How to Get to Halong Bay from Hanoi

Halong Bay, located about 170 kilometers north of Hanoi, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Vietnam and also one of the most beautiful places to discover in the region. On the islands that meander along the coast, you can also take a dip in the turquoise waters, practice water sports, go rock climbing and relax on the paradisiacal beaches.

Whether you choose to visit Halong Bay on an organized tour, by cab, by train, by bus or in a rented car, you will discover one of the most famous vacation spots in Southeast Asia and enjoy one of the best activities in Hanoi, as the Vietnamese capital is an ideal place to use as a base from which to start your tour.

If you want to visit Halong Bay from Hanoi in the most comfortable and complete way, you can opt for an organized excursion, which is part of the best tours to do from the Vietnamese capital. These experiences are sure to include a transfer to and from the northern part of Vietnam and, once in the bay, you can enjoy a scenic cruise that will allow you to discover the sights of this popular site.

During the cruise tour, you will usually enjoy a fresh seafood lunch included in the price of the organized tour and you will be assisted throughout the tour by an expert local guide. Among the islets of Halong Bay you will have the opportunity to snorkel, dive, participate in a kayaking experience and even visit the Tien Cung cave on a bamboo boat.

On these organized excursions, which last approximately 10 hours, you can also learn about the Gulf of Tonkin, which gives shelter to the bay and was one of the most disputed sites during the Vietnam War, the conflict that confronted and divided the country for more than 20 years.

Also note that these experiences are usually for small groups, so you can count on personalized attention, especially during the development of the excursion that will take you by bamboo boat to tour the rock formations famous for their stalactites and stalagmites. You can also choose options that include 2-day tours of Halong Bay.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 35 euros per person, including round trip transfers with hotel pick-up, assistance of local expert guide and cruise tour in Halong Bay.
• Travel time: about 10 hours.
• Advantages of this option: you can forget about the logistics and focus on enjoying the experience.
• Disadvantages of this option: you will not have too much free time to discover the sites on your own.

If you are planning to visit Halong Bay from Hanoi and you want to do it in the cheapest way possible or you are on a limited budget, you can opt for a bus trip, which is a very popular option to move from the Vietnamese capital to the Gulf of Tonkin. In addition, there are several bus companies that make this trip, so you will have flexibility of schedules and service options.

Among the most famous ones you can choose Phuc Xuyen or Green Lion Bus. Both will take you from My Dinh station to Halong Bay in routes that last approximately 3 hours and a price that usually ranges between 12 and 14 euros, depending on the date of travel, time and also the demand for the service.

Usually, these buses also include stops in other towns on the way between the capital and Halong Bay, so you can also get to know other places in between and get an impression of the rural towns of the Vietnamese north. In some cases, these services also include discounts for hiring the hop on-hop off tourist bus from Hanoi.

Keep in mind that if you plan to visit Hanoi in 3 days or even less, this alternative could take away valuable time to participate in the best excursions of the Vietnamese capital or to discover other nearby sites, because it is one of the slowest options. In any case, you will have to analyze if this alternative fits your travel plan and if your priority is to save money during your visit to Halong Bay.

Interesting details

• Price: from 12 euros per person.
• Travel time: about 3 hours.
• Advantages of this option: it is the most economical alternative among those available, so it will be ideal if you plan to travel on a tight budget.
• Disadvantages of this option: it is the slowest alternative, which could be an obstacle to your itinerary if you are planning a short stay in Hanoi.

One of the most popular alternatives to visit Halong Bay from Hanoi is to choose to travel by train. However, you should bear in mind that the railroad route does not reach the coast or the pier, but only Hai Phong, the largest city on the route between the two destinations, and from there you will have to continue the journey by another means of transport.

Generally, those who opt for the train alternative finish the trip by cab, since it is the most accessible and common option in Hai Phong. This will allow you to put together an itinerary that suits your travel plan, manage the times and choose the final stop in Halong Bay, which will be convenient to make at the pier to continue the journey through the bay, although you should consider that it is a more laborious option than the others available.

In addition, the combined train and cab ride will take you approximately 3 hours, almost the same time as the bus ride, but it will force you to make a transfer in Hai Phong and spend more money, since you will have to add the cab fare to the train ticket. Therefore, although it is an alternative that has among its advantages the flexibility, it is not too advisable in terms of economic and time savings.

