Sapa to Cat Ba Bus: Price & Schedule

Both Sapa and Cat Ba Island are muse-visit places in the north of Vietnam. They are about 450 km distant and it is not difficult to find many ways to go from Sapa to Cat Ba Island such as by bus, by train, on foot or swimming (if you are ready). Check the article for the busway with the latest price and schedule.

You may see in my table of contents the way to get from Sapa to Cat Ba. There are some companies providing direct bus, which connects Sapa and Cat Ba Island. We will also check the combined buses between Sapa – Hanoi, and Hanoi – Cat Ba Island. Both of them are useful for your experience and they have their pros and cons.

Type of buses from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island

The direct bus goes straight ahead from Sapa to Cat Ba Island and it takes you 11 hours on the bus. Good morning Cat Ba, Group tour and Cat Ba Discovery support this itinerary. They normally use a 45 - sleeper bus for the direct bus, which is equipped with AC, free wifi and water, a clean and comfortable bed, smooth blanket, big space for legroom, and English Speaking tour guide.

The second option seems to be more expensive because we travel on 2 buses. For both Sapa – Hanoi, and Hanoi – Cat Ba Island way, 9 seaters, 29 seaters, 35 seater,s, and 45 seater buses are used, depending on ticket fee and quantity of guests. Buses are also equipped with AC, wifi, water, blanket, bed/seat, tour guide, which is the same as the direct bus.

Travel method	Ticket fee	Duration
Direct bus	21 - 25 USD	11 hours
Connect Buses	23 - 42 USD	13 hours

 

Sapa to Cat Ba Bus schedule & price

Sapa to Cat Ba Island direct bus

• Duration: 11 hours
• Price: 21 – 25 USD

In this way, the bus company will pick you up at your hotel in Sapa town and drop you off at your hotel in Cat Ba Island. You should take the bus which leaves in the evening (20:00 pm, 20:30 pm, 21: 00 pm). In this way, you can sleep on the bus, recharge your energy and say “hello” to Cat Ba Island in the early morning of the next day.

Bus company	Departure time	Arrival time	Ticket fee
Group tour	8:00	18:30	25 USD
	20:30	7:00 (Date + 1)
Cat Ba Discovery	8:30	18:30	22 USD
	20:00	7:30 (Date + 1)
Good morning Cat Ba	21:00	7:30 (Date + 1)	25 USD

Pros and cons of going from Sapa to Cat Ba Island by direct bus

Pros:

• You save time and money.
• You do not have to be on a tough plan to arrange the next transportation method or you have to rush at chasing the bus/ train.
• Your luggage is safe in the storage area, you do not have to move it from time to time.

Cons:

The bus schedules to stop on the way, therefore, if the bus stops and other people are moving around, which may disturb you while you are sleeping.

Sapa to Cat Ba direct bus

 

Sapa to Cat Ba connecting bus

Schedule	Ticket fee	Duration
Sapa to Hanoi	12 - 28 USD	6 hours
Hanoi to Cat Ba	11 - 14 USD	3.5 hours

In this way, you use 2 different buses for your trip from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island. Firstly, you catch the bus from Sapa to Hanoi, which will pick you up at your hotel or their office in Sapa town and drop you off at your hotel or their office in Hanoi Old Quarter. However, the overnight bus always drops you off at the bus office because it arrives at about 4 am. Secondly, you catch the bus from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island. They always offer to pick up and drop off at your hotel.

Check the lists of bus companies for both Sapa to Hanoi and Hanoi to Cat Ba Island.

Bus from Sapa to Hanoi

Starting from Sapa town, the bus will pick you up from their office. Some offer to pick you up at your hotel, then they drive you through the Highway to Hanoi. Check the table below for details.

