Ninh Binh to Cat Ba Island By Private Car

The Ninh Binh to Cat Ba Island Private Car route takes 192 km using CT04 and QL5B highways, taking around 2 hours and 55 minutes. It connects two of the most unique geographical features of north Vietnam into just one half day of travel. While leaving one area characterized by limestone karsts and rivers behind, you reach another area of limestone karsts and seas. There isn’t much difference in the geography, but there is a huge difference in the experience. Mui Ne Private Car provides both routes with two possible crossings: the Dong Bai ferry service (with ticket included) or Cat Ba Cable Car (with ticket purchased separately).

The expressway route is fast and straightforward. What needs to be coordinated is crossing, timing the ferry, handling the terminal, and having the other vehicle ready at the other end. This will all be coordinated for you. By the time you exit from Cai Vieng terminal, the other car will be waiting for you.

 Other routes using private cars from Ninh Binh:

• Ninh Binh to Hanoi private car
• Ninh Binh to Cao Bang private car
• Cat Ba Island to Hanoi private car
• Hanoi to Cat Ba Island private car

Traveling from Ninh Binh to Cat Ba Island

Where is Cat Ba Island located?

Cat Ba Island is the biggest island in the Ha Long Bay group, located off the shore of the province of Hai Phong. The island borders Lan Ha Bay, which, according to numerous visitors to the north of Vietnam, is the superior version of Ha Long Bay – same limestone formations, clearer water, fewer tourists, kayaking options with a sense of exploration, and all other attractions of the bay. Cat Ba Island hosts a national park covering approximately half of the island, which is home to one of the few populations of the critically endangered species of primate known as the Cat Ba langur.

The move from Ninh Binh is among the most exciting experiences on any northern Vietnam itinerary. After the peace of Tam Coc or Trang An, with its freshwater formations, river boat tours, rice terraces, you enter into an atmosphere of salt air, limestone cliffs, and an entirely different cityscape.

What far is Ninh Binh to Cat Ba Island by Private Car?

The travel distance from Ninh Binh to Cat Ba Island will take about 192 km along CT04 and QL5B Expressways, with the journey lasting for 2 hours and 55 minutes. Adding on the ferry trip (Option 1 – 25 to 30 minutes) or cable car ride (Option 2 – 30 to 45 minutes), the whole round trip will be completed within less than 4 hours starting from a morning departure from Ninh Binh.

Useful tip: There are not many ATMs in Cat Ba Island, and sometimes they can be unreliable when using foreign bank cards. Get your Vietnamese Dong at a Ninh Binh ATM or Hai Phong service station before boarding the ferry. In Cat Ba Island, most food establishments and budget hotels do not accept credit card payments.

Ninh Binh to Cat Ba Island Private Car Transfer via CT04 and QL5B

Two Route Choices - Ferry or Cable Car

Cat Ba is an island, meaning any form of transportation requires passage by water. We provide two choices; select according to your preference between convenience and adventure.

How to Book

• WhatsApp / Zalo / Viber: +84 976 694 384
• Email: muineprivatecarservice@gmail.com
• The booking form on this website

We will confirm instantly once we get your message. If you are planning to book, make sure to mention your choice of the way of crossing (ferry or cable car), pick-up address at Ninh Binh, and drop-off address at Cat Ba Island.

Types of Private Cars

• Sedan: Suitable for 1 to 2 people with normal luggage. CT04 and QL5B are both excellent highways; the route to the ferry pier is easy for sedans.
• SUV: Ideal for groups with more than 3 persons, or those who have heavy luggage due to an extended stay in Ninh Binh. SUVs offer extra boot space and a better journey experience while crossing the island after getting off the boat.
• Van 16 seats: Appropriate for a family or group of 6 or more going to Cat Ba Island together. The best choice for a group that wishes to travel as one single unit throughout their trip.
• Limousine 9 seats: Offers luxurious seats with reclining seats. An excellent vehicle for groups between 5 to 8 individuals who wish to travel in a more comfortable cabin than the regular van.

Why Choose Mui Ne Private Car?

