Cat Bi Airport (HPH) Arrival Guide Seamless Arrival at Cat Bi Airport (HPH) Your personalized guide to a smooth entry into Vietnam. Avoid the queues and start your trip sooner.
Your adventure to Vietnam is finally here! The anticipation of exploring Hai Phong’s vibrant streets and sailing through the limestone karsts of Ha Long Bay is building. But first, there’s one final hurdle: the airport. After a long flight, the last thing you want is to be greeted by the winding queues and bureaucratic delays of international arrivals. The confusion of navigating a new airport can drain your energy and eat into your precious vacation time.
This guide is designed to be your expert companion, providing you with a clear, step-by-step walkthrough of the entire arrival process at Cat Bi Airport. As visa and immigration specialists with over 15 years of experience, we want to equip you with the knowledge to make your entry into Vietnam as seamless as possible. You’ll learn what to expect, how to prepare, and discover the most effective way to bypass the longest lines. Our goal is to help you start your Vietnamese adventure faster, with less stress. This is your all-in-one resource for achieving a fast entry at Cat Bi Int’l Airport.
A smooth arrival begins long before your plane touches the runway. Proper preparation is the key to avoiding common pitfalls and delays. By organizing your documents and necessities in advance, you can approach the arrival formalities with confidence. Think of this as your pre-flight checklist for a hassle-free entry.
👉 Passport: Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months from your date of entry. This is a strict requirement for Vietnam. Check that you have at least two blank pages for the visa stamp and entry/exit stamps.
👉 Visa: Double-check your visa status.
👉 Flight Itinerary: Keep a printed or digital copy of your return or onward flight ticket. Immigration officials may ask for it as proof that you intend to leave the country.
👉 Accommodation Details: Have the name, address, and phone number of your first hotel or accommodation available. You may need to write this on your arrival card.
👉 Pen: A simple but often forgotten item. You will likely need to fill out an arrival/departure card, and having your own pen saves you the trouble of asking fellow passengers.
If you are using the Visa-on-Arrival service, you have an extra step at the airport before you even reach the main immigration line. Having these items perfectly in order is crucial to avoid significant delays.
Cat Bi International Airport is the primary aviation hub for Hai Phong, Vietnam’s third-largest city and a major northern seaport. While not as large as the airports in Hanoi (HAN) or Ho Chi Minh City (SGN), Cat Bi is a modern and efficient facility that has seen significant upgrades to handle growing international and domestic traffic.
Its strategic location makes it a popular entry point for travelers heading to the world-famous Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba Island, which are much closer to Hai Phong than to Hanoi.
The airport features a single, well-organized terminal building for both international and domestic flights. The arrivals hall is on the ground floor, and the layout is straightforward and easy to navigate. You’ll find essential services like currency exchange counters, SIM card vendors, and transportation desks after you exit the customs area. The airport is located just 8 kilometers from Hai Phong’s city center, making the transfer to your hotel quick and convenient.
If you hold a valid E-visa or are a citizen of a country with a visa-waiver agreement with Vietnam, your arrival process is the most direct. Here’s exactly what you need to do, step by step:
After disembarking from your aircraft, you will be guided towards the arrivals hall. Your first and most important stop is the Immigration Checkpoint. Look for the signs that say “Foreign Passports” or “All Passports.”
Here, you will join a queue to be processed by an immigration officer. You will need to present the following documents:
The officer will review your documents, check your identity against their system, and if everything is in order, they will stamp your passport with an entry stamp. This stamp indicates the date you entered Vietnam and the date your permitted stay expires.
Once you have cleared immigration, proceed down to the Baggage Claim area. Look for the large screens that display your flight number to find the correct carousel where your luggage will be delivered. This process can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on how quickly the baggage handlers unload your aircraft.
With your luggage in hand, your final step is the Customs Check. Vietnam has a dual-channel system:
Congratulations! You have officially entered Vietnam. Once you pass through customs, you will enter the main arrivals hall. Here, you can find official taxi stands, pre-booked driver meeting points, SIM card kiosks, and currency exchange counters. You are now free to begin your adventure in Hai Phong and beyond.
The biggest potential for delay in this process is Step 1: The Immigration Checkpoint. It’s a global reality of travel that immigration lines can be long and slow, especially if several international flights land at the same time. Waiting in a queue for 30, 60, or even 90 minutes after a tiring flight is a frustrating way to start a vacation.
This is where you have a choice. You can wait in the regular line, or you can arrange for a fast entry at Cat Bi Int’l Airport and bypass the queue entirely. Our Fast Entry Service allows you to be met by a representative who will escort you to a priority lane, getting you through immigration in a matter of minutes.
For travelers using the Visa-on-Arrival (VOA) method, your journey has an extra—and often lengthy—step right at the beginning. The potential for delays is much higher, making careful preparation absolutely essential.
This is your first stop, BEFORE the main Immigration Checkpoint.
As soon as you enter the arrivals hall, look for the sign that says “Landing Visa” or “Visa on Arrival.” Do not, under any circumstances, go and join the main immigration queue. You must get your visa sticker first.
