How to get to Ha Long and Cat Ba in 2026
~165 km from Hanoi, the Hanoi–Hai Phong–Ha Long expressway that cut the drive from four hours to 2.5–3, and three airports nearby. A scheduled bus from ~$3.50, a limousine shuttle picked up at your hotel, a private car, or a cruise-package transfer — plus how to reach Cat Ba Island.
The short version: most people come from Hanoi, and the drive is 2.5–3 hours on the Hanoi–Hai Phong–Ha Long expressway. The easiest option is a limousine shuttle picked up at your hotel; the cheapest is a scheduled bus; and if you book a cruise, the simplest of all is a transfer straight from the cruise company. Below are all the options with 2026 prices, plus how to reach Cat Ba Island and get around town.
The Hai Au Aviation seaplanes that once flew in from Hanoi in 25 minutes stopped running on 1 April 2026. But the overland routes are no longer slow: the Hà Nội – Hạ Long expressway cut the trip from around 4 hours to 2.5–3.
- My Dinh Bus Station (Bến xe Mỹ Đình): Hanoi's main bus station — Buses to Ha Long every 30–60 min
- Gia Lam Bus Station (Bến xe Gia Lâm): Eastern Hanoi bus station — Services to Ha Long and Hai Phong
- Bai Chay Bus Station (Bến xe Bãi Cháy): Ha Long's main bus station — Terminus for scheduled buses
- Tuan Chau Port (Cảng tàu Tuần Châu): Cruise port — Departures into Ha Long Bay
- Van Don Airport (Sân bay Vân Đồn): Nearest airport to Ha Long, 50 km — Taxi or Grab
- Sun World Pier (Cảng Sun World): Cruise pier in central Ha Long — Next to the cable car
- Noi Bai Airport (Sân bay Nội Bài): Hanoi airport, 165 km to Ha Long — Shuttle, bus or private transfer
- Cat Bi Airport (Sân bay Cát Bi): Hai Phong airport, 60–85 km to Ha Long — Taxi or bus via Hai Phong
How long to Ha Long — every option
The trip from Hanoi to Ha Long takes anywhere from 2.5 to 4.5 hours, depending on how you travel and which road you take.
Currency converter
| Option | Price | Time | Comfort | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled bus | 90,000–120,000 VND (~$3.50–4.60) | 3.5–4.5 hrs | ★★☆ | Budget travellers |
| Tourist shuttle | 180,000–350,000 VND (~$7–13) | 2.5–3 hrs | ★★★ | Most travellers |
| Private transfer | 1,600,000–2,400,000 VND (~$60–90) per car | 2.5 hrs | ★★★★ | Groups, families |
| Cruise transfer | 250,000–500,000 VND (~$10–19) | 2.5–3 hrs | ★★★★ | If you booked a cruise |
| From Van Don Airport | 500,000–1,000,000 VND (~$19–38) | 1–1.25 hrs | ★★★ | Arriving on domestic flights |
Prices current as of July 2026. Rate used: 1 USD ≈ 26,000 VND.
The most popular choice is the limousine shuttle with a hotel pickup. The best value for a group is the private transfer: split four ways, it works out to ~$15–23 a head.
From Hanoi to Ha Long — 4 ways
Before the expressway, the only road (QL18) took 4–5 hours. Now the Đường cao tốc Hà Nội – Hạ Long expressway, running through Hai Phong, has cut the drive to 2.5–3 hours.
Scheduled bus — from ~$3.50
The cheapest way in. Buses leave from three of Hanoi's bus stations.
| Bus station | Vietnamese name | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| My Dinh | Bến xe Mỹ Đình | Every 30–60 min | Largest, most departures |
| Gia Lam | Bến xe Gia Lâm | Every 60 min | Closer to the Old Quarter |
| Luong Yen | Bến xe Lương Yên | Few departures | Rare, but handy for the centre |
Fare: 90,000–120,000 VND (~$3.50–4.60). Travel time: 3.5–4.5 hours on the old road. Buses arrive at Bến xe Bãi Cháy station in Ha Long.
Operators: Kumho Viet Thanh, Phuc Xuyen, Van Don Xanh, Hung Duc, Hoang Long.
Downsides: slower than a shuttle, buses can be packed, and the signage and schedules are in Vietnamese — tricky without Google Translate on your phone. And bus stations draw touts who will steer you onto a pricier bus, or one bound for Hai Phong rather than Ha Long.
Limousine shuttle — from ~$7
The sweet spot for most people. A "limousine" here is a 9–11-seat minibus with plush seats, air-con and Wi-Fi. It picks you up at your hotel in Hanoi's Old Quarter in the morning (usually 7:30–9:00) and drops you either in town or right at the cruise port — door to door.
Fare: 180,000–350,000 VND (~$7–13) one way. Time: 2.5–3 hours on the expressway with one rest stop.
