Hanoi to Halong Bay: The Definitive Travel Guide for 2024

Absolutely everything you need to know about visiting Halong Bay from Hanoi in 2023, including a comprehensive guide on how to travel from Hanoi to Halong Bay on a day tour, overnight cruise, or DIY.

This post includes what to do in Halong Bay, recommended tour companies, and my top 3 Halong Bay alternatives based on my personal experience travelling to and living in Northern Vietnam.

Halong Bay (Hạ Long Bay) is Vietnam’s best-known and most-visited tourist attraction. More than 6 million people flock to the area every year to cruise around on wooden boats, known as junks.

What makes Halong Bay so unique is the 2,000-odd limestone islands and islets that emerge from the waters off the coast. These range from towering karsts with deep caves, to tiny formations ringed by white-sand beaches.

In 1994, Halong Bay was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ever since then, it’s featured near the top of every traveller’s bucket list.

Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital city, is the jumping off point for Halong Bay. But figuring out how you’re going to visit Halong Bay from Hanoi can be confusing.

There are literally thousands of tour operators organising tours and packages. Fair to say they vary dramatically in quality.

When I moved to Hanoi, the very first piece of advice I received was ‘Don’t book the $12 Halong Bay cruise’.

It was a good life lesson!

I’ve seen far too many travellers get sucked in by cheap deals and have their Halong Bay experience ruined as a result.

This guide is designed to help you tackle Halong Bay like a pro and have the best experience possible. It covers three main topics:

• Hanoi to Halong Bay day tours (great if you have limited time and are travelling on a budget)
• Halong Bay overnight cruises (the best way to see the bay, provided you have the time and funds)
• Halong Bay DIY trips from Hanoi (using bus, train, van or car)

A big thank you to my friend and Hanoi-based tour guide, Trang, who helped to ensure this guide is up-to-date and accurate!

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Please note: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link (at no extra cost to you). Learn more.

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Halong Bay: The basics

In this section, I’ll run through the Halong Bay basics: What, where, when, and how. I’ll also throw in my two cents about whether or not Halong Bay is worth visiting.

Feel free to skip ahead if you’ve already done your research.

Where is Halong Bay?

Halong Bay is located off the coast of Northern Vietnam. It is part of Quảng Ninh Province, which borders on China. The nearest major city is Halong City (Thành phố Hạ Long).

Most boats and cruises depart from Halong Bay cruise port, also known as Tuan Chau Gateway. It is located on the island of Tuần Châu, 13km or a 20-minute drive from Halong City via land bridge.

The heart of Halong Bay, where boats cruise around the karsts and you get those amazing photos, is approximately 20 km off the coast from the port.

How far away is Halong Bay from Hanoi?

Tuan Chau island, the jumping off point for Halong Bay, is located roughly 153 km (95 miles) from Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital city.

How long does it take to get from Hanoi to Halong Bay?

Hanoi and Halong Bay are connected by the 5B Highway, one of the newest and best highways in the whole country. The area has very good infrastructure, partly because of tourism, and partly because the nearby city of Hai Phong is Northern Vietnam’s main seaport.

It takes 2.5-3 hours on average to travel from Hanoi to Halong Bay by car or van. With a bathroom break half-way, the journey usually takes 3.5 hours.

By bus, it takes between 3.5 and 4.5 hours.

And by train, it takes 7 hours to get to Halong from Hanoi.

How long do you need in Halong Bay?

Typically, people visit Halong Bay for 1 or 2 nights. If you have the time and your budget allows for it, I recommend staying for 2 nights. This is the option I chose the first time I visited Vietnam.

If you have 2 nights on the boat, you naturally have one full day of cruising, which means a whole day without having to be on a bus or in a car. Having this day in between gives you a chance to relax and take in the landscape.

It also means your junk boat will travel further out into the bay. And the further you go, the less polluted and the more beautiful it gets.

Can you visit Halong Bay as a day trip from Hanoi?

Yes, it is possible to visit Halong Bay as a day trip from Hanoi. In this post, I’ll show you exactly how.

A day trip is a good way to go if you’re pressed for time or on a tight budget. Just be aware that a large chunk of your day will be spent in the car. You’ll miss out on the chance to wake up amongst the karsts, which was the highlight of Halong Bay for me.

Is Halong Bay worth visiting?

There’s an elephant in the room.

If you’ve read this blog before, you’ll know that I’m a big believer in travelling off the beaten track. So why am I writing about Halong Bay, Vietnam’s busiest tourist attraction?

Halong Bay is a bit like Sapa: It’s very touristy, it has a pollution problem, and very sadly, tourism development hasn’t been managed particularly well.

But Sapa is still Sapa, and Halong Bay is still Halong Bay.

It’s still a UNESCO Site. It’s still one of the ‘wonders of the world’. And it’s still one of the most majestic landscapes on planet Earth.

It’s still a huge employer of local guides, chefs, skippers and tourism professionals, and it’s still a major driver of the tourism economy in Northern Vietnam.

I’m not here to tell you you shouldn’t visit Halong Bay – that would be hypocritical. I have been to Halong Bay twice now, and both times I enjoyed it.

At the same time, I do want you to be aware that there are some great Halong Bay alternatives out there. Bai Tu Long Bay is one of them, and I’ve included a few tour providers that visit Bai Tu long in this guide.

At the end of this guide, you’ll find some of my favourite Halong Bay alternatives – or you can browse this separate guide for more ideas.

Just like you can still have an authentic experience in Sapa, I think it’s possible to have an enjoyable experience on Halong Bay. You just have to be prepared, well-informed, and manage your expectations.

Just don’t book the $12 cruise!

Is Bai Tu Long Bay the same as Halong Bay?

Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay are two separate bays that sit side by side. If you look at the map, you’ll see that Bai Tu Long Bay wraps around the northern coast of Vietnam, just to the northeast of Halong Bay. A third bay, Lan Ha Bay, is located west of Halong Bay. It hugs a large forested island, Cat Ba.

In recent years, Bai Tu Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay have become more popular as alternatives to Halong Bay. The landscape in all three bays is basically the same – dramatic karst rocks and caves. But each one feels very different.

As a general rule, there are more restrictions on how many boats can go out into Bai Tu Long Bay at any one time, so it can be significantly quieter. It’s also more remote and less polluted.

Lan Ha Bay attracts a particular crowd, mainly backpackers and budget travellers, and has additional activities on offer on Cat Ba Island.

Many Halong Bay cruises will take you through Bai Tu Long Bay as part of the itinerary. Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba Island can be visited separately from Hai Phong (refer to the section on Halong Bay alternatives for more details).

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How to visit Halong Bay from Hanoi

Most people go to Halong Bay for one reason, and that’s to drift amongst the karsts on board a junk.

To go on a junk, you need to book a tour. You can either do that online before you arrive in Vietnam, or in person in Hanoi or Halong.

There are hundreds (literally) of tour operators working in this space, and they differ vastly in quality and price. I’ll say more on this later, but for now, all you need to know is that 95% of Halong Bay cruises include transfers between your hotel in Hanoi and Halong Bay. This will either be rolled into the price, or added on when you book.

In other words, if you book a tour package – which I recommend you do – your transportation to Halong will automatically be taken care of.

There are two basic tour options to choose from, depending on your budget and how much time you have:

• Halong Bay day tour from Hanoi
• Halong Bay overnight cruise from Hanoi (1 or 2 nights)

Under certain circumstances, you might want to travel to Halong Bay from Hanoi independently. Consider this option if:

• You prefer a private transfer rather than the standard transfer offered in your tour package (in which case, you can take a private car with driver)
• Your tour package has transport as an optional add-on and you want to find a cheaper option
• You are on a very tight budget and want to organise your cruise the cheapest way possible (in which case, you can use the limousine bus, public bus or train)
• You want to stay in Halong City
• You want to visit Sun World Park and the cable car before Halong Bay

If you do want to travel to Halong Bay independently, know that it’s going to take a bit more organising and a bit more effort. I will go over this in detail in Option 3 below.

