Which place is cheaper, Halong Bay or Pai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPai $64Halong Bay $58
The average daily cost (per person) in Pai is $64, while the average daily cost in Halong Bay is $58. 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 $14Halong Bay $28
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPai $28Halong Bay $56
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 $37Halong Bay $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pai
Also for Pai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Chiang Mai City to/from Pai Hotel: Private Transfer: $132
- Chiang Mai Hotel Transfer: to/from Pai Hotel: $132
- Chiang Mai Hotel Transfer: to/from Pai Hotel: $149
- Chiang Mai Private Car transfer to or from Pai(Mae Hong Son): $107
- Pa Pae Meditation: Private Car transfer to/from Chiang Mai: $70
- Transfer and Tour to Pai / Chiang Mai: $149
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Halong Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Halong Bay:
- Transfer Ha Long to Ha Noi Super Limousine Morning Bus: $33
- Transfer From Halong to Ninh Binh: $25
- Sunworld Halong theme park ticket with roundtrip transfer: $32
- Small Group Halong Day Tour: Islands, Cave, Kayak. Lunch. Expressway Transfers: $45
- Rosa Eco Bus Luxury Transfer Ha Long to Ha Noi: $27
- Private Transfer from Tuan Chau to Haiphong (HPH) Airport: $51
- Private Transfer from Halong Bay Port to Haiphong city hotels: $46
- Private Transfer from Halong Bay Port to Haiphong Airport (HPH): $51
- Private Transfer from Halong Bay Cruise Port to Hanoi hotels: $46
- Private Departure Transfer - Ha Long Bay to Hanoi Airport: $64
- PRIVATE LIMOUSINE TRANSFER +Join Premium Day Cruise in Halong Bay: $55
- Halong Wonder Bay Cruise 1 Day Tour from Hanoi with Limo Transfer: $68
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 $21Halong Bay $16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Halong Bay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Halong Bay.
- Ambassador Luxury Dinner Cruise in Halong Bay: $46
- 1-day private Hanoi city tour with fun and night street walking food tour: $101
- Luxury Aspira Cruise from Halong with kayaking,cave,cooking class: $175
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pai $40Halong Bay $16
Tours and Activities in Pai
For Pai, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Jungle Tipsy Tubing Experience with Shots: $6.76
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 Experience with Seaplane and Overnight Cruise: $295
- 2-Day Halong Orchid Cruise: $235
- Alisa Premier Luxury 5-Star Cruise in Halong Bay 2 Days 1 Night: $175
- La Regina Overnight Cruise - Queen of Lan Ha Bay - 2 day/1 night: $230
- (All Inclusive 5-STAR) Amanda Cruise 2 Days 1 Night - Ha Long Bay: $189
- (All Inclusive 5-STAR) Amanda Luxury Cruise 2D1N Trip - LanHa Bay: $168
- (All Inclusive 5-STAR) Amanda Premium Cruise 2D1N Trip-HaLong Bay: $199
- (Official) Signature Halong Cruise - 02 days 01 night program: $160
- (Official) Signature Royal Cruise - 02 days 01 night program: $164
- 1 Day Cruise in Halong Bay - Top Luxury & Small Cruise Tour 2024: $50
- 1 Day Halong Bay Deluxe Cruise with Wego Halong: $40
- 1 Day Small Group Luxury Cruise in Halong with Better Care : $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPai $13Halong Bay $12
When comparing the travel costs between Pai and Halong Bay, we can see that Pai 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 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.