So what's the Best, Cheapest way to get to Cat Ba Town from Hanoi?

Getting to Cat Ba Island is comfortable and easy with Hoang Long Bus Company for 160,000 - 200,000 (varies seasonally) Dong or about $9-11USD. This route in total is about 4.5 hours long and DOES NOT go through Ha Long City, it goes through Hai Phong City. If you decide to take a public bus instead, it is not recommended to go through Ha Long City as it is extremely difficult to get to Cat Ba Island from there.

Note: Hoang Long will drop you off in the center of Cat Ba Town at the very end the trip

Hoang Long Busses depart every day from Hanoi at: 5:20AM, 7:20AM, 11:20AM, and 1:20PM. Plan on arriving at least a half hour early to play it safe. Luong Yen is about a 15 minute ride from the Old Quarter of Hanoi to the station. Buy your tickets at the station (recommended) or on the bus.

The station where all buses depart from and tickets can be purchased:
Ben xe Luong Yen
So 1 Nguyen Khoai
Hanoi, Vietnam

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How it works:

1) Take a taxi or xeom to Luong Yen Station. Facing the BP station take the small downhill on the left down into the bus station. After you pass through the gate walk towards the dental-floss-green building. Open the doors and look immediately to the right for the Hoang Long ticket booth. Purchase a ticket "to Cat Ba." Sometimes they may ask you to buy the ticket on the bus if it is the same day of travel. After the ticket booth walk through the building via left easeway and out the back where all the busses are. When you come outside look right and you'll see many busses.

The Hoang Long busses are either white and blue, or red and clearly marked with the logo Hoang Long. DO NOT LISTEN TO THE RANDOM MEN WHO TRY TO LURE YOU ONTO DIFFERENT BUSSES for commission.The Hoang Long busses leave this lot at 15 minutes after the scheduled hour, even though the ticket shows the departure time at 20 minutes past the hour. Hoang Long also has other busses that leave 5 minutes after the hour, but these busses will stop only in Hai Phong and you'll have to transfer on your own. So, don't get on a bus until 10 minutes after the hour just to assure that it is the correct bus. If you miss the departure time completely (15 minutes after the hour), the bus will most likely stop accross the street from the BP station until about half past the hour which will still give you a running chance to get on. Only board a bus bearing the Hoang Long Logo and don't get on the earlier Thanh Long Bus which looks similar and departs at 5 minutes after the hour. Any questions, ask a uniformed Hoang Long driver - point to the ticket and say "Cat Ba." 

2) You will depart from Hanoi on a nice big air conditioned bus with reclining seats for a 2-2.5 hour ride to Hai Phong City. The bus will probably make some little stops to let people on and off. After about 2-2.5 hours you will arrive in Hai Phong. Stay on the bus and point to your ticket and say Cat Ba – the driver will take you to the transfer point which will most likely be a small Hoang Long office with the address:

Cong Ty T.N.H.H Van Tai Hoang Long
So 5 Pham Ngu Lao
Tel:031-3920920

3) At this Hai Phong Bus stop/office you will transfer to a smaller bus which will take you to the speed boat (about 45 minutes).
4) Then you’ll hop on the speed boat for about 35 minutes which will take you to Cai Vieng Harbor, Cat Ba Island.
5) Once on Cat Ba Island, you’ll transfer one last time to another bus waiting for you which will take you on a crazy ride along the coast and into Cat Ba Town!

Note: Your ticket will cover all transfers. Transfers are timely and easy, just get off the bus or boat and the next means of transportation will be there waiting for you. All forms of transport are air conditioned. The entire trip should take you about 4-4.5 hours. Look directly across from the archway/pier in Cat Ba Town and you’ll see the Noble House and Slo Pony Adventures - a bright orange building next door to the post office. Come in to the mezzanine and tell us about your trip!

From Cat Ba to Hanoi:

This is almost the reverse process coming from Hanoi. 

Busses depart at: 7:15AM, 9:15AM, 1:15PM, and 3:15PM. Cost: 160,000 Dong or about $9.00 USD.

1. Depart from Cat Ba Town on a medium-sized Hoang Long Bus which will take you to Cai Vieng Harbor.
 
2. Off you’ll go on the 35 minute speed boat to Hai Phong.
 
3. Transfer to another medium-sized bus. 
 
4. Transfer to a large bus and doze off for your two hour ride back to Hanoi.

Note: You can always point to your ticket and say Hanoi if you’re confused. If you print out these directions you should be fine though. 

5. Once at Luong Yen station in Hanoi you'll need to get a taxi to your intended location in Hanoi. If you're travelling light, the cheapest ride into the Old Quarter is by motorbike which should be about 30,000 Dong. If you take a taxi, try and negotiate a price before, because most of their meters are rigged. The trip by taxi should be about 60,000 Dong into the Old Quarter.

Source: Voyage hors des sentiers battus

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