Comparison · Ha Long Bay vs Luang Prabang · Vietnam / Laos
Ha Long Bay vs Luang Prabang
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Taewangkorea, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Ha Long Bay for Limestone karsts, Overnight cruises and beaches; choose Luang Prabang for Wat Xieng Thong, Morning alms giving, lower day-to-day costs and free sights. Luang Prabang is generally less expensive, and the two are about 538 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 538 km
- Less expensive
- Luang Prabang
- Best time for Ha Long Bay
- April–May and October–November
- Best time for Luang Prabang
- November–February
Side by side
| Ha Long Bay | Luang Prabang | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Vietnam | Laos |
| Known for | Limestone karsts, Overnight cruises and Sea caves | Wat Xieng Thong, Morning alms giving and Kuang Si Falls |
| Best time to visit | April–May and October–November | November–February |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $100–$220 | $60–$140 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Affordable |
| Warmest month | July, 32°C (90°F) | April, 35°C (95°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 20°C (68°F) | December, 27°C (81°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 2 | 5 |
| Day trips in our guide | 4 | 5 |
| Beaches | Cat Co beaches | — |
| Airports | HAN, VDO | LPQ |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Ha Long Bay for…
Limestone karsts, Overnight cruises and beaches. Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO-listed seascape of roughly 1,600 limestone islands and islets in Quang Ninh province, about 160 km east of Hanoi. Most visitors see it from a boat: day cruises and overnight junks leave Bai Chay and Tuan Chau for caves, kayaking…
Choose Luang Prabang for…
Wat Xieng Thong, Morning alms giving, lower day-to-day costs and free sights. Luang Prabang occupies a narrow peninsula where the Nam Khan river joins the Mekong in northern Laos. The former royal capital is a UNESCO World Heritage town of more than 30 Buddhist monasteries, French colonial shophouses and wooden Lao houses, small…
Top sights compared
| # | Ha Long Bay | Luang Prabang |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Overnight bay cruise | Wat Xieng Thong |
| 2 | Sung Sot Cave | Royal Palace Museum (Haw Kham) |
| 3 | Ti Top Island | Mount Phousi |
| 4 | Luon Cave kayaking | Morning alms giving (Tak Bat) |
| 5 | Thien Cung Cave | Night market |
Food compared
| Ha Long Bay | Luang Prabang |
|---|---|
| Ha Long squid cake | Luang Prabang khao soi |
| Rice rolls with squid cake | Or lam |
| Mantis shrimp | Fried river weed |
| Ngán clams | Jeow bong |
Which is cheaper?
Luang Prabang is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $60–$140 per person there, against $100–$220 in Ha Long Bay (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Luang Prabang on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Ha Long Bay and Luang Prabang are about 538 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Ha Long Bay and 4 in Luang Prabang.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Ha Long Bay or Luang Prabang cheaper?
Luang Prabang is usually less expensive: about $60–$140 a day mid-range against $100–$220 (estimates).
+Is Ha Long Bay or Luang Prabang better for a first trip?
Pick Ha Long Bay for Limestone karsts, Overnight cruises and beaches, or Luang Prabang for Wat Xieng Thong, Morning alms giving, lower day-to-day costs and free sights.
+How far is Ha Long Bay from Luang Prabang?
About 538 km in a straight line.