Exploring Cat Ba – the “green pearl” of the Gulf of Tonkin – becomes more convenient and impressive than ever with the cable car. You will have the opportunity to admire the panoramic view from above, taking in the blue sea, white sand, and majestic mountains. The following Cat Ba cable car experiences are a guide for tourists near and far who are planning a trip to this beautiful island. 

“Pocket” 11 most useful Cat Ba cable car experiences for tourists

Time – time when going to Cat Ba cable car (3 experiences)

When is the best time to go by cable car? Join Sun World to discover 3 experiences on how to choose the best time to depart!

Prioritize going at the end of April – the end of October 

The ideal time to take the Cat Ba cable car is in the summer, lasting from May to the end of September. At this time, the weather is pleasant, sometimes reaching a peak of 30 degrees but still lower than the mainland, the sea breeze is cool, the sky is clear and there is often a lot of sunshine. When looking down from above, the scenery is colorful, sparkling with reflected sunlight, beautiful like a vivid and vibrant painting.

The ideal time to take the Cat Ba cable car is in the summer, lasting from May to the end of September

From the Cat Ba cable car, visitors will see mangrove forests, wave-breaking bushes in the right shade of green, lush tall trees, see the characteristic picture of the fishing life in the bay area with shrimp farms, the green areas of the mangrove swamps, the raft areas of oyster farmers interwoven and floating on the sea…

Not only that, the view from the Cat Ba cable car also captures the entire Tan Cang International Container Port, Hai Phong – the largest container port in the North with large international vessels entering and leaving busily and colorful containers of impressive goods.

>>> System Cat Ba cable car is recognized by the Guinness World Records as the cable car with the highest cable tower above the ground. Find out now!!

Beautiful natural scenery on Cat Ba Island in summer

Besides, if you choose to visit Cat Ba in the spring, don’t miss the occasion in March when wild flowers of all colors and scents are blooming. The early spring weather in Cat Ba often has drizzle and fog, making it quite difficult to observe from above. After March, the fog also gradually dissipates, the climate is warmer and drier, with cold and humid weather mixed with the radiant spring sunshine, which is also when you can take the cable car and admire the blooming wild flower garden, vibrant with various colors.

The beauty of sunflowers blooming in March and April every year

Sharing from the real experiences of tourists visiting Cat Ba in the spring

If you love the romantic scenery when the leaves gradually turn yellow, and the sea is calmer and gentler, then try the feeling of sitting in a cable car cabin and coming to Cat Ba island on an autumn day in September. The autumn weather becomes pleasant, cool and less rainy, with a gentle breeze, so sitting in the cable car is very comfortable and relaxing.

Butterfly flowers bloom in August – November

Experiencing winter on the Cat Ba cable car, you will surely have very pleasant and relaxing feelings

Cat Ba is an island in the Gulf of Tonkin, so the weather in winter will become cold, with some days of monsoon winds and fog. If you choose to come here for a vacation during this season, when sitting in the cabin you may only see layers of hazy fog. You should prioritize choosing early winter days with clear skies, little fog, and light sunshine (around early October) for the best experience when riding the cable car.

Choose the right time of day to fully admire the beauty of Cat Ba Island

If you choose to ride the cable car in the morning, you should prioritize the time from 9-11 am to admire the majestic panoramic view of the mountains and forests, and feel the coolness and brilliance of the Cat Ba sea and islands. Because at this time the sun has risen high but is not as harsh as at 12 noon (the sun's rays are perpendicular to the ground), the sunlight has shone on the scenery, the sky is clear and there is no more fog, not obstructing the view.

If you choose a late afternoon time slot, from 3:30 PM onwards, you will have the opportunity to admire the beautiful sunset as it gradually transitions into stunning shades of orange and yellow.

Conversely, if you want to watch the sunset over the sea, choose a late afternoon time slot, from 3:30 PM onwards to experience the poetic beauty of Cat Ba Island. At this time, the sun begins to set, dyeing the sea with layers of light that shift from yellow, to orange, to deep orange, and finally to red.

Enjoy the poetic and peaceful sunrise scenery

Check the Cable Car Operating Hours in Advance

When riding the Cat Ba cable car, you need to know the exact operating hours and daily trips (including both morning and afternoon slots) to arrange your schedule accordingly, avoiding missing trips or wasting time waiting. Please note that the ticket counter will close 30 minutes before the cable car stops operating. If you buy a ticket for the last trip, you need to return early to avoid missing the cable car.

