Getting around · Ha Long Bay · Vietnam
Getting around Ha Long Bay
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Schwede66, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
The bay itself is seen by boat, either on an organised cruise or on day boats from Bai Chay, Tuan Chau or Cat Ba. On land, Ha Long city is spread out along the coast, so taxis and ride-hailing are the practical way between Bai Chay, Hon Gai and Tuan Chau. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Boat
- Airports
- HAN, VDO
- Need a car?
- No
Ways to get around
Boat
Licensed tourist boats and cruises leave from the international cruise port at Bai Chay, Tuan Chau Marina and Cat Ba harbour on set routes approved by the bay's management board.
If you book independently, buy tickets at the official port ticket office rather than from touts on the street.
Bus
Shuttle buses and 'limousine' vans run between Hanoi's Old Quarter and Ha Long or Cat Ba several times a day and take about 2.5–3 hours to Ha Long; most cruises include a transfer from Hanoi.
Book limousine vans through your hotel the day before; they pick up from the Old Quarter.
Taxi
Metered taxis and Grab cars are easy to find in Bai Chay and Hon Gai and are the simplest way to reach the ports, Sun World and Bai Tho Mountain.
Ferry
A car ferry links Tuan Chau with Gia Luan on Cat Ba Island in about an hour, with buses on to Cat Ba Town; other ferries from Van Don serve Quan Lan and Co To.
Ferries may be suspended in rough weather; allow slack in your plans.
Scooter
Renting a scooter on Cat Ba is a popular way to reach the national park, beaches and Viet Hai, as roads there are quieter than on the mainland.
Cable car
The Queen Cable Car at Sun World crosses the water between Bai Chay and Ba Deo hill and doubles as a viewing platform over the bay.
From the airport
Most visitors fly into Hanoi's Noi Bai Airport (HAN), about 170 km away, and transfer by car, van or shuttle in about 2.5–3 hours. Van Don International Airport (VDO), about 50 km from Bai Chay, has a smaller number of domestic and some international flights and is under an hour by road.
Do you need a car?
No. Cruises include transfers from Hanoi, and taxis or Grab cover Ha Long city; a scooter is useful on Cat Ba if you are an experienced rider.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Yen Tu Mountain | About 1 hour by car | Private car or taxi, then cable car or a long climb |
| Hai Phong | About 1–1.5 hours by car | Car or bus via the expressway |
| Quan Lan Island | About 1.5–2 hours by car and fast boat | Road to Van Don, then fast boat |
| Co To Island | About 2.5–3 hours by car and fast boat | Road to Van Don, then fast boat |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Ha Long Bay?
No. Cruises include transfers from Hanoi, and taxis or Grab cover Ha Long city; a scooter is useful on Cat Ba if you are an experienced rider.
+How do you get from the airport to Ha Long Bay?
Most visitors fly into Hanoi's Noi Bai Airport (HAN), about 170 km away, and transfer by car, van or shuttle in about 2.5–3 hours. Van Don International Airport (VDO), about 50 km from Bai Chay, has a smaller number of domestic and some international flights and is under an hour by road.
+What is the best way to get around Ha Long Bay?
Boat: Licensed tourist boats and cruises leave from the international cruise port at Bai Chay, Tuan Chau Marina and Cat Ba harbour on set routes approved by the bay's management board.