Option 1: Halong Bay day tour from Hanoi

First let’s look at the easiest, quickest and most affordable way to see Halong Bay, and that’s with a Halong Bay day trip from Hanoi.

There are a bunch of Halong Bay one-day tour options that cater to travellers who are time-poor but still want to tick the UNESCO site off their list.

I’ll be honest: A Halong Bay day tour is a tightly packed schedule. It starts early, finishes late, and involves spending about 6 hours or more on the road. I probably wouldn’t recommend you attempt it with kids in tow.

It’s still the quickest way to get a taste for the bay. Tours usually include boat cruising, lunch on deck, and a couple of activities such as walking through caves, kayaking or swimming.

How to book a tour before you arrive in Vietnam

It’s possible to book a tour in person at one of the many agencies in Hanoi. However, I strongly recommend booking online.

Using a booking service such as Viator or Get Your Guide gives you the added safety net of a third party if anything goes wrong.

Online payment is secure, cancellation policies are usually quite relaxed if your plans change, and you can manage your booking on the app (no need to print anything).

Booking online also gives you time and space to properly research the options (and when it comes to travelling to Halong Bay from Hanoi, there are a lot). This reduces the likelihood of getting pressured into something you don’t want to do.

Get Your Guide list the tour provider for each itinerary, so you can do independent research to verify the company and the boat itself before you book.

I would recommend booking your day tour at least 3 weeks out if you’re travelling in low season or 6-8 weeks out if you’re travelling in high season.

If push comes to shove, you can usually find a tour with availability a few days out (or even the night before).

Recommended Halong Bay day tours

I’ve done the legwork for you and put together this list of reputable Halong Bay day tours from Hanoi. Each one follows a good itinerary, has great reviews, and is backed by a reputable company. All tours have an English-speaking guide.

Important things to know about Halong Bay tours

• When booking a Halong Bay tour, you’ll need to enter your details including your full name, passport number and visa expiry date. If you don’t yet have your Vietnam visa, you can note this down. Remember to bring your passport with you on the day! You’ll need it in order to check in at the dock.
• Some tour operators will only pick you up from a hotel, not an Airbnb. That doesn’t mean you have to organise your own transport, it just means you need to get yourself to the nearest hotel for the scheduled pick up.
• Similarly, most tour operators charge an additional fee (around $10) for pick up from a hotel outside of the Old Quarter.

• Most lunches are seafood-heavy, but can be customised. If you’re veg/vegan or you have dietary requirements, give the company plenty of advance warning.
• It’s customary to tip your guide provided you were happy with the service. How much you leave depends on you – and the size of the group, length of the tour, etc. A small tip for your skipper or driver is also appreciated. If you visit a floating village, you often have an opportunity to leave a donation at the local school or library, etc. Do not hand money straight to children.
• Most buses and vans will stop at ‘souvenir’ shops or craft workshops on the road from Hanoi to Halong. Don’t feel pressured to buy anything; it’s perfectly OK just to smile and walk through. Save your money for Hanoi’s shops instead!

• Be very careful to note what’s included in the tour price and what’s not. Most day tours include lunch, but some don’t include drinks. Equipment hire for kayaking is often an optional extra that you have to pay for in cash on the day.
• Overnight tours often have a holiday surcharge (around $20) for Christmas, International New Year and Tet (Lunar New Year). Some companies also add a peak season surcharge to the price for bookings between October 1 and April 30.
• Halong Bay tour itineraries are always subject to change. Boats will still sail if it’s raining, but if the weather is bad enough, there’s a chance your tour might be altered or even cancelled.

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Option 2: Halong Bay overnight cruise from Hanoi

One of the best experiences you can have in Vietnam is spending the night on a Halong Bay junk cruise. I have vivid memories of taking a shower on our junk and looking out the round portal window as the karsts floated by. I will never forget that view!