At this counter, you will submit your VOA paperwork package:
You will hand these documents to the officer, who will check them. You will then be asked to wait.
This is typically the longest part of the VOA process. You will need to wait in a designated seating area while the officers process your application and affix the visa sticker into your passport. The wait time can range from 15 minutes to over an hour, depending on how many people are applying at the same time. The officers will call out your name and country when your passport is ready.
Once you hear your name, go to the counter to collect your passport. Before walking away, open it and double-check that the visa sticker is correct: check your name, date of birth, and the visa validity dates.
Now that you have the visa in your passport, you can proceed to the main immigration queues, just like e-visa and visa-free travelers. You will present your passport (now with the visa inside) to the officer for the official entry stamp.
The remaining steps are the same: proceed to baggage claim, go through the customs check, and exit into the arrivals hall to begin your trip.
The VOA process at Cat Bi Airport presents two major hurdles: the long wait at the Landing Visa counter and the subsequent queue at the Immigration Checkpoint. The entire procedure can easily take over an hour, and sometimes much longer, especially during peak travel seasons.
If you are missing any of the required items—such as the correct cash amount or a passport photo—you will face even more significant delays and stress. This is where our Fast Entry Service becomes invaluable. Our team can handle the entire VOA process for you, taking care of the paperwork and payment on your behalf while you relax.
The single best way to guarantee a swift and stress-free arrival is by using a VIP Fast Entry Service. This service is designed specifically for travelers who value their time and want to start their vacation without the hassle of waiting in long lines.
Our representative will meet you, collect your passport and VOA documents, and handle the entire visa stamping process for you. They will submit the paperwork, pay the stamping fee on your behalf, and retrieve your passport with the visa sticker. You can simply relax in a comfortable waiting area. Once your visa is ready, they will escort you through the priority immigration lane.
This service is the definitive solution for fast entry at Cat Bi Int’l Airport. You can save up to 90 minutes of valuable vacation time.
Booking our service is designed to be as simple and secure as the service itself. You can arrange everything online in just a few minutes.
That’s it. In three simple steps, you can transform your arrival experience from a stressful ordeal into a seamless VIP welcome.
Absolutely. We understand that trust is paramount when dealing with travel services and personal information. We are proud of our long-standing reputation for reliability, transparency, and customer satisfaction. Here are several reasons why you can book with complete confidence:
Beyond our Fast Entry service, here are a few final expert tips to ensure every aspect of your arrival goes smoothly.
This cannot be stressed enough. Visa rules can change. A week before you travel, quickly re-verify your specific visa requirements to avoid any last-minute surprises.
To confidently use the Green Channel at customs, know the limits:
Do not pack weapons, ammunition, explosives, fireworks, illegal drugs, or anti-government/pornographic materials. Restricted items that require special permits include certain publications, antiques, and live animals.
While taxis are available, the most stress-free option is to pre-book a private car. Your driver will wait for you in the arrivals hall, help with your luggage, and take you directly to your hotel without any negotiation or confusion. Reputable taxi companies include Mai Linh and Dat Cang.
Ultimately, you have two options. You can spend the first hour (or more) of your trip in a queue, or you can invest in a seamless transition from the plane to your adventure. Booking a fast entry at Cat Bi Int’l Airport isn’t just a service; it’s the decision to start your vacation the moment you land, relaxed, refreshed, and ready to explore.
Cat Bi Airport (HPH) Arrival Guide Seamless Arrival at Cat Bi Airport (HPH) Your personalized guide to a smooth entry into Vietnam. Avoid the queues and start your trip sooner.
Infographic: A Smoother Arrival at Cat Bi Airport (HPH) Your Fast Pass to Vietnam An infographic guide to bypassing the queues and starting your adventure the moment you land at Cat Bi International Airport (HPH). The Arrival Bottleneck 90 Minutes Potential total wait time for Visa on Arrival.
Interactive Guide: Arriving at Cat Bi Airport (HPH) Interactive Guide to Arriving at Cat Bi Airport Your seamless entry into Hai Phong starts here. First, select your visa type to personalize your guide: 📄 E-Visa / Visa-Free For travelers with a pre-approved E-visa or from a visa-exempt country.
Waiting in lines at the immigration checkpoint in Cat Bi International Airport can be exhausting, especially after a long flight. If you want to skip the queues and enjoy VIP treatment, booking the Arrival Fast-Track Service in advance is your best bet.
The Vietnam e-visa is your official entry document to Vietnam. Without it, you won’t be able to get out of the Cat Bi Airport to begin your holiday in Hai Phong.
Applying for the visa on arrival is easy. You can just send in your application online and you’ll claim your visa at Cat Bi Airport.
Visit the website of the Vietnam travel agency that you have found online. Then click on the link to apply for the Vietnam visa on arrival.
Cat Bi Airport is an International airport that’s located in Hai Phong City. If you want to visit the tourist sights of Hai Phong such as the Elephant Mountain and Nguyen Binh Khiem Temple, you should consider flying directly to Cat Bi Airport.
The visa on arrival is one of the most popular visa types that tourists going to Vietnam would get. This visa can be claimed from the major airports of Vietnam, including Cat Bi International Airport.