Comparison · Ha Long Bay vs Palawan · Vietnam / Philippines
Ha Long Bay vs Palawan
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 a short break; choose Palawan for El Nido lagoons, Island-hopping and a milder winter. Palawan is generally less expensive, and the two are about 1,745 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 1,745 km
- Less expensive
- Palawan
- Best time for Ha Long Bay
- April–May and October–November
- Best time for Palawan
- January–April
Side by side
| Ha Long Bay | Palawan | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Vietnam | Philippines |
| Known for | Limestone karsts, Overnight cruises and Sea caves | El Nido lagoons, Island-hopping and Coron wreck diving |
| Best time to visit | April–May and October–November | January–April |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 9 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $100–$220 | $90–$200 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Affordable |
| Warmest month | July, 32°C (90°F) | April, 33°C (91°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 20°C (68°F) | January, 31°C (88°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 2 | 4 |
| Day trips in our guide | 4 | 4 |
| Beaches | Cat Co beaches | Nacpan Beach |
| Airports | HAN, VDO | PPS, USU, ENI |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Ha Long Bay for…
Limestone karsts, Overnight cruises and a short break. 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 Palawan for…
El Nido lagoons, Island-hopping and a milder winter. Palawan is a long, narrow island province of about 1,700 islands between the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea. Most visitors fly into Puerto Princesa, the capital, for the UNESCO-listed underground river, then head north by road to Port Barton and El Nido…
Top sights compared
| # | Ha Long Bay | Palawan |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Overnight bay cruise | Puerto Princesa Subterranean River |
| 2 | Sung Sot Cave | Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon |
| 3 | Ti Top Island | Hidden Beach and Matinloc Shrine |
| 4 | Luon Cave kayaking | Snake Island and Tour B |
| 5 | Thien Cung Cave | Nacpan Beach |
Food compared
| Ha Long Bay | Palawan |
|---|---|
| Ha Long squid cake | Chao long |
| Rice rolls with squid cake | Kinilaw |
| Mantis shrimp | Tamilok |
| Ngán clams | Crocodile sisig |
Which is cheaper?
Palawan is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $90–$200 per person there, against $100–$220 in Ha Long Bay (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Palawan on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 1,745 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 13 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Ha Long Bay or Palawan cheaper?
Palawan is usually less expensive: about $90–$200 a day mid-range against $100–$220 (estimates).
+Is Ha Long Bay or Palawan better for a first trip?
Pick Ha Long Bay for Limestone karsts, Overnight cruises and a short break, or Palawan for El Nido lagoons, Island-hopping and a milder winter.
+How far is Ha Long Bay from Palawan?
About 1,745 km in a straight line.