Like day tours, most overnight cruises start from Hanoi and include transfer to and from your hotel in the price. (Some charge extra, however, so always check before you book!).

How to book a Halong Bay cruise

Again, I highly recommend booking through a third party website for secure payment and extra insurance. Hotel booking websites Agoda and Booking.com both have a big selection of boats available – especially Agoda, which is my preferred platform for Southeast Asia.

You can also book Halong Bay overnight cruises through Viator and Get Your Guide. Viator has a bigger selection and is my preferred booking site.

However – things have changed in the past few years and increasingly, cruises are being advertised on tour websites through agents such as Halong Bay Cruise Hunters. This makes it very difficult to do your research when you can’t view the name of the boat. For this reason, I highly recommend booking through Agoda, which is more transparent.

If you’re a solo traveller, note that some boats do charge a single supplement (up to 70 USD) for a single room.

Consider reserving overnight tours a little further in advance – 5-6 weeks out for low season or 10-12 weeks out for high season.

Best Halong Bay overnight cruises

Most (but not all) overnight cruises follow a very similar itinerary. The main difference between companies is the quality of the boat and the standard of the accommodation and food.

There are literally thousands of boats on Halong Bay. To make things easier for you, I’ve put together a shortlist of 9 reputable Halong Bay overnight cruises with excellent reviews.

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Option 3: Hanoi to Halong Bay independently

If you want to travel from Hanoi to Halong Bay independently, there are several options available. In the next section, I’ll go through each transportation method in detail.

Option A: Private car from Hanoi to Halong Bay

There are a few major advantages to booking a private car and driver from Hanoi. It’s a door-to-door service, you can stop whenever you want, and it’s a lot faster than the bus or van (a professional driver can get you from Hanoi to Halong Bay in as little as 3 hours with no stops).

Ouros Travel is one of many local companies that run SUVs, sedans and small vans between Hanoi and Halong. The quoted price is per vehicle, and depending on what model you choose, it will cost you between 80-120 USD for 2-9 people.

If you’re travelling with kids or a large group, this can work out as an economical alternative to the bus.

Private car from Hanoi Airport to Halong Bay

If you’re flying into Hanoi and you want to hit the ground running, you can pre-book a private transfer from Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi to Halong Bay.

The driver will meet you at the airport in Hanoi and drop you off either at the boat dock in Tuan Chau or at your hotel in Halong.

This is a particularly good option if you’re arriving mid-morning and want to get to Halong on the same day. I would also consider using this service to get back to the airport after your cruise.

Most tour companies will drop you at the airport, but a private car is a safer bet if you’re trying to make a tight connection.

Option B: Hanoi to Halong Bay by limousine van

I love limousine buses and used them regularly when I lived in Hanoi to get to Ninh Binh, Sapa, Thai Nguyen, and other locations around the north. The limousine van is a nice middle ground between hiring a private car and taking a public bus.

Basically, it’s a minivan fitted out with super comfy lazyboy-style recliner chairs. WIFI, power sockets and drinking water is all provided. It’s a door-to-door service.

A good budget limousine van is Rosa Eco Bus. They run 2 vans to Halong, starting from Hanoi at 7.30am or 11.30am.

Tickets start from $21.50 and can be reserved online through Get Your Guide or booked via 12GoAsia. Hotel pick up in Hanoi is included, and conveniently, the driver can either drop you at the boat jetty waiting hall or at your accommodation in Halong.

Option C: Hanoi to Halong Bay by local bus

There are several bus services between Hanoi and Halong. Some terminate at Tuan Chau Gateway (the boat dock), while others only go as far as Bai Chay Bus Station on the outskirts of Halong City. Make sure you check before you board.

Sapa Express is my top choice. The coaches have AC, and you can reserve tickets online in advance to avoid missing out.

There is a scheduled departure for Tuan Chau every day from Hanoi, with free pick-up available if you’re staying in the Old Quarter.

