Hanoi to Cat Ba Island Without the Chaos
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When you’re traveling long-term with little kids, every travel day has to pass the is-this-worth-it? test. For us, the trip from Hanoi to Cat Ba needed to hit a few non-negotiables: affordable, kid-friendly, no chaos, and ideally—some chill built in.
We knew we wanted to see the legendary limestone cliffs and emerald water you always hear about when someone mentions Ha Long Bay. It’s one of Vietnam’s most iconic destinations for a reason. But after looking at prices for overnight cruises—with two young kids in tow, no less—we realized it just didn’t make sense for us.
A typical 1-night Ha Long Bay cruise for a family of four can run $300–$500 USD depending on the company, season, and cabin type. And while the experience is beautiful, it’s also heavily touristed and honestly not ideal for toddlers who may or may not enjoy being stuck on a boat.
So we pivoted. Hard.
I started researching other ways to experience the bay—same scenery, fewer people, and ideally, more time. That’s when I stumbled on Cat Ba Island.
Cat Ba is the largest island in Lan Ha Bay, which borders Ha Long Bay and shares the same dramatic scenery: think towering limestone karsts, hidden coves, and jade-colored water. In fact, most people wouldn’t be able to tell where Ha Long ends and Lan Ha begins—and on many boat tours, you’re cruising through both without even realizing it.
The real kicker? Cat Ba is more affordable, way less touristy, and perfect for families who want to take it slow. It gives you access to Lan Ha Bay cruises, plus time on the island to explore beaches, hikes, and local food without the cruise markup.
There weren’t many families blogging about it, but the ones who did made it clear it was doable. And after mapping it out (hello, Type A researcher here), we decided: we’re doing this.
If you’re a family trying to figure out the best way to go from Hanoi to Cat Ba—without losing your mind or your budget—this post has you covered. I’ll walk you through exactly how we did it, what to expect with little kids, and tips I wish someone had told me before we left.
Why We Chose Cat Ba Over Ha Long Bay
Originally, Ha Long Bay was the plan. It’s the one you always hear about, right? But the cost of staying on a boat overnight (especially with kids who may or may not sleep through the night) just didn’t feel worth it.
When I started doing research, I stumbled across a few low-key blogs and reviews talking about Cat Ba Island. It turns out, you can get the same magical scenery without dropping hundreds on a fancy cruise. Plus, Cat Ba gives you access to Lan Ha Bay, which is literally right next to Ha Long Bay—and way less touristy.
That was all we needed to hear.
All the Ways to Get from Hanoi to Cat Ba (And What We Chose)
When I say I looked into every possible way to get from Hanoi to Cat Ba, I really mean it. We’re traveling long-term with two kids, so figuring out the easiest, most affordable, and least chaotic option was non-negotiable. I wasn’t about to gamble on a random route and end up dragging bags and tired toddlers across multiple transfer points. Here’s what we found—and what we actually did.
Private Car
You can book a private car to take you straight from Hanoi to the ferry port near Hai Phong, and then get picked up again on the other side of the island. It’s flexible and comfortable, but it’s pricey. Most quotes we saw were between $75 and $120 USD one-way. And that doesn’t even include the ferry ticket or the van on the Cat Ba side.
We ruled this out quickly. It just didn’t make sense for our budget, especially when we knew we still had to coordinate a ferry and onward ride once we got there.
Train + Ferry + Shuttle
The train ride from Hanoi to Hai Phong is scenic and cheap (a few bucks per person), and I actually thought about doing this because I love train travel. But with kids, bags, and the fact that you still have to line up a ferry and a second shuttle on the other end—it felt like too many moving parts.
If you’re traveling light or solo, it might be fun. For us? Too much effort for what’s supposed to be a chill destination.
Combo Bus + Ferry Tickets
This is where things started to make sense. Several companies offer combo tickets that include a bus from Hanoi to the ferry terminal, the ferry ride itself, and then a second bus to your hotel or town on Cat Ba. I looked at options like Good Morning Cat Ba, Cat Ba Express, and Daiichi Travel. They all run slightly different routes and prices depending on whether you go with a big public bus or one of the smaller “limousine” vans.
Most combo tickets cost between $10–20 USD per adult. Some include hotel pickup, others require you to get to a central meeting point. Either way, the idea of not having to figure out every step ourselves? Huge win.