Sun World Cat Ba may temporarily suspend operations for cable car system maintenance and to improve service quality. To avoid inconvenience during your trip to this beautiful island, you can visit the official Website and Fanpage of Sun World Cat Ba, access the homepage/section NEWS – HIGHLIGHTS to regularly update the most accurate information.

Below is detailed information about the cable car operating hours (applicable from June 3, 2023) until further notice for your reference:

Monday – Sunday:

• Morning: 9:00 – 9:15; 10:00 – 10:15, 11:00 – 11:15
• Afternoon: 13:30 – 13:45; 14:30 – 14:45; 15:30 – 15:45

Updated Cat Hai – Phu Long cable car operating hours, effective from June 3, 2023, until further notice

>>> Learn more: Cat Ba Cable Car Schedule.

Cat Ba Cable Car Costs (3 tips)

Visitors can easily travel from Hai Phong to Cat Ba Island via the Cat Hai – Phu Long cable car, one of the world’s most modern tri-cable cars, at a very reasonable cost. Check out these 3 tips to help you easily buy cable car tickets at the standard listed price, quickly and conveniently!

Check Cat Ba Cable Car Prices in Advance

When traveling to Cat Ba Island by cable car, you should check the listed ticket prices in advance to be financially prepared and avoid buying tickets through intermediaries or black market tickets at higher prices.

The current Cat Ba cable car ticket price (effective from September 11, 2023, and may change based on the latest policy) is 100,000 VND/one-way ticket, applicable to both adults and children over 1m. Free tickets for children under 1m. Details of the latest updated cable car ticket prices (excluding promotions) for each group are shown in the table below:

You can find more information about the latest Cat Ba cable car ticket prices in 2023 & 4 popular purchasing methods including buying via Website, Hotline, email, and at the station to easily book tickets for your upcoming trip.

>>> Click to see details Cat Ba cable car price.

Consider buying Cat Ba cable car tickets before your trip

To save time buying tickets and you should buy Cat Ba cable car cabin tickets before your trip. You can access the official booking website at https://ticket.sunworld.vn/khu-vui-choi/sunworld-cat-ba/ to quickly book tickets online and receive attractive offers (depending on the program) from Sun World Cat Ba. In addition, you can buy Cat Ba cable car tickets by contacting the hotline 0814.960.960 or buying tickets through the official agent/ticket office of Sun World Cat Ba.

Tourists should consider buying Cat Ba cable car tickets before their trip to proactively plan their itinerary and save time buying tickets

Buy tickets at Cat Hai station if buying directly

However, in case you need to buy tickets urgently or it is not peak season, you can buy tickets directly for more convenience. If you choose this method, you should still prioritize buying cable car tickets directly at Cat Hai station to ensure the listed price, save travel time, and from the ticket sales point, you can go to the departure station immediately. Besides, buying tickets directly at the station ensures ticket benefits and is quickly advised and supported by staff.

Tourists should prioritize buying tickets directly at Cat Hai station to ensure ticket benefits and receive quick advice and support from staff

5 More Tips for Riding the Cat Ba Cable Car

The Sun World Cat Ba cable car line connects Cat Hai to Phu Long, reducing travel time from 30 minutes (by Cot ferry) to 15 minutes. Tourists can choose to travel by motorbike, car, passenger car, or bus to the cable car station according to their actual conditions. Besides, consider your health condition, choose comfortable clothing, and learn about luggage when bringing it onto the cabin for a smooth and convenient sightseeing trip.

Choose a suitable mode of transportation to Cat Hai station

Cat Ba Island is about 122 km from the center of Hanoi and about 60 km from the center of Hai Phong city. Therefore, tourists in nearby areas can travel to Cat Hai station by various means such as:

• Motorbike: Motorbikes are a favorite choice for young people who love experiencing and exploring. Especially with a not-too-far distance, traveling by motorbike is convenient, easy to move, and more cost-effective. The disadvantage of this mode of transportation is that it cannot carry bulky luggage; if it is sunny or the weather is bad, it will be difficult and unsafe.

Traveling by motorbike from Hanoi to Cat Hai station is a favorite choice for young people who love experiencing and exploring

• Private car: A car is a reasonable choice for a not-too-far distance, faster travel time, safer, and solves weather problems such as scorching sun, heavy rain… In addition, traveling by car helps you easily carry belongings and luggage without worrying about being cumbersome. However, during peak tourist season, due to some narrow roads and a large volume of traffic, traffic jams and queues may occur, requiring waiting.

