Which place is cheaper, Datong or Halong Bay?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Halong Bay or Datong?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Halong Bay and Datong can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Halong Bay or Datong?
Halong Bay
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.
Datong
If you're looking for an old world city, with a renovated feel, you might want to spend some time in Datong, China. This city was once walled-in and the newest initiative is to rebuild their great wall to maintain their old world charm. Datong is definitely done a lot to make itself a contender in the world of vacation destinations.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Vietnam, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Vietnam, The Best Cultural Tours in China, and The Best Luxury Tours to China.
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Halong Bay Prices
Vietnam PricesDatong Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHalong Bay $66Datong $71
The average daily cost (per person) in Halong Bay is $66, while the average daily cost in Datong is $71. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Halong Bay and Datong in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHalong Bay $27Datong $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHalong Bay $54Datong $46
Compare Hotels in Halong Bay and Datong
Looking for a hotel in Halong Bay or Datong? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Halong Bay $13Datong $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Halong Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Halong Bay:
- Premium 2-Day Halong & Lan Ha Bay Cruise with Meals & Transfer: $299
- Halong Bay 2D1N 5-Star Cruise–Transfer, Food & Island Adventures: $239
- Classic 2D1N Halong Bay Cruise from Hanoi with Bus Transfer: $207
- 2 Day Halong Bay Cruise from Hanoi by Expressway Transfer: $199
- 2D/1N at 5 STAR CRUISES: Transfer,Meals, Cave, Island & Beach: $185
- Dragon 5Star HaLong Cruise 2D1N Included Transfer from Hanoi : $176
- Oasis Bay Party Cruise for Young Travelers with Transfer Included: $170
- Halong Bay 2 Days Cruise from Hanoi with Transfer and Meals: $149
- Private Transfer from Halong Bay Cruise Port to Hanoi hotels: $145
- JADE SAILS - 1 Day Cruise in Halong & Lan Ha Bay with TRANSFER: $110
- Hanoi Private Transfer from Tuan Chau Island to Hanoi (HAN) airport: $104
- Halong Bay transfer to Hai Phong airport with private car 7 seats from HalongBay: $100
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Datong
Also for Datong, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Chengdu: Private Round-Trip Transfer to Leshan Budda: $128
- Datong Hanging Temple Private Transfer from Hotel or Station: $69
- Datong Yungang Airport Chauffeur Service , to Datong Transfer: $12
- Transfer or Tour to Yungang Grottoes&Hanging Temple: $102
- Dunhuang Private Round Trip Transfer to Jiayuguan and Xuanbi Great Wall : $100
- From 4-Day Private Tour to Pingyao with Transfer: $988
- Private One Way Transfer from Datong to Beijing : $211
- Private Round-Trip Transfer Service to Hanging Temple and Hengshan from Datong: $118
- Private Transfer Service from Yungang Airport to Datong Hotel: $29
- Transfer from Datong Railway Stations to Hotels in City Center: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Halong Bay or Datong?
Prices for flights to both Datong and Halong Bay change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayHalong Bay $26Datong $35
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Halong Bay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Halong Bay.
- Cat Ba Paradise Cave Experience with Dinner and Live Music: $41
- Paradise Cave Dinner with Live Music and Tasting in Cat Ba: $42
- Halong's Hidden Gem: Dragon Pearl Cave Tour with Dinner: $47
- Halong Bay Luxury Dinner Cruise - Ambassador: $51
- Best 2D1N Lan Ha Bay Cruise: BBQ dinner, Viet Hai Ancient Village: $210
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Halong Bay $16Datong $25
Tours and Activities in Halong Bay
Here are a few actual costs in Halong Bay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2-Day Halong Orchid Cruise: $235
- 5-Star Paradise Cruise Ha Long Bay & Lan Ha Bay 2D1N Tour: $249
- Alisa Premier Luxury 5-Star Cruise in Halong Bay 2 Days 1 Night: $215
- Ha Long Bay Day Tour by 5 Stars Luxury Cruise (07 Hours on Bay): $60
- La Regina Overnight Cruise - Queen of Lan Ha Bay - 2 day/1 night: $199
- Luxury Cruise - Top Tier Ha Long bay 2D1N/3D2N: $185
- 07 Hours Explore Halong Bay with Sea Octopus Cruise: $70
- 1 Day Boat Tour Lan Ha Bay & Viet Hai Ancient Village from Cat Ba: $59
- 1 Day Boat Tour: HaLong Bay, Lan Ha Bay, Natural Beach and Full Moon Party: $29
- 1-Day Halong Luxury Cruise,Buffet Meal,Sunset Party,Cave & Island: $53
- 2 Day 1 Night Halong & Lan Ha Bay Luxury Rosy Cruise from Ha Long: $215
- 2 Day Guided Cruise Tour in Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay from Hanoi: $201
Tours and Activities in Datong
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Datong.
- Yungang Grottoes Ticket Booking: $21
- Yungang Grottoes Entrance Ticket with Optional Tour Services: $24
- Yungang Grottoes Entrance Ticket Only: $33
- Datong Private Self-guided Tour with Chartered Car: $35
- Pingyao Ancient City Scenic Area Pass Ticket Only: $36
- YungangGrottoe HangingTemple Private Self-guided Tour by Car: $79
- Datong Hanging Temple Wooden Pagoda Self-guided Tour by Car: $95
- 4-8 hours Private Datong Great Wall Tour: $99
- Private day tour to Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple in Datong: $100
- Private Guided Tour of Yungang Grottoes&Huayan Monastery : $148
- Yungang Grottoes and Jinhua Palace 2-Day Tour: $168
- Hanging Temple and Yungang Grottoes Private Tour: $174
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHalong Bay $12Datong $12
When comparing the travel costs between Halong Bay and Datong, we can see that Datong is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Halong Bay Expensive? and Is Datong Expensive?.
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.