Halong Bay is about 160 km east of Hanoi, roughly 2.5 hours on the expressway. Almost everyone goes for a cruise, and cruises do not wait.
Your options
| Time | Price | What to expect | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cruise shuttle bus | 3 to 3.5 hours | Often included, or around 350,000 to 500,000 VND per person | Shared van organised by your cruise. Multiple hotel pickups before leaving Hanoi, fixed schedule, and on the way back the same in reverse. |
| Limousine bus | 2.5 to 3 hours | Around 300,000 to 400,000 VND per person | Faster than the shuttle, but drops you at a station or harbour area, not at your exact terminal. Paid upfront. |
| Private car | About 2.5 hours | From 2,100,000 VND per car | Direct from your hotel to the exact cruise terminal, timed to your boarding window. On the return, your driver waits when the boat docks. |
Worth knowing
Halong has several ports (Tuan Chau, Halong International, Got Pier for Cat Ba and Lan Ha cruises) and they are not close to each other. Every week travellers miss boats because a bus dropped them at the wrong one. With a private driver you give us the cruise name, and we handle the rest.
Also driving from Ninh Binh? See that route here. Airport pickups straight to Halong are possible too, from 3,000,000 VND with a 16-seat van.
Prices on this page were correct when we wrote it. They can change a little over time, for example when fuel prices change. We do our best to keep this page up to date, and we always confirm the exact price before you book.
How to book
- Send us a message with your dates and route. We reply the same day.
- No prepayment. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup.
- You pay the driver at the end, in VND, USD or euro. Gas, tolls and parking are included.
Contact us here or book directly on our transfer page.
See also: one driver for your whole trip and the full transfer price list.
English
Dutch
French
German
Korean
Spanish
Italian