Distance 138 km (86.3 miles) | |
Price range US$6-US$187 | |
Ride Duration Range 1h 50m-5h 5m | |
Earliest Departure 17:30 | |
Latest Departure 23:00 | |
Most Popular Operator |
The best way to get from Halong Bay to Hanoi is by bus. It’s affordable and the trip will only take about two to three hours. You will definitely want to bring your camera and go sightseeing in Hanoi. They have incredible art galleries, ancient architecture, lots of history and culture to explore. Hanoi is also known for its exquisite food and shops in town. The best time to book a trip is from February to April and September to November.
Fastest bus: 2h
Cheapest bus: US$6
It’s easy to fall in love with the frenetic atmosphere of Hanoi.
Rich with culture, history, delicious food, and eclectic nightlife, Hanoi is an unforgettable gem. Wandering the streets, you’ll be overwhelmed by the chaotic traffic and distracted by the sights, smells, and sounds that inundate your senses.
You’ll easily connect with locals and fellow tourists eager to make friends and introduce you to unexpected wonders. Plus, there is no shortage of activities to fill up your days.
To navigate the 177-kilometer (110-mile) distance between Halong Bay and Hanoi, travelers can hire a private car or a minivan to luxuriate in peace on the two- to three-hour journey.
Budget-conscious travelers might opt for a bus complete with recliner seats to sit back and enjoy the views.
Hanoi is a fascinating mesh of ancient architecture and modern skyscrapers. Rounding each street corner introduces new sites to behold, with utter chaos ready to entice the eye.
It’s no wonder that the city attracts millions of domestic and international tourists every year.
As the capital of Vietnam, Hanoi is the ideal location to start a Vietnamese adventure. It’s also the perfect base for jumping between the hotspots of Northern Vietnam, like Sapa, Ninh Binh, Ha Giang and, of course, Halong Bay.
Whether you’re visiting with a luxury or backpacker budget, Hanoi is waiting to delight you with its offerings.
There is no shortage of incredible activities to enjoy while visiting Hanoi. Simply wandering the streets will conjure up no end of adventures, but here are some must-visit things to include in your itinerary:
Watch the Than Long Water Pupper Show: This hilarious show tells stories about the Northern people’s customs and traditions through music and puppetry. It’s an amazing way to spend an afternoon, and you’ll leave desperate for more. Make sure to get the English audio guide so you can understand the full context of the show.
Explore Hanoi’s Old Quarter: This fascinating neighborhood is crammed with street sellers, open-air restaurants with tiny plastic stools, and endless foot traffic. Whether you’re looking for shoes, electronics, Chinese lanterns, or beauty products, a whole street is set aside for them. The quarter is where old clashes with modernity; you could spend days unearthing all its wonders.
Visit Train Street: This narrow alley is world-famous for being an active train track that whizzes past trackside restaurants. Save your money and avoid buying a full meal here. Instead, get a quick drink and sit next to the tracks until the next train comes past.
Go on a street food tour: Book a motorbike tour, and you’ll zip around the city on the back of a motorbike, trying all the best delicacies and classic Vietnamese dishes.
Learn your history at the Museum of Hanoi. This building displays artifacts spanning Hanoi’s 1000-year-old history and is a fascinating visit for history buffs.
Sing your heart out in a karaoke bar: You can’t come to Vietnam without visiting a karaoke bar. It’s a must-do, and Hanoi is the perfect location to embrace the humiliation with a half-dozen beers in your system.
Pro tip: Remember to negotiate and confirm the price before taking a taxi or cycling taxi!
Traveling between Halong Bay and Hanoi takes approximately two to four hours.
Journey times vary depending on the amount of traffic and how often the driver stops for rest breaks.
Some buses also stop at random points for locals to board, elongating the journey.
The 177-kilometer (110-mile) journey will whisk you away from the majestic UNESCO Halong Bay and Cat Ba Archipelago and immerse you in the multicultural capital of Vietnam, Hanoi.
The journey from Halong Bay to Hanoi is a peaceful one, slowly transitioning from peaceful countryside to chaotic city life. As the incredible shoreline gives way to high-rise buildings and scooters loaded with entire families, you’ll be ready to dive headfirst into Hanoi’s rich culture.
