Distance 317 km (198.1 miles) | |
Price range US$18-US$35 | |
Ride Duration Range 9h 30m-13h | |
Earliest Departure 23:50 | |
Latest Departure 23:52 | |
Most Popular Operator |
Find up-to-date information on departure times, schedules, and prices so you can easily compare and book your tickets.
Fastest bus: 9h 30m
Cheapest bus: US$18
To get to the wonderfully rugged landscapes of Ha Giang, right up in the north of Vietnam, you're going to be traveling through some relatively uncharted territory. Only until recently this border town was considered pretty much inaccessible to tour groups.
Now, however, you can get there without too much trouble at all. Minivans and sleeper buses regularly make the route north filled with eager, wide-eyed travelers looking for real life away from the busier tourist hot spots.
One particular route north takes you from Cat Ba Island to Ha Giang. This also requires an hour's ferry from Cat Ba to the mainland before continuing overland from Binh port in Hai Phong. The whole trip to Ha Giang from Cat Ba Island takes around 14 hours and 30 minutes.
The distance in the air is 314 kilometers (195 miles). However, as there are currently no flight paths in this direction, a combination ferry and bus ticket is your only option. Although this doesn't seem all that far, the remote nature of north Vietnam makes this trip a long and winding proposition.
Firstly, the ride from Cat Ba Island to the mainland is pretty straightforward. It's more like a speedboat rather than a ferry. Spaces are limited so make sure you arrive in good time before departure. Due to the size of the boat, conditions can get choppy. Seasickness sufferers, take note.
Don't expect many facilities on the speedboat from Cat Ba Island to Ha Giang. There may be a small one-person bathroom on board but not much else. It's a safe ride but can be cramped.
Once you board the bus from Cat Ba Island you'll have plenty of time to stretch out and relax. Buses are air-conditioned and extremely comfortable. Minivans are also very comfortable. Seating either reclines partially or, if you're on a sleeper bus, goes right the way back to form a bed space.
Buses have onboard washrooms. WiFi is also available in certain areas although it's not so good the closer you get to Ha Giang. Blankets are often provided to keep you cozy whilst the air conditioning is on (although you might want to pack a warm sweater and socks, just in case).
As it's a long distance route from Cat Ba Island to Ha Giang you should expect several stops along the way. This is good for drivers to keep refreshed and also provides an opportunity to purchase provisions or a hot meal mid-way through the 14 hour journey.
As you'll be traveling through the night you'll be saving your Vietnamese Dong for something other than accommodation. Sleeper buses are a great way to catch some shut eye and recharge your batteries. There will be some chatting but after lights out most folk tend to fall asleep quite quickly.
The route from Cat Ba Island to Ha Giang can be really scenic. Leaving Cat Ba and heading to Hai Phong on the mainland is arguably the best part of the trip. This is where you'll whizz by the limestone karst rock formations glistening above the water around Ha Long Bay.
It can be quite a busy sea faring channel, especially as you get closer to the mainland. It's only 50 kilometers (31 miles) shore to shore.
Most speedboat ferries from Cat Ba Island to Ha Giang tend to leave in the late afternoon. This means you'll be boarding your sleeper bus late afternoon or even early in the evening. Most street stalls and night markets will be starting to put their lights on around this time of the day.
Watching out your window as hawkers and stall holders welcome the evening trade as the sun goes down is great to see. As the rest of the journey is made more or less in the dark, it makes for an interesting start to your overland adventure. Well, until you reach the mountains.
Ha Giang is right up in the north of Vietnam, on the border with China. As you wake, hopefully from a good night's sleep, you might be lucky enough to see the sun rising over the mountains. It's a great feeling to know that your journey's almost over but the adventure is just beginning.
Many tribal groups live on the densely forested mountain slopes of north Vietnam. Keep an eye out for spirals of smoke from village campfires whistling above the treetops. It's up to your imagination to wonder what's happening down on the ground. You might well find out in the next few days.
Taking a ferry/bus
Combining speedboat ferry and sleeper bus tickets is the best way to get to Ha Giang from Cat Ba Island. The price per person is a very affordable $27. When you think this is taking you 314 kilometers (195 miles) in 14 and a half hours, that's pretty good value.
Speedboat ferries are slightly cramped so make sure you arrive early at the pier to bag the best spot next to the window. Buses are a lot more comfortable and are fully-equipped with washrooms, air conditioning and semi-reclining or fully reclining seats.
Some buses might also have a small basket to buy food and bottled drinks. It's always a good idea, however, to purchase some provisions before you set off from the island. Departures are usually around 4:00 pm so you'll have plenty of time to visit the local market before you leave.
The most popular way to get from Cat Ba to Ha Giang is on board the sleeping bus and ferry that's organized by Ket Doan. The combination ticket makes it really easy to travel and there's little if any waiting around for connections along the way.
Based on 1067 reviews from Bookaway users who traveled from Cat Ba Island to Ha Giang
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