Halong Bay is dubbed as a UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It’s filled with multiple towering limestone islands and is quite a scene to take in. In the Halong Bay area, you can enjoy activities such as scuba diving, rock climbing, hiking or even kayak expeditions.
Overview Compare Bus Limo Van Taxi Train Flight Helicopter Day Tour Questions
Is it worth travelling from Hanoi to Halong Bay?
Travelling from Hanoi to Halong Bay without a tour will require more organising and will be slightly more expensive. And to be honest, the city itself (Halong City) is not really as interesting as its world-renowned limestone islands.
However, there is one advantage of travelling to Halong Bay without a tour. This is to visit the Bai Tho Mountain, or better known as Poem Mountain. You’ll have to go off the beaten track to make this climb, but the views from here are just magnificent.
6 ways to get from Hanoi to Halong Bay
There are 6 ways you can travel the 175 km from Hanoi to Halong Bay: a 2.5-hour bus, a 2.5-hour van, a 7-hour train, a 2.5-hour taxi, a 1-hour seaplane, and a 55-minute helicopter ride. Rates start from 300,000 VND ($12.50) and go as high as 10,920,000 VND ($460) for a helicopter flight.
The bus is the cheapest option to travel from Hanoi to Halong Bay. The bus will take you from the centre of Hanoi to the port of Halong Bay from 300,000 VND ($12.50).
The limo van is just a little more expensive than the bus, but most van companies provide free hotel pick-up and drop-off. Prices start from 310,000 VND ($13) for the 2.5-hour van journey from Hanoi to Halong Bay.
For private transfers, you can get a taxi. Rates start from 1,910,000 VND ($80) for a 5-seater car.
The train is the cheapest option at only 90,000 VND ($3.80), but it takes 7 hours and is also quite uncomfortable with its hard seats. If you want to travel like a local, though, taking the train from Hanoi to Halong Bay can be a great experience.
If you want to experience Halong Bay in a completely different way, you can enjoy an aerial view of Halong Bay by taking a seaplane or a helicopter.
TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.
Group tours from Hanoi to Halong Bay
If you want to visit Halong Bay with an organised tour, you can find countless group tours operating daily from Hanoi to Halong Bay.
Rates start from 1,060,000 VND ($44.50) for a day trip and 3,080,000 VND ($130) for an overnight cruise.
Looking for more info on How to get to Halong Bay?
Just click one of the links below to read our step-by-step guides.
- Bus from Hanoi to Halong Bay
- Train from Hanoi to Halong Bay
- Taxi from Hanoi to Halong Bay
- Flights from Hanoi to Halong Bay
- Heli from Hanoi to Halong Bay
- Day tour from Hanoi to Halong Bay
- Overnight cruise from Hanoi to Halong Bay
PRO TIP: Want to book a boat tour? Don’t forget to check out our recommendations at the bottom of this page!
Itinerary from Hanoi to Halong Bay
Hanoi to Halong Bay by Bus
There are plenty of buses operating from Hanoi to Halong Bay. And thanks to the Halong – Hai Phong Expressway, which opened in 2018, you can now reach Halong Bay around 2 hours faster than before.
The journey takes 2.5-3.5 hours, depending on which bus you take. Fares start from 300,000 VND ($12.50).
Departure and arrival station
Sapa Express departs from its office in Hanoi city centre, just a few minutes walk north of Hoan Kiem Lake. Ninh Binh Excursion departs from Hanoi Opera House, a 5-minute walk from the southern edge of Hoan Kiem Lake.
Rosa Eco Bus provides free pick-up from any hotel in the centre of Hanoi.
All buses drop off passengers at Tuan Chau Harbour, where you will find the ferries waiting to depart for their Halong Bay cruise.
Bus schedules from Hanoi to Halong Bay
Hanoi to Halong Bay by Limo Van
Limo vans are a more comfortable land transport from Hanoi to Halong Bay than the bus. They are generally more spacious and luxurious than buses, while tickets cost about the same.
Prices for a limo van ticket start from 310,000 VND ($13), and that already includes free hotel pick-up and/or drop-off. Travel time is around 2.5 hours.
Some of the companies operating on this route are AB Vietnam Travel, Halong Travel Limousine, and Green Lion Bus.
Van schedules from Hanoi to Halong Bay
Hanoi to Halong Bay by Taxi
Prefer a direct transfer? Travelling by taxi from Hanoi to Halong Bay isn’t all that expensive when you’re travelling in a group.
Rates for a 5-seater car start from 1,910,000 VND ($80). If you’re in a group of 5, that’s just 382,000 VND ($16) per person.
We recommend booking your taxi via BookAway, which offers excellent customer service as well as comfortable cars with trusted drivers.
Hanoi to Halong Bay by Train*
COVID-19 UPDATE: The last time we checked (November 2022), it is not 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 Hanoi to Halong Bay. You can buy a ticket for as low as 90,000 VND ($3.80). But there’s a catch, this train was not made for tourists and very few commuters actually take it.
The lone train operating between Hanoi and Halong Bay takes the Yen Vien – Pha Lai – Ha Long – Cai Lan railway project, which after over 15 years of construction remains to be unfinished.
