TRAVELLING TO HALONG BAY VIA WATER
It is convenient for visitors to travel to Ha Long Bay via water. Hòn Gai Port and the boat system in Ha Long Bay have the capacity to serve many visitors.
Boat
If visitors want to go to Hạ Long Bay by water, travel to Hải Phòng. At the Bính Ferry, there are passenger ships (Tel: +84-313 842 927) to Hạ Long Bay (a 2 to 3-hour trip). Costs 150,000 VND for foreigner and 120,000 VND for Vietnamese.
Daily 4 ferries leave from the dock in Hòn Gai (Tel: +84-333 825 187) for Hải Phòng.
High speed hydrofoil:
Two high-speed hydrofoils run daily between Bai Chay and Mong Cai.
- From Bai Chay depart at 8 AM and 1 PM (at High-Speed Dock). It takes 15 minutes from Mui Ngoc to Mong Cai Town by car.
- From Mong Cai leave for Bai Chay at 9 am and 2 pm (at Mui Ngoc Dock) and arrive in Bai Chay High-Speed Dock and Hon Gai Dock.
A journey in each direction takes about 2 hours, and costs 150,000 VND for foreigner and 100,000 VND for Vietnamese
Ticket booking office in Bãi Cháy, near Bãi Cháy Ferry on Hạ Long Road.
Tel: (84-33) 847 888 - 847 780
Besides that, hydrofoils run between:
- Hạ Long - Hải Phòng
- Hạ Long - Cát Bà
- Hải Phòng - Cát Bà
TRAVELLING TO HALONG BAY BY AIR
Travelling to Ha Long Bay by air contact to:
Northern Service Flight Company
Add: 182 Trường Chinh, Hà Nội
Tel: (84-4) 852 3451 - 563 3110
Fax: (84-4) 563 1111
Offers a helicopter flight every Saturday from Gia Lam Airport (Ha Noi), departing at 8 am and returning at 3 pm.
Prices: US$ 175 (the US$ 195 fare includes a four-hour boat trip and lunch).
A project for planning of new airport is underway.
Transport to Quang Ninh
Transport to Quang Ninh by road and bus.
Road
Ha Noi - Hai Duong - Ha Long: 170 km
This is the most convenient route (without passing by ferry):
- Ha Noi - Hai Duong City: 55 km
- Hai Duong - Sao Ðo Town: 25 km
- Sao Ðo Town - Ðong Trieu Town: 20 km
- Ð0ng Trieu Town - Uong Bi: 30 km
- Uong Bi - Ha Long City: 40 km
Ha Noi - Hai Duong - Hai Phong - Quang Yen - Ha Long: 163 km
This road passes from Hai Phong to Ha Long City. This route crosses two ferries: the Binh Ferry in Hai Phong and Rung Ferry in Quang Yen.
- Ha Noi - Hai Duong: 55 km
- Hai Duong - Hai Phong: 48 km - Hai Phong - Quang Yen: 20 km
- Quang Yen - Ha Long City: 40 km
Ha Noi - Bac Ninh - Ha Long: 155 km
This is the shortest land route from Ha Noi to Ha Long.
This route has just been upgraded. It is very convenient for transportation.
- Ha Noi - Bac Ninh: 30 km
- Bac Ninh - Pha Lai: 25 km
- Pha Lai - Ðong Trieu: 30 km - Ðong Trieu - Uong Bi: 30 km
- Uong Bi - Ha Long City: 40 km
Mong Cai - Ha Long: 180 km
From Mong Cai go along National Highway No.4B via Hai Ha, Đam Ha then take National Highway No.18B through Cua Ong, Cam Pha, Hon Gai to Bai Chay.
Bus
In Bai Chay (Ha Long):
Bai Chay Bus Station (Tel: +84-333 846 416) is close to the Bai Chay Post Office. Buses leave from Bai Chay daily for Hai Phong, Ha Noi, Ða Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang and other provinces.