Bus company	Kind of bus	Departure time	Ticket fee	Pick up point	Drop off point	Duration
Green Bus	35 soft sleeper bus	8:00, 13:30, 16:00, 22:00	14 USD	No. 618, Dien Bien Phu street	No. 30, Hang Muoi street or your hotel	6 hours
	luxury limousine bus	15:00	15 USD
Fansipan Express	35 soft sleeper bus	7:30, 13:20, 16:00, 22:00	15 USD	No. 590, Dien Bien Phu street	No. 41, Luong Van Can or your hotel
	20 vip cabin bus	7:30, 13:30, 16:00, 22:00	28 USD
Sapa Express	16 seater bus	7:00	18 USD	No. 6, Vuon Treo Sapa street	No. 70C, Nguyen Huu Huan street or your hotel
	28 seater bus	14:30	16 USD
	38 seater bus	14:00, 15:00	12 USD
Green lion bus	Dcar limousine bus	15:00	25 USD	your hotel in Sapa	your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter	5.5 hours

 

Soon, you arrive at Hanoi Old Quarter after about a 6-hour journey. They drop you off at their office at the table. Some offer to drop guests at hotels. Besides, you should remember that the overnight bus always drops you at their office because of early morning arrival.

 

Bus from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island

Bus company	Kind of bus	Departure time	Ticket fee	Duration	Pick up point	Drop off point
Cat Ba Express	29 & 35 seater bus	8:00, 11:00	11 USD	3.5 hours	Hanoi Old Quater	Cat Ba town
Goodmorning Cat Ba	35 seater bus	7:30, 10:30, 14:00	14 USD	3.5 hours
Cat Ba Discovery	29 & 45 seater bus with local ferry	7:45, 9:30, 12:00, 14:30	12.5 USD	4 hours
	29 & 45 seater bus with speedboat	7:40, 10:30, 14:00	14 USD	3.5 hours
Hoang Long bus	9 seater limousine bus	8:00, 10:00, 13:30	13 USD	3.5 hours

 

The bus from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island will pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter, then runs through Hanoi – Haiphong Expressway to Got Ferry. At the ferry station, you will travel by local Cat Ba Ferry or speedboat. Going on a local ferry or speedboat depends on the bus company. The local ferry costs your 30 minutes to Cat Ba Island while the speedboat is faster with only 10 minutes on the way. Almost all bus companies offer the speedboat option, however, Cat Ba Discover provides 2 options between local ferry and speedboat. Consider between the view and the time to choose the right company. In total, it takes you from 3.5 hours to 4 hours for Hanoi – Cat Ba Island by bus. The bus company will drop you off at your hotel or nearby place (within walking distance).

Hanoi to Cat Ba Bus

Pros and cons

Pros

Cons

The time is very flexible and you can plan the trip yourself. You will see a very lovely quiet Hanoi in the morning time if you choose the overnight bus. Enjoy the fresh air and take some pics of Hanoi without vehicles but only the romantic yellow light on the 1000-year-old street. If you are keen on Pho, a bowl at breakfast is a good choice at that time.

It costs more money (USD 42 for the luxury option in comparison to USD 25 for the most expensive direct bus). You spend the same time on the bus, but you lose time for transition and wait for the next trip. The first bus from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island starts at 7: 00 am, therefore, you plan to go to your hotel at 11: 00 am. 2 buses are used which makes you have to move your luggage from the bus to bus. Choosing the rest point in Hanoi costs more money for a taxi or room for a short rest.

 

Local tips for your best trip from Sapa to Cat Ba Island

Book in advance: You should reserve your booking in advance in case the tickets are sold out. The bus hardly delays, therefore, do not worry about missing the next bus. The best itinerary is that you travel on the overnight bus from Sapa to Hanoi, then take the earliest bus from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island at 7:00 am to save your time of traveling. Besides, check the good options such as the luxury cabin bus for your best comfort and less tiring.

Keep in touch with your hotel: You will come back to Hanoi to catch the bus from here to Cat Ba Island. Message your hotel about your arrival to check if you can have a room for having a shower or taking a nap. Some hotels are willing to offer free breakfast and a dormitory bed or a room for you if they are available.

Book a tour/ bus with a travel agency: You will get some offers and discounts from your hotel or travel agency if you reserve for a bus or Vietnam package tour such as free airport drop-off service and go on. They do it for their reputation and your reviews will help you welcome more guests. Remember to choose a trusted company to never throw your money into the trash box.

Above are some useful tips for your traveling. Hope it will help you find a way to get from Sapa to Cat Ba Island. Do not forget to check with BestPrice Travel for a good deal today. Enjoy your time.

Mr. River

Image source: Internet