A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Halong Bay vs. Yangshuo for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Halong Bay or Yangshuo?

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 Yangshuo 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 Yangshuo?

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.

Yangshuo

A county of the city, Guilin, Yangshuo is located in a region famous for its karst topography. Surrounded by jagged mountain peaks and bordered on one side by the Li River, Yangshuo has become a popular home base for tourists looking to explore the region's natural wonders. Backpackers and tourists, both foreign and domestic, come to Yangshuo every year making it a city of many cultures. Most locals are even able to speak English, which is fairly uncommon for Chinese cities.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Vietnam, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Vietnam, The Best Budget Tours to China, and The Best Tours for Seniors to China.


Which place is cheaper, Yangshuo 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.

  • Halong Bay Prices
    Vietnam Prices
    Yangshuo Prices
    China Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Halong Bay $66
    Yangshuo $86

The average daily cost (per person) in Halong Bay is $66, while the average daily cost in Yangshuo is $86. 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 Yangshuo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Halong Bay $27
    Yangshuo $26
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Halong Bay $54
    Yangshuo $52
Compare Hotels in Halong Bay and Yangshuo

Looking for a hotel in Halong Bay or Yangshuo? 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.

Hotels in Halong Bay


Hotels in Yangshuo


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Halong Bay $13
    Yangshuo $43

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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Private Transfer From Ha Long Bay To Hanoi: $90
  • Hai Phong airport transfer to Halong Bay with private car 4 seat from Hai Phong: $87
  • Halong Bay Luxury Day Tour From Hanoi With Limousine Transfer : $80
  • Private Transfer from Halong Bay Port to Hanoi Airport (HAN): $79

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Yangshuo

Also for Yangshuo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • From Yangshuo Via Ferrata with Transfer 3 hours Private Tour: $89
  • From Rock Climbing with Transfer Private (3 hours): $69
  • Guilin Private Transfer in English-speaking Services: Between Airport & Yangshuo: $106
  • Guilin: Li River Cruise with Transfer to Yangshuo: $80
  • Impression Liu Sanjie - Ticket Booking (including Round-trip Transfer): $62
  • Private Airport Transfer: Yangshuo Hotel to Guilin Liangjiang Airport: $45
  • Private Departure Transfer: Yangshuo to Guilin Train Stations: $49
  • Private Impression Sanjie Liu Evening Show with Hotel Transfer: $88
  • Private One Way Transfer Service to Guilin City Hotel or Airport from Yangshuo: $48
  • Private Transfer from Xingping hotel to Longsheng hotel: $107
  • Private Transfer from Yangshuo hotel to Guilin hotel: $37
  • Private Transfer from Yangshuo(Xingping) Train Station to Yangshuo Hotel: $21

Is it cheaper to fly into Halong Bay or Yangshuo?

Prices for flights to both Yangshuo 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Halong Bay $26
    Yangshuo $33

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 Yangshuo

For Yangshuo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Yangshuo Cooking Class with Market Trip: $45
  • Full-day Cultural Experience: Taichi, Cooking & Painting Lessons: $100
  • The impression Liu sanjie show and local dinner in town : $145
  • Combo Impression Sanjie Liu Show and Authentic Cooking Experience: $199
  • Yangshuo Full Day Tour: Cooking class, River boat, Light Show: $259

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Halong Bay $16
    Yangshuo $24

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 Yangshuo

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Yangshuo.

  • Impression Sanjie Liu Show Ticket: $45
  • Impression Sanjie Liu Show Ticket: $45
  • Impression Sanjie Liu Show Ticket Booking : $45
  • Yangshuo Impression Liusanjie Show Ticket: $45
  • Impression Liusanjie Show Ticket: $48
  • Yangshuo Via Ferrata Ticket: $49
  • Yulong River Bamboo Rafting Experience: $52
  • Yangshuo Ruyi peak & round way cable car ticket: $55
  • Yangshuo Walking Day Tour: $56
  • Half/Full-Day Yangshuo Countryside Moderate Cycling and Sightseeing Private Tour: $60
  • Ticket of Impression Sanjie Liu Show: $62
  • Amphibious Off-Road Biking Experience: $67

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Halong Bay $12
    Yangshuo $34


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Halong Bay and Yangshuo, we can see that Yangshuo is more expensive. And not only is Halong Bay much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Halong Bay would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Halong Bay and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Yangshuo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Yangshuo than you might in Halong Bay.

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 Yangshuo Expensive?.