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Ha Long Bay, Vietnam, Hanoi

Tall green limestone karst islands rising straight out of the calm water of Ha Long Bay, a small boat in front
Photo: Thomas Hirsch / User:Ravn, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
Fee 250,000 VND; tours cost more
Hours
Daily. Boats: 1 Nov–31 Mar depart from 5:30 and must be back by 19:00; 1 Apr–31 Oct 5:00–20:00. Caves and islands 7:30–17:00 in winter, to 17:30 in summer
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
4 h
With kids
Fine with kids
Sightseeing fee, day routes 1 and 2
250,000 VND per person per trip
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Route 2 overnight
550,000 VND for 1 night, 750,000 VND for 2 nights
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Children
Under 1.2 m or under 7 free; ages 7–15 get 20% off
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Boat hours
Depart from 5:30, back by 19:00 (Nov–Mar); 5:00–20:00 in summer
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Day tour from Hanoi
Unofficial: about $35–120 with transfer, lunch and fee — check what’s included
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Ports
Tuan Chau International Marina and Ha Long International Cruise Port at Bai Chay
From Hanoi
2.5–3.5 hours by expressway: tour shuttle, limousine van or coach
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Payment
Book and pay for tours online by card; carry dong (VND) in cash for drinks and tips on board
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Coordinates
20.90000, 107.20000YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

1994inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognised again in 2000 for its geology
2 sourcesHa Long Bay Management BoardEnglish Wikipedia
250,000 VNDsightseeing fee per person on day routes 1 and 2
SourceHa Long Bay Management Board
2.5–3 hby road from Hanoi to the Tuan Chau and Bai Chay ports
2 sourcesvietnamtourism.comtransport operators (unofficial)
1,553 km²area of the bay
2 sourcesHa Long Bay Management BoardEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
1,969islands and islets, mostly limestone (other sources say anywhere from 1,600 to 3,000)
2 sourcesEnglish WikipediaRussian Wikipedia
2023the World Heritage site was extended to the Cat Ba archipelago: now Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago
2 sourcesHa Long Bay Management BoardHai Phong News
Descending dragonthe meaning of Hạ Long, from the legend of a dragon that came down to the sea
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
Ti Topisland named after cosmonaut Gherman Titov, who visited in 1962
SourceRussian and English Wikipedia
≈ 3,000 m²floor area of Thien Cung (Heavenly Palace) cave on route 1
SourceHa Long Bay Management Board
15–25 °Caverage temperature: hot, humid summers and dry, cool winters
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia

Is a Ha Long Bay day trip from Hanoi worth it?

Yes, if it’s your only chance — but go in knowing the trade-off. Shuttles pick up in Hanoi’s Old Quarter around 8:00, you’re at the port by about noon, spend 4–6 hours on the water with lunch on board, and get back to Hanoi late in the evening. Out of a 12–14 hour day, close to half is spent on the road.

An overnight cruise (2 days, 1 night) is the better trip. Boats head further out, the bay empties in the evening, and you wake up to sunrise over the islands. The overnight fee on route 2 is 550,000 VND for one night and 750,000 VND for two.

Pick the day trip if you only have two or three days in northern Vietnam and Hanoi matters more. With two free nights, book the overnight cruise: it costs more, but the road time per hour of bay is halved.

Ha Long Bay entrance fee and tour prices

The official sightseeing fee set by the Ha Long Bay Management Board is 250,000 VND per person per trip on day routes 1 and 2, and 200,000 VND on routes 3 and 4. Children under 1.2 m or under 7 go free; ages 7 to 15 get 20% off. Most tours from Hanoi include the fee, but some list it as an add-on — check before you pay. Some operators also mention a port fee; we couldn’t find it in an official source.

Day tours with return transfer and lunch run from roughly $35 to $120 per person on tour operators’ sites, depending on the boat. These are unofficial figures that shift with season and group size, and with whether kayaking and cave entry are included.

Payment: book and pay for the tour online with a Visa or Mastercard. On board, drinks are usually extra, so carry Vietnamese dong (VND) in small notes for drinks and tips.

