From Hai Phong you have three ways to Cat Ba in 2026: the Ben Binh speedboat, the Cat Hai cable car, or the Dong Bai ferry — and which one is right depends on whether you have a car and what time you land. The speedboat is the only one that leaves from the city itself. The other two start about 20 km east, at the Dong Bai side, and put you on the north of the island with a road still to drive. We are the Lan family in Viet Hai, and every week we sort out this last leg for guests arriving by train, by plane into Cat Bi, or by bus that ended its route in Hai Phong.
| Three options | Ben Binh speedboat from central Hai Phong · Cat Hai–Phu Long cable car · Dong Bai–Cai Vieng car ferry and passenger speedboat |
| Fastest from the city | Ben Binh speedboat, about 45 minutes on the water, straight into Cat Ba town |
| With a car | Dong Bai car ferry only — on weekends until 30 September 2026 cars are not accepted between 09:00 and 13:00 |
| On foot, with a view | Cable car, about 15 minutes over the water, closed on Tuesdays |
| Then to Viet Hai | Ben Beo harbour, speedboat across Lan Ha Bay about 15 minutes, electric cart about 10 minutes |
| Fixed fees after Cat Ba | Lan Ha Bay ticket 120,000 VND adult / 60,000 VND child · electric cart 50,000 VND per person |
If you are coming from Hanoi on a door-to-door bus, you do not need this page: the bus crosses at Dong Bai with you on board, and our Hanoi to Cat Ba guide covers it. This page is for people who are already in Hai Phong — off a train, a plane, or a night in the city — and need to choose the crossing themselves.
Which way from Hai Phong to Cat Ba is best?
If you are on foot and in the city centre before mid-afternoon, take the Ben Binh speedboat. It is the only option that does not need a taxi to a pier 20 km away, and it drops you in Cat Ba town rather than at the northern tip of the island. The cable car and the Dong Bai crossings make more sense if you are already on the Dong Bai side, if you are driving, or if the speedboat is not running that day.
| Option | Time on the water | Reference price | Leaves from | Timetable | Carries vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Binh speedboat | About 45 minutes | 140,000 VND per person, one bag included | Ben Binh pier, central Hai Phong | 07:00, 10:00, 13:00, 15:00; cancelled on rough days | No |
| Cat Hai–Phu Long cable car | About 15 minutes in the air | 60,000 VND one way; free under 1 m | Cat Hai, beside the Dong Bai crossing | Daytime; closed every Tuesday and in high wind | No |
| Dong Bai car ferry | About 15 minutes | A few thousand VND on foot; more for motorbikes and cars | Dong Bai pier, about 20 km east of the city | Roughly every 30 minutes, about 05:30–18:30 in low season, longer in summer | Yes, with weekend limits until 30/09/2026 |
| Dong Bai passenger speedboat | Under 10 minutes | Check at the counter | Dong Bai pier | Through the day, weather permitting | No |
Sources for the figures above: Ben Binh fare and departures from Cat Ba Outdoors’ Hai Phong route guide (May 2026); cable car fare and Tuesday closure from the operator, Sun Paradise Land (April 2026); the weekend vehicle restriction from the Hai Phong authorities as reported by vietnam.vn (24 April 2026). Prices and times change with the season, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the day.
How does the Ben Binh speedboat work?
The Ben Binh speedboat is the simplest crossing if you are already in Hai Phong city. The pier is in the old centre, a few minutes from Hai Phong railway station, and the boat runs straight across to the pier in Cat Ba town. You buy the ticket at the pier; one bag travels with you.
Three things to know. First, it is the most weather-sensitive of the three: on a day with a strong wind or a storm warning the boat is delayed or cancelled, and the port authority decides, not the operator. Our boat safety guide explains how those warnings work. Second, the last departure is mid-afternoon, so a late train or flight will not make it. Third, you arrive in Cat Ba town, which is the right side of the island for us: Ben Beo harbour is a short taxi ride away, and from there it is 15 minutes by boat to Viet Hai.
Is the cable car faster than the ferry?
For a foot passenger, the cable car is usually quicker than waiting for a ferry, but it does not get you closer to Cat Ba town. It crosses from Cat Hai, next to the Dong Bai crossing, to Phu Long on the north-west of Cat Ba Island. From Phu Long there is still a road transfer across the island; the operator sells a cable car and bus combination for this, or you take a taxi.
It takes no vehicles, it stops in high wind, and it closes every Tuesday for maintenance. With a lot of luggage the ferry is simpler; with a backpack and a clear day it is the better view. We wrote more about it, and about the new Ha Long to Lan Ha boat routes, in the cable car and the new bay route.
When do you need the Dong Bai ferry?
You need the Dong Bai car ferry if you are driving or riding a motorbike onto the island — it is the only crossing from the Hai Phong side that carries vehicles. It runs from Dong Bai pier to Cai Vieng wharf on Cat Ba, roughly every 30 minutes, and takes about 15 minutes. The old Got pier is closed to tourist traffic; if an older guide tells you to go there, it is out of date.
