Halong Bay to Hanoi

What to expect when visiting Hanoi

Hanoi is Vietnam’s bustling capital, where heritage and modernity collide. At its heart is the iconic Old Quarter bustling with cosy hotels, old residential buildings and neighbourhood cafes. Composed of 36 streets, just walking around this area will reward you with many amazing discoveries.

Must-visit sites include the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and the 19th-century gothic St. Joseph’s Cathedral. We recommend munching on as much street food as you can, strolling around Hoan Kiem Lake, and our favourite: watching the world go by from one of the many coffee shops in Hanoi.

6 ways to get from Halong Bay to Hanoi

Travelling by bus is a quick and convenient way to get from Halong Bay to Hanoi. It’s affordable, too, with fares from 221,000 VND ($8.90).

Most buses take the newly-opened Halong-Hai Phong Expressway and that cuts the travel time in half — from 5 hours before to just 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours 50 minutes.

There are six main companies operating buses on this route: Wego Halong, TBus, Sapa Dragon Express, Ka Long Limousine VIP, Good Morning Cat Ba and Ninh Binh Excursion. Each company has its own designated departure and arrival points. Check in advance which bus stops close to your accommodation.

Or even better, choose a limo van that includes free pick-up and drop-off! They are a bit more expensive than buses, but cheaper than a taxi!

Departure and arrival station

All buses depart from Tuan Chau Harbour. This is where ferries dock after a cruise along Halong Bay.

In Hanoi, Grouptour and Sapa Express arrive at their own headquarters, a few blocks north of Hoan Kiem Lake. Rosa Eco Bus parks at VRB-Hang Voi, just a few metres east of Hoan Kiem.

Want something more comfortable than a bus? Limo vans operating from Halong Bay to Hanoi are highly rated for their spacious seats and overall luxurious service.

The best part? A limo van ride is only a few dollars more expensive than taking the bus. And if you travel with one of the companies we mention below, you will also get free hotel pick-up and drop-off. That already makes up for the extra dollars you spend on your limo van ride.

Fares start from 258,000 VND ($10.40) for the journey that takes 1 hour 50 minutes to 3 hours 30 minutes.

A taxi is a good option if you are travelling in a group. It’s a bit more expensive than a van, but the advantage of booking a taxi is that you can travel door-to-door and don’t have to share the taxi with others.

You can also take private transport straight to Hanoi Airport from Halong Bay. Just click the link below to book your ride!

Taxi options from Halong Bay to Hanoi

IMPORTANT UPDATE: The last time we checked (September 2024), it wasn’t clear whether Vietnam Railways has resumed operations on this route. Any feedback would be appreciated. Let us know in the comments!

Travelling by train is the cheapest way to get from Halong Bay to Hanoi. A ticket costs only 90,000 VND ($3.60).

But what you save on money, you’ll have to spend on time. Because a train ride takes around 7 hours — that’s 4.5 hours longer than a bus, limo van or taxi.

Taking the train from Halong Bay to Hanoi is an experience

The train ride from Halong Bay to Hanoi is not just a mode of transport, it’s an experience on its own.

Unlike other trains in Vietnam, the lone train operating on this route was not made for tourists, not even for passengers. It works as a transport vehicle for goods, used by local traders to move fruits and vegetables and sell them in the markets.

The long train ride is far from comfortable, but you will be sharing it with locals. This will be a great opportunity to speak with them or simply observe their way of life.

This train also makes long stops — 10 to 15 minutes in some stations — and gives you some time to go out of the train, buy food, interact with locals, take photos, and make an adventure out of this journey.

Some things to consider: It’s an old train

This train takes the Yen Vien – Pha Lai – Ha Long – Cai Lan railway project, which after over 15 years of construction remains to be unfinished. That means the train used for this route is very old, too. It only has wooden seats, and those seats are not even available in all cabins.

So if it so happens that the seats are fully booked on the day of your travel, you will need to pay a few dollars more for a temporary seat to be installed for you.

Also, we recommend on reading up on other travellers’ experiences before boarding the train so you have an idea of what to expect. Its staff speak very little English, if at all. If you need assistance, they may not be of much help.

Thankfully for travellers in the faraway future, the Vietnamese government decided to resume this project with a target completion in 2030, according to an article by VN Express.

Departure and arrival station

There is only one direct trip per day and this leaves at 13:45. You will reach Hanoi at 20:31.

The train departs from Halong Train Station, 5 km north of Bai Chay Beach and 10 km northwest of Tuan Chau Harbour. It arrives at Yen Vien Station, 10 km northeast of Hanoi city centre.

You can buy your train tickets onsite at Halong Train Station. Pre-pandemic, you can also purchase your tickets online. But the last time we checked (September 2024), Baolau has yet to resume ticket-selling for this route. Click the link below to see if anything has changed.

Another luxurious and scenic way to travel from Halong Bay to Hanoi is by helicopter.

You can book your flight directly on the Vietnam Helicopter Tours website. The rate is 9,526,000 VND ($385).

However, if you’re seriously considering a helicopter experience, we recommend flying from Hanoi to Halong Bay instead. This route includes a thrilling 8-minute bonus scenic tour of the limestone islands and costs only slightly more than the airplane ride from Halong Bay to Hanoi.

Helicopters depart from Tuan Chau Island in Halong Bay. They land at Gia Lam Airport, 7 km east of Hanoi’s Old Quarter.

Hai Au Aviation offers a seaplane ride once a day. The plane departs at 12:30, but there’s a catch. There has to be at least 4 passengers for the flight to push through. Otherwise, your flight will be moved. It’s best to book this option only if you have a flexible schedule, or you’re already in a group of 4.

A seaplane ride from Halong Bay to Hanoi costs 9,700,000 VND ($390) per person. The flight takes 1 hour, already including a sightseeing tour of Halong Bay.

Planes depart from Tuan Chau Marina (10 km southwest of Bai Chay) and arrive at Hanoi Airport.

Visit the Hai Au Aviation website to book this adventure.

TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.