Cat Bi Airport to Ha Long (taxi or booked car)
From Hai Phong Cat Bi Airport (HPH), a taxi or pre-booked car takes you straight to your hotel or the pier in Ha Long. The easiest choice with luggage or family.
Korean MOFA travel advisory: Level 1 (exercise caution) — whole country
checked 2026-10-01 · Details ↗ This is the Korean government’s advisory — also check your own government’s travel advice.
Ha Long Bay Travel Guide
A seascape of countless limestone islands and islets rising from the sea in Quang Ninh, northern Vietnam. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site in 1994 and 2000, and in 2023 the listing was extended to Hai Phong's Cat Ba Archipelago as 'Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago'. Cruising between the islands to visit stalactite caves, beaches and fishing-village culture is the heart of a trip here, with options from day trips to nights on board.
Plan your Ha Long Bay trip
We never take payment — compare, then book on the official partner site.
✈ We show Hai Phong Cat Bi Airport (HPH) prices because Incheon fares to Van Don Airport (VDO) couldn't be found. Many travelers also fly into Hanoi Noi Bai (HAN) and go by road; Vietnam's national tourism authority describes Ha Long Bay as about a two-hour drive from Hanoi. Check official information for travel times and fares from Cat Bi to Ha Long.
Lowest fare: Seoul (ICN) → Hai Phong Cat Bi Airport (HPH)
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Check prices →At a glance
- Currency
- VND (₫)
- Power & plugs
- 220V · Type A/C/F
- Driving side
- Right
- Tipping
- Optional (small, for good service)
- Local language
- Tiếng Việt
- How long to stay
- 2 to 3 days
Emergency numbers
When to go
Vietnam's tourism authority names March-April and September-November as the best times. December-March brings atmospheric mist and cooler weather, and June-August is the monsoon season with unpredictable conditions. When storms approach, authorities stop issuing departure permits to tour boats, so cruises can be cancelled at short notice.
Airport to the city
Bus via Hanoi
Fly into Hanoi Noi Bai (HAN), take a bus from Hanoi to Ha Long (or Hai Phong), then a taxi to the port — the independent option suggested by Vietnam's tourism authority.
Cruise package with Hanoi pickup
According to Vietnam's tourism authority, most visitors choose a packaged cruise that includes transport to and from Hanoi. Confirm the pickup point, time and inclusions when booking.
Getting around
Tour boats (official routes)
Ha Long Bay is best explored by boat. Boats leave from Tuan Chau International Port or Ha Long International Port and follow official routes VHL1 to VHL8 to caves and islands. Boats operate 5:00-20:00 from April to October and 5:30-19:00 from November to March.
Coastal route (VHL8)
A shoreline route linking Tuan Chau International Port, Ha Long International Port and Nam Cau Trang pier. The fee is about 70,000 VND per the management board's official list.
Taxi
Vietnam's tourism authority suggests taxis for getting around Ha Long. Handy between spread-out areas such as Bai Chay and Tuan Chau port.
To Cat Ba Island
Official route VHL5 tours Ha Long Bay's caves and islets and ends at Gia Luan pier on Cat Ba Island (Hai Phong). Check official information for schedules.
Where to stay
Bai Chay
Good for: First visit, tourist facilities
Ha Long's tourism hub on the west side of the bridge, with plenty of hotels and restaurants — convenient before and after a cruise.
Hon Gai
Good for: Local life
Across the bridge to the east, where government buildings and commerce are concentrated. More local than touristy.
Tuan Chau Island
Good for: Cruise departures, early boarding
The island area home to Tuan Chau International Port, where many tour boats depart. Handy for early sailings.
Cat Ba Island (Cat Ba Town)
Good for: Lan Ha Bay, national park, beaches
The largest island of the Cat Ba Archipelago, with beaches, hotels and restaurants near the town. It is far from Ha Long, so plan transport separately.
Map of stays in Ha Long Bay
Compare prices from many booking sites on the map
Search stays in Ha Long Bay in the appMap & prices: Stay22 — you book on each site
Top sights
Ha Long Bay cruise
The essential experience: sailing emerald water between countless limestone islands. Routes range from day trips to one- or two-night stays, and fees vary by route (about 250,000 VND for day routes VHL1 and VHL2 per the management board's official list; subject to change).
