Cat Bi Airport: getting into Hai Phong or straight on to Cat Ba
Cat Bi Airport is only about 9-10 km from central Hai Phong, but if you're heading straight to Cat Ba Island, your arrival time matters more than the distance. Check the ferry or speedboat schedule before booking your flight.
14 min read
The curved metal roof stretches over the upper-level drop-off, while red umbrellas and a patch of bare, unfinished ground sit at the foot of the building.
You’ve just picked up your suitcase at Cat Bi Airport, opened your map to find your hotel, and suddenly realized your accommodation is actually on Cat Ba Island. Will you still catch the last ferry, or should you spend the night in Hai Phong? The city center is 20-30 minutes away by car. But if Cat Ba or Ha Long is your next stop, you’ll want to factor in immigration, baggage collection and the departure times of your connecting transport.
Where is Cat Bi Airport, and how many terminals does it have?
Cat Bi International Airport (airport code HPH) is located in Hai An Ward, Hai Phong, a major port city in northern Vietnam. It handles domestic and international flights and is a convenient gateway to Cat Ba Island, Lan Ha Bay and Ha Long Bay.
The airport is about 9-10 km by road from central Hai Phong. A car journey to the area around the Hai Phong Opera House usually takes 20-30 minutes in normal traffic, so for a night or two in the city, book a hotel in the center.
Terminal T1: domestic and international flights in one building
Cat Bi Airport runs just one passenger terminal, T1, with two floors.
Unlike larger airports where domestic and international terminals are separate buildings, Cat Bi handles both types of flights within the same terminal.
The ground floor is the arrivals area. After landing, passengers collect their luggage and head outside to meet drivers or find transportation. There are three baggage reclaim belts, two for domestic arrivals and one for international arrivals.
Passengers arriving directly from South Korea or China go through Vietnamese immigration, collect their luggage and clear customs before entering the public arrivals hall.
The second floor is the departures area, with 29 check-in counters split into separate domestic and international zones.
Counter assignments can change, so check the airport information screens for your airline’s counter.
The terminal also has self-service check-in kiosks and biometric identification facilities. However, not every international visitor is eligible to use automated identity or immigration procedures. Keep your passport ready and follow the instructions of airport staff.
Is Terminal T2 open yet?
Not yet.
A new passenger terminal, T2, is under construction, with a planned annual capacity of five million passengers and a targeted completion date of May 2027.
Some scheduling and implementation issues are still being worked through.
Flights arriving in 2026 still use Terminal T1. Don’t confuse Cat Bi’s future T2 with the existing international Terminal T2 at Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport.
What international flights operate at Cat Bi Airport?
For travelers from South Korea and China, Cat Bi means flying straight into Hai Phong, with no overland leg from Hanoi.
However, its international flight network is much smaller than Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport, and services can change depending on the season, airline schedules and charter arrangements.
Direct flights from Incheon, South Korea
The Incheon (ICN) - Hai Phong (HPH) connection is one of Cat Bi’s established international routes.
For travelers coming from Seoul or nearby parts of South Korea, a direct flight can be more convenient than landing in Hanoi and then traveling to Hai Phong by road.
Search for flights using the airport code HPH and confirm the operating days with the airline before booking. This is particularly important if you’re arranging a Cat Ba transfer or a bay cruise immediately after arrival.
Direct flights from Guangzhou, China
On January 6, 2026, Shenzhen Airlines launched a Guangzhou - Hai Phong service.
At launch, the route had three flights per week:
Shenzhen Airlines announced these times at launch, and they are not a guarantee of current operations. Departure days, schedules and cancellations should always be checked for your specific travel date.
A flight landing at 5:20 PM leaves little margin for the 6:00 PM last ferry from Dong Bai toward Cat Ba.
Immigration, baggage collection and the road journey to the ferry terminal can easily take longer than expected.
What about other Chinese cities and Bangkok?
Connections between Hai Phong and Chinese destinations such as Lijiang, Kunming and Nanning were also announced during 2025 and 2026.
Some of these services operate on limited schedules or as part of organized travel programs, so individual seats can be hard to find.
The Bangkok - Hai Phong route, launched by Thai AirAsia in July 2025, stopped operating in October 2025. Older travel articles may still list Bangkok as a direct destination, so check live airline booking systems before making plans.
