From Haiphong to Cat Ba Island by Hydrofoil [Review]

If you’re looking for a way how to get from Haiphong to Cat Ba Island, you will find several options to choose from. The most convenient and fastest way for getting to Cat Ba is taking hydrofoil boat. Here’s a complete guide on getting from Haiphong to Cat Ba Island by Hydrofoil.

Important Update! The hydrofoil was moved to Got Pier on Cat Hai Island so you are taking a bus from Ben Binh Pier to Got Pier, where you board the hydrofoil to reach Cat Ba Town. For more information about current hydrofoil service availability, check the service provider's website.

For bookings of other transportation options between these destinations, check Haiphong - Cat Ba Transportation.

Hydrofoil Pier in Haiphong

We started our journey from Haiphong to Cat Ba by going to Ben Binh Pier (4 Bến Bính, Minh Khai, Hồng Bàng, Hải Phòng), the main pier in Haiphong offering boat services to Cat Ba Island. We took a taxi from our hotel in Haiphong city center to the pier and it took us less than 10 minutes to get there. Taxi fare was just 30,000 VND.

For anyone traveling to the pier by other means of transportation, we would suggest to follow Google Map to Ben Binh Pier and look for a big blue building as it is the place where the tickets for hydrofoil to Cat Ba are sold.

On the way to the pier, you will see many tour companies and ticket vendors offering tickets to Cat Ba. However, most of these companies sell tickets for traveling to Cat Ba Island another way, meaning that you will need take a bus to another pier that is closer to Cat Ba before changing to a speed boat and once again changing to a bus that runs on the island. Normally these vendors are not selling hydrofoil tickets for a direct trip to Cat Ba.

Cat Ba Island Resort & Spa Hydrofoil

There are two companies operating hydrofoils between Haiphong and Cat Ba Island. We have chosen hydrofoil offered by Cat Ba Island Resort & Spa because it is a reliable company and their boat’s departure time perfectly fitted our schedule.

Schedule of Cat Ba Island Resort & Spa Hydrofoil

Important Update! As the service was moved, the schedule was also changed. For more information about current hydrofoil service, check the service provider's website.

Haiphong - Cat Ba Island

7:00, 9:00, 13:00, 15:00

Cat Ba Island – Haiphong

8:00, 10:00, 14:00, 16:00

* The schedule is subject to change depending on the season.

The journey by hydrofoil takes about 1 hour. Hydrofoil departs from Ben Binh Pier in Haiphong and arrives at Cat Ba Pier which is located in the center of Cat Ba Town.

You should arrive at the pier 30 minutes before the scheduled time of hydrofoil departure.

Ticket Fare of Cat Ba Island Resort & Spa Hydrofoil

The ticket for a trip by hydrofoil from Haiphong to Cat Ba Island or vice versa costs 180,000-220,000 VND per person. The price of the ticket can vary depending on the season.

We bought our hydrofoil tickets at Ben Binh Pier in the blue building and we paid 180,000 VND per person. We got tickets for the hydrofoil departing from Haiphong at 13:00.

At Ben Binh Pier

There is a waiting area nearby ticket counters where you can sit and wait. Several vendors selling snacks can normally be seen around so you can stock up for your trip right in the place.

While waiting, the staff will ask you to write your name in the list of people traveling on the specific boat. Expect them to let you board the boat about 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time.

Trip by Cat Ba Island Resort & Spa Hydrofoil

The trip from Haiphong to Cat Ba by Cat Ba Island Resort & Spa Hydrofoil was quite comfortable for us even if the seats might be a little too narrow for bigger ones. The hydrofoil is air-conditioned. Anyone with a big luggage doesn’t need to worry about taking this boat as there is plenty of space for storing the luggage at the back of the boat.

There is no shop selling drinks and snacks on board. However, the trip is just one hour so it shouldn’t be a big problem. If you feel that it might be, get something from the vendors who come to sell snacks on the boat before it leaves.

On the way from Haiphong to Cat Ba you will see many sea boats and large cargo ships because Haiphong is the most important port of northern Vietnam.

Our boat made a quick stop on the way to pick up passengers from Cat Hai Island. Even with the stop, the journey by hydrofoil to Cat Ba Town, which is located in the southern part of Cat Ba Island, took only about 1 hour.

Cat Ba Pier

Cat Ba Island Resort & Spa Hydrofoil arrives at and departs from Cat Ba Pier which is located in the center of Cat Ba Town.

We have stayed at Catba Dream Hotel which is located on the opposite side of the road from Cat Ba Pier. The hotel is just one-minute walk from the hydrofoil departure/arrival point and there are a lot of restaurants, café, and tour companies nearby. It is very convenient.

If you don't want to walk far or spend money on taxi in Cat Ba, we would recommend checking for a hotel near the pier as it is very close to everything. Other hotels near the pier in Cat Ba Town that we were considering for our stay:

Catba Sunrise Hotel

Manh Vuong Hotel

Cat Ba Bay Vision Hotel