What to see in Ha Long Bay

  • Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Cave) — the largest cave discovered in the bay so far, according to the Management Board; the entrance is about 20 m above the water. On route 2.
  • Ti Top Island — a small beach and a summit viewpoint up several hundred stone steps, with the central bay and its boats spread out below. Named after cosmonaut Gherman Titov.
  • Luon Cave — a tunnel through the rock that you paddle through by kayak or rowing boat into an enclosed lagoon. Kayaking is usually part of a day tour.
  • Thien Cung (Heavenly Palace) and Dau Go caves — route 1, around 3,000 m² of lit-up stalactites under one roof.
  • Trong Mai islet (Fighting Cocks, sometimes called the Kissing Rocks) — two rocks facing each other, which the Management Board calls the symbol of Ha Long tourism.
  • Cua Van floating village — on route 3, with houses on the water and a floating cultural centre.
  • Pearl farm at Tung Sau lagoon — a stop on route 2.

How to get to Ha Long Bay from Hanoi

Step-by-step directions are below; the map shows where you arrive.

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We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.

More tips

  1. Easiest: a tour. The shuttle collects you from your hotel or a meeting point in the Old Quarter near Hoan Kiem Lake, usually around 8:00, and drives straight to the pier. Confirm the pick-up time the night before.
  2. Limousine van (9–28 seats) from the Old Quarter to Tuan Chau or Bai Chay: 2 h 45 min to 3.5 hours, from about 260,000 VND per seat (unofficial). Pick-up at your hotel or the operator’s stop.
  3. Coach from My Dinh or Gia Lam bus station to Bai Chay: about 3 hours, from about 230,000 VND (unofficial). Get to the bus station by Grab or taxi.
  4. At the port — Tuan Chau International Marina or Ha Long International Cruise Port at Bai Chay. Pay the sightseeing fee at the Management Board ticket office if it isn’t included in your tour.
  5. Coming back — boats must be in port by 19:00 in winter and 20:00 in summer. Check the last bus to Hanoi in advance, or you’ll be paying for a taxi.

Ha Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay?

Lan Ha Bay lies just south of Ha Long, next to Cat Ba island, and belongs to Hai Phong. The scenery is the same kind of limestone islands, usually with fewer boats around, and since 2023 both are part of one UNESCO site. Lan Ha has its own ticket and its own ports, so a Ha Long fee doesn’t cover it.

Choose Ha Long for the classic caves (Sung Sot, Thien Cung) and Ti Top viewpoint. Choose Lan Ha if quieter water and kayaking matter more than the famous stops — and check which bay your cruise actually sails, as many routes cross between the two.

Best time to visit Ha Long Bay

The bay has two seasons: hot, humid summers and dry, cool winters, averaging 15–25 °C. Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–November) are the most comfortable — warm, drier and calmer. Summer is hot and good for swimming, but it’s also when storm warnings close the bay most often.

From December to February it’s often grey and cool, and the islands fade into mist. The photos are moodier and the boats are fewer. Bring a jacket for the evening deck in any season outside summer.

Day trip, overnight or Lan Ha

Ha Long day tripyou are here250,000 VND (routes 1, 2)4–6 hours≈ 2.5–3 h each wayBusy, especially at cavesTight schedules
Ha Long overnight550,000 VND (route 2, 1 night)≈ 24 hoursSame road, once a dayQuiet evening and morningFirst visit, sunrise
Lan Ha BaySeparate Hai Phong ticketDepends on the tourLonger: ports near Hai Phong and on Cat BaUsually fewer boatsQuiet and kayaking

Ha Long fees are official. Travel times and the Lan Ha comparison are unofficial and depend on the tour and boat.

Before you go

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Waterside places around Hanoi

Waterside places in and around Hanoi scored by YesGo. Tap a column header to sort.

Hoan Kiem Lake461 hFree140.6 km
Tran Quoc Pagoda4230 minFree142.5 km
Ha Long Bayyou are here324 hFee 250,000 VND; tours cost more—

Ha Long by day, Hanoi by night

The bay all day, then — if you have energy left — a walk around Hoan Kiem Lake and the water puppets. Add it to your route and YesGo sets the times.