Likewise, occasional charter services from Macau or other cities are just charters, not a regular commercial route.
Traveling from Thailand and can’t find a suitable direct flight? A domestic connection through Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang may be an alternative.
Which domestic flights connect to Hai Phong?
For visitors coming from Europe, the United States, Australia or other countries without direct flights to Cat Bi, a common option is to enter Vietnam through another international airport and then take a domestic flight to Hai Phong.
Domestic destinations served at various times by Cat Bi include:
- Ho Chi Minh City
- Da Nang
- Phu Quoc
- Cam Ranh (for Nha Trang)
- Buon Ma Thuot
- Pleiku
- Da Lat
Some routes don’t fly daily, and some are seasonal or temporarily suspended, so search for your actual travel date.
On July 25, 2026, Sun PhuQuoc Airways launched daily round-trip services between Hai Phong and Ho Chi Minh City, and between Hai Phong and Phu Quoc.
There is no regular commercial flight between Hanoi and Hai Phong. Travelers already in Hanoi will generally find the train, a limousine van or a private car more practical.
Anyone connecting from an international to a domestic flight should pay attention to where they’ll enter Vietnam.
For example, if you fly from overseas into Ho Chi Minh City before continuing to Hai Phong, you’ll normally clear Vietnamese immigration in Ho Chi Minh City. Whether you need to collect and recheck your luggage depends on the airline, ticket arrangement and baggage transfer procedures.
Do foreign visitors need a visa to enter Vietnam at Cat Bi Airport?
Cat Bi is an approved international entry point for travelers using Vietnam’s electronic visa, commonly known as an e-visa.
Vietnam introduced e-visa eligibility for citizens of all countries and territories on August 15, 2023.
This means travelers of any nationality can apply for an e-visa, although approval is not automatic. If your nationality and travel circumstances require a visa, make sure it has been issued before departure.
The official application website is evisa.gov.vn.
Before submitting your application, double-check your passport details, intended entry date, visa validity and entry point. A small mistake in the information can cause unnecessary trouble at check-in or immigration.
Which nationalities can visit Vietnam visa-free for 45 days?
Vietnam has introduced 45-day visa exemptions for citizens of 24 countries under two government resolutions issued in 2025.
Travelers must still satisfy the applicable entry requirements.
Visitors from China, the United States, Australia and other countries not covered by a suitable exemption should check whether they need an e-visa or another entry document. Thai passport holders should also check the bilateral visa exemption arrangements that may apply to their visit.
Save a copy of your e-visa and other entry documents on your phone, ideally one you can open offline, so you’re not fighting an email login in the immigration queue.
How to get from Cat Bi Airport to Hai Phong city center
Once you’ve left the ground-floor arrivals hall, you can take a taxi, book a ride through an app or use a public bus.
Because central Hai Phong is relatively close, the best choice depends mainly on how much luggage you have and what time you arrive.
Taxi and ride-hailing apps: best with luggage
Just off an international flight, carrying several suitcases or landing in the evening? A taxi or ride-hailing service is usually the easiest option.
Options include Xanh SM (Green SM, hotline 1555), Grab or licensed airport taxis.
For destinations around the Opera House, Dien Bien Phu Street and the central hotel districts, the journey generally takes around 20-30 minutes, depending on traffic.
Fares vary according to the vehicle type, demand, time of day and any applicable surcharges. Enter your hotel’s full address into the app and check the total price before confirming.
If someone approaches you outside the arrivals hall offering a ride, compare prices, confirm the full fare or match the license plate with your booking before getting into a car.
Bus 16B: a budget-friendly daytime option
A public bus serves Cat Bi Airport.
Route 16B connects Cat Bi Airport with Pha Rung, passing several useful areas of Hai Phong along the way.
Under the route arrangement introduced at the beginning of 2026, the bus travels via Le Hong Phong Street, Lac Vien Junction, Dien Bien Phu Street, Lac Long Bridge and Thuong Ly Bus Station.
Bus times and stops may change, so check current operating information before relying on route 16B.
Route 16B can be a good choice for light travelers staying near one of its stops. However, it won’t take you directly to every hotel in the city center, and you may still need to walk or arrange a short additional ride.
Night arrivals, travelers with large suitcases and first-timers unfamiliar with the area will generally find a taxi simpler.
