Getting to Ha Long Bay
This part of the planning can be slightly confusing as there are so many options from Hanoi and Hai Phong.
You can read my article chow to get to Cat Ba Island from Halong Bay if you want to go to the largest island in the Bay.
From Hanoi
There is a bus line connecting Hanoi and Ha Long city, 160 km apart, which is equivalent to three and a half hours of driving. From the bus station, it’s a 15-minute taxi ride to Tuan Chau ferry pier to Cat Ba Island or 40 minutes to your specific boat station (at the end of Khe Ca Street).
There are four main ways to transfer from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay:
By bus
From the Gia Lam bus station in Hanoi at the bus station from Bai Chay to Ha Long, it costs 120,000 Vietnamese Dong (6 USD) and the ticket can be purchased at the bus station. There are 17-seater mini buses and the journey can take up to five hours, as the buses will stop along the way to fill passengers.
Tips: To get to Gia Lam, you need to take bus 34 for 5,000 VND at the following bus stops: Van Mieu, Hai Ba Trung, Nha Hat Lon, Bac Co or Chuong Duong in Hanoi. Be sure to wait for the bus on the side of the road, where traffic is traveling east or north. Otherwise, you may end up on the other side of town.
From the My Dinh bus station In Hanoi, buses to Bai Chay Station in Ha Long cost 100,000 VND. They are bigger, faster and more comfortable than Gia Lam’s 17-seater. City Bus No. 34 also goes to My Dinh Bus Station, which is on the opposite route from Gia Lam.
If you plan to explore Cat Ba Island, considered a key destination in Ha Long Bay, you should depart before 10:00 a.m. to reach Ha Long in the hour before the last ferry leaves at 3:00 p.m. .
It takes a little longer to travel once you arrive at the Bai Chay bus station indirection the Tuan Chau or Cat Ba islands or the UNESCO world heritage site of Ha Long Bay. Here are some travel cost estimates:
- From Bai Chay to Ha Long Town: a Xe Om (motorcycle taxi) should cost 20,000 VND and around 50,000 VND more to the UNESCO site.
- From Bai Chay to Tuan Chau Island: a Xe Om should cost 40,000 VND. From Tuan Chau Island to Cat Ba Island, the ferry costs 80,000 VND.
A taxi to one of these places could be more than double the price of a Xe Om.
From Bai Chay Station, head towards the Vuon Dao Street area. Here you will find most budget accommodation for a day or two to explore the bay.
For your comfort, Cat Ba Expressis the best private bus company to Ha Long. Therefore, they also operate lines to Cat Ba, Sapa and Ninh Binh. !
You can also take the private shuttle that picks up and drops passengers from Hanoi Old Quarter for 10 USD. It also takes four to six hours, depending on how many stops the driver needs to make to accommodate more guests. Usually, if you book a Ha Long Bay cruise service, it includes the shuttle, with or without additional charges.
By seaplane
Taking a seaplane flight from Noi Bai International Airport to Ha Long Town is just 45 minutes away.
This is surely a more fabulous experience with aerial views of the countryside and a thrilling landing at the Tuan Chau Island Marina. The flight can be extended with a panoramic tour additional 15 minutes over the bay, which allows you to enjoy a bird’s eye view of up to 300 meters above sea level of thousands of limestone karsts and the magnificent jade green waters.
You should see floating fishing villages before arriving at Tuan Chau Island Marina.
This is the one and only seaplane service in Vietnam which costs USD 175 (one way) and almost double that for the extended sightseeing tour. The ticket can be purchased directly at Noi Bai Airport or booked on their website.
By private car
You can book a private car at Noi Bai International Airport or at a travel agency from Hanoi city center to Ha Long Bay. It costs 1,800,000 Vnd for a single journey from Hanoi.
Traveling by private car is one of the best choices due to its flexibility, safety, quality and favorable prices compared to traditional taxis in Hanoi.
By train
There is no train route from Hanoi to Ha Long so it will be a bit adventurous. You first need to go to Yen Vien (Gia Lam) by train or bus, then take a train to Ha Long.
The official Vietnam Railways train can take up to seven hours and it costs only 70,000 VND for a hardwood seat. The ticket can be purchased at Yen Vien Station or booked on the official VR website . You should expect train delays and cancellations without notice.
Ha Long railway station is near Bai Chay bus station, approximately five kilometers from the port.
From Hai Phong
Cat Bi International Airport in Hai Phong is about a two and a half hour drive from Ha Long City. The fare for a taxi is around 850,000 VND, but you should be able to negotiate for less than 800,000 VND. This is the most expensive way to get to Ha Long compared to the options above.
By Bus
There are only two bus stations in Hai Phong that will take you directly to Ha Long: Long Lake and Ben Binh. Lac Long is cheaper because it’s a local bus station, which could be a bit inconvenient. Ben Binh is the tourist bus station next to the ferry dock with more modern and comfortable buses. These stations are a five-minute walk from each other.
A local bus from Hai Phong to Ha Long at Lac Long bus station costs around 70,000 VND and will drop you off two kilometers from the tourist area. Xe Om (local motorcycle taxis) will be waiting for you there and they will try to pick you up as they will receive commissions from local hotels.
Walking is also not an option, as you will be jogging along the fast and furious highway. A Xe Om should normally cost 20,000 VND from the bus stop to a hotel, but they will charge you up to 10 USD for the trip, so be wary. A tourist bus from Hai Phong to Ha Long to Ben Binh station will drop you off at the ferry port for Cat Ba, from 6.5 USD, which is safer.
Another interesting means of transportation is Cat Ba Island: the hydrofoil to Ben Binh ferry station, departing daily at 9am, 10am, 1pm, 3pm and 4pm. The airboat crossing takes about 45 minutes from Hai Phong to Cat Ba Island, which costs only 8 USD for the boat ride. If you’re not in a rush and want to save a little money, taking a $5 ferry two hours away is ideal. You can consult timetables and prices here .
