How to Get from Ho Chi Minh City to Halong Bay?

While Halong Bay and Ho Chi Minh City are the biggest magnets for tourists in Vietnam, the distance between these two attractions is quite something. Many may wonder which means of transportation is the best to travel such a distance. Read on to find out all the available options to get from Ho Chi Minh City to Halong Bay, as well as which best suits you.

I. How Far is It from Ho Chi Minh City to Halong Bay?

Halong Bay is in Quang Ninh, a province located in the north of Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City is in the far south. The distance between these two attractions is 1,700 kilometers, roughly equivalent to the distance between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

For such a distance, the best and fastest way to reach Halong Bay is by taking a 2-hour direct flight to Van Don Airport.

II. How to Travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Halong Bay

1. Travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Halong Bay by Air

For those seeking a seamless, stress-free journey, traveling by air is your best choice. However, there are quite a few ways to travel by airplane from Ho Chi Minh City to Halong Bay. Take a look at the following table:

 

Flight from Tan Son Nhat Airport to…	Van Don Airport	Cat Bi Airport	Noi Bai Airport
Location	Quang Ninh	Hai Phong	Hanoi
Duration	2 hours 5 minutes	2 hours	2 hours 10 minutes
Distance from Halong Bay	50 kilometers	70 kilometers	190 kilometers
Suppliers	Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways	Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways	Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways, Jetstar
Price	From 43USD ~ 1,000,000 VND	From 55USD ~ 1,300,000 VND	From 43USD ~ 1,000,000 VND
Connecting trip to Halong Bay	Free bus ticket	Taxi	A variety of options

Note: Generally speaking, Vietnam Airlines is the priciest airline, providing inclusive meals, water and more free baggage allowance. Bamboo Airways is medium-priced, while Vietjet Air is the cheapest. To find the most suitable means of transportation from Hanoi to Halong Bay, check out our article Travel from Hanoi to Halong Bay.

2. Travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Halong Bay by Train

It’s impossible to travel directly from Ho Chi Minh City to Halong Bay by train. You can catch a train in Saigon train station, arrive in Hanoi and use another means of transport to travel to Halong Bay.

Route: Sai Gon train station (Ho Chi Minh City) – Hanoi train station (Hanoi)

Duration: 33-37 hours

Price: 40 – 60 USD (depending on which seat you choose)

Note: a journey by train will take roughly 1 day and a half, making it the most time-consuming means of transportation available. It’s best to buy a sleeper ticket so that you can stretch your arms and legs a bit during the long journey. After arriving in Hanoi, check out the available means of transport in this article Travel from Hanoi to Halong Bay to find a way to reach Halong Bay.

3. Travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Halong Bay by Bus

Again, there is no direct bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Halong bay. That means you’ll have to book a ticket from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, and then find a way to reach Halong Bay. 

It’s a really long way from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, so it’s best to catch a sleeper bus. There is a tiny bathroom on the bus, and there are plenty of stops along the way. 

Duration: 35 hours

Price: 40 USD (tickets can be booked online)

Note: Generally speaking, it’s not a very comfortable way to travel to Halong Bay. The beds do not fully recline and the view is not nearly as good as traveling by train. If you have more time to spend, jump on a hop-on-hop-off bus, which allows you to get off at a major stop, stay for a few days, then head to the next city on the route. The price will be around 50 USD. On arriving in Hanoi, check out the available means of transport in this article Travel from Hanoi to Halong Bay to find a way to reach Halong Bay.

4. Travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Halong Bay by Motorbike

Motorcycling is not recommended in the case, as you should have a legal driving license to drive in Vietnam without risks of legal issues. It will be a very long journey; make sure you are in good health conditions, have a partner and a working smartphone.

It’s pretty hard to estimate the time it takes to ride a motorbike to Halong Bay, as it depends on the time you take to rest between stops. Regarding cost, you’ll need to spend about 10 USD per day to rent a motorbike in Ho Chi Minh City and return it in Hanoi. Gasoline is not quite a matter, a liter of gasoline only costs 1 USD.

Summary of transport options to get from Ho Chi Minh City to Halong Bay:

 

Means of transport	Airplane	Train	Bus	Motorbike
Direct or indirect?	Direct	Indirect	Indirect	Direct
Duration	2 hours	33-37 hours	35 hours	40-50 hours
Cost	From 43 USD	From 40 USD (to reach Hanoi)	From 40 USD (to reach Hanoi)	From 50 USD (rental fee, highway fee)
Convenience	Very comfortable	Less comfortable	Uncomfortable	Very tiring
Risks	Safe	Safe	Less safe	Dangerous

Travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Halong Bay FAQ: