Last updated 10 October 2026 by the Ava Travel team in Hanoi. Transfer prices are the ones our checkout charged on a test booking on 10 October 2026; cruise prices from our booking pages on 4 October 2026.
The short answer, using Ava Travel’s own prices: the easiest way from Hanoi to Halong Bay is the shared shuttle bus (also called the shared limousine) that collects you from your Old Quarter hotel at about 08:00 and drops you at the pier before boarding. With Ava Travel it costs $20 per person one way or $35 per person return, whichever pier your boat uses. A private car is $165 return for up to 3 people, or $180 for a 6-seat MPV. The drive is about 3 hours each way on the expressway, with one rest stop.
Most travellers only need this transfer because of an overnight cruise, so the timing is set by the boat: you board at around 12:00 and you are back at the pier at about 11:00 the next day, and in Hanoi by mid-afternoon.
Transfer prices from Hanoi (October 2026)
These are the exact prices on our checkout when you book a cruise. The shared shuttle is the same price for every pier and is per person; private cars are per vehicle, return, hotel door to pier.
| Where your boat leaves from | Shuttle one way | Shuttle return | Private sedan (1-3 guests) | Private MPV (up to 6) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuan Chau or Halong International Port (most Halong and Lan Ha boats) | $20 pp | $35 pp | $165 | $180 |
| Hon Gai, for Bai Tu Long Bay (Swan, Treasure Junk) | $20 pp | $35 pp | $170 | $190 |
| Cat Ba / Lan Ha pier (Venezia) | $20 pp | $35 pp | $175 | $195 |
When the private car is cheaper: for 2 people the shuttle return is $70 and a private sedan is $165, so the shuttle wins. For 5 people the shuttle is $175 and a private MPV is $180 for almost the same money, with no other hotels to stop at and your own departure time. From 5 guests up, take the MPV.
If you are not starting in Hanoi (Noi Bai airport, Ninh Binh, Hai Phong, Cat Ba or a hotel in Ha Long city), choose “I am not starting from Hanoi” at checkout and we send a quote for that route.
Cruise plus transfer: what the whole trip costs from Hanoi
The short answer: a 2 days 1 night Halong Bay cruise with a return shuttle from your Hanoi hotel costs from $137 per person on the cheapest boat Ava Travel sells, and about $185 per person on a typical one ($150 cruise plus $35 shuttle). On Lan Ha Bay the typical total is about $200, and on Bai Tu Long Bay about $193. Cruise prices are per person with two sharing a cabin, high season (October to April), with all meals on board, kayaking and cave entrance included; the shuttle is added at checkout. Low season (May to September) is usually $10 to $15 cheaper per person. For a couple, the shuttle (2 × $35 = $70) is cheaper than a private car ($165); from 5 people the private MPV ($180) costs about the same as the shuttle.
| Bay | Cheapest cruise | Typical cruise (middle price) | Return shuttle | Total from | Typical total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halong Bay (37 boats) | $102 (Annam Junk) | $150 | $35 | $137 | $185 |
| Lan Ha Bay (49 boats) | $137 (Oasis Bay) | $165 | $35 | $172 | $200 |
| Bai Tu Long Bay (10 boats) | $132 (Treasure Junk) | $158 | $35 | $172 | $193 |
Every boat with its price is on our Halong Bay cruises page; what each price includes is in how much a Halong Bay cruise costs.
How long does it take from Hanoi to Halong Bay?
Allow about 3 hours from the Old Quarter to Tuan Chau, including a 20 to 30 minute rest stop halfway. The road is expressway almost all the way. A typical overnight cruise day looks like this (taken from the Peony Cruise timetable; most boats are within 30 minutes of it):
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 08:00 – 08:30 | Shuttle or car collects you at your Old Quarter hotel |
| 11:30 | Arrive at the pier lounge, check in with the crew |
| 12:00 – 12:30 | Board the ship, welcome drink and safety briefing |
| Day 2, 10:30 – 11:00 | Disembark at the same pier |
| 11:30 – 12:00 | Shuttle leaves the pier |
| About 15:00 | Back at your hotel in Hanoi |
On the 96 cruises Ava Travel sells, the first item of the day is a hotel pickup between 07:45 and 08:15 on 52 of them. On the last day 24 boats are back at the pier at 11:00 and most of the rest between 10:15 and 11:30. That is why a Hanoi evening flight on day 2 is usually fine (aim for 19:00 or later from Noi Bai), but a morning flight is not.
Which pier does my cruise leave from?
“Halong Bay” on a ticket can mean three different bays, and it changes your pier. You do not need to find the pier yourself if you take the transfer, but it matters if you drive or come from another city.
- Tuan Chau Marina is the main pier. 25 of the 37 Halong Bay boats Ava Travel sells and 47 of the 49 Lan Ha Bay boats start here. Yes, most Lan Ha cruises leave from Tuan Chau too and sail south, rather than from Cat Ba.
- Halong International Port (Hon Gai side) is used by the Bai Tu Long Bay boats and some Halong Bay ships, such as Ambassador.
- Gia Luan or Cat Ba are used by a few Lan Ha boats for part of the trip; 9 Lan Ha ships use Gia Luan jetty on Cat Ba for an excursion or a transfer.
Your confirmation email names the exact pier and lounge. Not sure which bay to choose? See Halong Bay vs Lan Ha Bay.
Other ways to get there
- Public bus from My Dinh or Gia Lam bus stations to Bai Chay. It is the cheapest way, but it stops at a bus station in Ha Long city, not at the pier, and the timetable does not match boarding. You then need a taxi to Tuan Chau, and the return is harder after an 11:00 disembark. Fine for independent travel to Ha Long city; awkward for a cruise.