Thankfully for travellers in the faraway future, the Vietnamese government decided to resume this project with target completion in 2030, according to an article by VN Express.
But since that’s still a few years away, let’s focus on what you can expect from the Hanoi to Halong Bay train for now.
Why take the train from Hanoi to Halong Bay
If you’re all about discovering culture and taking roads less travelled, the train from Hanoi to Halong Bay is for you. It passes through Vietnam’s rural landscape and towns you probably never heard of.
On top of that, you will be riding with local traders transporting fruits and vegetables to sell in the markets. 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
This train ride takes 7 hours and only hard seats are available. That can be quite uncomfortable after a few hours.
Not all train cars have seats, too. 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.
Departure and arrival station
There is only one train trip daily. This departs at 04:55 in the morning from Yen Vien Station, northeast of Hanoi city centre. That’s very early in the morning so it’s best to book a Grab ride for around 220,000 VND ($9).
You will reach Halong Bay Station at 11:45. From this train station, you can find Bai Chay Beach 5 km south and Tuan Chau Harbour 9 km southwest. That’s about 130,000 VND ($5.50) to 170,000 VND ($7) by taxi.
You can buy your train tickets onsite at Yen Vien Station. Pre-pandemic, you can also purchase your tickets online. But the last time we checked (November 2022), Baolau has yet to resume ticket-selling for this route. Click the link below to see if anything has changed.
Check Train Tickets with Baolau
Hanoi to Halong Bay by Seaplane
If you want to admire the limestone landscape from above, you can also take a seaplane from Hanoi to Halong Bay. It will give you a bird’s eye view of its stunning karst landscape.
Hai Au Aviation offers one daily seaplane trip with fares from 9,700,000 VND ($410).
There is a tentative departure every day at 10:00 in the morning, as long as there are at least 4 passengers joining the flight. If not, your trip may be moved to another date. Flight time is about 1 hour.
The seaplane departs from Terminal 1 of Hanoi Airport. It arrives at the Tuan Chau Marina (southwest of Bai Chay Beach), the starting point of most Halong Bay cruises.
You can book this adventure through the Hai Au Aviation website.
Hanoi to Halong Bay by Helicopter
Another picturesque yet expensive option would be to take a helicopter from Hanoi to Halong Bay. Vietnam Helicopter Tours offers a flight every Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. This departs at 09:00 in the morning.
The helicopter journey takes 55 minutes — already including an 8-minute scenic tour of Halong Bay.
Helicopter fares from Hanoi to Halong Bay start from 10,920,000 VND ($460) per person. You can book your flight directly on the Vietnam Helicopter Tours website.
Helicopters depart from Gia Lam Airport, which you can find 7 km east of Hanoi’s Old Quarter. They arrive at Tuan Chau Island in Halong Bay.
Alternative: Halong Bay Helicopter Tour
If the helicopter fares from Hanoi to Halong Bay are too high for your budget, you can travel to Halong Bay via bus or limo van first, and then take a helicopter tour once you’re already there.
Klook offers a Halong Bay Helicopter Tour with rates from 1,900,000 VND ($80) for a 10-minute ride. There are also more expensive tours that last longer at 15 minutes and 30 minutes.
You can book a helicopter tour through the link below.
Book a Helicopter Tour with Klook
Hanoi to Halong Bay by Group Tour
If you don’t want the hassle of finding your own way from Hanoi to Halong Bay, you can also join one of many group tours being offered for this route. Both day tours and overnight cruises are available.
Option 1: Hanoi to Halong Bay by Day Tour
If you only have a day to explore Halong Bay, we recommend booking a Dragonfly Cruise (including pick-up from Hanoi). This includes roundtrip Hanoi-Halong Bay transfers, a boat cruise along Halong Bay, seafood lunch, and kayaking around the islands.
You can book this 12-hour tour with Klook for 1,060,000 VND ($44.50).
Option 2: Hanoi to Halong Bay by Overnight Cruise
To fully appreciate the beauty of Halong Bay, we highly recommend spending at least 2 days here. With this option, you can explore Sung Sot Cave, take a dip at Titop Island, and enjoy a luxurious overnight cruise.
This Halong Bay 2D1N tour includes roundtrip transfers from and to Hanoi, full board meals, a cooking class, and a chance to explore the bay by kayak.
Rates start from 3,800,000 VND ($160) if you’re joining the cruise with at least one companion. Rooms are usually twin sharing so there is a surcharge for solo travellers.
Book an Overnight Cruise with GetYourGuide
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Visiting Halong Bay
To experience Halong Bay in the best way, you can book a boat cruise departing from Hanoi. Organized tours departing from Hanoi are often cheaper than tours sold by agencies in Halong Bay and another advantage is that you don't need to organise your transport to get there.
We recommend booking your boat tour online to get the best prices and be certain that you book with a trusted company. I already spoke to many travellers who booked boat trips from a random agency on the street and were very disappointed by the service and conditions of this boat.
See here our recommendation of well-rated boat cruises:
- Halong Bay Day Trip — from 778,000 VND ($32.50) pp
- Halong Bay Cruise — from 1,212,000 VND ($51) pp
*Both tours include free pick-up and drop-off in Hanoi.
