If you plan to visit Halong Bay – the UNESCO World Heritage Site but you don’t know how to get to Halong Bay from Hanoi. Don’t worry, we will give you some main ways to transfer from Hanoi to Halong Bay. You can see few option below and choose the best way to visit Halong Bay.
1. How to get to Halong Bay
Halong is one of the World Natural Heritage, which explains the fascination of tourists everywhere to come visit Halong. Being 170km away from Hanoi capital, Halong Bay is easily accessible.
Available Options
Hanoi to Halong Bay By Bus
If you are travelling on your own and want to save cost, taking the bus from Hanoi to Halong can be a good thrill. From Kim Ma bus station on Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, you can take Hoang Long express which departs every 15 minutes from the station. It will take about 3-4 hours to reach the pier. The cost is about $6. After that, there are plenty of cruise operators that you can choose from to hop on. This way of transport is exciting partly because you get to be part of the daily commune of the locals, who come and go to Hanoi. Additionally, with someone who has no fix schedule, taking the bus is very convenient. However, this type is more suitable for those who are more familiar with Vietnam conditions or has adventurous streak; for first time tourists, it is not recommended.
Hanoi to Halong Bay By Tour
Of course, the most popular way to go from Hanoi to Halong Bay is to book a tour. Tours from operators are cheap and available every day. They will take care of your transportation, cruise and accommodation. There will also be a guide that will help explain things along the way. Depending on the different tours operators, all of them will provide shuttle bus that starts from the Old Quarter. Some will also have private car option for you if you do not want to join 20 others on a shuttle bus. This will increase the cost but also comfort. Going on tours is recommended for family, group of friends and anybody who want to have a fuss free trip. An average cost for a 2 days tour is about $100. The operators will take care of everything. To book a tour operators, you can scout around the old quarters, there are plenty of choices depending on your budget and types of add ons.
Hanoi to Halong Bay By Motorcycle
Once you are in Vietnam, you can reach basically everywhere by motor cycle, even at the most remote places. This type is the utmost adventurous and thrilling of all. Since Halong bay is only 170 km away from Hanoi and the road is quite straight forward, one can rent a good bike from the Old quarter, a map and good riding skill to make the trip. It is advisable that you should embark on this with a small group of friends to support each other on the way, especially in case a bike brakes down. Careful inspection of bike before the trip is crucial to ensure a safest trip. An average price for bike rental is about $20/day. However, it will take slightly longer than bus or car to reach Halong and is considerably more tiring. Thus unless you plan to stay long in the area, riding the bike to Halong is not very worth it.
2. Decide on the duration of the stay. This should be dependent on your travel plan.
You can do a tour in Halong bay for 1 day, 2 days and 1 night, or 3 days and 2 nights, and stay more in Halong City or Cat Ba island in Halong Bay. However, a duration of 2 days and 1 night, or 3 days and 2 nights, is preferable.
3. Choose your accommodation. You can choose to stay on the boat itself, or a cabin on the boat that offers overnight cabin.
Oriental Sails Halong Cruise offers the cabins to stay on the boat. The cabin is spacious, absolutely clean likes a three-star hotel. The condition of the cabin is also good. It is air-conditioned, hot water is available, and there is a hairdryer. In overall, you do not worry about accommodation if you stay with Oriental Sails Halong Cruise.
Another option for accommodation is the hotel or bungalow on Cat Ba island. It is a small town, but has mostly conditions as on the main land. There are a lot of hotels or guest houses there with a reasonable price.
4. Know about the food. Staying on the boat, the staff will supply all the meals.
Most of the food is seafood. Otherwise, meat and vegetables are also supplied on the boat.
For breakfast, there is milk, jam, bread, toast, soup, eggs, sausage, grilled pork meat, salad, and fruit. Other meals have salad, steamed vegetables, eggs, meat (pork, chicken, or beef), shrimp, crab, and fruit. Vegetarian people can require the chef to have a special menu.
5. Decide on a company to be with Vietnam Typical Tours
You can book any cruise for overnight in Halong bay, and is highly recommended.
Know how much the company charges to stay on a boat. For example, Halong Oriental Sails charges 112USD per person for a 2 days and 1 night package, and 206USD per person for 3 days and 2 nights. Features such as a 2 way bus, boat, tour guide, food, entrance fees, water, and kayaking are included...
6. Decide on what to do in Halong Bay.
Halong is one of the World Natural Heritage, which explains the fascination of tourists everywhere to come visit Halong. Being 170km away from Hanoi capital, Halong Bay is easily accessible.
