How much does it cost to travel to Halong Bay?
You should plan to spend around $58 (d1,441,667) per day on your vacation in Halong Bay. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $16 (d401,597) on meals
- $14 (d352,489) on local transportation
- $56 (d1,406,138) on hotels
A one week trip to Halong Bay for two people costs, on average, $806 (d20,183,336). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Halong Bay has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Halong Bay expensive to visit?
Halong Bay is a reasonably affordable place to visit. Located in Vietnam, which is a reasonably affordable country, visitors will appreciate the relatively low cost of this destination. It falls in the average range in the country for its prices. If you're traveling on a budget, then this is a good destination with affordable accommodation, food, and transportation.
Within Asia, Halong Bay is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Nanchang or Jingdezhen.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Halong Bay Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Halong Bay?
The average Halong Bay trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Halong Bay travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
d1,406,138
($56)
|
|
Local Transportation 1
|
d352,489
($14)
|
|
Food 2
|
d401,597
($16)
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
d410,873
($16)
|
|
Tips and Handouts 1
|
d48,938 -
146,813
($2 - 6)
|
|
Alcohol 2
|
d155,176 -
465,528
($6 - 19)
|
Accommodation Budget in Halong Bay
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Halong Bay is $28 (d703,069). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Halong Bay is $56 (d1,406,138). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Halong Bay? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Halong Bay
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Halong Bay is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $14 (d352,489) per person, per day, on local transportation in Halong Bay.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$14
d352,489
How much does it cost to go to Halong Bay? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Halong Bay will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Halong Bay
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Halong Bay can vary, the average cost of food in Halong Bay is $16 (d401,597) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Halong Bay should cost around $6.42 (d160,639) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Halong Bay is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$16
d401,597
Entertainment Budget in Halong Bay
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Halong Bay typically cost an average of $16 (d410,873) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$16
d410,873
Tips and Handouts Budget in Halong Bay
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average cost for Tips and Handouts in Halong Bay is $3.91 (d97,875) per day. The usual amount for a tip in Halong Bay is 5% - 15%.
-
Tips and Handouts1
For guides or service providers
$3.91
d97,875
Alcohol Budget in Halong Bay
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $12 (d310,352) on alcoholic beverages in Halong Bay per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$12
d310,352
Water Budget in Halong Bay
Calculated from travelers like you
-
On average, people spend $1.82 (d45,595) on bottled water in Halong Bay per day. The public water in Halong Bay is considered safe to drink.
-
Water2
Bottled water for one day
$1.82
d45,595
Last Updated: Apr 28, 2023
Halong Bay On a Budget
Halong Bay, Vietnam
Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the north of Vietnam, near the Chinese border. Known for its thousands of beautiful limestone karsts and stalactite-filled caves, it is one of the most visited destinations in Vietnam. If you appreciate natural scenery and want an adventure at sea, you'll love cruising among more than 1,900 islands in Ha Long Bay.
The best time to visit Ha Long Bay is between March and June, but if you want to skip the crowds, go from June to September, which is low season for travel so you'll be able to save some cash. High season hits again between October and November. December through February is another low travel season to avoid crowds, but be prepared for cloudy, cold, and rainy weather, which may likely obstruct optimal views of the karsts and bay.
Sights
Cat Ba Island is the largest in Ha Long Bay and known for its national park, where the endangered langur lives. If you decide to visit, be ready for crowds. Hiking, mountain biking, and exploring Monkey Island are just a few of the many activities on Cat Ba Island. Visitors can also relax on the private beaches at the Monkey Island Resort, climb the karsts, or go spelunking in the numerous nearby caves.
Even if you don't visit Cat Ba, there are plenty of other islands for you to explore caves, climb rocks, kayak, and even swim in hidden lagoons. Sung Sot Cave and Dau Go Cave are well-lit with colored lighting. Visit the Cua Gan, the largest of the four floating Villages, to get a glimpse into the life of local fishing families.
Check with tour companies to find out which islands they will visit to plan your activities. Some popular islands include Dau Be Island, which is on the cruise to Cat Ba and great for swimming and diving, Bo Hon Island, known for the famous Virgin Cave containing a shrine to a woman who committed suicide, and Quan Lan, a historical island featuring lovely beaches. Check out Tung Sau to visit the oyster farm and learn about the pearl industry in Vietnam.
Food and Dining
When it comes to traveling through Halong Bay, your fine or humble dining and cuisine will ultimately depend on your cruise boat. However, if you have the opportunity to find a restaurant on land or are simply feeling adventurous, there are a number of local specialties you may be interested to try.
Tu Hai is a rare shellfish and is the regional specialty of Van Don Island. Also known as "snail spout," it can be enjoyed steamed, baked, or in a soup or salad. Sa Sung, a sandworm, is another Ha Long delicacy you can expect to pay a pretty penny for. Enjoy it stir-fried with leeks and celery or fried, as a snack alongside your beer. The Gieng Don and Cao Xanh districts in Ha Long are well-known for Sam, an arthropod crustacean which are deliciously prepared in a variety of different ways: steamed, fried, grilled and stir-fried, to name a few.
Transportation
Most cruises leave from Hanoi and Ha Long City and can last from one to four days. There are several modes of transport to get to Ha Long Bay.
The cheapest option is to take a 4-5 hour ride on a minibus from Hanoi, which will make stops to pick up additional passengers.
For a quicker and more comfortable ride, take a bus from My Dinh Bus Station in Hanoi. It will cost more, but what you spend in money, you'll make up in time. Once at My Dinh Bus Station, take a motorbike to the Tuan Chau Wharf.
You can also take the cargo train from Hanoi to Gia Lam and then to Quang Ninh. The ride will take about 6.5 hours and starts at 4:30 a.m. You'll arrive near the Bai Chay bus station in Ha Long City,just 5 km away from the harbour. However, trains are often delayed and cancelled without notice, so you may want to opt for the train on the day of, just to be sure.
If you're coming from the airport or simply prefer a more flexible means to get to Ha Long Bay, hire a private car or a taxi. It is much more costly, but will afford you a comfortable ride at your own pace.
If you're coming from Noibai, you can opt to take the seaplane to Halong, which will take just 45 minutes and you'll experience a water landing right on the Tuan Chau Island Marina. You can also request and extra 15-minute scenic tour to check out the area.
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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.