Green transport paves way for green transition on Cat Ba
From electric buses and tourist electric vehicles to the replacement of gasoline-powered motorbikes, green transport is opening the way to making Cat Ba a ‘smart island – green tourism island’.
Impressions from zero-emission routes
This summer's tourism season, the electric bus route connecting Phu Long Cable Car Station with Cat Ba tourism center has received positive feedback from tourists. Together with electric buggies, the cable car and high-speed boats, the system provides an additional environmentally friendly public transport option.
Nguyen Thanh Phong, a tourist from Ninh Binh, said electric buses shorten travel time from the cable car station to the island center. The vehicles operate quietly with little noise, allowing tourists to comfortably enjoy views of the sea and forests along the way. According to Phong, this is an experience suited to an ecological destination like Cat Ba.
In Viet Hai community-based tourism area, green transition is being implemented starting with vehicles used in residents' daily lives. In August 2026, Cat Hai Special Zone launched a plan to replace gasoline-powered motorcycles and mopeds with electric vehicles.
According to a survey by Cat Hai Special Zone, all 50 households currently living in Viet Hai Village support the policy. Residents say electric vehicles produce little noise and no emissions, making them suitable for the setting of a community-based tourism site located in the core zone of Cat Ba National Park. This is an important condition for Viet Hai to complete its green transition in five areas, namely tourism, transport, agriculture, environment and energy, before 2030, gradually creating a model for replication across the island.
Infrastructure takes the lead
In March 2026, the Party Committee of Cat Hai Special Zone issued Resolution No. 03-NQ/DU on green transition on Cat Ba Island for 2026-2030, with a vision to 2050.
The resolution identifies sustainable ecotourism as a pillar, with green transport and a green environment as strategic breakthroughs. The goal is for 100% of buses and taxis to be replaced or newly invested in with electric or green-energy vehicles; at least 80% of motorcycles and 50% of personal vehicles on the island to switch to green energy by 2030. All newly replaced tourist transport and public-service vehicles must also use environmentally friendly vehicles.
In the coming period, information on routes, operating hours, parking areas and charging stations will be integrated into a smart destination management platform to facilitate access for residents and tourists and ensure service capacity at reasonable costs. Once the green transport network is completed, tourists can leave their cars outside the central area and then choose the cable car, electric buses, bicycles or walking to explore the island. This will also create additional momentum for residents and transport businesses to convert their vehicles.
Starting with transport, green transition will gradually extend to accommodation establishments, restaurants, tourist boats, energy use, waste sorting, wastewater treatment and the reduction of single-use plastics. These are essential factors for Cat Ba to effectively tap its tourism potential while protecting its ecological and heritage values over the long term.
BAO NAM