A transfer to Cat Ba Island requires more components than a regular transfer between two cities. The highway leg of the journey is straightforward. The coordination for the ferry, the additional vehicle on the island, and your final destination point on an island where road signs are scarce—this is where the line is drawn between an excellent transfer and a poor one. This is what Mui Ne Private Car offers:

• Over 8 years experience with private transportation throughout northern Vietnam. We are familiar with port crossings and island transfers, and our expertise in the logistics involved ensures that we can drop you off at an address which is barely visible on Google Maps.
• Your driver arrives before the scheduled pickup time. The car will have its air-conditioner switched on full blast, and bottled water will be waiting on the seats for you. You exit your hotel in Ninh Binh, and hop right into the car without having to wait on the roadside.
• True door-to-door service. We will pick you up from your Ninh Binh hotel and deliver right to your Cat Ba hotel. Coordination of the second vehicle is included after the ferry crossing in Cat Ba. No breaks in our work.
• Luggage carried always. The driver collects your luggage directly from your hotel lobby in Ninh Binh. At Cat Ba delivery point, luggage will be removed from the car to your hotel entrance. Only hand luggage you like to have.
• Check for personal belongings before departure. As we leave your hotel in Cat Ba, we will do a quick check for all your belongings: your cell phone, your wallet, earphones, and your passport. It takes just 30 seconds each time but avoids a situation that is almost impossible to resolve afterwards.
• Flexible payment. In case you made an initial payment of 50%, the rest will be paid in cash directly to the driver upon your arrival. We also offer PayPal payment, bank transfer, and credit cards.
• Modern, clean, non-smoking fleet. The vehicle models range from 2023 to 2026, cleaned up prior to use. Depending on the size of your party, you can opt for sedan, medium SUV, large SUV, 16-seater van, or 9-seater limousine.
• All-inclusive transparent pricing.  Our quotations include the driver, gasoline, CT04 and QL5B highway fees, ferry ticket (Option 1), and parking charges. Any extra fee will not be added on the day of the trip. The cable car ticket (Option 2) is the exception.
• Available 24/7. Depart early in the morning to have more time on Cat Ba Island, or leave in the afternoon to arrive when the sun sets, we operate 24/7. Child seats and booster seats are available on request.

About Mui Ne Private Car

MUI NE PRIVATE CAR is a private car transportation brand owned by Minh Khoi Tourism Co., Ltd., which is a legally authorized tour operator that specializes in private car transfers throughout Vietnam with more than 8 years of experience. Starting out with a focus on the southern coastal route, it soon became a nation-wide operation with routes for highland tours in the north-western region, city-to-city transfers within different regions, ports, and airport transportation services all across the country.

And yet, one thing remains unchanged: timely pick-up, a clean and well-maintained vehicle, and a professional driver familiar with the exact route and locations of terminals, the exit point leading to a hotel, and every single detail about the destination, and not just the general route through the highway. And here is why such details matter – the driver has to be knowledgeable of the exact route, rather than the tourist taking care of their own needs. All feedback received on GetYourGuide, 12Go, Viator, and Google Maps have been made after completing their journey without anything to gain from their reviews.

How the Transfer Works

At the time of booking, give us your name, number of people, amount of luggage, your pickup point in Ninh Binh, destination address on Cat Ba Island, ferry or cable car preference, and your desired pick-up time. Information about the driver and car will be provided to you through WhatsApp by our customer service team.

Pick-Up from Ninh Binh

The driver comes to your hotel in Ninh Binh a little earlier than expected. The vehicle will already be started, with full air conditioning switched on and drinking water put in the seat for you. The driver will assist you with loading your luggage and verify the drop-off address in Cat Ba Island. In case you have an address which is not located in Cat Ba Town but outside the periphery or in some resort area, a GPS pin would be more accurate.

The scenery starts when you arrive. The car leaves Ninh Binh to travel east on the CT04 expressway. The scenery of the Red River delta unfolds as the road rises and levels off into the industrial zone around Hai Phong. The drive itself is pure, fast, and without feature – this is expressway country, after all, no place for scenery. You'll find the scenery at your destination.