However, if in addition to visiting Halong Bay you also want to visit Hai Phong, this combined alternative could be the solution.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 28 euros per person, including train ticket and cab ride.
• Travel time: about 3 hours.
• Advantages of this option: you can have the flexibility to organize an itinerary and decide your travel plan.
• Disadvantages of this option: it does not offer a good cost-benefit ratio and will not allow you to save time compared to other alternatives.

If you are planning a 2-day stay in Hanoi or even less and you need to save time during your transfers or you decide at the last minute to visit Halong Bay, you can opt for a cab ride, which is usually a very popular alternative although it can also be expensive.

These tours will take you on a journey of approximately 2 hours along the CT04 route and will give you the flexibility to choose the itinerary, timetables and also the final stop site in Halong Bay, which you will want to be at the pier, to be close to the coast and start the tour there. On the other hand , a cab will also give you the opportunity to include intermediate stops along the way.

In Vietnam, and especially in Hanoi, the operation of cabs is well accepted and, in the absence of other options, they are very popular means of transport, so it is not surprising that they are used to travel medium and long distances. In addition, you can hire the services online, which will give more security to your trip and will provide you with information about the driver and the vehicle.

Some of the most famous cab service providers in Hanoi are Vinasun and Mai Linh, on whose official websites you can consult the details of the itinerary, quote the route and, if you decide to confirm the trip, you can also access the information of the driver who will be in charge of transferring you.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 90 euros per way, in a cab that can carry up to 4 people.
• Duration of the trip: about 2 hours.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to decide the itinerary, the schedules and also the intermediate stops.
• Disadvantages of this option: they are expensive alternatives.

Renting a car to travel around Hanoi and its surroundings is not usually a widely used option in Vietnam, but if you finally decide to do so , you can count on a flexible alternative that will allow you to discover the Vietnamese capital and other nearby sites, such as Halong Bay.

From Hanoi you can travel to the north coast by the CT04 route in a journey of approximately 2 hours, which will allow you to include intermediate stops, as well as giving you the option to manage your schedule and fulfill an itinerary at your own pace. Once you arrive in Halong Bay, you should park your car near the jetty area and, from there, opt for a cruise excursion to the islands of the Gulf of Tonkin.

Keep in mind that, beyond the cost, since renting a car in Vietnam is not usually cheap, it is an ideal alternative if you want to save time because you plan to stay in Hanoi for 3 days or less, or you plan to travel in a group. Traveling by car is also a good option for those traveling with a family or with a lot of luggage, as it will be similar to a private tour.

The only safety observation you will need to keep in mind is that traffic in Vietnam is somewhat chaotic, so you will need to be extra cautious and pay special attention to the roads, which are often damaged in some sections.

Details of interest

• Price: car rental in Hanoi has an initial cost of approximately 65 euros per day.
• Travel time: about 2 hours.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to plan an itinerary based on your interests and drive to each destination at your own pace.
• Disadvantages of this option: you must take into account that traffic in Vietnam is chaotic and roads are not usually in good condition.

Halong Bay is a fascinating year-round destination, but choosing the best time to visit depends on your individual preferences and desired activities. The most popular season is from October to December, when the weather is pleasant, with clear skies contributing to the beauty of the place.

This period also avoids the high temperatures and humidity of summer in Halong Bay, providing ideal conditions for exploring the bay by boat and enjoying outdoor activities. During these months, you can also take some of the best photographs of Halong Bay and the Gulf of Tonkin.

For those looking to avoid the crowds and enjoy lower rates, spring, which runs from March to May, and the strong autumn season in September, are attractive options. During spring you can marvel at the colors of the surrounding nature, while autumn offers pleasant temperatures and a tranquil atmosphere. However, keep in mind that spring can bring occasional showers.

Winter, which runs from January to March, can also be a valid choice, although temperatures are cooler. Despite this, the cloudy landscape adds a unique charm to Halong Bay during this season.

The answer will depend on your travel plan, because each alternative advocates a different variable. If you want to save money and take care of a low budget, the bus tour is the most recommendable option, although you must take into account that it is an option that could be an obstacle for a 3-day or less tour of Hanoi, since you will lose a lot of time in transfers.

If, on the other hand, you have no budget constraints and want to live a comfortable experience, you can opt for the organized tour from Hanoi to Halong Bay, which is one of the best tours from the Vietnamese capital. This will allow you not only to relax and delegate the organization of logistics, but also to focus on enjoying the visit to one of the most beautiful places in Vietnam.

Afterwards you can count on other alternatives, such as the combined train and cab tour and the rented car, although these are options that you will generally use if the bus or the organized tour is not available or for some specific reason, which will depend on the number of people traveling or the time of the tour.

The best of each of the alternatives