Cars and motorbikes lined up waiting to take the ferry to Cat Ba.

Long lines of cars waiting to take the ferry to Cat Ba Island on the morning of April 30. Photo: Tien Phong

Today, April 30, the first day of the holiday, the number of passengers passing through Dong Bai - Cai Vieng ferry to Cat Ba island (Cat Hai district, Hai Phong city) increased dramatically.

Since 4am, many vehicles have been lining up to board the first ferry to Cat Ba; the number of vehicles lining up has been getting longer and longer, and by around 8am this morning, the line of vehicles waiting to cross the ferry had stretched for a kilometer.

Ms. Thu Phuong in Kien An (Hai Phong City) said that her family traveled by car so they had to leave at 3 a.m. to catch the first ferry, avoiding rush hour.

“This year, during the 5-day holiday, my family chose Cat Ba as a vacation destination. Because we knew that the city would limit the transport of cars from Cat Hai to Cat Ba during the holiday, our family prepared from 3 a.m. to line up at Dong Bai ferry, hoping to get off the ferry smoothly and avoid traffic jams,” said Ms. Phuong.

In the motorbike lane, thousands of people lined up waiting for their turn to board the ferry to Cat Ba Island. Photo: Tien Phong

The Dong Bai - Cai Vieng ferry management unit (Hai Phong Waterway Traffic Assurance Joint Stock Company) has mobilized 5 ferries with a maximum capacity of 500 passengers, 9 45-seat passenger cars or 28 5-seat cars, and 40 motorbikes, operating continuously to serve passengers. In addition, the unit also added 2 small ferries in urgent cases.

Mr. Vu Manh Ha, Head of Dong Bai - Cai Vieng ferry terminal, said that on the first day of the holiday, the weather was not windy so the ferry moved smoothly; the ferry terminal staff coordinated with the police and border guards to regulate and divert traffic in a timely manner. Therefore, local congestion was quickly resolved, and tourists did not have to wait as long as in previous years.

“This year, the number of motorbikes traveling is high, initially causing local congestion. Once the number of motorbikes is resolved, the number of cars will be resolved. At peak times, it takes about 2 hours for vehicles to cross the ferry. The unit has increased its staff by 100%; the city's functional departments are also very concerned, sending forces to support and serve the people,” said Mr. Vu Manh Ha.

The Cat Hai - Phu Long cable car route on April 30 also welcomed nearly 6,500 visitors, three times the number of passengers traveling by cable car to Cat Ba compared to last year's holiday.

Sungroup Corporation arranged 10 electric cars running the Phu Long cable car station - Green Island Central Bay route to operate continuously to serve tourists during the free trial period (from April 18 to May 15, 2025).

Previously, on April 23, the People's Committee of Hai Phong City issued an urgent dispatch on an urgent plan to divert traffic through the Dong Bai - Cai Vieng ferry. Accordingly, Hai Phong City temporarily stopped transporting cars and trucks through Dong Bai ferry (from Cat Hai to Cat Ba Island) from April 26 to May 4 and weekends from May 10 to July 30, with a suspension time of 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (except for priority vehicles as prescribed by law).

VN (according to VOV)

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/o-to-xe-may-xep-hang-dai-cho-qua-pha-di-cat-ba-410592.html