Sung Sot Cave
The widest cave discovered in Ha Long Bay, on Bo Hon Island, about 20 m above sea level and reached by steps. Open 7:30-17:30 in summer (Apr 16-Oct 31) and 7:30-17:00 in winter.
Sung Sot Cave · Photo: Adam Jones (adamjones.freeservers.com) / CC BY-SA 3.0 Ti Top Island
Named by President Ho Chi Minh to mark Soviet cosmonaut Gherman Titov's 1962 visit. Swim at the crescent-shaped beach and climb up for wide bay views. It is on route VHL2 with Sung Sot Cave.
Ti Top Island · Photo: thalling55 / CC BY 2.0 Thien Cung and Dau Go caves
Two caves on Dau Go Island at the heart of route VHL1. Thien Cung's white stalactites look like a palace, hence its name, 'Heavenly Palace'.
Trong Mai Islet (Fighting Cock Islet)
Two rocks facing each other, used as a symbol of Ha Long tourism. Seen from the boat on route VHL1.
Trong Mai Islet (Fighting Cock Rocks) · Photo: Nguyễn Thanh Quang / CC BY-SA 3.0 Cua Van Floating Cultural Center and fishing village
A floating center showing the life and culture of Ha Long's fishing communities, on route VHL3. Bamboo boat rides and kayaking are offered nearby.
Bai Tu Long Bay
Northeast of Ha Long Bay, with slightly smaller karsts and fewer crowds — great for quiet sea views.
Cat Ba Island and Lan Ha Bay
Nearly half of Cat Ba Island is a protected national park. Nearby Lan Ha Bay is quieter, with calm water popular for kayaking, and the island also has a wartime Hospital Cave.
What to eat
Cha muc (Ha Long squid cake)
Quang Ninh's signature dish: Ha Long Bay squid hand-pounded with pepper and fish sauce, then fried golden. Chewy and fragrant, and a popular take-home gift.
Banh cuon with cha muc
Soft steamed rice rolls served with crispy squid cake and a sweet, sour and spicy dipping sauce.
Banh gat gu
Soft sticky-rice rolls named for the way they 'nod' when lifted, served with minced pork and sauce. About 30,000 VND a plate.
Seafood noodle soup
A breakfast favorite with shrimp, crab, mantis shrimp, fish cake, greens and herbs. From about 40,000 VND.
Sa sung (peanut worm)
A prized local sea worm, stir-fried with garlic and vegetables or grilled; dried sa sung sweetens broths. It is pricey, so check before ordering.
Daily budget (per person)
Budgetabout 1,000,000 VND per day: guesthouse, local food, a day boat
Mid-rangeabout 2,500,000-4,000,000 VND per day: city hotel, restaurants, a day tour or budget overnight cruise
Comfortabout 6,000,000 VND+ per day: upscale overnight cruise or resort
Amounts are rough figures in local currency. Check exchange rates before you go.
Sample itinerary
- Day 1
Travel from Cat Bi (or Hanoi) to Ha Long, check in around Bai Chay, then squid cake and seafood for dinner.
- Day 2
Early start on route VHL2: Ti Top Island views and a swim, Sung Sot Cave, then kayaking in a designated area (weather permitting).
- Day 3
Route VHL1 for Thien Cung and Dau Go caves and Trong Mai Islet, then banh gat gu or seafood noodles before heading to the airport with time to spare.
Local tips
- Visit the bay on an official route ticket aboard a registered tour boat. Ignore touts offering hotels or tours along the road or near the piers, and buy at the official ticket offices at the ports.
- On board, check where the life jackets are and how to wear one, and wear it on deck, on small boats and in kayaks. In July 2025 a tour boat capsized in a sudden thunderstorm with heavy loss of life.
- When storms or bad weather approach, authorities suspend tour-boat departure permits (as in June and July 2025). Sailings can be cancelled even when it looks calm, so keep a spare day and check the forecast often.
- Kayak and take bamboo boats only in designated areas set by the authorities and on guided tours — never paddle off on your own.
- To protect the World Heritage site, don't throw rubbish into the bay or touch or break off stalactites. Don't buy coral souvenirs or goods from small boats that approach tour vessels.
- Caves have many steps and can be slippery, so wear good shoes, and carry small cash for local eateries and stalls.
- Entry conditions (visa-free stay length, e-visas, etc.) can change, so check the Vietnamese government or embassy for official information.
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