A Rustic Vietnam

Ha Long to Cat Ba by the Tuan Chau Ferry

The short hop from Ha Long: the little green ferry from Tuan Chau to Gia Luan, or a through bus. We tell you which suits your day and book it.

About 2 hours Shared seat or private car Transfer Cat Ba and Lan Ha Bay

At a glance

Cat Ba and Ha Long can see each other on a clear day, and the crossing takes one to three hours depending on how you do it. The Tuan Chau ferry takes about 45 minutes across the bay and is a good ride, but it has a thin timetable and a last sailing at 15:00. The bus is easier and drops you at your hotel. We book either, and tell you straight which one we would choose.

DurationAbout 2 hours
GroupShared seat or private car
StyleTransfer
PickupTuan Chau pier for the ferry, or your Ha Long hotel for the bus
Activity levelNone. You carry your own bags on and off the ferry
MealsNone. Bring water and a snack

Highlights

  • About 45 minutes on the water through the karst, on the Tuan Chau ferry
  • Or a through bus with hotel drop-off, if that suits your day better
  • A timetable we check for you, including the 15:00 last sailing
  • Help with the road from Gia Luan to Cat Ba Town
  • A message from your host the day before

The route

Ha Long CityTuan ChauFerry across the bayGia LuanRoad across the islandCat Ba Town

Why we chose this trip

The ferry is one of the best hours of transport in the region and one of the easiest to get wrong. We know the timetable by heart, we know the last sailing is 15:00 all year, and we work backwards from it so you are not standing at the pier watching the boat leave. We also tell you when the bus is simply the better call, and book that.

The day, as it really runs

Morning

Get to Tuan Chau

Tuan Chau is a marina island joined to the mainland, about 8 km from central Ha Long. Allow 15 to 20 minutes by taxi from the city.

Morning

Board the ferry

Buy nothing in advance: tickets are sold at the pier window, in cash. Sailings from Tuan Chau run through the morning and early afternoon.

Late morning

The crossing

About 45 minutes across the bay, with the karsts on either side. On a clear morning the view is better than many paid boat tours.

Midday

Land at Gia Luan

You arrive at the far north of Cat Ba, about 25 km from town. Taxis meet the boat, and we arrange a pickup if you would rather not rely on one.

Early afternoon

Across the island

Around 40 minutes on the winding road through the national park, with good viewpoints, down to Cat Ba Town and your hotel.

Summer sailings, 25 April to 5 September, are at 07:30, 09:00, 11:30, 13:30 and 15:00. Winter sailings are around 07:30 or 08:00, 11:30 and 15:00. The last sailing is 15:00 all year, and we confirm the time with you in writing.

What's included

Included

  • Timetable and crossing checked for your date
  • Booking of the through bus, if you choose the bus
  • Help arranging the road from Gia Luan to Cat Ba Town
  • A message from your host the day before
  • Help changing the time if the weather or your plans move

Not included

  • The ferry ticket if you choose the ferry, paid in cash at the pier
  • Taxi from Ha Long to Tuan Chau
  • Food and drinks
  • Travel insurance

You get the full list in writing before you pay anything.

Practical details

Pickup
Tuan Chau pier for the ferry, or your Ha Long hotel for the bus
Activity level
None. You carry your own bags on and off the ferry
Meals
None. Bring water and a snack
Journey time
About 2 hours by ferry with the drive to the pier, up to 3 hours by bus
Last sailing
15:00 all year
Best for
A clear morning, a day bag and no hard deadline
Winter timetable
Three sailings a day from 6 September to 24 April
Who runs it
A licensed local partner we have travelled with. Their name is on your written confirmation

Is this day right for you?

The honest version.

A good fit if

  • You are coming from Ha Long City or Tuan Chau and want the shortest way to the island.
  • You have a clear morning, a day bag and no hard deadline, and want the view from the water.
  • You would rather have a through bus that drops you at your hotel, and we can book that instead.

Tell us early if

  • You have large luggage or a tight connection. The bus is the sensible answer, since the ferry cancels in rough weather and you carry your own bags.
  • You are here between 6 September and 24 April. In that half of the year there are only three sailings a day, and the last is at 15:00.
  • You forgot the road. The ferry lands at Gia Luan, about 25 km north of Cat Ba Town, and that last leg takes about 40 minutes and is not free.
Ferry or bus
Around 85 percent of travellers take the through bus, which stays on the road in any weather and drops you at your hotel. The ferry is better when the sky is clear, you travel light and you have no deadline. On a rainy day with two suitcases, take the bus.
Published fares, roughly
The ferry is 80,000 VND on foot and 100,000 VND with a motorbike. A through bus runs from about $9 to $23, with most fares around $11 to $14. These are reference numbers, not our price. We quote one price for your date.
Weather
The ferry crosses an open channel in a small boat, and it is cancelled in rough weather. We check the day before and switch you to the bus if the sea looks poor. The bus runs regardless.

Questions guests ask

What time is the last ferry to Cat Ba?
The last sailing from Tuan Chau to Gia Luan is at 15:00 all year round. In winter there are only three boats a day, so if you miss the 11:30 you wait about four hours.
Can we book the ferry in advance?
There is no online booking. You pay at the pier window, in cash and in dong, and the boat is rarely full outside summer weekends. We tell you which sailing to aim for and when to leave.
How do we get from Gia Luan to Cat Ba Town?
It is about 25 km and 40 minutes by road. Taxis wait for the boat, but there are not many, so we arrange a pickup for the 15:00 arrival.
Can we bring a motorbike or a car?
Yes. The ferry takes motorbikes and cars, and drivers use it for exactly that reason. A car takes the same crossing, and you stay in the vehicle.
Is the bus better than the ferry?
For most people, yes. It is easy, it costs only a few dollars more, and it drops you at your hotel. The ferry wins on the view, the price and the fun, if you can manage the timetable.

Check availability

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