8 Different Transport Options From Hanoi To Halong Bay

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Where Are Those Morgans hanoi to Halong Bay

Halong Bay is one of Vietnam’s most popular destinations on the heavily beaten tourist path. Who doesn’t want to see a unique UNESCO World Heritage Site on an overnight cruise. But how do you get there and what are the best transportation routes?

In this guide we share various ways to travel between Hanoi and Halong Bay including options for all types of budgets and travel styles. Visitors typically originate in Hanoi, but we’ll also give you alternatives if you’re visiting from other destinations.

Our Experience

Person sleeping on a large bunk on a Vietnam sleeper bus
Mark on our sleeper bus to Halong Bay

We visited both Hanoi and Halong Bay in October 2018 as part of our 18 month honeymoon. For this trip we started in Hanoi, went to Sapa and then to Halong Bay for a boat cruise. But our journey from Sapa to Halong was honestly horrendous.

We had our hotel book us a local sleeper bus and it ended up being one of the worst bus rides we’ve ever experienced. So we want to help you avoid that mistake and travel in comfort between Hanoi and Halong Bay. There are 8 different transport options depending on how much you want to spend and your time limit. Read more about us.

Getting To Hanoi

First, it’s important to get your bearings and understand where you’re going. Halong Bay is located in the northeast corner of Vietnam around 95 miles (150km) from the border with China. It’s easily reachable from Hanoi, but there are also options from Ninh Binh and Sapa if that works better for your trip.

Before we get into Hanoi to Halong Bay options, let’s take a look at getting into downtown Hanoi which is where you’ll likely start from:

Flying to Hanoi (Noi Bai International Airport)

Most visitors to Hanoi will fly directly into Vietnam’s capital city as their first port of call. Fortunately, Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) is one of Vietnam’s 2 major international airports so it’s easily accessible from many parts of the world. This means many options for both international and domestic travel.

We always recommend booking your flights with Skyscanner because they offer very competitive prices. Look for VietJet Air, Vietnam Airlines, Jetstar and Bamboo for unbeatable value. But be sure to check luggage allowances if you’re backpacking.

READ: Why we love the Osprey Farpoint 40 for travel

A VietJet plane parked on a runway in the rain
Our VietJet plane on the runway

Hanoi Airport to Downtown Hanoi

Once you land, you’ll need to organize onward travel about 15 miles (25km) to downtown Hanoi via one of these methods:

  • Grab – This is essentially the Uber of southeast Asia. With the app and internet inside the airport, you can book a GrabCar straight to town for about 300,000 VND (about US $12.00). If you land at peak times, expect to pay more. You can also take a GrabBike for around 125,000 VND (about US $5.00) if you packed light.
  • Airport Shuttle – Some airlines offer an airport shuttle so it’s work checking. If you fly into Hanoi with Vietnam Airlines (look for the pink and white bus) or Vietjet (look for the red bus), their dedicated shuttle into town is about 40,000 VND (US $1.50) each way.
  • Public Bus – If you’re on a tight budget, the Hanoi city buses travel between Noi Bai Airport and Hanoi city center. Look for bus numbers 7 and 17 near the right side of the terminal exit. It costs 5,000 VND (US $0.20) per person and takes about one hour.
  • Private Shuttle – Prebook a private transfer in an air conditioned car with hotel drop off ahead of time. Here are a few good options:

Travel Tip: With all the options now available, we’d probably avoid the regular taxi option. A common scam is to overcharge tourists and if you use any of the options above, you’ll know how much to pay before you begin the ride.

Train To Hanoi (Ga Ha Noi)

Traveling by train in Vietnam is the perfect way to see beautiful countryside regions you’d otherwise never see. It can also be quite comfortable if you pay a little extra and book a whole first class sleeper cabin. But journey times up and down the long narrow country can understandably put some people off. For example, if you were to take a train directly from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, it would take around 35 hours.

More likely you’ll be traveling up from Da Nang, Hue, Dong Hoi or Ninh Binh. Arrival into Hanoi at Ga Ha Noi is about a 20 minute walk from the heart of Hanoi’s Old Quarter. We always like to book with 12Go Asia for the best price and service.

