If you are planning to explore beautiful bays around the world on a cruise, Halong Bay with its many limestone karsts, caves and islets of varying shapes and sizes should be at the top of your must-see list.
In this article below, you will have all the information about Halong Bay ports and cruise terminals that will be useful for your trip, so don’t miss it.
How many cruise ports are there in Halong Bay?
Halong Bay is divided into 4 main parts: Central Halong Bay (the center of the bay), Bai Tu Long Bay (northeast), Lan Ha Bay (south) And Cat Ba Island (to the southwest).
There is 5 cruise ports in Halong Bay where tourists can embark to visit every part of the bay. International cruise ports such as Cai Lan and Halong International Cruise Port welcome international and domestic cruises. Domestic ports such as Tuan Chau Pier, Hon Gai Port and Got Pier are mainly embarkation terminals for domestic cruises.
Therefore, remember to check which port or terminal your cruise will embark from to arrange the correct transfer.
International cruise ports in Halong Bay
There are 2 international cruise ports in Halong Bay which can accommodate a large ship and an international cruise ship: Cai Lan and Halong International Cruise Port (Sun Group Port).
Cai Lan Port – The deepest Halong cruise port
- Place: No 1, Cai Lan Street, Bai Chay Ward, Halong City, Quang Ninh Province (155 kilometers from Hanoi, capital of Vietnam)
Invested by the ODA of the Government of Japan in 1999, Cai Lan became the first international container terminal in northern Vietnam. It currently consists of 3 piers.
Cai Lan is not only a cargo port, but also an attractive destination for international cruises due to the natural beauty of its landscapes as well as numerous investments in shipping and other infrastructure.
From Cai Lan, visitors interested in geography and geology or stalagmites and stalactites can take a guided tour of Thien Cung Cave or Sung Sot Cave. Those who like to learn more about local life can visit the floating village of Cua Van to get a glimpse of the daily life of the region’s inhabitants.
Halong International Cruise Port – Newest cruise port
- Place: No.9 Halong Road, Bai Chay Ward, Halong City
- Cruises departing from here:Scarlet Pearl, Dragon Legend, Dragon Pearl Junk
Centrally located in the Bai Chay tourist area, next to Sun World Halong Resort, Ha Long International Cruise Port is the ideal location for all kinds of domestic and international cruisers.
The port consists of four modern wharves to Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay and Cat Ba Island.
Designed by Bill Bensley, one of the top five architects in the world, the terminal features Vietnamese and European culture and architectural design: a yellow color painted as the inspiration for the color of the ancient city of Hoi An in central Vietnam, an ocean cruiser shape with elegant and sophisticated interior decoration, wooden posts and steel and wood ceilings.
Tourists can also easily find duty-free shops, restaurants, fast food joints, souvenir shops, etc. here.
Halong Bay National Cruise Ports
Besides the international ports that can pick up tourists for a Halong Bay cruise, there are three domestic ports that have terminals for picking up tourists: Tuan Chau Port, Hon Gai Pier and Got Pier ( city of Hai Phong).
Tuan Chau Port – The largest cruise port in Halong
- Place:Ngoc Chau, Tuan Chau, Halong, Quang Ninh
- Cruises that departfrom here: Paradise Elegance, Stellar of the Seas, Ambassador Cruise, Indochine Cruise, Capella Cruise
Located in the northwest of Halong Bay, 8 kilometers southwest of Halong City, connected to the mainland by a long bridge, Tuan Chau Pier is the largest pier in Halong Bay . It extends for 8 kilometers in Halong Bay.
Tourists will need about 1.5 hours to get there from Van Don Airport by car, or a 3-3.5 hour drive from Hanoi. Tuan Chau is actually an artificial port built in Western style, equipped with a full-service lounge, ticket office, visitor information counter, police and customs offices.
Tuan Chau has a modern and beautiful indoor waiting room equipped with air conditioning, lounge chairs, a bar, dedicated internet for businessmen and VIPs, and numerous duty-free shops and restaurants. Outside the port are long rows of benches where visitors are free to watch the seaports while waiting for departure.
Hon Gai Pier – The oldest cruise port in Halong
- Place: Group 1, Zone 2, Bai Chay District, Halong City, Quang Ninh Province
- Cruises departing from here: Paloma Cruise, Swan Cruise, Oriental Sails, Signature Cruise
Located in East Halong, close to Bai Chay Bridge, Hon Gai Pier is a popular departure point for cruises passing through or to Bai Tu Long Bay. Although it is smaller and less busy than others, Hon Gai Pier is the important transportation infrastructure of Quang Ninh province.
This port has the capacity to receive not only domestic cruises, but also large international passenger ships and luxury yachts. It has become an attractive tourist attraction and the starting point for the boat trip to Bai Tu Long Bay. Cruises that depart from Hon Gai Pier often visit deserted areas such as Thien Canh Son Cave, Vung Vieng Fishing Village (Vong Vieng) and some beaches of Halong Bay.
To get to Hon Gai Pier, tourists will have to cross the Bai Chay Bridge, one of the most beautiful cable-stayed bridges in Vietnam and South Asia.
Got Pier – Hai Phong Cruise Terminal
- Place: 356 Road, Cat Hai, Hai Phong
- Cruises depart Mon Cheri Cruise, Peony Cruise, Orchid Cruise
Located in Hai Phong Town, Got Pier connects the interior of Hai Phong to Cat Ba Island. This port is the most common way to get to Cat Ba Island, the largest island in Halong Bay. It is smaller than other piers such as Tuan Chau Port and Hon Gai Pier, however, it is the first choice for cruising to Lan Ha Bay.
To reach Got Pier from Hai Phong Town, tourists need to travel to Dinh Vu Port by car or bus. Then take the ferry to Ninh Tiep which takes around 45 minutes. From Ninh Tiep, the next step is a quick transfer to Got Pier.
