We are heading to Cat Ba on a Saturday morning in November and I am trying to figure out the bus plus ferry combo from Hanoi. I have read there are direct buses that include the ferry ticket, around 4 hours total.
Question is: do these sell out on weekends? Should I book a day or two ahead online, or can I just show up at the bus station on Saturday morning? I would hate to be stuck in Haiphong waiting for the next boat.
Also, which departure point in Hanoi is best? I have seen mentions of both the Old Quarter pickups and My Dinh station, not sure which is more reliable.









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Book ahead for a Saturday, seriously. We tried to wing it on a Saturday morning in September and the first two buses were full, we ended up waiting 3 hours in Haiphong for the next ferry. The direct bus from the Old Quarter is the easiest option, they handle the ferry transfer and you stay on the same ticket. Book it the day before at the latest, it is like 300k.
Replying to Luke Stewart
Good to know, 3 hours in Haiphong sounds miserable. Where did you book, was it through your hotel or one of the booking sites? And do the Old Quarter pickups actually come on time?