Air-con minibuses depart daily from Bai Chay Station to Kim Ma (every 15 minutes) and Ðong Trieu (every 20 minutes).
In Ha Noi
Minibuses daily depart from Kim Ma Bus Station (Tel: +84-43 845 2846) to Bai Chay (every 15 minutes).
It takes 3 hours and 30 minutes, and costs 50,000 VND.
ROUTES ON THE BAY
There is a variety of different and attractive tours on the Bay. Tourists can choose their favorite tour to visit popular caves, grottoes and beautiful islands.
Tour Routes and their duration:
- Route 1: Tourist Wharf – Thien Cung Grotto– Dau Go Cave – Dinh Huong Islet – Ga Choi Islet (3-4 hours)
- Route 2: Tourist Wharf – Thien Cung Grotto– Dau Go Cave – Dinh Huong Islet – Ga Choi Islet– Sung Sot Grotto– Ti Tov Beach (7-8 hours).
- Route 3: Tourist Wharf – Me Cung Cave – Sung Sot Grotto – Ti Tov Beach (7-8 hours).
- Route 4: Tourist Wharf – Tam Cung Cave – Sung Sot Cave – Luon Cave (7-8 hours).
- Route 5: Tourist Wharf – Bai Tu Long – Ngoc Vung Island – Quan Lan Island (two days, one night).
TRANSPORTATION IN HALONG CITY
There are daily slow boats connecting Hon Gai with Hai Phong (30,000d, three hours).
Boat
There are daily slow boats connecting Hon Gai with Hai Phong (30,000d, three hours). Boats depart Hon Gai at 6.30am, 1 lam and 4pm. There are no longer hydrofoils linking Halong and Hai Phong as travel by road is cheaper and just as fast.
The best way to get to Cat Ba Island is to hop onto the regular tourist boats from Bai Chay tourist-boat dock. It costs 70,000d one way, including a leisurely cruise through the most beautiful parts of the bay. An extra 30,000d brings entry lo the most important caves and grottoes in the bay. The whole trip takes about five hours, but there are no precise departure times, as it depends on numbers.
From Bai Chay, Pearl Cape (Tel: 847 888; Halong street) operates hydrofoils to Mong Cai (US$12, three hours) leaving at Sam and lpm; the ticket office is almost next door to the Mien Tay bus station. The trip is definitely preferable to the long road journey.
As always, be prepared for changes to these schedules.
Bus
Buses from Halong City to Hanoi (35,000d, 3.5 hours) leave from Mien Tay bus station (Ca Lan street) in Bai Chay every 15 minutes. Buses to Hai Phong (22,000d, 1.5 hours) depart every 20 minutes from here.
Most buses to northeastern destinations start from Mien Tay bus station before passing through Hon Gai bus station ( Le Loi street). Buses for Mong Cai (35,000d, six hours) and Cua Ong (9000d, 1.5 hours) for Van Don Island (Dao Cai Bau) depart regularly during daylight hours.
Car & Motorbike
Halong City is 160km from Hanoi and 55km from Hai Phong. The one-way trip from Hanoi to Halong City takes about three hours by private vehicle.
TRANSPORT TO QUANG NINH BY RAILWAYS
Every day runs a train depart from Yên Viên Railway Station (Gia Lâm District, Hà Nội) for Hạ Long at 4.50 am and arrive at 11.40 am.
Every day runs a train depart from Yên Viên Railway Station (Gia Lâm District, Hà Nội) for Hạ Long at 4.50 am and arrive at 11.40 am.
- Yên Viên - Kép (Bắc Giang Province)
- Kép - Uông Bí
- Uông Bí - Hạ Long City
It takes 6 hours from Hà Nôi to get Hạ Long.
Yên Viên Railway Station is 11 km from centre of Hà Nội.
Tel: (84-33) 827 2030
Hạ Long Railway Station is about 5 km from Bãi Cháy in Giêng Ðáy Ward, Hạ Long City.
Tel: (84-33) 845 309
