergreen trees on mountains and hills highlight and breathe life into the space of blue water and azure sky.
The landscape is so marvelous that many passengers on the ferry cant help asking other people to take pictures of them and the karst formations when the ferry is cruising by the surroundings.
For those who have cruised around the karst limestone rock formations in Halong Bay, the hills and mountains seen from the ferry are the last pieces of a jigsaw and an interesting addition to a trip to the World Heritage Site, as the ferry takes them to Halong Bay via a new entrance so they have an opportunity to view more mountains and hills in the bay.

Cat Ba National Park was established in 1986, it covers some 17,362.96 ha, of wich 10,912.51 ha is terrestrial ecosystems - (islands) and 6,450.45 ha is merine ecosystems.    The Park is situated in Cat Ba Archipelago which consists of 366 islands. It is aboaut 45 km east of Hai Phong City, 150km south - east of Ha Noi and borders with Ha Long Bay to the North. Cat Ba National Park is at the heart of the UNESCO Cat Ba Archipelago Biosphere Reserve and it shares the distinctive scenic beauty of the Ha Long Bay Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. the Park is also home to diverse range of terrestrial and marine life.

You do not need advance bookings. The ferry runs frequently between Gia Luan and Tuan Chau from 6 a.m. till 6 p.m.

Transport to Cat Ba island from Hanoi - Getting to Cat Ba & Aways

PUBLIC TRANSPORT - HYDROFOIL CAT BA TIMETABLE

I. HANOI – HAI PHONG – CAT BA
The Hoang Long Transportation Company takes you from Hanoi to Hai Phong by bus then connects with a high speed boat to Cat Ba town ( 4 hours Ha Noi – Hai Phong – Cat Ba ). It cost: US$ 9.5 =160.000 VND
Departure time from Hanoi: 5.20 ; 7.20 ; 11.20 ; 13.20
Arrive in Cat Ba: 9.30; 11.30; 15.30; 17.30
Departure time from Cat Ba: 7.15 ; 9.15 ; 13.15 ; 15.15
Arrive in Hanoi: 11.20; 13.20; 17.20; 19.20

The bus departs at: Luong Yen Bus Station in Hanoi
Contact: Hoang Long office in Hanoi.
You can buy ticket at:
Head office address: 28 – Tran Nhat Duat – Hanoi. Tel: 04.39282828
- Hoang Long office: 505 Minh Khai - Hanoi
- Luong Yen bus station

II. HAI PHONG - CAT BA
Option1: Hoang Long takes you by bus and speed boat ( 1 and half hour ), cost 100.000 VND.
Departures time:
From 4 Le Thanh Tong -Hai Phong: 8.00; 10.00; 14.00; 16.00
Contact : Hoang Long office in Hai Phong.
Add: 4 Le Thanh Tong- Hai Phong city. Tel 0313.552866

Option 2: Take a car, motor bike or bicycle to Hai Phong city, then take the slow ferry (every hour) from Dinh Vu ferry station to Cat Hai island. Drive 7 km to the Got ferry station. Take the ferry to Phu Long then drive 40 mins to Cat Ba town. (Cost 3 hours: Hai Phong - Cat Hai island - Catba Town - cheaper than taking the ferry or hydrofoil).

Option 3: You can take a bus or car from Ha Noi to Hai Phong, stopping at Ben Binh ferry station.
There are Hydrofoils to Cat Ba town, talking 45 minutes, the cost is 8US$ =130.000VND.
There are slow ferries to Cat Ba taking 2 hours, that cost: 5USD$

Departure time:
    Hydrofoils timetable:
    From Haiphong: 8.30; 9.00
    From Cat Ba: 14.45; 15.00
    Slow ferries:
    From Hai Phong: 6.00; 12.20
    From Cat Ba: 5.45; 12.20

Option 4: The Cat Ba Tourist Transportation company takes you 1 hour and 30 minutes from Ben Binh harbour by mini bus to Dinh Vu ferry station and connects with a high speed boat to Phu Long (The speed boat also takes bicyle and motor bike). Then a mini bus takes you to Cat Ba Town. It cost 6.5 USD.
Warning : The price in our website is real price of company, but you should becareful. Because there are some bad women (tourist hunters) who hang around the boat dock and sell overpriced tickets. If the weather is bad, do not be talked into paying extra for the buses to the alernative port and on Cat Ba back to the main living area, this should be included in your orginal ticket price.

Departure time:
    From Ben Binh harbour:
    06.40; 08.15; 09.45; 13.40; 15.10; 16.35
    From Dinh Vu ferry:
    07.15; 08.45; 10.15; 14.14; 15.45; 17.15
    From Cat Ba Town:
    06.10; 07.50; 09.10; 13.10; 14;50; 16;10
    From Phu Long :
    06.45; 08.30; 10.00; 14.00; 15.30; 17.00

III. HA NOI - HA LONG CITY - CAT BA:
Option 1: From Ha Noi you can take a bus or car to Ha Long city, stopping at Bai Chay harbour. There are tourist boats to Cat Ba town, taking 4 hours ( $ 8USD).
Departure time:
- From Bai Chay: 13.00
- From Cat Ba : 8.00 Option 2: The Cat Ba Tourist Transportation Company takes you 3 hour 30 minutes from Hanoi to Hon Gai harbour - Then Ha Long city to 1 hour 30 minutes Cat Ba town by tourist boat and bus, cost 280.000VND:
Departure time from Hon Gai: 8.45; 13.45
Departure time from Cat Ba Town: 7.30; 14.30

Option 3:
Take a car, motor bike or bicycle From Hanoi to Ha Long city, then to Tuan Chau island. There is Tuan Chau ferry to Gia Luan harbour - Cat Ba island, you can drive 30 minutes from Gia Luan harbour to Cat Ba town. The daily ferry so easily as it is operated every 1 hour from 6.00 AM till 18.00 PM. It takes only 45- 50 minutes per ferry journey. In the high season it departs in every 30 minutes.

The price is very reasonable but satisfaction and security guaranteed:
    Walker: VND 20,000
    Motobike: VND 30,000
    Less than 9 pax Van: VND 100,000
    From 9 pax to 16 pax Van: VND 150,000

IIII. TUAN CHAU DOCK (HALONG CITY)- CAT BA ISLAND: (New updated for 2019 and very convenient for your one trip from Halong city to Cat Ba Island)

Departure time from Tuan Chau Station:07.30/ 09.00/ 11.30/13.30/15.00
Departure time from Cat Ba Town: 09.00/ 11.30/13.00/15.00/16.00

Please to click "Rental Car Cat Ba Island" or Click to view more pictures of Halong Bay - Vietnam!

Map Cat Ba Island - Hai Phong Province