Facts about the bus from Sapa to Cat Ba
| Cheapest Bus | $11 |
| Fastest Bus | 11h 5m |
| Earliest Bus | 8:45 PM |
| Latest Bus | 9:40 PM |
| Daily Bus Routes | 2 |
| Distance | 392 kilometers |
| Bus Companies | Cua Ong Limousine, Good Morning Cat Ba Bus, Laman Express |
Buses from Sapa to Cat Ba
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Sapa to Cat Ba Destination Reviews
F
Frederic Bus was very old and bed were very narrow. No toilet inside the bus and never were we informed when we could have access to toilet. And we had to transfer in another bus early in the morning.
Sapa to Cat Ba, Bus VIP 34, Sapa Ethnic Travel (Công Ty TNHH Một Thành Viên Du Lịch Thiểu Số), Dec 18, 2025
FC
Frida CThey did not drop us off at tha right point in cat ba, my bed was broken an leaning to the side. The drivers were yelling and talking to each other which made it impossible to sleep.
Sapa to Cat Ba, Bus Cabin 24, Sapa Ethnic Travel (Công Ty TNHH Một Thành Viên Du Lịch Thiểu Số), Nov 29, 2025
MH
Manon HI strongly advise against taking the 10 PM night bus from Sapa to Cat Ba! It departed Cat Ba at 11 PM and arrived in Hanoi at 4:30 AM. The bus station was closed, forcing me to wait outside in the street until 6:30 AM when it reopened. The bus finally arrived at 7:50 AM.
Once in Cat Ba, some people were dropped off at their hotels for free, while others had to pay 10,000 VND per person for a one-minute ride (it wasn't mentioned anywhere that this fare was charged).
Sapa to Cat Ba, Bus VIP Sleeper, Good Morning Cat Ba Bus (Good Morning Cat ba), Nov 21, 2025
W
Willi Bus was 1 hour too late and the personal was quite a bit unprofessionell. There was no pick up and drop off service. Moreover the bis also did not have wifi and it was way too cold inside. The personal also cobstanly opend pur cabins and woke us every 1 hour at every stop.
Sapa to Cat Ba, Bus VIP 20, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), Nov 16, 2025
WC
Wan CGood service by the operator
Sapa to Cat Ba, Bus VIP24 + Express Bus, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), Nov 14, 2025
K
Kelly When we arrived at the bus station in Sa Pa where we were told to be by 7:40 a.m. to board the 8 am HT Travel Bus to Hai Phong, there was no one present to speak with. I messaged through Whats App that we had arrived, and also to make sure we were in the right place. We weren't told until I messaged again at 8:30 am, which was 30 minutes after the bus was due to depart, that the bus had broke down and a van was coming to take us to Lao Cai to catch another bus. The first SUV arrived with room for only one person, but not enough room for us and our luggage. Then, finally, another car came and we left at 9:20 to drive 25 km to Lao Cai. All of this time there wasn't someone to speak with in person. Very poor customer service! The bus was there on the side of the road waiting for us. Then, an hour and a half before reaching our destination in Hai Phong, the bus ran out of gas! The bus was not as clean as other cabin busses we have used in Vietnam. We will never use HT Bus Travel!
Sapa to Cat Ba, Bus Royal Cabin, HT Travel, Nov 8, 2025
FD
Fanny DThe drive was correct but we were not informed that there was no toilet on the bus, the usb-chargers did’t work and a lot of passengers were not dropped at the place they asked when they booked. I had to pay a driver to get be back 6km to my homestay.
Sapa to Cat Ba, Bus VIP 20, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), Nov 7, 2025
SA
Summer AOn time pick up time from meeting point. Good Services from driver and good facilities in the bus. There are 3 point charging pot in the cabin, 2 type B & 1 type C. Unfortunately, I don't know how to operate the television at that time, but the charging pot was depend on the television electricity and the other pot depend on the sleep lamp electricity. There is a toilet inside the bus, clean and smell good, there is simple amenities too like tissues & hand soap, water flash and wash hand too. Very recommended for long day trip
Sapa to Cat Ba, Bus VIP 34, Sapa Ethnic Travel (Công Ty TNHH Một Thành Viên Du Lịch Thiểu Số), Nov 4, 2025
JP
Jakub PThe driver was smoking in the bus, it smelled bad, and at night they moved us to another bus that was dirty. There were crumbs and trash in the bed. The drivers don’t speak English and they shout. You can’t sleep at night — the worst trip of the whole stay.
Sapa to Cat Ba, Bus VIP 34, Sapa Ethnic Travel (Công Ty TNHH Một Thành Viên Du Lịch Thiểu Số), Nov 2, 2025
MB
Markus BBus was von time. Beds were not really clean. Stops for toilets were unclear
Sapa to Cat Ba, Bus VIP 20, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), Nov 2, 2025
Sapa to Cat Ba Bus Schedule
| Operator | Class | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Daiichi Travel Tours | VIP 22 | 07:00 | 17:00 | $24.68 | |
Daiichi Travel Tours | VIP 22 | 21:30 | 07:30 | $24.68 | |
Daiichi Travel Tours | VIP 22 | 22:30 | 08:30 | $24.68 | |
Daiichi Travel Tours | VIP 22 | 23:00 | 09:00 | $24.68 |
How to get from Sapa to Cat Ba, bus by bus
Bus travel remains one of the most affordable and convenient ways to travel between many destinations. Getting from Sapa to Cat Ba, bus by bus may not be the fastest way of travel, yet many travellers prefer to rely on the bus on this route; with easy online booking and tickets of different classes for all tastes and budgets available, the bus from Sapa to Cat Ba, bus a conscious and budget-friendly option.
