Last updated: September 23, 2026
This is the shortest leg on our price list and the one most people do not realise exists. Cat Ba and Ha Long sit on the same bay system, but there is no direct passenger road between the islands — you come back off the ferry at Cat Hai and swing north around the water.
| Distance | 75 km |
|---|---|
| Driving time | About 1.5 hr, door to door |
| Price from | 600,000 VND (≈ $23) per vehicle, not per person — fuel, tolls and parking included |
| Vehicles | SUV (5 seats) · SUV (7 seats) · Executive MPV |
| Luggage | SUV (5 seats): 4 large suitcases · SUV (7 seats): 5 · Executive MPV: 7 — counts assume standard check-in cases; oversized bags, golf sets, bicycles or strollers need more room, so tell us what you are bringing and we will recommend the right class |
| Service | Private car with driver — your party only, no shared pickups |
| Pickup | Door to door — hotel, Airbnb, apartment or any address in Hanoi; Noi Bai Airport pickup available |
| Payment | After the ride — cash (VND) to the driver or bank transfer; no card needed |
| Deposit & cancellation | No deposit · free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup |
How Much Does a the Cat Ba ferry gateway to Ha Long Bay Private Car Cost?
The fare is fixed in writing before departure and is the same in both directions. It covers the whole vehicle, not a seat.
| Vehicle class | Guests | Luggage | One-way fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUV (5 seats) | up to 3 | 4 large suitcases | 600,000 VND (≈ $23) |
| SUV (7 seats) | up to 4 | 5 large suitcases, or 2 golf bag sets | 700,000 VND (≈ $27) |
| Executive MPV | 4 – 8 | Up to 7 large suitcases, reclining seats, Wi-Fi | 1,400,000 VND (≈ $53) |
The fare includes fuel, all expressway tolls, parking and your chauffeur. Waiting beyond the agreed schedule is charged per hour: 150,000 VND (≈ $6) for the SUV (5 seats), 200,000 VND (≈ $8) for the SUV (7 seats) and 300,000 VND (≈ $11) for the Executive MPV. Parties of up to ten can be quoted an 11-seat DCar Solati limousine, and up to fifteen a 16-seat van, both at the Executive MPV rate; larger groups travel in two vehicles, quoted separately. In the Kia Carnival Signature the two middle-row seats recline deeply into what Kia calls one-touch relaxation mode — a deep lounge position rather than a flat bed. In the 9-seat DCar van four of the seats fully recline as massage seats and the others recline only a little; in the 11-seat Solati six of the seats do. Tell us if a fully reclining seat matters for your party and we will confirm what your vehicle has.
The Route and How Long It Really Takes
The drive runs on the Hai Phong – Mong Cai Expressway (CT06). Google Maps gives roughly 66 km and 1 hour 5 minutes of pure driving on the fastest car route. We quote about 1 hour 30 minutes door to door, because the map figure does not include your pickup, comfort stops or traffic at either end.
One thing to be clear about: the car does not cross to Cat Ba island. It stops at the Dong Bai ferry terminal on Cat Hai. You cross as a foot passenger — ferry or cable-car tickets are bought at the ramp at operator rates — and an island taxi covers the last 23 km into Cat Ba town, about 35 minutes.
Which Direction Works Better?
the Cat Ba ferry gateway → Ha Long Bay
Leaving the island, the crossing sets the timetable, not the road. Take the island taxi to Cai Vieng, cross to Dong Bai, and the car is waiting at the terminal; from there Ha Long is about 66 km on the CT06, roughly 1 hour 30 minutes door to door. Tell us which crossing you plan to take and we time the pickup to it.
Ha Long Bay → the Cat Ba ferry gateway
Heading out to Cat Ba, the drive is the short part: about 1 hour 30 minutes to the Dong Bai terminal, then the foot-passenger crossing and about 35 minutes by island taxi into Cat Ba town. Leave Ha Long by early afternoon if you want to reach town in daylight.
What Your Fare Covers
- Door-to-door pickup and drop-off at the addresses you give us
- Fuel, all expressway tolls and parking
- A professional chauffeur for the journey
- A price fixed in writing before departure — no meter, no surcharge on arrival
- No deposit and no prepayment
Not included: entrance tickets, boat, ferry and cable-car tickets, meals, and accommodation. All fares are per vehicle, not per person.
Our chauffeurs speak everyday English. For anything beyond pickup, stops and directions, our 24/7 English-speaking support is on WhatsApp throughout your journey.
