Cat Ba, Vietnam, is a stunning island destination known for its lush forests, dramatic limestone mountains, secluded beaches, and emerald waters. Located in northern Vietnam, Cat Ba is the largest island in the Cat Ba Archipelago and offers a wonderful combination of natural beauty, outdoor adventure, and rich biodiversity. In 2023, the Cat Ba Archipelago was added to the UNESCO World Heritage property.Cat Ba’s landscape is millions of years old. Its distinctive limestone formations have been shaped by geological processes and erosion over extremely long periods.Cat Ba is home to the Cat Ba langur, a critically endangered primate found nowhere else in the world.
This article is a continuation of my previous article “Vietnam: A Journey Through Halong–Cat Ba, Hanoi and Ninh Binh ” In which I had recommended the Noi Bai International Airport → Hanoi → Ninh Binh → Ha Long → Cat Ba route, Hence you will get the Vietnam Visa procedure and details about Hanoi, Ninh Binh and Ha Long bay by visiting my previous article.
Location
📍 Google Maps: Cat Ba Island – Google Maps
Cát Bà is an island, so there is no road bridge connecting it directly to mainland Vietnam.
To Go from Ninh Binh to Cat Ba island you can rent a car from Noi Bai International Airport and drive it yourself to Cat ba.And then return by the same route after you finish your stay in Cat Ba.
🎥 Want to see what the journey to Cat Ba Island actually looks like? Watch my YouTube video below and join me as I explore the scenic route, beautiful landscapes and breathtaking coastal views of Cat Ba!
Important Note
You can drive a rental car from Ninh Binh all the way to Cát Bà, including taking the car onto the ferry. The key is to use the Đồng Bài → Cái Viềng car ferry, not a passenger-only boat.
There is one important caveat: before renting from DiscoverCars, confirm in writing that the rental company allows the vehicle to be taken to Cát Bà and transported on a ferry. Some rental agreements restrict taking cars onto ferries or outside the mainland.
Restrictions imposed on taking Car in a Ferry during certain periods of the year.
The major 2026 restriction on cars crossing to Cát Bà applies during the summer period. The Hải Phòng government announcement says that car/truck transport toward Cát Bà is suspended from 09:00–13:00 on weekends from May 9 through September 30, 2026.
The current published ferry schedule has departures throughout the day, although schedules can change, so I’d still check the schedule shortly before travelling.
🚗 The route I’d recommend
Ninh Binh/Tam Coc → Hai Phong → Cat Hai → Đồng Bài Ferry Terminal → Cái Viềng Ferry Terminal → Cát Bà Town → Flamingo Resort Cát Bà
The route is approximately 145–160 km, depending on where you start in Ninh Binh, and I’d allow 4–5 hours including the ferry and stops.
Step 1 — Ninh Binh → Hai Phong
From Ninh Binh, drive northeast toward Nam Định → Thái Bình → Hải Phòng.
The navigation route should roughly be:
Ninh Binh → Nam Định → Thái Bình → Hải Phòng → Tân Vũ–Lạch Huyện Bridge → Cát Hải
The important part is that you want to reach Cát Hải Island, where the Đồng Bài ferry terminal is located.
Once you’re approaching Hải Phòng, follow signs for:
Cát Hải / Cát Bà / Bến phà Đồng Bài
Don’t navigate to the old Gót Ferry Terminal. The current vehicle ferry operation is at Đồng Bài.
Step 2 — Cross the Tân Vũ–Lạch Huyện bridge
This is actually quite a nice part of the drive.
You’ll cross the large Tân Vũ–Lạch Huyện sea-crossing bridge, connecting the mainland/Hải Phòng area with Cát Hải Island.
After leaving the bridge, continue toward Đồng Bài Ferry Terminal.
Step 3 — Arrive at Đồng Bài Ferry Terminal
This is the important place:
Bến phà Đồng Bài (Đồng Bài Ferry Terminal)
Cát Hải, Hải Phòng
The ferry route is:
Đồng Bài → Cái Viềng
Cái Viềng is on Cát Bà Island
Where do you buy the ticket?