You can travel by private car to be more proactive

• Tourist Bus: Departing from the center of Ha Noi, you can choose a direct tourist bus with various departure times and flexible pick-up points throughout the city. The bus will drop you off at Pha Got wharf or Cat Hai cable car station. Ticket prices range from 250,000 VND to 320,000 VND per person depending on the bus company, seat location, and time (prices may be higher during peak tourist season). Some reputable bus companies you can consider include Daiichi Travel, Cat Ba Discovery, GOOD MORNING CAT BA, Cat Ba Express, Fullmoonparty…

You can leave your vehicle at the parking lot of the Sun World Cat Ba Cable Car station, which offers overnight parking with a clearly posted price list.

Note: When traveling by motorbike or private car, you can leave your vehicle at the cable car station's parking lot. The parking lot here is quite spacious, and visitors can leave their vehicles overnight with complete peace of mind as there are security guards, ticketing, and full fee collection. The daytime parking fee (from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM) for motorbikes is 5,000 VND, and for cars, it's 20,000 VND to 35,000 VND. For overnight parking (from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM the next morning), you will need to pay 10,000 VND for motorbikes and 40,000 VND to 70,000 VND for cars.

Choosing Transportation from Phu Long Station to Cat Ba Center

There are many ways to quickly get to the center. Depending on your needs and the number of people in your group, you can consider choosing the appropriate means of transportation.

• Private Car Rental: If your family has young children, or you are a family of 3-4 members and want privacy and control over your travel to other destinations, you can choose to rent a private car, a 4-seater or 7-seater taxi. The one-way cost from Phu Long station to a hotel in Cat Ba center is approximately 350,000 VND to 450,000 VND.
• Bus

– Shuttle Bus: Leaving Phu Long station, visitors can choose a shuttle bus to the waiting area at Cat Ba central square. The current one-way fare is 50,000 VND/person/trip. There is no limit to the number of buses, so there is no long wait, and the travel time is approximately 40 minutes. You can buy tickets directly at the Cat Ba Discovery bus counter or proactively book online via hotline 0986 06 22 33.

• – Public Bus: Buses pick up passengers from the ferry terminal and go to Phu Long station, so they often fill up very early. The current one-way fare is 13,000 VND/person/trip, 20 minutes/trip, and the travel time is approximately 40-45 minutes.

•  

  

  You can choose the Cat Ba Discovery bus service to the waiting area at Cat Ba central square for a fare of approximately 30,000 VND/trip

• Electric Car: Electric cars are very common on Cat Ba Island. Visitors can rent an electric car from Phu Long station if there are many people in the group or share an electric car with other passengers, which is convenient, cost-effective, and quick. Typically, renting an electric car from Phu Long station to Cat Ba center costs approximately 100,000 VND to 200,000 VND/trip/one way, and a car can carry 9-11 people (depending on the type).

Cat Ba Cable Car and Island Electric Car Experience Review by Minh Ngoc (Hanoi)

During peak season, Cat Ba is often overloaded due to many personal vehicles, both cars and motorbikes, visiting the island. This situation not only causes congestion, forcing tourists to queue and wait, but also significantly affects the atmosphere and pristine nature of the beautiful island. Therefore, combining the Cat Hai – Phu Long cable car and electric car travel on the island will contribute to environmental protection and a greener lifestyle.

Consider the health of the elderly – fear of heights

The Sun World Cat Ba cable car line will pass through a cable tower with a record height of 214.8m above the ground. At this height, you may experience some symptoms such as tinnitus, but simply clenching your jaw or swallowing saliva will make this symptom disappear immediately. If you are afraid of heights, try some of the following tips: you should maintain a relaxed state of mind, overcome your fear, sit in the cabin with a large group, talk frequently, and admire the scenery.

If the health of the elderly or the psychology of those with acrophobia is not guaranteed, please consider using other means of transportation instead of the cable car.

From above, admiring the azure blue water and a part of Lan Ha Bay is a way to help you relieve stress and fatigue from daily stressful life

Choose comfortable clothing – easy to move

For convenience in moving up and down the cable car cabin and not affecting those around you, you should prioritize wearing comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that is easy to move in, not too cumbersome, with many accessories. In addition, choose light, thin, and airy materials with good sweat absorption such as linen, ramie, or 100% cotton.

Wear comfortable clothing that allows for easy movement

Besides that, don't forget to prepare clothing and items to protect yourself from the sun while sitting in the cabin. First on the essential list is sunscreen; prioritize products with an SPF of 30 to 60 and PA ++/+++, and apply it evenly to your skin 20 minutes before going outside. Additionally, on sunny days, sunlight can shine through the cabin windows, so you should also prepare a long-sleeved shirt, a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, etc.

