Halong Bay is also known as Ha Long Bay and is located in northern Vietnam in the Northern Province of Quảng Ninh. Halong bay is famous for being a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is regularly on lists as a natural wonder of the world. How to get from Hanoi to Halong Bay Vietnam?
There are a number of ways to get from Hanoi to Halong Bay, which you can get there by bus, train, or even seaplane. When in Halong, you visit any of these islands in Halong bay and relax on the beach as many of the islands have good beaches. You can explore caves or go for a hike.
In this post, we will go through how to get from Hanoi to Halong Bay Vietnam. Let’s get started!
Learn More On Vietnam
- Which City Has Best Nightlife in Vietnam?
- How Much Does Beer Cost in Vietnam?
- Can You Drink Tap Water in Vietnam?
- Things To Do in Halong Bay Vietnam
- Reasons Not To Go To Vietnam
- Can You Swim In Halong Bay Vietnam?
- Hoi An or Hue, Which One Should I Visit?
- How To Get To Sapa From Hanoi Vietnam?
Best Time To Visit Halong Bay Vietnam
The best time to visit Halong bay is between October to January cause the is not too hot and it has a low chance of rain but it is also high season meaning it can get crowded.
In spring (March to May) and autumn (Autumn from September) the weather is around 25oC on average, making the temperature mild and the sky clear and bright and not as busy.
Does Halong Bay Have An Airport?
No, Halong Bay does not have an airport with the nearest airport (Van Don Airport) located in Quang Ninh, roughly about 50 km from Halong.
How Far is Halong Bay From Hanoi?
The total distance between Halong Bay and Hanoi is roughly about 135 km with the road distance around 165 km.
How To Get To Halong Bay From Hanoi Vietnam?
Traveling from Halong Bay to Hanoi, there are 5 options available.
- Use the bus.
- Get a taxi.
- Go by train.
- By Seaplane.
- Get a Minivans.
Getting To Halong Bay From Hanoi By Bus
Traveling by bus to Halong Bay takes between 3 to 4 hours. The prices start from $15.00 (350,000 VND).
There are 3 main bus companies that provide this service.
- Kumho Viet Thanh.
- Ab Vietnam Travel.
- Rosa Eco Bus.
You will need to check before booking where the bus company departs from in Hanoi and arrives in Halong bay as each company has its own schedules and different drop-off points.
This can be an issue if the drop-off point in Halong is far from the accommodation you booked meaning you may need to pay for a taxi.
Traveling To Halong Bay From Hanoi By Taxi Or Private Car
This is the fastest way to Halong Bay as it takes under 2 hours but it is expensive with prices that can range from $70 (165,000 VND) to $120 (280,000 VND).
It is definitely the more comfortable and flexible way to travel, getting picked up from your accommodations in Hanoi and dropped off at your accommodation in Halong.
It is not a bad option if the cost can be split between a few people.
Getting To Halong Bay From Hanoi By Train
Traveling to Ha Long Bay by train is the cheapest method to get to Halong Bay but it takes over 7 hours. There is only one daily train that leaves from Yen Vien Station in Hanoi at 04:45 am.
You will reach Halong at around 11:50 pm. The station in Halong is Bai Chay and is about 5 km away from the harbor. Prices start from $4 (80,000 VND) upwards.
Traveling To Halong Bay From Hanoi By Seaplane
Going to Halong Bay by seaplane to the fastest way but definitely the most expensive. Flights leave Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi and arrive at Tuan Chau Island Marina in Halong.
The flight time is around 45 mins and prices start from $200 (460,000 VND) upwards one way. There are summer and winter schedules with the summer schedule offering 4 daily flights and in the winter schedule, there are 8 daily flights.
You can check the latest prices and schedules from their website here.
Getting To Halong Bay From Hanoi By Minivan
The minivans offer pick-up and drop-off services. Prices start from $14.50 (335,000 VND) and it takes about 3 hours to get to Halong Bay.
This pends on how many stops en route the driver makes to pick up/drop off passengers.
Amazing Things To Do In Halong Bay Vietnam
Halong bay is a world heritage site with amazing limestone islands where some are home to caves to explore as well as other activities such as scuba diving, hiking, or even kayaking into the caves.
Here is our list of things to do in Ha Long Bay Vietnam.
- Go Diving / Snorkeling.
- Explore Hang Sung Sot Cave.
- Explore Cat Ba Island.
- Visit Cat Ba National Park.
- Visit the Ho Chi Minh Monument.
- Shop At Cat Ba Island Market.
Read more about things to do in Ha Long Bay here.
USEFUL TRAVEL RESOURCES
Book Accommodation
Booking.com has a large range of properties from hotels, hostels, guesthouses, and resorts where you will find the best deals. Airbnb and Hostelworld also have a good range of places to stay at good prices.
Booking Flight
Skyscanner is a flight search comparison website that searches millions of flights all at once. Ultimately it is the best flight comparison website online at the moment.
Booking Transportation & Things To Do
Rome2rio and 12Go are useful to plan how to get anywhere by searching train, bus, car, and ferry routes. Especially useful in countries like Vietnam or Thailand. While Klook is great for exploring things to do in each place.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is cheap and more than likely you will never need to use it but you will have peace of mind if something does happen, you are covered in case of an emergency. World Nomads have great customer service and competitive prices.
Check out our resource page for the best companies to use when you travel.
Wrapping Up
Finally, now you know how to get to Halong Bay from Hanoi. The best option is to go by bus it works out cheaper and less hassle but takes a bit longer. Ultimately you will have to decide on whether to go there by taxi, bus or train but the depends on your time and your budget.
And that’s it for now! I’d love it if this post on how to get to Halong Bay from Hanoi Vietnam was helpful to you. Let me know if you have any questions and let me know if there are any other ways to get to Halong bay from Hanoi.
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