Cruise Transfers
If you’re planning to do an overnight or day cruise in Ha Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay, some companies will pick you up in Hanoi and take you straight to the boat. That’s great if you’re only doing the cruise. But we weren’t. We wanted to stay on Cat Ba Island, explore the area, and take our time. So paying cruise prices to get to the same destination didn’t make sense.
Minivan Shuttle (What We Chose)
After looking at all the options, we ended up booking a limousine-style minivan through a local tour office, Daiichi Travel. Don’t let the name fool you—it’s not an actual limo, but it was a very clean and comfortable van with big reclining seats, AC, and USB ports. Only about 10–15 people total.
Here’s how it went down:
- We were picked up from our Airbnb in Hanoi right at our front door
- Stopped at a rest station halfway—clean bathrooms, snacks, and time to stretch
- Rode to Got Pier, the ferry terminal outside Hai Phong
- Waited at the ferry dock for about 10 minutes
- Loaded onto the ferry (bags in a pile, sit up front)
- Crossed the water in about 8-10 minutes
- Got picked up on the other side by another van, same setup, and dropped off right at our hotel on Cat Ba
The whole thing took about 3.5 hours door-to-door and cost us roughly $14 USD per adult. Kids under 4 are usually free, but always double check with the company when booking.
The reason this worked so well for us? Everything was handled. We didn’t have to get a Grab to a station, we didn’t have to figure out the ferry schedule, and we weren’t searching for a taxi on the other side. It was all set up.
One thing to know: if you’re planning to use a car seat, check with the company ahead of time. Ours didn’t have a proper anchor setup, and we couldn’t install our two-year-old’s seat the way we usually do. The ride was safe and smooth, but it’s something I’d flag next time just to be sure.
What to Pack for the Journey with Kids
- Tablet or iPad: We had Netflix and Disney+ shows downloaded ahead of time.
- Snacks: We bought ours locally at the rest stop—glazed sticky rice and roasted nuts were a hit.
- Books + comfort toys: We travel long-term, so our kids have a “mini toy library” we rotate.
We didn’t bring anything fancy—just the essentials. You’ll be sitting for a while, but it’s not grueling. Check out our minimalist packing blog post.
Best Time to Travel from Hanoi to Cat Ba
We went in mid-April, right before the high season starts. It was ideal—cool enough to be comfortable, not too crowded, and still calm.
Here’s what we learned:
- Avoid peak summer months (June–August) if you don’t love crowds. The island’s getting more popular by the day.
- Shoulder season (April–May or September–October) is your best bet for good weather and low prices.
- Watch for typhoons in September—we heard about a big one in 2024 that left lingering impact with trash in the water and along the beach.
What It’s Like Arriving on Cat Ba with Kids
After the ferry ride and second shuttle, we arrived right at our hotel without any confusion. The whole handoff was surprisingly smooth—drivers knew who we were, helped with bags, and didn’t seem flustered by the fact that we had two young kids in tow.
There were no Grab cars available on the island, so keep that in mind. Most transport is by local taxi, and your hotel can usually call one for you.
Where We Stayed: Outside the City (and Why That Was Perfect)
We didn’t stay in Cat Ba Town itself—it’s busy, a little chaotic, and clearly going through a building boom. There are construction sites going up right on the shoreline, and it just didn’t feel right for us.
Instead, we stayed outside of town, backed up against the mountains with a view of a small family farm. Our hotel had a play area, pool, and big clean rooms, and the staff were lovely. Super family-friendly.
You can find out more in my other post: Things to Do on Cat Ba Island with Kids.
Food on the Journey (And on the Island)
You won’t starve, promise.
- Rest stop snacks: sticky rice, boiled peanuts, fresh fruit
- Once we arrived, we grabbed local fruit and easy meals from the hotel’s restaurant
- There are small shops even outside of town—just don’t expect big supermarkets
Even with picky eaters, we were fine.
Was It Worth It? 100% Yes.
The Hanoi to Cat Ba journey was one of the smoothest travel days we’ve had as a family. And we’ve had a lot of travel days.
The combo shuttle-ferry-shuttle setup felt like a well-oiled machine. It was affordable, safe, and didn’t require any last-minute juggling. We got to see the beauty of the bay without the Ha Long Bay price tag. And the island? Peaceful, adventurous, and full of hidden gems.
Quick Tips for Making It Even Easier
- Choose the limo bus option—not the big city bus
- Book directly with a transport company or your hotel
- Bring a car seat if it’s important to you (check with the company first about setup)
- Stay outside of Cat Ba Town if you want quiet and family vibes
- Use shoulder season for the best balance of price and calm