- Grab or a metered taxi from Hanoi. Possible, but for a 3-hour expressway trip a pre-booked private car is usually the same price or less, with a fixed fare and a driver who knows the pier.
- Driving yourself. You need a driving licence that is valid in Vietnam (check this before you go; many home licences are not), and overnight parking at the pier is extra. Most people do not.
- Sleeper bus or “limousine” van booked through a hotel. These are shuttles too; check that it goes to your pier, not just “Halong”, and what time it leaves on day 2.
What to know before you go
- The transfer is not included in the cruise price. On every ship we sell, the price per person covers the cabin and all meals on board. The transfer is a separate choice at checkout, so you can see the full cost before paying.
- The shuttle picks up in the Old Quarter only. If your hotel is outside it (West Lake, Long Bien, My Dinh, EcoPark), take a taxi to a meeting point in the Old Quarter; we send you the address and time when we confirm your cabin, within one hour of booking. A private car collects you from your own hotel door.
- Bring your passport. Boats register every guest with the port authority before departure.
- Leave big luggage in Hanoi if you can. Your hotel will usually keep it for a night. A small overnight bag is easier on the tender boat.
- Storms can move the trip. If the port authority closes the bay for weather (mostly July to September), boats do not sail and the transfer is rearranged with the new date. More in the best time to visit Halong Bay.
Tuan Chau port or Lan Ha port, which is better?
The short answer, from Ava Travel: you rarely choose, because the pier comes with the boat. 25 of the 37 Halong Bay cruises and 47 of the 49 Lan Ha Bay cruises Ava Travel sells board at Tuan Chau Marina in Ha Long, and none of their programmes start from Got (Lan Ha) port in Hai Phong; Lan Ha boats sail south from Tuan Chau. Tuan Chau is about 3 hours from the Hanoi Old Quarter by expressway, and the shared shuttle and private cars below go straight there. Bai Tu Long Bay boats use Ha Long International Port instead.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Hanoi to Halong Bay?
By shared shuttle bus from the Old Quarter ($20 per person one way, $35 return with Ava Travel) or a private car from $165 return. Both take about 3 hours to the pier, with a rest stop, and fit the noon boarding time of most cruises.
Tuan Chau port or Lan Ha port, which is better?
The pier is set by your boat. Most Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay cruises Ava Travel sells, 72 of 86, board at Tuan Chau Marina; none start from Got (Lan Ha) port.
Is there a shuttle bus from Hanoi Old Quarter to Halong Bay?
Yes. The shared shuttle bus that Ava Travel books collects you from your hotel in the Hanoi Old Quarter at about 08:00 and drops you at your cruise pier before boarding at around 12:00. With Ava Travel it costs $20 per person one way or $35 per person return, the same price for every pier, and you add it at checkout when you book the cruise. The shuttle only picks up inside the Old Quarter: from Tay Ho, Long Bien, My Dinh or EcoPark, take a taxi to a meeting point in the Old Quarter, or book a private car ($165 return for up to 3 people).
How much is a transfer from Hanoi to Halong Bay?
With Ava Travel, $20 per person one way or $35 per person return by shared shuttle bus, to any pier. A private car return is $165 for a sedan (up to 3 guests) or $180 for an MPV (up to 6) to Tuan Chau; the Hon Gai and Cat Ba piers are $5 to $15 more by private car.
How far is Halong Bay from Hanoi?
About 3 hours by road from the Old Quarter to Tuan Chau Marina, including a rest stop. Shuttles leave Hanoi at about 08:00 and reach the pier at about 11:30.
Is the transfer included in a Halong Bay cruise?
Not on the cruises we sell. The cruise price includes the cabin and all meals on board; the Hanoi transfer is added at checkout only if you want it, so you never pay for a seat you do not use.
Can I do Halong Bay as a day trip from Hanoi?
Yes, but you spend about 6 hours on the road for 4 to 5 hours on the water. If you have the time, one night on a boat is much better value: you get the sunset, the quiet evening and the morning on the bay. Overnight cruises start from about $102 per person.
Can I fly out of Hanoi on the last day of my cruise?
Usually yes, if the flight is in the evening. Most boats are back at the pier by about 11:00 and the drive to Noi Bai airport is about 3 hours. The shuttle only goes back to the Old Quarter, so for the airport book a private car straight from the pier; send us your flight time on WhatsApp and we quote it.
What is the difference between the shuttle bus and the limousine?
For a Halong cruise they are the same service: a shared van or small bus that collects several guests from Old Quarter hotels and drives to your pier. Some sites call it a shuttle bus and others a limousine. With us it is $20 per person one way or $35 per person return. If you want a car only for your group, choose the private sedan or MPV.
Is there a pickup if my hotel is outside the Old Quarter?
The shared shuttle collects only in the Old Quarter. From West Lake, Long Bien, My Dinh or EcoPark take a taxi to the meeting point we send you, usually 15 to 30 minutes away. A private car picks you up at your own hotel anywhere in central Hanoi.
When do I pay for the transfer?
At checkout, together with the cruise. Choose one way, return, a private car or no transfer; the price is added to your total before you pay, so there is nothing to pay the driver.
Book your cruise and transfer together
Choose your boat and date, add the shuttle or a private car at checkout and pay securely online. We confirm your cabin and your pickup time within one hour. Compare boats on all Halong Bay cruises with 2026 prices, see how much a Halong Bay cruise costs, or message us on WhatsApp (+84 904 251 545) with your hotel and dates.