What Travellers Worry About — and How This Booking Works
| Common complaint about transfers in Vietnam | How this booking works |
|---|---|
| Booking cancelled in peak season and resold higher | Your fare is fixed in writing before departure. |
| A different, lower-quality vehicle turns up | You book a named vehicle class and that is what is sent. |
| The trip stretches for hours because the driver collects other passengers | The car is yours alone. No shared pickups, no detours. |
| Price rises on holidays or on arrival | Agreed before you travel, unchanged on the day. |
| Pressure to pay up front | No deposit. You pay at the end, cash (Vietnamese dong) or Vietnamese bank transfer. Cards are not accepted. |
| Plans change and the booking is lost | Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup. |
Who This Transfer Is Best For
- Travellers moving between Cat Ba and Ha Long — to a hotel or a cruise pier
- Families with bags — who do not want to look for a taxi at the Dong Bai terminal
- Groups of four to eight — where the Executive MPV fare shares out well per person
- Guests joining a Ha Long Bay cruise after Cat Ba — who need the pickup timed to check-in
- Travellers heading out to Cat Ba from Ha Long — who want the road part at one fixed price
Continue Your Journey
The same car and driver can carry on to the next leg:
- Hanoi to Cat Ba private car — the leg that usually comes before this one
- Hanoi to Ha Long Bay private car — the direct route from the capital to the cruise ports
- Ninh Binh to Cat Ba — the leg many travellers take before this one
- Ha Long Bay to Ninh Binh — carry on south after the cruise
- Ha Long Bay to Sapa — carry on to the mountains after the cruise
- Ha Long Bay to Noi Bai Airport — flying out after the cruise, timed to your flight
- Private car with driver in Ha Long Bay — every fare from or to Ha Long on one page
- Province-to-province transfers — the full price list for every direct leg
Book Your the Cat Ba ferry gateway → Ha Long Bay Transfer
Send us your date, pickup address and group size on WhatsApp at +84 981 911 954 and we will confirm the vehicle and the fixed fare in writing. No deposit — you pay at the end of the trip. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup. Payment, luggage and cancellation details are set out in full in our frequently asked questions.
the Cat Ba ferry gateway to Ha Long Bay: Questions Travellers Ask
How long does the drive take?
Google Maps puts the fastest car route at about 66 km and 1 hour 5 minutes of driving. We plan about 1 hour 30 minutes door to door to allow for pickup, stops and traffic.
Is the price per person or per vehicle?
Per vehicle. 600,000 VND (≈ $23) covers the SUV (5 seats), 700,000 VND (≈ $27) the SUV (7 seats) and 1,400,000 VND (≈ $53) the Executive MPV, however many of you travel within the seat limit.
Is the fare the same in the other direction?
Yes. Ha Long Bay to the Cat Ba ferry gateway costs the same as the gateway to Ha Long Bay: 600,000 VND (≈ $23) for the SUV (5 seats), 700,000 VND (≈ $27) for the SUV (7 seats) and 1,400,000 VND (≈ $53) for the Executive MPV. Ferry or cable-car tickets are not included in either direction.
Does the car cross to Cat Ba island?
No. The car stops at the Dong Bai ferry terminal on Cat Hai. You cross as a foot passenger and take an island taxi the last 23 km into Cat Ba town, about 35 minutes. Ferry and taxi are paid separately at operator rates.
Do we pay a deposit?
No. Nothing is paid in advance, in either direction. You pay the fixed fare to your chauffeur at the end of the drive, in cash (Vietnamese dong) or by Vietnamese bank transfer. Cards are not accepted.
Can we stop along the way?
Yes, though on a drive of about 1 hour 30 minutes a stop is optional. The chauffeur will pull in wherever you ask. Short comfort stops are not charged; waiting beyond the agreed schedule is charged at the hourly rates listed under What Your Fare Covers.
Do the drivers speak English?
Our chauffeurs speak everyday English, enough for pickup, stops and directions. Our English-speaking support is on WhatsApp 24/7 for anything more detailed.
What if our group is larger than eight?
On this leg an 11-seat DCar Solati (up to ten guests) or a 16-seat van (up to fifteen) can be quoted at the Executive MPV fare of 1,400,000 VND (≈ $53). Larger groups travel in two vehicles, quoted separately. Send your group size on WhatsApp and we confirm in writing.
Can we cancel?
Yes, free of charge up to 24 hours before the scheduled pickup.