Check the timetable before you book your ticket and read other travellers’ reviews to choose the trip that suits you best. Note that there may be several bus terminals at your departure or arrival point – always double-check where you are leaving from and arriving to. It may prove crucial if you have connecting trips.
Here is the list of operators serving the route: .
How far is Sapa from Cat Ba, bus?
If travelling by bus, you will cover the distance of 392 km between Sapa and Cat Ba, bus.
How long does it take to get from Sapa to Cat Ba, bus by bus?
Buses normally need between 11h 15m and 11h 15m hours to get to Cat Ba, bus from Sapa. Note that the travel time is for your reference only and can depend on different factors such as traffic and weather conditions. Heavy rainfalls almost inevitably make the trip longer due to poor visibility or floods. Road and surface repairs which happen quite often, result in detours and longer travel times. Major national holidays, long weekends, or peak season periods may cause delays both in departures and arrivals – plan accordingly to avoid disappointment, especially if you have further connections and a tight schedule.
On this route, Cua Ong Limousine (Cửa Ông Limousine) offers the fastest service. Cua Ong Limousine (Cửa Ông Limousine) buses usually take the longest time to complete the journey.
Remember, though, that tickets offering the shortest travel time are normally the most expensive ones. Yet it pays to spend a bit more to ensure your bus goes direct without additional stops and uses highways instead of local roads.
How much does it cost to get from Sapa to Cat Ba, bus by bus?
The price of your bus ticket will depend not only on the distance you need to cover but on the class of your coach. E.g. expect to shell out more for VIP or sleeper buses while ordinary buses though being the cheapest option, often are a compromise on comfort and travel time. Of course, they do their job, too, and can be the only option if you hop on/off in the middle of the route.
Anyway, travelling by bus between Sapa and Cat Ba, bus remains an affordable option. The cheapest ticket is offered by Cua Ong Limousine (Cửa Ông Limousine) and costs USD 24.10. A Cua Ong Limousine (Cửa Ông Limousine)'s ticket will set you back USD 24.10 on average.
Travelling by bus essentials
- If you are planning to travel during the high season, weekends, or national holidays, booking your bus tickets in advance is highly recommended. The demand is at its highest, yet very often, the number of coaches serving the route remains the same. The earlier you reserve your seat, the better. On some routes, you need to secure your ticket more than a month in advance; on others, a couple-of-days advanced booking is enough. During such periods, try to book online beforehand whenever possible, as showing up at the bus station without a ticket may result in many-hours of waiting in the queue or leave you downright stranded.
- VIP, 1st, Gold, and similar bus tickets are the most expensive option, but they provide a higher level of comfort. Normally the price of such tickets will include wide soft reclining seats, blankets, water and snacks or lunch, and sometimes some toiletries. Upper-class buses travel faster, make fewer stops during the route, and normally provide more spacious seating to their passengers and a better travel experience.
- Not all buses have an on-board toilet, but generally, for all trips longer than three hours, all operators schedule a bathroom and/or a lunch stop. While operators definitely do their best to keep on-board toilets clean, the smell may be an issue sometimes. For longer trips, booking a seat a bit farther from the toilet may be a good idea. Also, using bathroom stops for your toilet needs is always better than trying to find your balance in an on-board toilet on the run.
- If you travel by an air-con bus, make sure to pack layers. A hoodie, a warm scarf, or a beanie hat may prove a good idea. Air-conditioning on buses tends to be excessive, and running nose and sore throats abound after even not the longest bus rides.
- Always use the security belts even if your bus ride attendant or driver does not insist on it. Your safety comes first – for you, for sure. All buses normally are equipped with security belts, but they may be fixed behind your seat. Take time to find the belt and fix it appropriately.
- To avoid being disturbed by overhead lights, switched on during stops even at night, and too loud music or sound from the on-board entertainment system, have earplugs and a sleeping mask at hand.
- As a courtesy to other passengers, avoid using strong perfumes or smelly foods. Some foods like cheeses or durians are forbidden to take on-board – check in advance. Alcohol is also prohibited on the majority of buses.
- Note that if the bus requires refuelling en-route, passengers will be asked to get off the bus. Operators are not allowed to refuel with passengers on board due to safety reasons. Usually, it takes from 5 to 10 minutes and is often combined with a toilet/lunch stop.
- If not stated otherwise in your tickets, arrive at the bus station 20-30 minutes before departure. It will give you enough time to find the departure platform and check-in. For international trips, you may need more time for check-in and border formalities.
Transportation from Sapa to Cat Ba
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Trains$ 10.36
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Buses$ 10.36
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Taxis$ 233.41
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Ferries are not available
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Flights are not available
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Vans are not available