The bus that came was not a 29-seat Orient Travel bus. An Orient Travel bus should have the words Orient Travel on the sides of the bus. And the no. of passengers were > 29 that day. The trip took 4.5 hrs and not 3 as indicated.
Orient Travel is a very good way for the transport from Hanoi Old Town to Cat Ba Town. You get on the bus right in Hanoi Old Town and after 15h30 you can leave it in the middle of Cat Ba Town. Very comfortable bus with plenty of seat, even with wifi and water.