Which place is cheaper, Halong Bay or Pai?
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 Pai or Halong Bay?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Pai and Halong Bay. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Pai or Halong Bay?
Pai
As the lush green mountains adorn the blue horizon amidst its creamy clouds, Pai, in northern Thailand, works as one of the many hubs for some of the world's most exciting cultural adventures and natural wonders. Within this small town just north of the Mae Hong Son Province, near the Myanmar border, Pai lays on the Pai River and holds a population of no more than 2,500. Despite its geographical insignificance, this town attracts a wide array of tourists. From breathtaking waterfalls to relaxing hot springs, you will find yourself astonished at how much this little city holds within its borders.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Ho Chi Minh City, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Hanoi.
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Pai Prices
Thailand PricesHalong Bay Prices
Vietnam Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPai $89Halong Bay $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Pai is $89, while the average daily cost in Halong Bay 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 Pai and Halong Bay in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPai $16Halong Bay $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPai $32Halong Bay $54
Compare Hotels in Pai and Halong Bay
Looking for a hotel in Pai or Halong Bay? 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Pai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pai $41Halong Bay $13
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
- Private Transfer: From Ha Long Bay to Ninh Binh: $110
- Private Transfer from Tuan Chau to Haiphong (HPH) Airport: $56
- Private Transfer from Halong Bay Port to Haiphong Airport (HPH): $63
- Private Transfer from Halong Bay Port to Haiphong Airport (HPH): $56
- Private Transfer from Halong Bay Cruise Port to Hanoi city hotels: $76
- Private Transfer from Halong Bay Cruise Port to Haiphong Hotels: $63
- Private Transfer from Cat Ba Island to Cat Bi Airport: $75
- Premium 2-Day Halong & Lan Ha Bay Cruise with Meals & Transfer: $299
- PRIVATE TRANSFER BETWEEN HANOI and HAI PHONG CITY(DCAR LIMOUSINE): $200
- Oasis Bay Party Cruise for Young Travelers with Transfer Included: $185
Is it cheaper to fly into Pai or Halong Bay?
Prices for flights to both Halong Bay and Pai 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 dayPai $41Halong Bay $26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Halong Bay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Halong Bay.
- Sunset and Bioluminescent Kayaking Tour in Lan Ha Bay with Dinner: $37
- Catherine Horizon - Top Luxury - The Best Day & Dinner Cruise: $70
- Halong Bay Luxury Dinner Cruise - Ambassador: $79
- Cooking class on floating village: $100
- Best 2D1N Lan Ha Bay Cruise: BBQ dinner, Viet Hai Ancient Village: $210
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pai $45Halong Bay $16
Tours and Activities in Halong Bay
Here are a few actual costs in Halong Bay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 07 Hours Explore Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay on HERA DAY CRUISE: $80
- 07 Hours Explore Halong Bay on La Casta Cruises: $62
- 1 Day Ha Long & Ti Top Island on 3* Cruise: $39
- 2 Day Horror Cruise from Halong city: $214
- 2 Days 1 Night Lan Ha Bay Adventure: $138
- 2 Days 1 Night Lan Ha, Ha Long Bay Tour With Licensed Guide: $129
- 2 Days 1 Night on Lan Ha Bay at Daiichi Boutique Cruise: $131
- 2 Days Arcady Cruise Halong Bay from Hanoi: $237
- 2 Days Bai Tu Long bay luxury cruise with kayaking and swimming: $210
- 2 Days Cruise Tour in Halong Bay from Halong: $180
- 2 Days Explore Halong Bay Cruise Tour from Hanoi: $228
- 2 Days Exploring Bai Tu Long Bay on Cruise: $221
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPai $15Halong Bay $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pai and Halong Bay, we can see that Pai 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 Pai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pai 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 Pai Expensive? and Is Halong Bay 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.