We were the first on the bus. They spent until 8:30 picking up all the passengers… First they dropped us at a centre where they tell and show you how real pearls are grown… At the end of the tour you walk through a big shop selling pearl jewellerynikale, Vinsky Forum, 2022, translated by VietnamSpot
Operators: Grouptour, GreenLion, Daily Limousine, Luxury Transport, Cat Ba Express, Xeka Limousine.
Taxi and private transfer — from ~$60 per car
A private car is 1,600,000–2,400,000 VND (~$60–90) for a 4-seat sedan. A 7-seat minivan is 20–30% more.
How to book:
- Grab — Southeast Asia's Uber; book in the app and the fare is locked in advance
- Klook, GetYourGuide — book online with reviews and card payment
- Local operators — through your hotel or cruise company
With four passengers a transfer is ~$15–23 a head — on par with a shuttle, but more comfortable and faster.
The expressway — what to know
The Hanoi–Hai Phong–Ha Long expressway opened the direct route and dropped travel time from 4–5 hours to 2.5–3.
The expressway is tolled; the fee depends on the vehicle.
From Hanoi to Cat Ba Island
Cat Ba is the biggest island in the archipelago — think Ha Long without the cruise crowds. Getting there is trickier than reaching the city itself: the island sits across a strait, so a ferry or cable car is unavoidable.
By land, via the cable car. The expressway runs out to Cat Hai island, where the Cát Hải – Cát Bà cable car crosses the strait (one of the tallest sea-crossing cable cars in the world). It carries passengers only: a car needs the ferry.
Combo bus-and-ferry ticket. A packaged option from Hanoi: a bus to the pier, then a ferry or speedboat to Cat Ba town. 200,000–250,000 VND (~$8–10), three departures a day, there in 4–5 hours.
Ferry or speedboat from the mainland. Ferries run from Hai Phong, from Tuan Chau port near Ha Long, and from Got pier. The speedboat arrives right in Cat Ba town; the cheap ferry lands at Gia Luận port in the north, ~30 km short of town.
From the airport to Ha Long — 3 options
Ha Long has no airport of its own, but three are within 1–3 hours' reach.
Noi Bai Airport (Hanoi) — 2.5–3 hours
The main airport of northern Vietnam. It is ~165 km from Ha Long on the expressway.
| Option | Price | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Private transfer | $60–90 | 2.5–3 hrs |
| Shuttle bus | from 250,000 VND (~$10) | 3–3.5 hrs |
| Cruise transfer | $15–20 | 2.5–3 hrs |
Flying in internationally? The easiest move is to book a transfer through your cruise company straight from the airport. If you want to see the capital first, start with the Hanoi guide.
…on the way to Hanoi our driver would drop us near the big Aeon Mall shopping centre, and we were to take a taxi to the airport from there. That's more convenient than going all the way into Hanoinikale, Vinsky Forum, 2022, translated by VietnamSpot
Van Don Airport — 1 hour by car
The closest airport to Ha Long — just 50 km on the Hạ Long – Vân Đồn expressway.
| Option | Price | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Taxi (Mai Linh, Ha Long Taxi) | 700,000–1,000,000 VND (~$27–38) | 1–1.25 hrs |
| Grab | from 500,000 VND (~$19) | 1–1.25 hrs |
Ask at the information desk in the terminal whether a bus runs to Ha Long and when.
Cat Bi Airport (Hai Phong) — 1–1.5 hours by car
Hai Phong's airport. It is 60–85 km from Ha Long on the Hai Phong–Ha Long expressway.
| Option | Price | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bus | 50,000–200,000 VND (~$2–8) | 1.5 hrs |
| Taxi | 600,000–900,000 VND (~$24–36) | 1–1.25 hrs |
This works if you fly a domestic leg from Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang into Hai Phong.
Fast Track — no queue at the border
5–10 minutes instead of an hour in the immigration queue
from$11per passenger
From Hai Phong to Ha Long
The two cities are 66–70 km apart. On the Đường cao tốc Hải Phòng – Hạ Long expressway it is a 1–1.5 hour drive.
| Option | Price | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled bus | 60,000–100,000 VND (~$2.40–4) | 1.5–2 hrs |
| Taxi | 500,000–800,000 VND (~$20–32) | 1–1.25 hrs |
| Grab | from 400,000 VND (~$16) | 1–1.25 hrs |
Buses run from Hai Phong's bus station from morning until 21:00, every 30–40 minutes. The terminus is Bến xe Bãi Cháy station in Ha Long.
This route is handy if you came from Hanoi by train to Hai Phong or flew into Cat Bi. Bonus: ferries run from Hai Phong to Cat Ba Island, so you can pair it with Ha Long in one trip.
From Ninh Binh to Ha Long
It is 200–210 km, roughly 3–4 hours direct. But direct buses are scarce — most routes go via Hanoi.
| Option | Price | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bus (via Hanoi) | 450,000–500,000 VND (~$18–20) | 4–4.5 hrs |
| Limousine bus | ~600,000 VND (~$24) | ~3 hrs |
| Private transfer | from 2,500,000 VND (~$100) | 3–3.5 hrs |
The limousine bus is a minibus with leather recliners, Wi-Fi and often a foot massage function. It takes the expressway, so it is an hour to ninety minutes faster than a regular bus.