Cat Bi Airport to Cat Ba Island: can you get there on the same day?
Cat Ba Island is not somewhere you can reach directly from Cat Bi Airport by road alone. You’ll need to cross the water: by speedboat from Ben Binh, on the Dong Bai - Cai Vieng ferry or on the Cat Hai - Phu Long cable car.
Ben Binh speedboat
Convenient for Cat Ba Town
Staying near the center of Cat Ba Town? Check the speedboat service from Ben Binh first.
You can take a taxi or ride-hailing car from Cat Bi Airport to the departure pier, then board a scheduled speedboat to the island.
The main advantage is that the arrival point is convenient for accommodation in or near Cat Ba Town, avoiding the longer road journey across the island required after arriving by ferry.
Speedboats don’t depart continuously throughout the day.
Schedules depend on the operator, season and weather conditions. Check the actual service times before making a flight booking that depends on a particular departure.
Dong Bai - Cai Vieng ferry
Worth checking for afternoon arrivals
The Dong Bai - Cai Vieng ferry is a popular option for people traveling with cars or motorbikes, as well as passengers arranging road transfers to Cat Ba.
From September 1 through December 31, 2026, the last ferry from Dong Bai to Cai Vieng departs at 6:00 PM. The last scheduled ferry in the opposite direction, from Cai Vieng to Dong Bai, leaves at 5:30 PM.
The operator may change services due to weather, passenger demand or conditions at the ferry terminals.
A domestic flight landing at 3:00 PM usually leaves enough time. Collecting a checked bag and reaching your car takes about 30 minutes, and the 25 km drive from Cat Bi to Dong Bai takes 30-45 minutes, so you should be at the pier before 4:30 PM.
An international arrival needs roughly another hour for immigration and baggage. That puts you at Dong Bai around 5:15 PM, about 45 minutes before the last ferry, so even a short delay makes it tight. A 3:00 PM landing also misses the cable car, including the 3:30 PM weekend window.
But if you land close to 5:00 PM, particularly on an international flight, catching the last ferry becomes much less realistic.
Cai Vieng is still short of Cat Ba Town, so you’ll need onward road transportation to your hotel.
Cat Hai - Phu Long cable car
Scenic, but watch the timetable
The Cat Ba cable car runs above the sea, with the surrounding islands below.
Sun World’s published one-way adult fare is 70,000 VND, with free admission for children under 1 meter tall.
From October 19, 2026, the cable car is closed on Tuesdays.
The final operating window is listed as 2:30-2:45 PM on weekdays, excluding Tuesday, and 3:30-3:45 PM on Saturdays and Sundays.
The cable car doesn’t run continuously all day. You’ll also need a road transfer from Phu Long station to Cat Ba Town or your accommodation.
A late-afternoon arrival misses the final cable car windows.
If your flight is too late for the available island transfers, spending a night in Hai Phong and traveling the following morning is often much more relaxing than trying to catch the last departure.
How to travel from Cat Bi Airport to Ha Long Bay
For a Ha Long hotel or cruise, go straight from Cat Bi Airport: a direct private car, taxi or pre-booked transfer will take you to the Ha Long area.
The road distance is generally around 50-75 km, depending on your actual destination. In favorable conditions, a car journey using the expressway may take approximately 1-1.5 hours.
Allow extra time if you have a cruise departure to catch.
From July 1, 2026, Ha Long International Cruise Port in Bai Chay introduced a passenger port fee of 80,000 VND for a round trip or 40,000 VND for a one-way journey, including VAT.
This is a port passenger fee, not the price of a Ha Long Bay cruise, and it should not automatically be applied to departures from Tuan Chau.
Travelers whose cruise requires a midday check-in are safer arriving in Hai Phong the day before.
Even if a morning flight appears to leave enough time on paper, a flight delay, slow baggage collection or traffic on the way to the port could make you miss boarding.
How early should you arrive at Cat Bi Airport before departure?
First-time flyers out of Cat Bi Airport can use Vietnam Airlines’ recommended arrival times as a reference.
Vietnam Airlines closes check-in counters 40 minutes before scheduled domestic departures and 50 minutes before scheduled international departures.
Other airlines may have different deadlines, so always follow the conditions stated on your booking.