Going to the Ferry or Cable Car Terminal

Option 1 (by ferry): The journey will end at the Dong Bai Ferry Terminal in Hai Phong where the terminal approach road is poorly signposted and first-timers will usually miss it; your driver will proceed directly to it. At the terminal, you will embark on the ferry and have your boarding done. You will cross by ferry and spend approximately 25-30 minutes crossing the water towards Cai Vieng Ferry Terminal located on Cat Ba Island. Open deck seats are available; on a clear day, you will see the limestone formation of Cat Ba Island around 15 minutes into the ride.

Option 2 (by cable car): The journey ends at the Cat Ba Cable Car Terminal where you can buy your tickets from the terminal and board the cable car for the aerial journey across the water. You will be spending around 30-45 minutes at this station, including boarding and disembarking time.

Arrival on Cat Ba Island

There is another private vehicle ready for you at the Cai Vieng terminal (Option 1) or at the cable car exit point (Option 2) on the Cat Ba side. The driver verifies your hotel location and drives you straight to the gate, no matter whether the hotel is located in the town center, at the beach road, or inside the island. Luggage is unloaded. Before leaving, a quick check of personal belongings: phone, purse, headphones, and anything left in the door pocket or in the back seat. It only takes half a minute, each time. If you have already made a 50% deposit during the booking process, you settle the rest now in cash, PayPal, bank transfer, or with credit/debit cards.

How to Make a Booking

Contact us through any of the following channels:

• WhatsApp / Zalo / Viber: +84 976 694 384
• Email: muineprivatecarservice@gmail.com
• Online Booking: www.muineprivatecar.net

Mui Ne Private Car Team (Sales and Customer Service)

Price List

Price is per car, not per person. Ferry ticket (Option 1) is included. Cable car ticket (Option 2) is not included. May increase during Vietnamese Public Holidays and peak season. Contact us via WhatsApp to confirm pricing for your travel date.

Inclusion

• Door-to-door private car transfer (both legs including second vehicle on Cat Ba Island)
• Experienced driver on CT04 and QL5B expressways
• Ferry ticket (Option 1), approximately 12,000 VND per person
• Bottled water and wet tissue
• CT04 and QL5B expressway tolls, parking fees, and fuel
• Luggage assistance at pickup and drop-off

Exclusion

• Cable car ticket (Option 2), purchased separately at terminal
• Meals and personal expenses
• Tips for the driver (optional)

Children Policy

• The price is per car, not per person.
• Children of all ages are welcome.
• Baby and booster seats available on request, provide your child's age at booking.

Customer Reviews

Feedback from our travelers using Mui Ne Private Car Service

Travel Notes

• Confirm your crossing option (ferry or cable car) at booking, not on the day: the two options require different terminal routes from the expressway. Last-minute changes are difficult to accommodate. Choose at booking and we plan the route accordingly.
• Withdraw cash money before to your departure from Ninh Binh: the ATM machines in Cat Ba Island are limited and may not accept foreign cards. Make sure to withdraw Vietnamese Dong money either in Ninh Binh or the rest stop on the expressway before the ferry ride. The use of cash money is still prevalent in Cat Ba Island restaurants, taxis, and budget hotels.
• An 8 AM departure from Ninh Binh means that you will be in Cat Ba Island by lunchtime: there’s enough time for hotel registration, a stroll to Cannon Fort for your afternoon view, and even watching the sunset from the beach road.
• Please provide the exact address of your hotel on Cat Ba Island, as this area may be difficult to find in resort areas on the island's coastline without an address or GPS coordinates. Confirm the drop-off details at booking.
• The cable car ticket prices depend on season; for Option 2, the price is not yet determined and will change depending on which time of year you travel. We can give you an estimate based on previous experience but cannot book your ticket in advance.
• Cat Ba accommodation fills fast in peak season: July, August, and the September to October Lan Ha Bay season see the island at near capacity. Book your Cat Ba hotel before booking this transfer if your dates fall in these windows.

Cancellation Policy

• Free cancellation: Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund.
• 50% fee: Cancellation within 24 hours of scheduled departure.
• No refund: No-show without prior notice.

Frequently Asked Questions