The bus leaves at 8.30am and arrives at the dock at 11am. Tickets cost $12.

A cheaper option is local bus company Kumho Viet Thanh. They run 6 buses every day starting from around 6am and finishing at 6pm. Tickets cost 120K VND ($5.20) and can be bought from the bus station in Hanoi or online here. Note that these buses terminate at Bai Chay Bus Station.

Hanoi has several bus stations. The one you want for Kumho Viet Thanh is My Dinh. A Grab car from Hanoi Old Quarter to My Dinh costs around 120K VND ($5.20).

At the other end, a Grab car from Bai Chay Station to the boat dock costs at least 110K VND ($5). This brings the total cost to approximately $15.40, making the Sapa Express bus a more affordable option overall.

Option D: Hanoi to Halong Bay by train

You can also travel from Hanoi to Halong Bay by train. BUT it’s a very long journey – around 6 hours – and because there are only hard seats available, it’s not terribly comfortable.

Bus or VIP van is a much better way to travel overall.

There is just one train daily, Vietnam Railways train 51501. It departs from Yen Vien Station bright and early at 4.55am, and pulls in at Halong Train Station (Ga Hạ Long) at 11.45am.

A ticket for the train costs $4.50 per person. A Grab car from Hanoi Old Quarter to Yen Vien Station in the city’s east costs at least 140K VND ($6). At the other end, a Grab car from Halong Train Station to the boat dock costs at least 110K VND ($5). This brings the total cost to approximately $14.50.

If you’re taking this train or any other train in Vietnam, make sure you read my tips for what to pack for a long rail journey.

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Things to do in Halong Bay & surrounds

Now that you have the logistics of your Halong Bay trip sorted, it’s time to start exploring the different attractions and activities on offer.

Not all tours follow the same prescribed itinerary, so having an idea of what you actually want to do on Halong Bay will help you choose one that’s right for you.

Note that anyone visiting Halong Bay must pay a compulsory 200,000-500,000 VND (8-20 USD) national park entrance fee.

Some attractions, including caves and fishing villages, also charge a small fee (typically 30,000 VND 50,000 VND).

The main things to do on Halong Bay include:

• Cruising the bay and overnighting on a junk boat
• Touring fishing villages (floating villages)
• Sun Sot (Surprise Cave) & other caves
• Kayaking, snorkelling and swimming
• Ti Top Island (that famous photo spot)

Extra things to do around Halong Bay include:

• Bai Chay Beach
• Halong Queen Cablecar
• Sun World Halong Park
• Poem Mountain
• Cat Ba National Park (Cat Ba Island) and Monkey Island

Halong City tips

Here are a few quick pointers for anyone travelling through Halong City.

How to organise a Halong Bay tour from Halong City

There are a couple of options here: Join a cruise coming from Hanoi that gives you the option to meet at the boat dock, book a boat cruise that includes pick from your hotel in Halong, or head down to the dock in the morning and join a boat tour.

Your hotel should be able to give you more advice on the latter.

To do a Halong Bay tour on the fly:

1. Get yourself from Hanoi to Halong City using one of the transport methods above.
2. Transfer to Tuan Chau boat dock (a car costs around 140K or a bike 70K when booked through Grab).
3. Buy a cruise ticket at the dock in Tuan Chau (250,000 VND per person for 4-6 hours, plus an extra 200,000 VND for entrance to the UNESCO Zone).

Other things to do in Halong City

If you base yourself in Halong City, you have an opportunity to do other activities in the area. Popular spots include Sun World Park (a massive amusement park, great for kids) and Queen Cable Car. You also have the option to hike up Poem Mountain for a nice view of the bay.

It’s also worth having a stroll around Halong City to visit the local market and Quang Ninh Museum. Like nearby Haiphong, Halong is a great example of a less-touristy city that has its own particular charms.

Ti Top Island and Sung Sot Cave can be visited on a short boat trip from Halong. Just head to the dock and ask around.