You don’t need to buy it online.
Drive your rental car into the Đồng Bài ferry terminal and follow the vehicle queue/signs for Cát Bà.
The ferry tickets are sold at the terminal. Current 2026 information says there is no advance booking system for the regular ferry, and cash is accepted; QR payment is also reported to be available.
⛴️ Step 4 — Put your rental car on the ferry
This is the nice part: you stay with the car.
You don’t park the rental car and take a separate passenger ferry.
You queue with the cars, pay the vehicle/passenger fare, drive onto the ferry, park as instructed, and get out of the car during the crossing if required.
The crossing is short — roughly 10–20 minutes.
Then you drive off at:
Cái Viềng Ferry Terminal — Cát Bà Island
Step 5 — Cái Viềng → Cát Bà Town
Once you’re off the ferry, you’re on Cát Bà Island.
There is a proper road from Cái Viềng to Cát Bà Town. The drive is roughly 25 km and takes around 40–50 minutes, depending on traffic.
The road is actually quite scenic, running through the island’s forested/rocky landscape.
Your route is essentially:
Cái Viềng → Trân Châu → Cát Bà Town
Then follow your navigation to Flamingo Cát Bà Resort.
ACCOMODATION
I stayed in Flamingo Cát Bà Resort Managed by Flamingo Hotels & Resorts and found it very good. Let me tell you why I am recommending this hotel for your stay in Cat Ba.
Flamingo Cát Bà Resort is a large beachfront resort located on Cat Co Beach in Cát Bà, Vietnam, offering a combination of sea views, direct beach access, resort facilities and easy access to the attractions of Cát Bà Island. It is particularly suited to travellers who want their hotel to be part of the holiday experience rather than simply somewhere to sleep.
The resort’s biggest attraction is undoubtedly its location. It sits directly by the beach, with many rooms offering balconies and sea views.
Location
The resort is situated at Cat Co Beach, close to the main beaches and attractions of Cát Bà. This gives guests the advantage of being able to enjoy the beach without needing to travel far from the hotel.
The location is especially appealing for a short island getaway. Guests can combine time at the beach and resort with sightseeing around Cát Bà, including attractions such as Cannon Fort and Ben Beo Harbour. The surrounding scenery of limestone islands, ocean and forested hills is one of the strongest reasons to choose Cát Bà in the first place.
Rooms and Views
The resort offers a range of accommodation, including family rooms and rooms with balconies and sea views. The rooms are generally designed around the resort’s biggest selling point: allowing guests to enjoy the surrounding coastal scenery from the property itself.
Recent Booking.com reviews frequently highlight the views, spacious rooms, comfortable beds and balconies.
If you are choosing between room categories, I would pay particular attention to whether the room specifically states sea/ocean view. The view is a significant part of what makes the resort worthwhile, so it may be worth paying a little more for the better-facing room if the price difference is reasonable.
Facilities
Flamingo Cát Bà is much more of a full-service resort than a basic hotel. Facilities listed by Booking.com include:
- Indoor swimming pool
- Beachfront access
- Spa and wellness centre
- Fitness centre
- Games room
- Family rooms
- Restaurant and bar
- Room service
- Free Wi-Fi
- Free private parking
- 24-hour front desk
- Tour desk
Swimming Pool and Beach
The beach is one of the resort’s strongest features. The property has direct access to Cat Co Beach, while the surrounding coastline provides the dramatic island scenery that Cát Bà is known for.
For a family travelling with a child, this is particularly useful because there are options for relaxing at the resort even when you don’t want to organise another excursion.
Food and Breakfast
Breakfast is offered in buffet style, with Booking.com listing continental and American options as well as other breakfast choices. The resort’s restaurant offers a broad selection of cuisines, including Vietnamese, seafood, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Indian and American dishes. Vegetarian, vegan, halal and gluten-free options are also listed.