READ: Best things to do in Hanoi

 

Hanoi To Halong Bay Overview

A train along the tracks in Hanoi, Vietnam
A train barreling down the tracks in Vietnam

Halong Bay is roughly 105 miles (170km) from downtown Hanoi. There are no direct flights and the average transfer time is about 2.5 to 3.5 hours. It’s an awkward distance in terms of working out whether traveling independently is a viable option.

Unfortunately, the direct train line from Halong to Hanoi was closed in 2021 due to low ridership so there’s no direct train either. If you want to travel by train, you’ll have to book the Hanoi to Hai Phong option and then get a transfer to Halong Bay. But this option is very time consuming and inconvenient so we wouldn’t recommend it.

The most popular route involves the Hanoi – Hai Phong Expressway (known as Highway 5B) which takes about 2.5 hours by bus or car. However, motorbikes are not allowed on this stretch of road. So if you want to travel by motorbike, you’ll have to use the 18 Expressway, which takes a little longer around 3.5 hours.

Travel Tip: It’s also important to note that rush hour can significantly slow your travel time. Try to avoid the hours between 7:00am-8:00am and 5:00am-6:00pm if possible.

Now, let’s see the best ways to travel between Hanoi and Halong bay:

1. Transfer Included With Cruise Booking

White junk boat floating in the waters of Halong Bay
Large junk boat floating in Halong Bay

Most travelers heading to Halong Bay will book some sort of cruise excursion ranging in length from a few hours to a few days. We booked a two day one night cruise had a great time. You can read our guide if you want to learn how to book the perfect Halong Bay cruise.

When you book a cruise online, sometimes Hanoi to Halong Bay transfers are already included in the price. We’d recommend booking online because you can read previous guest reviews and see pictures of the exact cruise you’ll experience. If you book in person, be ready to negotiate a price because they’ll always start high.

The benefit to booking a transfer with a cruise is that it’s incredibly convenient and can be cost effective. It will also typically include hotel pick up and/or drop off if needed. But it’s often not the cheapest option, it may limit your time in Halong Bay and will most likely be a shared transportation situation.

2. Private Shuttle

Women walking along the paved streets in Hanoi, Vietnam
Woman working in the streets of Hanoi

Booking a private shuttle is by far the most comfortable way to travel between Hanoi and Halong Bay. It’s also one of the most direct ways to get to Halong Bay so it’s a good option if you’re short on time. This transfer with Klook is incredibly popular. We like this option because you can book it before your trip and focus on planning the rest of your Vietnam itinerary.

Rides should include a safe, clean and air-conditioned vehicle with ability to choose a pick up time. A private shuttle is good for large groups because you can book one car for everyone. They will also provide hotel pick up or drop off. However, this is one of the most expensive options and it’s not as environmentally friendly as others on this list.

3. GrabCar

Grab is a Singaporean company offering Uber like rides all throughout Asia. It’s similar to a private transfer or a taxi, but it’s often a cheaper option. We’d always choose a Grab over a taxi because a common scam in Vietnam is to overcharge for taxi rides. But with Grab, the price is already predetermined so it eliminates the stress. And since it’s over 100 miles to Halong Bay from Hanoi, you don’t want to be swindled with that long of a ride.

You can expect the fare for a one way trip to be around 1,600,000-1,900,000 VND (US $64-75) and it will take about 2.5 hours. We’d also highly recommend downloading the Grab App (iPhone or Android) before you get to Vietnam. You can choose to add your credit card details or pay cash for each ride. You can book ahead or book on the spot depending on when you need a ride. Another option is to pre-book a taxi on 12GoAsia (filter by transport type).

4. Public Bus

Front view of a red public bus traveling from Hanoi to Halong Bay
One of the public buses traveling to Halong Bay

For backpackers and those on a tight budget looking for the cheapest way to travel between Hanoi and Halong Bay, look no further than the local bus. This option uses the new highway and takes about 3 hours, but it may take longer if there are a lot of passengers to pick up.

Buses leave from My Dinh station in Hanoi which is 5.5 miles (9km) west of the Old Quarter and you may need to take a Grab to get to the station. There are several local companies including Kumho Viet Thanh, Phuc Xuyen, Ka Long, Hung Duc and Duc Phuc running multiples buses a day.