Where to stay in Halong City

Budget: BBQ Hostel (from $8) has free bikes and a popular on-site restaurant.

Mid-range: Beachfront Deja Vu House (from $24) has a gorgeous design and boutique-y feel. It’s close to the beach on the eastern side of town (other side of Bai Chay Bridge), and features a shared kitchen and free bikes.

Up-market: Novotel Halong Bay (from $50) is close to Bai Chay Beach and has a spectacular outdoor pool. Wyndham Legend (from $92) is located in the city. The high-rise has ultra-modern rooms and two cocktail bars.

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Hanoi to Halong Bay: Summary

What to pack when you visit Halong Bay

• Your passport. Most companies require you to present your documents when you check in for your cruise at the dock (even if it’s just a day trip).
• Motion sickness and/or sea sickness medication. Pack plenty for the boat and the bus/car if you suffer from motion sickness.
• Book or e-reader. Depending on what kind of tour you do, there may be some downtime. All boats have WIFI these days, but I recommend unwinding with a book. I travel with a Kindle and couldn’t live without it.

• A reusable water bottle. Absolutely essential for minimising plastic waste and staying hydrated. I love my S’Well water bottle – it’s vacuum insulated to keep water icy cold for the whole day, and it doesn’t sweat. Most boats have pure water refill stations.
• Rehydration tablets or sachets. I always travel with a tube of Hydralyte tablets.

• Rain jacket. It does get wet on the bay, so it’s good to have rain gear with you in case you get caught out when you’re kayaking or exploring the caves. I love the packable rain jackets by Lomon for women and EZRUN for men.
• Your swim kit. Don’t forget your bathers! Towels, snorkels and flippers and provided. If you want to bring your own instead, you can.
• Warm jacket or scarf. It can get chilly in the evening when you’re out on the water, so remember to pack something you can throw over your shoulders at night.

Tips for being a responsible traveller in Halong Bay

• Choose a locally owned company if you can.
• Don’t litter! Avoid single-use plastics when you’re out on the bay (and anywhere else in Vietnam or Southeast Asia, for that matter).
• Be respectful when visiting floating villages. Remember that these are people’s homes and communities. Never photograph children.
• Support a few of these Hanoi social enterprises when you’re back in the city – all do amazing work for the environment and Vietnamese people.

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Halong Bay alternatives

If you decide that Halong Bay isn’t quite what you’re looking for, I can recommend these 3 alternative options:

• Bai Tu Long Bay & Yen Duc Village: This is definitely an option you should consider for a more ‘off-the-beaten-path’ experience. Some tours combine a boat trip and a homestay, so you get to experience the best of both worlds. Indochina Junk, one of the most reputable tour companies working on the bay, offers a great itinerary for this area.

• Cat Ba Island & Lan Ha Bay: I recently visited Cat Ba Island and did a boat trip around Lan Ha Bay. It was pleasant – much quieter than Halong, and the National Park offers some great outdoor activities including cycling tours and hiking. Unfortunately though Lan Ha Bay is quite polluted – plastic waste is a huge problem.

• Ninh Binh: ‘Halong Bay on Land’, as it’s known, also offers boat trips (although the waterways are very shallow), cool bungalow accommodation and other activities. It’s only 1.5 hours from Hanoi, making it a great day trip option. Here is my comprehensive Ninh Binh guide and itinerary.

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Where to stay in Hanoi

If you’re going to Halong Bay, you’ll probably be staying in Hanoi on either side of your trip.

My favourite hotel in Hanoi is AIRA Boutique (formerly Essence Hanoi). The rooms are gorgeous, the on-site restaurant is one of the best in the city, and the service is unbeatable.

When we did our Halong Bay tour, this hotel stored our big luggage free of charge. When we got back, they allowed us to have a shower before our night train, even though we had already checked out.

If Airbnb is more your thing, here is my curated list of the best quintessentially Hanoian Airbnb apartments.

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Still have questions, concerns about visiting Halong Bay? Leave a comment below and I’ll do my best to help out.

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