Wear sunglasses, a hat, and use sunscreen

These are all indispensable companions, both useful and providing props for you to take "million-view" photos in the Cat Ba cable car.

Adhering to baggage regulations when bringing items into the cable car cabin

Currently, Sun World Cat Ba has standardized and announced regulations regarding the permitted baggage size for the cabin. Please ensure that you bring only the necessary luggage, and that it does not affect those around you. Specifically, the maximum baggage size is as follows:

• Maximum weight: 30kg

• Height < 8cm

• Length < 60cm

• Width < 30cm

Updated regulations on baggage allowed in Sun World Cat Ba cable car cabins

Other basic general regulations on baggage allowed in the cabin (baggage restrictions) include:

• Prohibited goods, drugs or alcohol

• Knives, weapons (including toy weapons are not allowed in the cabin)

• Paint, spray cans, compressed chemical cylinders

• Hazardous, sharp or flammable materials

• Cool boxes, ice or ice packs

• Bottles, jars, containers or glass containers

• Opened drinks, food that is easily spilled or leaked (may affect the general hygiene environment, public places)

• Cooked food, fishy, strong-smelling or frozen food

• Animals, pets

• Vehicles such as: motorcycles, bicycles, motorbikes…

Comply with the regulations on items allowed on the cabin

Note: In case of baggage exceeding the permitted limit (weight and size standards) or other special cases requiring assistance. Please contact the ticket counter staff directly, access Help Center, or contact the customer care hotline 0814.960.960, some cases may require additional shipping fees.

Other frequently asked questions about Cat Ba cable car

In addition to the experiences of traveling by Cat Ba cable car shared above, some tourists are wondering about the travel time of each cable car trip from Cat Hai station to Phu Long station is how many minutes? Or which partner constructed this cable car line? What record was set? Follow the sharing below to discover the answer!

1. How long does the Cat Ba cable car take?

The Cat Ba cable car line quickly takes tourists from Cat Hai island (departure station) to near Cai Vieng wharf on Cat Ba island, specifically Phu Long station. The travel time by Cat Ba cable car is about 15 minutes/trip, with a capacity of 30 passengers/cabin, and 30-45 cabins operate continuously on the line (at fixed times) to quickly take tourists to Cat Ba island.

The Cat Ba cable car reduces travel time from the mainland to Cat Ba Island to only 15 minutes per trip, allowing tourists to enjoy the scenery and take stunning photos from the cabin

Below is a summary table comparing travel times and estimated waiting times when tourists choose to travel to Cat Ba by cable car, ferry, and high-speed boat. Tourists can learn more and consider the most suitable and convenient option. Specifically:

2. Who designed and constructed the Cat Ba Cable Car?

The project was designed with two station houses (located in Dong Bai and Phu Long communes, Cat Hai District) and four large cable towers. With a total investment of 2,207 billion VND, it was constructed by the "giant" Doppelmayr & Garaventa (Austria) – the world's TOP 1 international manufacturer of cable cars and moving equipment.

Cat Ba Cable Car was designed and constructed by Doppelmayr & Garaventa – the world's TOP 1 manufacturer of cable cars and moving equipment

With over 127 years of experience and 15,000 cable lines for customers from 96 countries worldwide, Doppelmayr & Garaventa is a sustainable and reliable partner, trusted by Sun World as a cooperation partner to complete the Cat Ba cable car line. The cable car has shortened travel time, allowing tourists to "fly" across the calm bay, admiring the romantic beauty of the Emerald Isle from above.

Admire the beauty of Emerald Isle from the cable car cabin

3. What record was Cat Ba Cable Car established?

Cat Ba Cable Car (Cat Hai – Phu Long line) was established, and the Guinness World Records was established as the “Cable car line with the highest cable tower in the world” on the opening day 06/06/2020 (this record is for the 3rd cable tower, with a height of 214.8m).

Readers can learn more about the record-breaking information recorded about the Cat Ba cross-sea cable car line HERE!

Traveling by Cat Ba cable car is a fun experience that should not be missed if tourists intend to visit this beautiful island. The feeling of traveling by cable car, watching the calm bay, admiring the bustling life of the colorful fishing village, the rich vegetation and the panoramic view of Tan Cang – Hai Phong International Container Port will surely amaze you. For a complete and memorable trip, tourists can refer to the Cat Ba cable car experience shared in this article to always be proactive throughout the journey to explore the “green gem” of the Gulf of Tonkin!