Checking luggage, traveling with children or facing additional visa and document checks? Arrive earlier than these times.
For international flights, you’ll also need to complete departure immigration and security screening.
Even after online check-in, where your airline offers it, you may still need to visit the document check or baggage drop counter.
Once you’re through security, keep an eye on your gate number and boarding time. Cat Bi isn’t an especially complicated airport to navigate, but arriving at the gate after it closes can still mean missing your flight.
Can you bring fish sauce, dried seafood and liquids on a flight?
A trip to Hai Phong often ends with a few edible souvenirs: dried red rice noodles, packaged seafood snacks or a bottle of Cat Hai fish sauce.
Whether you can bring them on board depends on the product, your airline, whether you’re checking a bag and the country you’re flying to.
Liquid restrictions on international flights
Conditional exceptions apply to items such as necessary medicines, milk and food for young children, as well as certain liquids purchased in the international airside area and packaged according to aviation security rules.
The 100 ml per container and 1-liter total limit described here concerns international departure security checks. It shouldn’t be treated as a universal rule applying identically to all domestic flights.
Fish sauce and strong-smelling food
Fish sauce is a strongly scented liquid, so don’t assume you can bring it into the aircraft cabin, even in a small bottle.
Some airlines have specific rules for strong-smelling products and may require secure, leak-proof packaging if they’re accepted as checked baggage.
Vietjet provides guidance on packing items with strong odors carefully when transported in checked luggage, but you should still confirm the applicable limits and restrictions for your specific flight.
Dried red rice noodles, packaged sweets and other dry snacks are generally easier to transport than liquids.
On international flights, also check customs and food import regulations in your destination country.
Meat, pork products, seafood and other animal-derived foods may be restricted, require declaration or be prohibited entirely.
When buying edible souvenirs, sealed commercial packaging with clear labeling is usually preferable. Keep receipts where useful, and check airline and destination-country rules before purchasing anything unusual.
A few things worth preparing before you land
Have an eSIM or a SIM card that works in Vietnam ready before you fly. It makes it much easier to book a ride, share your location and contact your accommodation as soon as you leave the arrivals hall.
Save your hotel’s address in Vietnamese, especially if you’re staying in a small guesthouse or somewhere down a narrow lane. Showing a driver the exact address is often easier than trying to pronounce an unfamiliar street name.
Going directly to Cat Ba? Save the name of the correct ferry terminal or speedboat pier (Dong Bai or Ben Binh), not just "Cat Ba Island".
Afternoon arrivals should keep their onward plans flexible.
Some days, immigration and baggage collection are quick. On others, unexpected delays can eat into the time you’ve allowed for transfers.
Frequently asked questions
Does Cat Bi Airport have international flights?
Yes. Cat Bi has international connections with Incheon in South Korea and Guangzhou in China. Routes to cities such as Lijiang, Kunming and Nanning have also appeared in previous airline and airport announcements, but their actual availability should be checked before booking. The Bangkok service launched in July 2025 stopped operating in October 2025.
How far is Cat Bi Airport from Hai Phong city center? Is there a bus?
The distance is approximately 9-10 km by road, with a typical car journey taking 20-30 minutes. You can travel by taxi, Grab, Xanh SM or public bus 16B. The published fare for bus 16B is 15,000 VND per ride, making it a reasonable option for daytime arrivals with light luggage.
Can I reach Cat Ba Island if my flight lands at 4-5 PM?
It depends on when you actually leave the airport, the available transport and that day's schedule. Under the September-December 2026 timetable, the last Dong Bai to Cai Vieng ferry departs at 6:00 PM. If you land close to 5:00 PM, especially on an international flight, it's safer to plan an overnight stay in Hai Phong. Cable car services finish earlier.
How early should I arrive at Cat Bi Airport for my flight?
As a general guide, arrive about 2 hours before a domestic flight or 3 hours before an international flight. Always check your airline's check-in and boarding deadlines, which may differ from those published by Vietnam Airlines.
Can I bring Cat Hai fish sauce or dried seafood on a plane?
Fish sauce must comply with airline rules for liquids and strongly scented items, and you should check checked-baggage packaging requirements before buying it. Dried foods may be easier to carry, but international travelers must also follow the destination country's food import regulations, particularly for meat and seafood products.