You can expect the public bus to cost around 120,000-250,000 VND (about US $5-10) with buses running from 5:00-22:30. This is an extremely affordable option, but it can be extremely busy and it’s not the most convenient. Many of the public buses are run by locals who don’t English so it’s best to learn a few Vietnamese phrases for your journey.

The bus then arrives into Halong City at the Bai Chay station and if you plan to head straight over to a cruise, you’ll need another taxi over to the cruise port. So just keep in mind, you’ll need transport at both ends.

5. Motorbike

Five motorbikes parked for rent on the streets of Hanoi
Motorbikes for rent in Hanoi

This option is reserved only for the most adventurous of travelers. As long as you’re a confident driver, why not hire a motorbike and make the journey yourself? If this sounds like your next adventure, you can hire a motorbike in Hanoi, hand over a copy of your passport and hit the open road.

There are many rental stores with English-speaking staff in the Old Quarter. We think the major benefit to this option is that you’ll be able to stop off at any place you like between Hanoi and Halong Bay. Most locations will communicate via WhatsApp prior to your trip.

Here are popular motorbike rentals in Hanoi:

Motorbike hire will cost you around 120,00-220,000 VND (US $5-9) per day, so if you plan a quick turnaround it can be extremely cost effective. It will typically take about 3.5-4.0 hours to drive a motorbike from Hanoi to Halong Bay.

This is a cheap option for those who want a lot of flexibility and independence. But only go this route if you’re comfortable on a motorbike and you have very little luggage. It’s not the safest option and you’ll be exposed to the elements.

Travel Tip: Before renting a motorbike, check to make sure it works well and document any damage prior to your trip.

6. Seaplane

Another adventurous option when traveling from Hanoi to Halong Bay is by seaplane. It’s a relatively new transportation route and only offered by Hai Au Aviation. A one-way flight from Noi Bai Airport to Tuan Chau Marina is 9,000,000 VND (about US $350). If you need a round-trip, it will cost 16,000,000 VND (about US $630).

Traveling from Noi Bai Airport to Halong Bay by seaplane will take approximately 45 minutes so it’s the fastest option. It also offers gorgeous views which you won’t see in a car on the road. However, it’s very expensive and weather dependent. If bad weather is forecast, it may cause delays or cancellations.

7. Day Trip

If you only want to head to Halong Bay for the day, you also have the option of booking a day trip. This is a great option because transport from Hanoi and Halong Bay will be included in the price and all you’ll need to do is show up.

Depending on what you want to see there are many options, but here are popular tours with Klook:

Klook.com

We highly recommend reading tour itineraries and previous traveler reviews before booking. Make sure you also select the departure from Hanoi.

8. Sleeper Bus

King bed in a hotel room in Halong Bay
Our large hotel room in Halong Bay

Not everyone will traveling from Hanoi to Halong Bay and we can speak from experience because we traveled to Halong Bay from Sapa. Our exact route was Hanoi-Sapa-Halong Bay. It didn’t make sense to go through Hanoi again so we took a direct sleeper bus from Sapa to Halong Bay.

If you’re heading up from anywhere the south, you’ll be able to take buses direct to Halong Bay from Ninh Binh or Tam Coc. This option is good for backpackers, those on a tight budget and travelers with little time. Personally, we traveled by sleeper bus on 5 separate occasions in Vietnam to save time and money.

We like the sleeper buses for long distance travel because they’re by far the cheapest option. They’re also incredibly convenient because you won’t have to transfer to another bus, taxi or train. You get on on the bus, fall asleep and wake up in Halong.

While we had some hair raising experiences on the sleeper buses in Vietnam, we think they’ve drastically improved over the past few years. For the most comfort, don’t book the local sleeper buses and opt for the tourist one. Unfortunately, we didn’t know this and it will make a big difference in your experience. You can book with 12Go Asia.

More From Vietnam

Want more Vietnam content? Head over to our Vietnam Travel Guides to see example itineraries, tips and popular city guides.


We hope our guide featuring how to get from Hanoi to Halong Bay helps with planning your visit to northern Vietnam!

Please let us know if you have any questions about visiting Vietnam in the comments below.

Happy Travels,

Mark and Kristen

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