Available Options
Hanoi to Halong Bay By Bus
If you are travelling on your own and want to save cost, taking the bus from Hanoi to Halong can be a good thrill. From Kim Ma bus station on Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, you can take Hoang Long express which departs every 15 minutes from the station. It will take about 3-4 hours to reach the pier. The cost is about $6. After that, there are plenty of cruise operators that you can choose from to hop on. This way of transport is exciting partly because you get to be part of the daily commune of the locals, who come and go to Hanoi. Additionally, with someone who has no fix schedule, taking the bus is very convenient. However, this type is more suitable for those who are more familiar with Vietnam conditions or has adventurous streak; for first time tourists, it is not recommended.
Hanoi to Halong Bay By Tour
Of course, the most popular way to go from Hanoi to Halong Bay is to book a tour. Tours from operators are cheap and available every day. They will take care of your transportation, cruise and accommodation. There will also be a guide that will help explain things along the way. Depending on the different tours operators, all of them will provide shuttle bus that starts from the Old Quarter. Some will also have private car option for you if you do not want to join 20 others on a shuttle bus. This will increase the cost but also comfort. Going on tours is recommended for family, group of friends and anybody who want to have a fuss free trip. An average cost for a 2 days tour is about $100. The operators will take care of everything. To book a tour operators, you can scout around the old quarters, there are plenty of choices depending on your budget and types of add ons.
Hanoi to Halong Bay By Motorcycle
Once you are in Vietnam, you can reach basically everywhere by motor cycle, even at the most remote places. This type is the utmost adventurous and thrilling of all. Since Halong bay is only 170 km away from Hanoi and the road is quite straight forward, one can rent a good bike from the Old quarter, a map and good riding skill to make the trip. It is advisable that you should embark on this with a small group of friends to support each other on the way, especially in case a bike brakes down. Careful inspection of bike before the trip is crucial to ensure a safest trip. An average price for bike rental is about $20/day. However, it will take slightly longer than bus or car to reach Halong and is considerably more tiring. Thus unless you plan to stay long in the area, riding the bike to Halong is not very worth it.
2. Decide on the duration of the stay. This should be dependent on your travel plan.
You can do a tour in Halong bay for 1 day, 2 days and 1 night, or 3 days and 2 nights, and stay more in Halong City or Cat Ba island in Halong Bay. However, a duration of 2 days and 1 night, or 3 days and 2 nights, is preferable.
3. Choose your accommodation. You can choose to stay on the boat itself, or a cabin on the boat that offers overnight cabin.
Oriental Sails Halong Cruise offers the cabins to stay on the boat. The cabin is spacious, absolutely clean likes a three-star hotel. The condition of the cabin is also good. It is air-conditioned, hot water is available, and there is a hairdryer. In overall, you do not worry about accommodation if you stay with Oriental Sails Halong Cruise.
Another option for accommodation is the hotel or bungalow on Cat Ba island. It is a small town, but has mostly conditions as on the main land. There are a lot of hotels or guest houses there with a reasonable price.
4. Know about the food. Staying on the boat, the staff will supply all the meals.
Most of the food is seafood. Otherwise, meat and vegetables are also supplied on the boat.
For breakfast, there is milk, jam, bread, toast, soup, eggs, sausage, grilled pork meat, salad, and fruit. Other meals have salad, steamed vegetables, eggs, meat (pork, chicken, or beef), shrimp, crab, and fruit. Vegetarian people can require the chef to have a special menu.
5. Decide on a company to be with Vietnam Typical Tours
You can book any cruise for overnight in Halong bay, and is highly recommended.
Know how much the company charges to stay on a boat. For example, Halong Oriental Sails charges 112USD per person for a 2 days and 1 night package, and 206USD per person for 3 days and 2 nights. Features such as a 2 way bus, boat, tour guide, food, entrance fees, water, and kayaking are included...
6. Decide on what to do in Halong Bay.
The most interesting thing about this site is that there are thousands of fantastic rock formations rising up on the sea. It is great for photos.
You can also do activities such as caving, swimming, kayaking, adventure and sightseeing.
See more itineraries of Orietal Sails Halong cruise: Oriental Sails 2 days - Oriental Sails 3 days
You can also do activities such as caving, swimming, kayaking, adventure and sightseeing.
See more itineraries of Orietal Sails Halong cruise: Oriental Sails 2 days - Oriental Sails 3 days