One restriction matters this month. To ease congestion on the pier access road, Hai Phong stopped accepting cars on the Dong Bai ferry towards Cat Ba between 09:00 and 13:00 on weekends from 9 May to 30 September 2026. If you are driving on a Saturday or Sunday before the end of September, cross before 09:00 or after 13:00, or leave the car on the mainland and cross on foot. Buses and foot passengers are not affected in the same way, and the passenger speedboat at Dong Bai keeps running.
From Cai Vieng it is a drive across the island to Cat Ba town and Ben Beo — allow 30 to 40 minutes. Anyone who has read about the building work in town should also see what the 2026 construction means for where you stay.
Tell us where you are in Hai Phong — station, airport or hotel — and what time you will be ready. We will tell you which crossing fits that day’s weather and timetable, have a boat waiting at Ben Beo, and meet you at Viet Hai pier. See how our transfers work, or just send us your arrival time.
Which crossing suits which traveller?
| You are… | Take | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Off the morning train in Hai Phong | Ben Binh speedboat | The pier is minutes from the station and the boat lands in Cat Ba town |
| Landing at Cat Bi before lunch | Taxi to Ben Binh for the 13:00 or 15:00 boat, or to Dong Bai | Depends on the time you clear arrivals; message us and we check that day |
| Landing at Cat Bi in the evening | A night in Hai Phong, or a private car to Dong Bai and the ferry | The Ben Binh boats have finished for the day |
| Driving your own car | Dong Bai car ferry | The only crossing that carries vehicles; watch the weekend 09:00–13:00 limit until 30/09 |
| Travelling light on a clear day | Cable car | The view, and no ferry queue — but not on a Tuesday |
| Travelling with children and bags | Ferry or Ben Binh, not the cable car | Fewer transfers with luggage |
What happens after you reach Cat Ba?
Every crossing ends on Cat Ba Island, and Viet Hai is still one more boat away. There is no road into the village. From Cat Ba town you go to Ben Beo harbour, take a speedboat across Lan Ha Bay for about 15 minutes to Viet Hai pier, and ride the electric cart for about 10 minutes into the village. The Lan Ha Bay ticket is 120,000 VND for adults and 60,000 VND for children; the cart is 50,000 VND per person each way. Both are fixed charges, not ours.
The full chain is in how to get to Viet Hai village. Bring some cash for these small payments — there is no ATM in the village, as our money and ATMs guide explains — and see payment information for how we charge at the homestay.
If you only have a short window, the 2 day, 1 night Viet Hai and Lan Ha Bay trip is built around this crossing, and the full-day Lan Ha Bay tour leaves from our pier the next morning. Rates move with the season and the size of the group, so message us.
Frequently asked questions
Answered by the Lan family in Viet Hai — the people who run the boats, cook the dinner and pick you up at the pier.
How long does the speedboat from Hai Phong to Cat Ba take?
The Ben Binh speedboat from central Hai Phong takes about 45 minutes on the water and lands in Cat Ba town. Departures in 2026 have been 07:00, 10:00, 13:00 and 15:00, at about 140,000 VND with one bag. On rough days the port authority can delay or cancel it, so keep the afternoon flexible.
Can I take a car on the Dong Bai ferry on weekends?
Yes, but not between 09:00 and 13:00 on Saturdays and Sundays until 30 September 2026, when Hai Phong stops accepting cars on the ferry towards Cat Ba to ease congestion. Cross before 09:00 or after 13:00, or leave the car and cross on foot. After September, check the current rules before you drive.
Is the cable car faster than the ferry?
For a foot passenger it is usually quicker than waiting for a ferry: about 15 minutes over the water from Cat Hai to Phu Long. But it lands on the north-west of Cat Ba, so you still need a road transfer to town. It carries no vehicles, stops in high wind and closes every Tuesday.
Can I get from Hai Phong to Viet Hai in one day?
Yes, if you are on a boat to Cat Ba by mid-afternoon. From Cat Ba town it is a short taxi to Ben Beo harbour, about 15 minutes by speedboat to Viet Hai pier and 10 minutes on the electric cart. Tell us your arrival time and we will have the boat waiting rather than leave you to find one.
Arriving in Hai Phong and not sure which crossing to take? Send us the time and the place, and we will tell you what is running that day. WhatsApp +84 363 934 325 or message us here.
Read next
- Hanoi to Cat Ba in 2026
- Ben Beo harbour: the Cat Ba pier guide
- How to get to Viet Hai village
- Ninh Binh to Cat Ba Island
Where to stay in Viet Hai
If this trip brings you into the village, the guide to staying in Viet Hai explains the rooms and bungalows at Lan Homestay, and our tours page lists what you can do from the pier.
