Hanoi Airport to Halong Bay & Return: Distance + 6 Ways to Transfer

With 5 million foreign visitors every year, Halong Bay is definitely one of the most popular tourist attractions in Vietnam. A majority of foreign tourists choose to fly to Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi, and then commute to Halong Bay with a different means of transport. Which is the best way to travel from Hanoi Airport to Halong Bay? This article will walk you through all the possible ways and point out the pros and cons of each.

I. Distance from Noi Bai Airport, Hanoi to Halong Bay

Noi Bai Airport is situated in the suburban area, 35 kilometers to the northwest of the city center. From Noi Bai Airport, you can either choose to travel directly to Halong Bay, or transit in Hanoi’s center before carrying on with your journey. The feasible means of transportation include taxi, private car, seaplane, local bus, shuttle bus, train and motorbike.

II. 6 Fastest, Easiest & Safest Ways to Transfer from Hanoi Airport to Halong Bay

1. Travel from Noi Bai Airport to Halong Bay by Taxi

This is the easiest and most time efficient way to commute. At the airport terminal, you will easily find long queues of taxis waiting for potential customers. You can also pre-order a taxi by googling “taxi from Noi Bai Airport to Halong Bay”.

Duration: depending on the traffic, the journey will usually take 2.5 hours to 3.5 hours.

Cost: the traditional taxis are metered, and the cost will depend on the actual distance travelled. A typical ride will take 1,000,000 – 2,000,000 VND. The highway will save a substantial amount of commuting time, but you are expected to pay the toll.

Tips: you are subject to taxi scams, as a few taxi drivers aim to take advantage of foreign tourists. You are advised to opt for large taxi companies only, such as Mai Linh, Taxi Group, Vinasun, etc. If you schedule a return to Hanoi city center, you are likely to be granted a discount.

Summary:

Comfortable, convenient and private
Time efficient
Expensive

2. Travel from Noi Bai Airport to Halong Bay by Private Car

Private car is another option if you value privacy and convenience. Car rental fee will be predetermined, and you will be equipped with an English-speaking driver. Simply google “car rental from Noi Bai Airport to Halong Bay” and you’ll find a great deal of suppliers.

Duration: depending on the traffic, the journey will usually take 2.5 hours to 3.5 hours.

Cost: depending on the chosen route, time and cost will differ. If you take the highway, you will expect a 5-25 USD increase in fee, and the trip will only take 2.5-3 hours. A 4-seat one-way ride will take roughly 2,000,000 VND, while a round-trip will take roughly 2,500,000 VND.

Tips: private car is among the best options, with the least to worry. Remember to check the English efficiency of your driver before you book, as there will be a difference in price if you wish to travel with an English speaking one.

Summary:

Comfortable, convenient and private
Time efficient
Expensive

3. Travel from Noi Bai Airport to Halong Bay by Seaplane

If you seek an ultimately luxurious experience, seaplane will be the perfect choice. It is the best yet most expensive way to travel to Halong Bay. You will be viewing the majestic mountains, limestone karst islets and emerald water from above. The only supplier for this service is Hai Au Aviation.

Duration: the flight will take 45 minutes to 1 hour at the maximum.

Cost: a one-way flight will cost 4,000,000 – 10,000,000 VND, depending on the time of the year.

Tip: bear in mind that the flight will land at the cruise port (Tuan Chau Gate). From there, you might want to take a taxi/Grab to get to your hotel.

Summary:

Comfortable and convenient
Time efficient
Extraordinary view
Most expensive

4. Travel from Noi Bai Airport to Halong Bay by Bus

You can either choose to take a bus directly to Halong Bay, or travel to Hanoi city to catch a bus from there. A direct trip will definitely cost more, but both ways are much cheaper than the aforementioned means of transportation.

If you wish to travel directly, Noi Bai services (Anbasco bus) offers this service at a price of 18 USD per person for a one-way ticket. It will be a 3-hour drive.

If you wish to transit in Hanoi city, first you’ll have to reach the bus stations located in the city center. From Noi Bai Airport, it will take you 200,000 – 300,000 VND by taxi, 100,000 VND by Grab bike, or 15,000 VND by bus to reach the stations. From there, you will catch a bus (either a local bus or a shuttle bus) to Halong Bay, which will drop you off at specific destinations, rather than the destination of your choice. To find out more about how to catch a bus from Hanoi city center, please visit this page Travel from Hanoi to Halong Bay.

Summary:

Not quite comfortable, especially if you choose to take a local bus from the city center
Not quite time efficient, if you choose to transit in Hanoi city
Cheap

5. Travel from Noi Bai Airport to Halong Bay by Train

It’s impossible to travel from Noi Bai Airport to Halong Bay by train, as the train station (Yen Vien Station) is located in the city center. You will first have to travel to the station, and catch a train from there.

Yen Vien Station is 30 kilometers to the southeast of Noi Bai Airport, so it will take you roughly 300,000 VND by taxi to get there. Only one train travels from Hanoi to Halong Bay everyday. It leaves at 4:55 am and arrives in Halong Bay at 11:45 am (a 7-hour ride). To find out more about how to get to Halong Bay by train, please visit this page Travel from Hanoi to Halong Bay.

Summary:

Not quite comfortable, as the train is quite old and not well maintained like cars
Very time consuming
Cheap
Magnificent view

6. Travel from Noi Bai Airport to Halong Bay by Motorbike

Motorcycling is only recommended for those having a legal driving license in Vietnam. Please don’t risk being involved in legal issues if you only visit the country for a temporary period. It’s also almost impossible to rent a bike while arriving at the airport, so you’ll first need to reach the city center.

To find out more about how to reach Halong Bay by bike, please visit this page Travel from Hanoi to Halong Bay.

Summary:

Dangerous
Cheap
Not quite time efficient

There are numerous ways to travel from Noi Bai Airport, Hanoi to Halong Bay, each of which has their own pros and cons. We hope that this article helped you find the most suitable way, taking account of your budget, time and privacy preferences.