Map & Getting to Halong Bay

Getting to Halong Bay

Bus & boat

- You can take a bus to Halong City from Hanoi (4 hours) and book a passage on a Halong tourist boat (4/6/8 hours or overnight).

Flight

- Northern Airport Flight Service Company offers a helicopter charter service from Gia Lam in Hanoi to Halong Bay on the weekend - It only runs with a minimum number of guests. The same helicopters can be privately chartered for an expensive round trip.


Getting around Halong Bay

You won’t see much unless you take a boat tour of the islands and their grottoes. There is no need to rent a whole boat for yourself, as there are plenty of other travellers, Vietnamese and foreign, to share with.

For those travelling independently, life has gotten much easier under the watch of the Halong Bay Management Department. It regulates pricing for cruises on the bay and has a published list in its office at the Bai Chay tourist dock. Some of the staff speak English and can usually hook you up with other people.