How To Get to Halong Bay

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The year of 1994 witnessed the inscription of Halong Bay as the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site that made this destination famous internationally. More and more tourists have been packing and going to this majestic ecotourism destination in the northeast of Vietnam, and they all praise it high. If “the Bay of the Descending Dragon” greatly appeals to you and you want to get there, read the following bits about how to get to Halong Bay at ease.

Ways for You to Get to Halong Bay

With the increasing popularity, Halong Bay becomes more and more accessible from just all corners of Vietnam as well as lots of other countries in the world. While some vacationers choose to visit the Bay on the big international cruise, the others might decide to fly to Hanoi or Hai Phong Airport and then take a road trip to arrive at the beautiful masterpiece. Here are the easy ways to consider.

Get to Halong Bay By Car

The most usual means of transport to get there is by car. You follow Highway 18 and pass by Tuan Chau Island, Bai Chay Road, and Hon Gai Bridge. For anybody that starts from Hanoi, there is a transfer service offered by the cruise trip: they arrange the car (either bus or private car) to transfer you from the hotel to the pier. The road journey might take at least 4 hours for one way, in average.

Get to Halong Bay By Air

You can take a flight from Da Nang, Nha Trang, or Ho Chi Minh City to either Hanoi or Hai Phong Airport. Then, get a car to reach Halong Bay. In the case of the other Southeast Asian countries, it’s necessary to fly to one of the two airports to get transferred to the majestic Bay.

Get to Halong Bay By Train

In 2010, there used to a rail line connecting Hanoi and Halong Bay. Nonetheless, the service has been stopped and made traveling to Halong Bay by train impossible.

Other Means of Transport

The expensive option to get access to Halong Bay is via a helicopter. The helicopter journey is only available from Hanoi, and it takes around 45 minutes to reach Halong Bay. This high-class service is managed by Northern Vietnam Helicopter Company. The helicopter tour is worth the price and expectation as it solves the matter of time and comfort via the quick, easy, and private fly.

How to Get to Halong Bay from Hanoi?

Car Transport

Some popular kinds of car transportation from Hanoi to Halong Bay include interprovincial bus, private car, tourist bus, and motorbike. Due to the low road and bridge tolls, the majority of the travelers select the car transportation. Besides, they find it comfortable and relaxing to spend around 3 hours and a half sitting in a car with the cushioned seats as well as the air-conditioners. With this means of transport, it’s advised to keep an eye on your small belongings and only purchase the tickets at the bus station. For the safest issue, it’s better to take a taxi even though it is costly. For taxis, please avoid the danger-looking cabs or the inauthentic brand! The other good advice is to ask the hotel receptionist to help call a taxi for you.

Helicopter Transport

When people no longer use the train to reach Halong Bay from Hanoi as said above, there is the new and excellent service on the helicopter from Hanoi to Halong Bay provided by Northern Services Flight Company since 2008. The helicopter trip only takes 45 minutes to arrive at the Bay. The referential prices should be USD$370-$420 for the one-way ticket and USD$550 for the round-trip ticket. Together with transportation, the company also offers the scenic and panoramic sightseeing service of Halong Bay in 15 minutes or more.