Traveling by road between cities, you’ll catch glimpses of the hustle and bustle of Hanoi’s wild roads.
To travel between Halong Bay and Hanoi, tourists have three options: bus, minivan, or private car. Depending on your mode of transport, the journey between these destinations will take anywhere from two to four hours.
Starting at the low price of $6, a bus is the best and most affordable way to get from Halong Bay to Hanoi.
Buses take anywhere between two and four hours to reach Hanoi, depending on traffic and how frequently the driver chooses to stop.
This option is often the most comfortable, too. You’ll have a reclining seat, whether you opt for a standard or VIP bus, and watching the countryside melt away as you edge closer to the city will make the time pass quickly.
Standard buses have:
A/C
Sometimes provide a W/C onboard, which can get dirty during a long-haul journey, so prioritize waiting for a rest stop
Reclining seats
VIP buses have:
Fewer seats
Fully reclinable seats
Privacy curtains
USB charger points
Occasionally, free WiFi
A/C
Often don’t have toilets on board due to space limitations
Pro tip: Load up on snacks when taking the bus. The rest stops do provide hot meals, but the quality isn’t always the best, and it can be a risky choice with a Western stomach!
A little more streamlined than its bigger cousin, the bus, the minivan is the quickest method of transportation. Traveling from Halong Bay to Hanoi takes about two hours by minivan.
Minivans also typically include pick-up and drop-off from your accommodation.
Unfortunately, due to the size of the vehicle, luggage space is limited, so don’t expect to bring multiple bags.
Prices start at $10.
Rest stops are at the driver's discretion, so avoid drinking too much water!
Pro tip: Hire a private minivan when traveling in a large group to get the best rates and to be able to specify your departure time and location. You can use the filter function on the booking page to find private rides.
If traveling alongside a bunch of fellow tourists is not your scene, hire a private car for the journey. Prices start at $36, so going by car to Hanoi from Halong Bay is the most expensive option but probably the most comfortable.
You’ll enjoy a peaceful journey with a friendly driver who will stop whenever you request. This option is ideal for families or small groups traveling together.
The best time to visit Hanoi is definitely from February to April and September to November.
Autumn and spring in Hanoi offer milder temperatures, perfect for meandering around the city and soaking up the city’s treasures.
Avoid visiting in the winter when temperatures can fall below 50ºF (10ºC) or in the summer when the heat soars to 82-95ºF (28-35ºC).
You could spend months or even years in Hanoi and still find new gems to discover while navigating its labyrinth-like streets and soaring skyscrapers.
Slow travelers should rent an apartment and spend at least a month here to soak up its many treasures.
Budget backpackers or holidaymakers will need between three and seven days to make the most of a trip to Hanoi.
After exploring Hanoi’s winding streets and chaotic beauty, you could head north to Ha Giang and conquer the world-famous Ha Giang Loop.
Or, you could take a bus to Sapa to hike into the mountains and marvel at the glorious rice terraces.
Perhaps you’ll be drawn to Ninh Binh to the south, where you can visit the magnificent Trang An Complex or enjoy a serene visit to Mai Chau.
Based on 2600 reviews from Bookaway users who traveled from Halong Bay to Hanoi
MAKSIM K.
Ian O.
Harald P.
Annika S.
Douglas S.
Tuan Chau International Marina
Halong Travel office
Halong Bay - Any hotel
Tuan Chau Harbor Ticket Counter
Halong SB1
Have an empty weekend planned in Hanoi? Ramp up the adventure with a visit to one of these places that seem a world away from the concrete jungle of Hanoi.
There are about 1,600 islets in Halong Bay, each unique and all preserved & protected by the government. Which ones can and should you visit?
Explore the breathtaking natural beauty of Vietnam`s coastal regions from Ha Long Bay to Da Nang to Phan Thiet to islands like Con Dao, prepare to be awed.
Bookaway.com makes it simple and easy to find, compare, and buy city-to-city tickets via bus, train, ferry, and more. We support over 13 languages and 23 currencies worldwide, and we believe that everyone should easily be able to find and purchase what they are looking for. We don’t just want to help you get where you want to go - we want you to enjoy the ride.
