How to get from Ha Long to Cat Ba: ferry timetables, tickets and transfers

Getting from Ha Long to Cat Ba isn’t quite the same as taking a sightseeing cruise around the bay. You can catch a ferry, reach the island and check into your hotel, or book an overnight cruise that explores both Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay. To reach Cat Ba Town, especially with luggage or your own vehicle, the Tuan Chau-Gia Luan ferry is usually the simplest option.

What’s the best way to get from Ha Long to Cat Ba?

Staying in Bai Chay or on Tuan Chau Island? A ferry connects Tuan Chau directly with Gia Luan, a small coastal area on the northern side of Cat Ba Island, so there’s no detour through central Hai Phong.

Search for Tuan Chau-Gia Luan ferry rather than just Ha Long Bay boat. The ferry is a public transport service carrying passengers and vehicles, not a sightseeing cruise with stops at caves and beaches.

Taking the Tuan Chau-Gia Luan ferry from Ha Long to Cat Ba

Where is Tuan Chau ferry terminal?

Tuan Chau Ferry Terminal is located on the eastern side of Tuan Chau Island, in Tuan Chau Ward, Quang Ninh Province.

Since Vietnam’s administrative changes on July 1, 2025, the area is no longer officially part of a city-level Ha Long administrative unit. You’ll still see "Ha Long" widely used on maps, hotel listings and travel websites, though.

From Bai Chay, the terminal is roughly a 20-30-minute taxi ride away, depending on where you’re staying and the traffic. Guests staying on Tuan Chau Island itself have a much shorter journey.

The ferry service is operated by Tuan Chau Marina, part of Tuan Chau Group. It crosses approximately 8 km of water between Tuan Chau and Gia Luan, in the Cat Hai Special Zone of Hai Phong.

The crossing normally takes around 45-60 minutes, with limestone islands along the way.

Unlike a sightseeing cruise, the ferry doesn’t stop at caves, swimming spots or other attractions.

Photo: gbuschner

Tuan Chau-Cat Ba ferry timetable for 2026

Check this first, before booking a hotel transfer or planning the rest of the day.

Winter timetable: September 6 to April 24

Summer timetable: April 25 to September 5

The winter timetable covers most of the year, with just three scheduled departures in each direction.

The last ferry from Tuan Chau is generally at 3:00 PM, while the final ferry from Gia Luan back to Tuan Chau is scheduled for 4:00 PM.

Ticket sellers don’t all list the same ferry times.

Some show winter morning departures from Tuan Chau at 7:30 AM and 11:30 AM instead of 8:00 AM and noon. Summer times also differ slightly, with some showing a 1:00 PM sailing rather than 1:30 PM.

Treat these tables as planning references rather than guaranteed departure times.

Ferry operations also depend on weather and operating conditions, including a stated minimum of 30 passengers. During busy holidays or peak summer weekends, additional services may be arranged.

Tuan Chau Marina hotline: +84 203 656 2888

Busy line? Try +84 822 556 118.

Call before leaving your hotel, especially if you’re aiming for the last sailing of the day.

On a normal weekday, arriving at least 15 minutes before departure is sensible. During summer weekends and holidays, allow 20-30 minutes, particularly if you’re travelling with a vehicle.

How much does the Tuan Chau-Gia Luan ferry cost?

The ferry accommodates walk-on passengers, motorbikes, private cars and certain larger vehicles. That makes it especially convenient for travellers exploring northern Vietnam by road.

Fares differ slightly from one sales channel to the next.

The following reference fares come from Tuan Chau Verse, a booking channel within the Tuan Chau system.

Some sellers charge less, around 60,000 VND per pedestrian, 80,000 VND for a motorbike and 300,000 VND for a car with fewer than nine seats, while others charge more for cars.

Prices don’t match across sales channels, so the counter price on the day is the one that counts.

Travellers with a car or motorbike should ask whether the vehicle ticket includes the driver, how additional passengers are charged, and the total one-way price for everyone and the vehicle.

Considering a return ticket? Check the conditions carefully. Some return fares are intended for journeys completed on the same day, which won’t work if you’re spending one or more nights on Cat Ba.

Can you take a car or rental motorbike on the ferry?

Yes, the Tuan Chau-Gia Luan ferry carries cars, motorbikes and other permitted vehicles.

With your own motorbike or car it’s straightforward; rental vehicles need an extra check.

Before taking a rented motorbike from Ha Long to Cat Ba, check with the rental company. Some rental agreements don’t permit vehicles to leave the local area or travel by ferry.

Confirm that the rental company allows the crossing, that your paperwork and insurance are appropriate, and where the vehicle must eventually be returned.

The same applies to rental cars.

Taxi passengers shouldn’t assume the driver who takes you from Bai Chay to Tuan Chau will also board the ferry and drive you all the way into Cat Ba Town. It’s often easier to arrange separate transfers on each side.

During vehicle loading, unloading and the crossing itself, passengers must follow crew instructions about leaving their vehicles and using the designated passenger areas. Exceptions or assistance may apply to drivers, young children, pregnant passengers and people requiring additional support.

Getting from Gia Luan ferry terminal to Cat Ba Town

The ferry doesn’t arrive in central Cat Ba Town.

Gia Luan is at the northern end of the island, around 21 km from the main tourist area.

After leaving the ferry, you’ll still need another 30-40 minutes by road to reach most hotels in Cat Ba Town.

The road runs through forest and over hills. There are quite a few bends along the way, so take it slowly if you’re riding a motorbike.

How long does it take from Bai Chay to Cat Ba Town?

When everything lines up nicely, the trip is fairly quick.

Allow approximately 2-2.5 hours from your hotel in Bai Chay to central Cat Ba, provided you catch a ferry without a long wait and have transport arranged at Gia Luan.