Want to have a broader choice of tours? Check out Halong Bay Tours on Klook for more on boat cruises around Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay (Cat Ba).
Frequently asked questions about travelling to Halong Bay from Hanoi
Is it worth visiting Halong Bay?
Halong Bay offers stunning views and is one of the highlights of Vietnam. Travelling here by bus is fairly easy, but we recommend booking an organised boat trip departing from Hanoi instead. This is often cheaper and costs much less effort to organise.
What is the most popular way to get from Hanoi to Halong Bay?
The most popular option to get from Hanoi to Halong Bay is by direct bus, which takes about 2.5-3.5 hours. Other options to travel this 175 km distance from Hanoi include taking the van, train, taxi and even seaplane or helicopter.
What is the main highlight in Halong City/Bai Chay?
Not to confuse with the beautiful Bay of this area, Halong City, also known as Bai Chay, is just an ordinary city and not very interesting to visit for travellers. However, there is one stunning viewpoint overlooking Ha Long Bay on top of the famous Poem Mountain.
How can I visit Poem Mountain when travelling from Hanoi to Halong Bay?
To visit this stunning viewpoint, you will need to travel from Hanoi to Halong Bay first. As far as we know, it is unfortunately not possible to visit this viewpoint as part of an organised tour.
Once you arrive in Halong City, you can find the location of Poem Mountain easily on Google maps.
TIP: Don’t forget to read the most recent reviews to check if Poem Mountain is still open to visitors.
About the author(s)
Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she’s not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines… Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she’ll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
Based in Bali, Maarten’s passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you’ll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.
Hi Maarten,
Me and my partner will be travelling 3 months in Asia (starting end of October). We’ll also stay 30 days in Vietnam. Our route will probably go as follow: Hanoi-Ha Giang-Halong Bay-Ninh Binh -Phong Nha-Hue-Hoi An-Dalat-Ho Chi Min.
I’ve a question regarding Halong Bay. We also would like to go independently to Halong Bay for the viewpoint (Poem Mountain). Would you advise to stay the night prior in a hotel in Halong City and then start early in the morning to climb the mountain in order to continue the journey? Will we have time to find in the morning a boot tour to Halong Bay or an equivalent for that same day? Or is it possible to arrange this from Hanoi, but then starting point Halong Bay?
Thanks in advance 🙂
Best regards,
Leonie
Hi Leonie!
First of all, what a great planning! That’s one of the best itineraries I can imagine. Just one place to consider is Quy Nhon/Bai Xep. It’s a nice beach town with a great atmosphere and not many tourists.
Regarding your visit to Halong Bay: I can imagine you want to visit this viewpoint! The view from there looks really stunning on the photos! I went to Cat Ba myself, which also offers stunning views from the National Park, but I did some research on how you can plan this day.
From what I read, it takes 30-45 min to get to the top and 30min back. Let’s say you spend 30min there, this would mean it costs you about 2hrs. The mountain is located about 15min drive from the train station, but there are also a few hotels around this mountain. Going before the sunrise will bring you the best lights and also fewer crowds, so it’s recommended to stay one night in Halong Bay. If you do this, you will be back around 8am, what will be on time to get on a boat cruise. (Organised tours from Hanoi only arrive around noon in Halong Bay). Most likely you can also arrange boat tours from Halong city, but you could also contact this Boat Tour company, listed on Klook. These tours are often better organized than the average tour you book on the streets.
What I recommend is to stay one night in Halong city, climb the mountain early morning and witness sunrise, and then travel to Cat Ba instead of staying in Halong city. You can take a ferry from Tuan Chau to Cat Ba and easily organize a tour on Cat Ba Island. In Cat Ba you can visit the National Park, cruise around by motrobike and easily arrange a boat tour. It will costs a few extra days, but it will be worth it!
Let me know if you have any more questions!
Hi Maarten
I plan to stay 2-3 weeks in Ha long bay.
I was thinking of reserving a room there for 1 or 2 nights than shopping around for a better room if I’m not happy with the one I have. I will arrive Nov 1 so at that time of year I don’t imagine all the rooms will be packed. What do you think?
Also I plan to shop around for a 3 day and 2 night cruise, hopefully I can get one for $200 US dollars or a little more if necessary. What do you think about that.
I would really appreciate your opinion .
Thank You
Pam
Hi Pam!
Great adventure to look forward to! If you are staying for that long, did you also consider Cat Ba? Think Cat Ba could be even more interesting to stay for a longer time. If you need to stay in Ha Long, I’m sure you will find a good accommodation once you arrive. You can always look on Booking.com or Airbnb to explore some options, but I would also wait till you know the area a little bit better before committing to something for several weeks. Shouldn’t be a problem around this time!
For the boat tour, Klook used to offer well-rated cruises for 2 or 3 days, but I don’t see them online anymore. Now they only offer 1 day trips. Although it will be easier to find a Halong Bay cruise in Hanoi, I’m sure you will find a place to book a cruise in Ha Long Bay if you are staying here for a longer time. Just ask some agencies and likely you will find one. If not, you can always book one through an agency in Hanoi.