Last updated: September 23, 2026
Ninh Binh and Cat Ba are the two quiet alternatives to Hanoi and Ha Long, and the road between them avoids the capital entirely. Your chauffeur drives you to the Dong Bai ferry terminal on Cat Hai; you cross to Cai Vieng as a foot passenger and take an island taxi the last 23 km into Cat Ba town, about 35 minutes.
| Distance | 150 km |
|---|---|
| Driving time | About 3 hr, door to door |
| Price from | 1,500,000 VND (≈ $57) 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 Ninh Binh to the Cat Ba ferry gateway 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 | 1,500,000 VND (≈ $57) |
| SUV (7 seats) | up to 4 | 5 large suitcases, or 2 golf bag sets | 1,600,000 VND (≈ $61) |
| Executive MPV | 4 – 8 | Up to 7 large suitcases, reclining seats, Wi-Fi | 3,000,000 VND (≈ $115) |
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 CT04 Hanoi – Hai Phong Expressway or the shorter QL10 coastal road. Our published figure is about 150 km. Google Maps gives 144 km on the shorter QL10 coastal road and up to 180 km on the faster CT04 expressway, with 2 hr 40 min to 3 hr 10 min of pure driving depending which you take. We quote about 3 hours 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?
Ninh Binh → the Cat Ba ferry gateway
Your day does not end when the car stops. After about 3 hours to the Dong Bai terminal you still cross to Cai Vieng as a foot passenger and ride the island taxi for roughly 35 minutes into Cat Ba town. Leave Ninh Binh in the morning and the whole chain, drive, crossing and island road, fits comfortably into daylight.
the Cat Ba ferry gateway → Ninh Binh
Coming back, tell us which crossing you plan to take from Cai Vieng. The car is waiting at the Dong Bai terminal when you walk off, and Ninh Binh is about 3 hours door to door from there, on the QL10 coastal road or the CT04 expressway.
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 going from Ninh Binh to Cat Ba — without routing back through Hanoi
- Families with bags — who want the car to take them all the way to the Dong Bai ferry terminal
- Groups of four to eight — where the Executive MPV fare shares out well per person
- Guests leaving Cat Ba for Ninh Binh — who want the car already waiting at Dong Bai
- Anyone who wants the crossing in daylight — with the drive timed so the ferry is not left late
Continue Your Journey
The same car and driver can carry on to the next leg:
- Hanoi to Ninh Binh private car — the leg that usually comes before this one
- Hanoi to Cat Ba private car — the direct route from the capital to the Cat Hai gateway
- Cat Ba to Ha Long Bay — the next leg once you leave the island
- Ha Long Bay to Ninh Binh — the alternative if you are doing the bay first
- Noi Bai Airport to Ninh Binh — straight from arrivals to Ninh Binh
- Private car with driver in Ninh Binh — every fare from or to Ninh Binh on one page
- Province-to-province transfers — the full price list for every direct leg
Book Your Ninh Binh → the Cat Ba ferry gateway 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.
Ninh Binh to the Cat Ba ferry gateway: Questions Travellers Ask
How long does the drive take?
Google Maps puts the fastest car route at about 144 to 180 km and 2 hr 40 min to 3 hr 10 min of driving. We plan about 3 hours door to door to allow for pickup, stops and traffic.
Is the price per person or per vehicle?
Per vehicle. 1,500,000 VND (≈ $57) covers the SUV (5 seats), 1,600,000 VND (≈ $61) the SUV (7 seats) and 3,000,000 VND (≈ $115) the Executive MPV, however many of you travel within the seat limit.
Is the fare the same in the other direction?
Yes. The Cat Ba ferry gateway to Ninh Binh costs the same as Ninh Binh to the gateway: 1,500,000 VND (≈ $57) for the SUV (5 seats), 1,600,000 VND (≈ $61) for the SUV (7 seats) and 3,000,000 VND (≈ $115) 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. The chauffeur will stop wherever you ask on the way to Dong Bai. If you want a longer stop, say so when you book so the ferry crossing is not pushed late in the day. 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 3,000,000 VND (≈ $115). 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.