The waiting time between sailings can make a big difference, though.

For example, if you leave Bai Chay at 9:30 AM during winter, you’ll probably miss the morning departure and have to wait for the midday ferry. The actual distance isn’t very far, but the whole journey could suddenly take several extra hours.

That’s why a morning ferry is the easiest choice: you’ll have plenty of time to reach your hotel, drop off your luggage and settle in without watching the clock.

A midday departure works well too if you’re not an early riser. Avoid relying on the final ferry if you have another important journey or a tight schedule later that day.

Cat Ba to Ha Long: when should you leave Cat Ba Town?

Travelling in the opposite direction is just as straightforward.

From central Cat Ba, take a taxi or drive to Gia Luan Ferry Terminal, then catch the ferry back to Tuan Chau.

In winter, departures from Gia Luan are at 9:00 AM, 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM. The summer schedule adds services at 11:30 AM and 3:00 PM.

The last scheduled departure from Gia Luan is generally 4:00 PM in both seasons.

Leaving Cat Ba Town around 2:15-2:30 PM gets you to that ferry in time.

The drive takes roughly 30-40 minutes, leaving some time to buy tickets, handle luggage and board without rushing.

On busy weekends, in rainy weather or when travelling with a car, leaving closer to 2:00 PM is safer.

Try not to arrive at Gia Luan at 3:55 PM just because the ferry is scheduled for 4:00 PM. Departure time is when the ferry leaves the terminal, not when ticket sales or boarding begin.

Travellers with a train, long-distance bus or flight to catch later should consider the 1:00 PM ferry instead.

Can you take a Ha Long Bay cruise and get dropped off on Cat Ba Island?

Since April 2026, new cruise routes have connected Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay.

On March 26, 2026, Quang Ninh and Hai Phong signed an agreement coordinating tourism vessel operations between the two bays.

The rules took effect on April 1, opening four connecting itineraries identified as VHL3, VHL4, VHL5 and VHL6.

The first cruises began operating on April 20, 2026.

Among the vessels introduced on these routes were:

• Au Co 1 by Bhaya: Operating on the VHL3-Lan Ha route, including areas such as Tra Bau, Dark and Bright Cave, Viet Hai and Cai Beo Fishing Village near Ben Beo.
• Ambassador Signature: Operating on the VHL6-Lan Ha route, with Gia Luan included among the locations on its itinerary.

These connecting routes are currently designed for overnight cruises, not regular day trips or point-to-point ferries.

Depending on the operator and itinerary, cruises may depart from Tuan Chau International Passenger Port or Ha Long International Cruise Port.

Photo: Turgidson

Ben Beo or Gia Luan can appear on a cruise itinerary without being a place where passengers may end their trip.

A sightseeing stop, an approved route location and an official passenger drop-off point can be three different things.

Only book this arrangement once the cruise company has clearly confirmed it.

Without that confirmation, you could spend the night sailing through Lan Ha Bay and end up back at the original port in Ha Long the following morning.

Are there additional sightseeing fees for cruises connecting the two bays?

Overnight cruise prices vary depending on the operator, cabin category, meals and included activities.

For itineraries entering both Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay, sightseeing fees may also apply.

Under Hai Phong’s fee schedule effective January 1, 2026, the standard daytime sightseeing fee for routes around the Cat Ba Archipelago is 120,000 VND per adult and 60,000 VND for children aged six and above.

For an itinerary that includes one night on the bay, the combined overnight sightseeing fee is 400,000 VND per adult and 300,000 VND for children in the applicable paid category.

Additional Ha Long Bay entrance fees may apply depending on the cruise route.

Many cruise operators include these charges in the advertised package, but not all prices are structured the same way.

Before booking, ask for a final quotation showing whether sightseeing fees for both bays are included.

The permitted operating hours for cruise vessels also differ from the Tuan Chau ferry timetable.

Under the inter-bay operating rules, summer cruise operations (April 1-October 31) may begin at 5:00 AM, with vessels required to return to port before 8:00 PM.

During winter (November 1-March 31), operations may begin at 5:30 AM, with vessels returning before 7:00 PM.

These are operational limits, not published departure times for individual cruises.

What if the Tuan Chau-Gia Luan ferry is cancelled?

Missed the final Tuan Chau ferry, or found the service suspended? You still have another possible route to Cat Ba.

Instead of crossing directly from Tuan Chau, travel by road towards Hai Phong.

From Bai Chay, follow the expressway route across Bach Dang Bridge, towards Dinh Vu and then over Tan Vu-Lach Huyen Bridge to Cat Hai Island.

From there, you can reach Cat Ba Island using the Dong Bai-Cai Vieng ferry or the Cat Hai-Phu Long cable car.

The journey from Bai Chay to Dong Bai Ferry Terminal is approximately 56 km on the reference route, taking around an hour by car in favourable traffic.

Once you reach Cai Vieng or Phu Long on Cat Ba Island, there are still approximately 20-22 km of road to central Cat Ba Town.

A few tips for a smoother Ha Long to Cat Ba trip

First time in Vietnam? Your hotel receptionist can check the ferry schedule and organize a taxi; give them your intended departure time, number of passengers and luggage details.

Carry some Vietnamese dong in cash for ferry tickets, taxis and small expenses around the terminals. Electronic payments may be available, but international bank cards aren’t guaranteed to work at every ticket counter.

If you’re connecting to a flight, train or long-distance bus on the day you leave Cat Ba, avoid depending on the last ferry.

For travellers who want some bay scenery on the way, the morning ferry from Tuan Chau does the job. It’s simpler than an overnight cruise, but limestone islands drift past during the crossing, and soon after you’re driving through the island’s green hills towards town.