Getting around Ha Long
Grab and taxis
Grab — Southeast Asia's Uber — works in Ha Long, but there are noticeably fewer drivers than in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Expect a 5–15 minute wait, longer off-peak.
Local taxi firms: Mai Linh, Ha Long Taxi, Thanh Hung, Sao Mai, Van Loc. Rates: flagfall ~12,000 VND (~$0.50), then ~15,000 VND/km (~$0.60/km).
Typical rides:
- Bus station → Bai Chay waterfront: 30,000–50,000 VND (~$1.20–2)
- Bai Chay → Tuan Chau port: 80,000–120,000 VND (~$3.20–4.80)
Renting a motorbike
Cost: 100,000–200,000 VND/day (~$4–8). Bike quality is a lottery — check the brakes and mirrors before you ride off, and make sure the headlight works.
Officially you need an international driving permit valid for motorcycles (category A), and it only counts together with your national licence. In practice the police in Ha Long check less often than in Nha Trang, but the fine is very real: under Decree 168/2024, riding a bike up to 125 cc without a licence costs 2,000,000–4,000,000 VND (~$77–154) — and your travel insurance won't cover a crash without the right permit.
Traffic in the centre and on the bridges is chaotic, especially after 17:00. For short hops, Grab is simpler and safer.
Cable car and boats
The Nữ Hoàng Cable Car ("Queen Cable Car") links the Bai Chay waterfront with the Sun World amusement park on Ba Deo hill. The cabins are double-decker, and the hilltop is crowned by the Sun Wheel ferris wheel with views over the bay. Check at the ticket desk or on the Sun World site which tickets include the ride.
Boats for bay cruises leave from Tuan Chau port and the Sun World pier. Book your cruise ahead — in season (October–April) the popular routes sell out fast.
Common mistakes on the way to Ha Long
Not checking the bus route. One station sends buses to both Ha Long and Hai Phong. Board the wrong one and you'll have to change midway. Ask "Hạ Long?" and point to it on a map.
Falling for an unofficial taxi. Van Don Airport and the Ha Long bus station attract freelance drivers. Their prices are 1.5–2x higher. Fix: open Grab, or find the official taxi desk.
Trying the expressway by motorbike. The Hanoi–Ha Long expressway is closed to motorbikes. You'll be sent onto the old QL18 road — 4–5 hours instead of 2.5.
Not booking the transfer with your cruise. Many cruise companies bundle the transfer or offer it for $10–15. Without it, you're on your own to reach Tuan Chau port — another 20–30 minutes from the bus station.
Leaving Hanoi on Friday morning. Ha Long is a favourite weekend break for Vietnamese families. Friday mornings and Sunday evenings mean jams on the expressway. Aim for a weekday, or an early start.
One more thing — the season. The best window is October to April: less rain, calmer sea. If you want to swim as well as cruise, Ha Long's beaches run at full tilt from March to September.
FAQ
There is no convenient Hanoi–Ha Long train. The rail option is the Hanoi–Hai Phong line, then a bus or taxi on to Ha Long (1–1.5 hrs). It is slower and pricier than a direct bus or shuttle — worth it only if you want to see Hai Phong on the way.
Two ways. By land, take the expressway to Cat Hai island, then the Cát Hải – Cát Bà cable car across the strait. It carries passengers only: a car needs the ferry. Otherwise, a combo bus-and-ferry ticket from Hanoi (200,000–250,000 VND / ~$8–10, 4–5 hours), a speedboat, or a ferry from Hai Phong or Tuan Chau. Full logistics are in the Cat Ba guide.
A private transfer runs 1,600,000–2,400,000 VND (~$60–90) for a 4-seat car. Split between four, that is ~$15–23 each. Grab locks the fare in the app before you ride, and you can book ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide, where you get reviews and card payment.
The nearest is Vân Đồn Airport (VDO), 50 km from Ha Long, about an hour by car. Flights are few and routes change, so check the schedule before you book. The main airport of the north is Noi Bai in Hanoi, ~165 km away, 2.5–3 hours by car.
- On the Hanoi–Hai Phong–Ha Long expressway2.5–3 hoursby car
- The old roadaround 4 hours
- A scheduled bus on the old road3.5–4.5 hoursstill takes
Most travellers pick a shuttle or private car, both of which run on the expressway
Yes. Grab is Southeast Asia's Uber, and both GrabCar and GrabBike run here — just with fewer drivers than Hanoi, so expect a 5–15 minute wait. If nothing turns up, grab a local metered taxi: Mai Linh, Ha Long Taxi or Thanh Hung. The Grab app is in English and you can pay by cash or card.
Technically yes, but only on the old QL18 road — that's 4–5 hours. The expressway is closed to motorbikes. You also need an international driving permit valid for motorcycles, and it only counts together with your national licence. For a single day it makes no sense — take a shuttle and rent a bike locally for 100,000–200,000 VND/day (~$4–8).
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