Transportation
Published on December 4, 2011, 10:21 pmAll information on transportation in Vietnam show you the way to travel in Vietnam, how to manage with Vietnam transportation which surely makes your travels and stays here easier like local residents.BoatThere are daily slow boats connecting Hon Gai with Hai Phong (60,000d, three hours). Boats depart Hon Gai at 6.30 am, 1 lam and 4pm. There are no longer hydrofoils linking Halong and Hai Phong as travel by road is cheaper and just as fast.
The best way to get to Cat Ba Island is to hop onto the regular tourist boats from Bai Chay tourist-boat dock. It costs 100,000d one way, including a leisurely cruise through the most beautiful parts of the bay. An extra 30,000d brings entry lo the most important caves and grottoes in the bay. The whole trip takes about five hours, but there are no precise departure times, as it depends on numbers.
From Bai Chay, Pearl Cape (Tel: 3847 888; Halong street) operates hydrofoils to Mong Cai (US$19, three hours) leaving at Sam and lpm; the ticket office is almost next door to the Mien Tay bus station. The trip is definitely preferable to the long road journey.As always, be prepared for changes to these schedules.
BusBuses from Halong City to Hanoi (50,000d, 3.5 hours) leave from Mien Tay bus station (Ca Lan street) in Bai Chay every 15 minutes. Buses to Hai Phong (40000d, 1.5 hours) depart every 20 minutes from here.
Most buses to northeastern destinations start from Mien Tay bus station before passing through Hon Gai bus station ( Le Loi street). Buses for Mong Cai (60,000d, six hours) and Cua Ong (20,000d, 1.5 hours) for Van Don Island (Dao Cai Bau) depart regularly during daylight hours.
Car & MotorbikeHalong City is 160km from Hanoi and 55 km from Hai Phong. The one-way trip from Hanoi to Halong City takes about three hours by private vehicle.
For more on tours to Halong Bay, see on our cruise site. It is hard to do it any cheaper on your own, but some travellers prefer to steer their own course. Travelling independently allows you to take more or less time in places, depending on the weather. The downside is that it is hard to arrange an overnight on a boat this way. You can take a bus to Halong City from Hanoi (70, 000d, 3½ hours).
RouteThe new route from 2010: Hanoi- Bac Ninh- Halong (155km)From Hanoi Centre to Sai Dong: 10kmFrom Saigon to National Highway: 23 kmFrom Bac Ninh (National Highway number 18)- Pha Lai- Chi Linh- Dong Trieu- Uong Bi- Halong: 122
Hanoi- Hai Duong- HalongIt is an convernient way to travel from Hanoi to Halong via Hai Duong City, reaching Nam Sach, turn left to National Highway number 183, through Sao Do town, then Dong Trieu- Uong Bi- Halong. The travel time is 3.5 hours
Noi Bai Airport- Bac Ninh- Halong (160km)The road condition is very good now from Noi Bai Airport to Halong Bay, if by a private car, the travel time is just 3 hours with the following route:Noi Bai Airport- Bac Ninh (32 km), when reaching Bac Ninh & hitting the Highway number 18A, turn to Pha Lai then Sao Do, driving straight to Dong Trieu, Uong Bi and Halong.