Which place is cheaper, Harbin 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 Harbin?
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 Harbin 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 Harbin?
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.
Harbin
Harbin, China is the northernmost major city in the country, with a population of over 10 million. Harbin was founded in 1897 by Russia, which has resulted in a lot of Russian influence throughout the city and many Russian citizens. The city is most famous for their annual International Snow and Ice Festival, a two-month-long festival running from January through February of each year.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Vietnam, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Vietnam, The Best 2-Week Tours in China, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China.
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Halong Bay Prices
Vietnam PricesHarbin Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHalong Bay $66Harbin $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Halong Bay is $66, while the average daily cost in Harbin is $66. 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 Harbin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHalong Bay $27Harbin $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHalong Bay $54Harbin $42
Compare Hotels in Halong Bay and Harbin
Looking for a hotel in Halong Bay or Harbin? 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 $13Harbin $1.52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Halong Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Halong Bay:
- Transfer from Cat Ba Island to Ninh Binh with D-Class Limousine: $20
- Transfer Ha Long to Ha Noi Super Limousine Morning Bus: $33
- Transfer Ha Long and Ninh Binh by Limousine Bus: $18
- Transfer From Halong to Ninh Binh: $25
- Sea Octopus Luxury Day Cruise in Halong With Transfer Roundtrip: $75
- Private Transfer: Cat Bi Airport to/from Ha Long, Tuan Chau: $60
- Private Transfer from Halong Bay Port to Hanoi Airport (HAN): $79
- Private Transfer from Halong Bay Port to Haiphong city hotels: $56
- Private Transfer from Halong Bay Cruise Port to Hanoi hotels: $145
- Private Transfer from Halong Bay Cruise Port to Haiphong Hotels: $63
- Private Transfer From Ha Long Bay To Hanoi: $90
- Premium 2-Day Halong & Lan Ha Bay Cruise with Meals & Transfer: $299
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Harbin
Also for Harbin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 4 Hour Private Transfer to Sun Island Snow Sculptures: $100
- Harbin Airport (HRB) : Private Arrival Transfer with Meet & Greet Service: $32
- Harbin Catholic Church Car Transfer Service: $80
- Harbin Ice Festival Tickets and Transfer Service : $148
- Harbin Taiping Airport Chauffeur Service, Harbin Airport Transfer, Pick up.: $59
- Harbin Volga Manor Private Transfer Service with Entry Tickets: $300
- Private Arrival Transfer from Harbin West Railway Station to Harbin City Hotel: $65
- Private Departure Transfer to Harbin North Railway Station from Harbin City: $100
- Private Full Day Transfer Service to Harbin Top Winter Attractions: $198
- Private HRB Airport Arrival Transfer to Harbin City Hotel: $70
- Private HRB Airport Departure Transfer from Harbin City Hotel: $70
- Shared Transfer Service to Ice and Snow World, Sun Island Snow Festival: $250
Is it cheaper to fly into Halong Bay or Harbin?
Prices for flights to both Harbin 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 $26Harbin $24
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Harbin
For Harbin, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Dinner Show with Costumes and Performances: $29
- Harbin Cultural Tour at Zhongyang Dajie to Baluoke with Dinner: $80
- Central Street, Baluoke Village, and Dinner Tour: $90
- Harbin Dumpling Cooking Class: $154
- Hot Spring Experience with Hot Pot Dinner in Harbin: $300
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Halong Bay $16Harbin $53
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
- 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
- 2 Days 1 Night Lan Ha Bay Adventure: $129
Tours and Activities in Harbin
For Harbin, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Harbin Ice and Snow World Ticket Booking: $51
- Half Day Tour for Harbin Guandong Ancient Lane and Wood Sculpture Museum: $104
- Harbin Summer Indoor Ice and Snow World Tour: $136
- Harbin Ice Lantern Show and Center Street Tour: $150
- Private Half Day Tour Harbin ConfucianTemple and Temple of Bliss (Jile Si): $157
- 1-Day Harbin Private Tour: $168
- Harbin City Guided Tour to Zhongyang Street and Sophia Church: $180
- Private Half Day City Tour including Russian Town and Harbin Ropeway Ride: $198
- Small Group Night Tour to Harbin Ice and Snow World: $199
- Harbin City Private Day Tour in Your Way in Winter Season: $200
- Harbin Ice Festival New Year Eve Countdown Group Tour on December 31: $200
- Private Half Day Tour to Unit 731 Museum and Sites in Harbin: $218
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHalong Bay $12Harbin $7.96
Sample the Local Flavors in Harbin
Also in Harbin, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Half-Day Private Harbin Beer Museum and Brewery Tour: $250
When comparing the travel costs between Halong Bay and Harbin, we can see that Halong Bay 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 Harbin 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.