  1. Ha Long Bayyou are here4 h · Fee 250,000 VND; tours cost more
  2. 2438 min walk from the previous stopHoan Kiem Lake1 h · Free; Ngoc Son Temple 50,000 VND
  3. 6 min walk from the previous stopThang Long Water Puppet Theatre1 h · 100,000–200,000 VND

3 places · about 46 h 44 min with walks · 2444 min on foot in total

Go · my route

How to do it right

  • Compare tours by what they list: sightseeing fee, lunch, kayak and cave entry. A cheap tour with add-ons can end up the priciest.
  • With two nights to spare, take the overnight cruise — same drive, but you see the bay at dusk and dawn.
  • Kayaking through Luon Cave is the highlight of most day tours: wear the life jacket and stay inside the area your guide names.
  • Cave floors are wet and stepped — wear closed shoes, not flip-flops.
  • Drinks on board are usually extra, so bring small dong notes.
  • Before an early pick-up, stay near Hoan Kiem Lake — most shuttles collect from the Old Quarter.

Questions

Is a Ha Long Bay day trip from Hanoi worth it?

It’s worth it if you have no other chance, but about half the day is spent driving. An overnight cruise gives you far more time on the water.

How much is the Ha Long Bay entrance fee?

250,000 VND per person on day routes 1 and 2, and 200,000 VND on routes 3 and 4. Children under 7 or under 1.2 m are free.

How much does a Ha Long Bay day tour cost?

Roughly $35–120 per person from Hanoi with transfer and lunch, depending on the boat. Check whether the fee and kayaking are included.

How long does it take to get from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay?

About 2.5–3 hours by expressway, sometimes up to 3.5 hours by limousine van or coach depending on traffic and pick-ups.

Day trip or overnight cruise?

Overnight if you can: you spend about a day on the water and see the bay quiet at dusk and dawn. The route 2 overnight fee is 550,000 VND.

What is the best time to visit Ha Long Bay?

April–May and September–November. Summer is hot with more storm warnings; winter is cool and often misty.

Is Lan Ha Bay better than Ha Long Bay?

It’s usually quieter, with the same kind of scenery. Ha Long has the famous caves and Ti Top viewpoint. Lan Ha has its own separate ticket.

Can you swim in Ha Long Bay?

Yes, at Ti Top beach if your boat stops there. The water is most pleasant from May to September.

What should I bring on a Ha Long Bay cruise?

Passport, cash in dong, closed shoes for caves and steps, swimwear, sunscreen and a layer for the evening deck.

Are Ha Long Bay cruises cancelled in bad weather?

Yes. When a storm warning is issued, boats aren’t allowed to leave port. Book with a clear refund or rebooking policy.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • Ha Long Bay Management Board (halongbay.com.vn): sightseeing fee schedule by route and for overnight stays
  • Ha Long Bay Management Board: fee exemptions and reductions — children
  • Ha Long Bay Management Board: boat departure and return times, cave opening hours
  • Ha Long Bay Management Board: routes VHL1 and VHL2; titles of Ha Long Bay — UNESCO, area
  • English and Russian Wikipedia: Ha Long Bay, Ti Tốp Island, Халонг (бухта); Wikidata Q190128
  • Hai Phong News, VOV: the 2023 extension of the World Heritage site to Cat Ba
  • vietnamtourism.com: Hanoi to Ha Long — buses, limousine vans and travel times (private guide)
  • Tour operator and transport sites: day tour prices and Old Quarter pick-up times
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 05.11.2026 ·
How we checkedSightseeing fees, overnight fees, children’s exemptions and boat hours come from the official Ha Long Bay Management Board site: fees for routes 1–5 are unchanged since 2017, and the routes are now called VHL1–VHL5. The site gives two different winter periods (boats 1 Nov–31 Mar, caves 1 Nov–15 Apr); we quote the boat hours. Tour operators mention a 40,000 VND port fee, which we couldn’t find in an official source, so we don’t quote it. Tour ($35–120) and transport prices are unofficial, from tour operators and a private travel guide. Road distance to the ports varies from 130 to 170 km by source, so we give travel time instead. Island counts differ: 1,969 in English Wikipedia, about 1,600 in its overview and over 3,000 in Russian Wikipedia; we use 1,969.

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