Hải Phòng

Hải Phòng (Haiphong) is the third-largest city in Vietnam after Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. It is located in the middle of the Red River Delta southeast of Hanoi, at the mouth of the Cấm River. It extends into the sea to include several island, especially the southern part of the Ha Long Bay. The largest of the 367 islands of the Cat Ba Archipelago is Cát Bà Island.

All four listed caves are located on the large island Cát Bà, and unlike the nearby Ha Long Bay caves, they are not reached in a 5-minute walk from the jetty. Located in the middle of the island, it requires a drive from the ferry. Visitors of the island typically use the ferries to reach the island with their own car. There are three different ways. There is a direct connection from Haiphong down the river and across the bay to Bến tàu Cát Bà ferry terminal on the southern tip of the island. From Haiphong drive east on AH14 and take the ferry or use the Cầu Đình Vũ-Cát Hải bridge to reach Cát Hải island. This island has only industrial areas and harbours. On the eastern side of the island the Bến phà Gót ferry connects the ĐT356 with Cát Bà, and there is a cable car called Ga cáp treo Phù Long. And the third way is the Bến phà Tuần Châu harbour on an island south of Ha Long. This island is connected to the city by a bridge and is the official harbour for all the Ha Long Bay cruises. It also has a ferry connection to the northern tip of Cát Bà.