Ha Noi - Cat Ba Island Bus by Cat Ba Express

The price is great, there’s a free transfer in both Hanoi and Cat Ba. Definitely try the cable car going 215m above the sea. I don’t really recommend the speedboat tho, you have to stay inside with no AC and there’s no nice view from there

It's incredibly efficient and fast. I highly recommend it! You take a tour bus from the office in Hanoi's Old Quarter, and it's about a 2-hour ride. There's a rest stop in the middle, and the restrooms are clean. However, there's no toilet paper, so you'll need to bring your own. It took a long time on the highway, so we couldn't take the cable car and went by speedboat instead. As soon as we got off the bus, we immediately boarded a boat with no waiting time, and it was about a 5-minute ride. After arriving at Cat Ba Island, we immediately boarded another bus without delay to go to our respective accommodations. There was absolutely no waiting time in between, which was quite good.

Great service. The guide speaks english well and provided all necessary information about the transfers. The cable car ride was amazing, highly recommend taking it over ferry.

The price is great, there’s a free transfer in both Hanoi and Cat Ba. Definitely try the cable car going 215m above the sea. I don’t really recommend the speedboat tho, you have to stay inside with no AC and there’s no nice view from there. Unlike limousine buses I think there’s a low chance of cancelling your trip because of low number of travellers - there was just 8 of us on our way back to Hanoi.

the tour guide messaged us last minute that we wouldn’t be riding the bus and cable car, but instead a limousine and a boat. perhaps this was because it’s only about a 30-minute ride from cat ba town to the cable car station. we were picked up at 12:00 pm, so we would’ve arrived around 12:30, but the cable car’s morning trips end at 11:45 am and resume at 1:30 pm that day. it really depends on the cable car schedule, so if you particularly want to experience it, it’s best to check the schedule beforehand. however, the limo ride was actually very good. the limo looked and felt luxurious, and we had a very comfortable trip. we also had a stop at a gift shop for a bathroom break (google maps says “ha long bay stopover”). they provided free bottled water and a tag during the stop. overall, we had a good sleep and a comfortable ride.

Staying in Hanoi's Old Quarter, I notified them of the meeting point by email one day in advance, and a staff member came to pick me up, which was very convenient. The tour guide on the bus was very friendly, gave everyone a bottle of water, and registered the names, ages, and nationalities of the guests. There was a rest area along the way where you could use the restroom and get a drink. When the bus arrived at the pier, the guide led the guests on foot to the second floor of the speedboat, which had a restroom. The bus drove directly onto the deck of the speedboat. The ferry speedboat docked after about 30 minutes, and people and cars disembarked separately. After getting on the car at the pier, it drove to Cat Ba town, and then the guide dropped everyone off station by station according to the location of their hotels. Excellent service!

we had a great time on our ride to Cat Ba town (road and ferry). the bus was new, spacious and comfortable. The tour operator, Levi, gave us a hint history of Hanoi and Cat Ba which was more interesting. The driver was driving smoothly and very calm. Overall our experience was excellent definitely we will book again

It was a very satisfying itinerary with a great guide at an affordable price. Thanks to this, I feel like visiting Cat Ba Island again, and next time I'd like to book the Lan Ha Bay tour as well. Thank you once again.

Going from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island is a great choice. They offer a convenient, one-stop service with pick-up from Hanoi's Old Quarter and drop-off at your Cat Ba Island hotel. The guide provided relevant information. The cable car option is optional but comfortable.

Overall, the experience was very comfortable. I messaged Cat Ba Express in the morning to ask what time to be ready at the hotel for pickup, and they replied very quickly. Before the bus arrived at the hotel, the staff on board also messaged me via WhatsApp, so communication was smooth. I recommend taking the cable car to see the scenery of Cat Ba. Great! 👍 The bus was comfortable, and they also provided a small bottle of water.