April Adventure, Arirang Travel, Cat Ba Express, Cat Ba Panorama, Duc Duong Bus, Duy Khanh Transport, Full Moon Party Tour, Good Morning Cat Ba Bus, GreenLion Bus, Grouptour, Ha Long Travel Limousine, Hoang Khoi Limousine, Luxury Trans Vietnam, Luxury Van Limousine, New Way Travel, Ninh Binh Excursion, Phuc Xuyen, Sapa Discovery Travel, Sapa Dragon Express, Techbus VN JSC, To Vietnam Travel, Van Don Xanh, Viet Nam Travel Bus
Hanoi to Halong Bay Destination Reviews
EB
Elisabeth B
Very fast and comfortable
Bus VIP 12pax, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), Sep 19, 2023
CM
Cristina M
The van was ok but the experience wasn't good. We were collected by a car (not a van) 15 minutes late (and It was ok, because the cause was trafic jam) and after 7 km we stopped 30 minuts. The driver was talking all the time by phone and gave us no explanation. After 30 minutes waiting, the trip started again but we again stopped IN THE MIDDLE OF AN HIGHWAY waiting for someone (no information given again). After 20 minuts a van arrived and we changed there our type of transport. It was totally surrealist. When I asked the driver (Who didn't speak English) about explanation he laughted at me without no respect. Finally we arrived 30 minutes late (instad of 1 hour late as expected) because the second driver drove well above the speed limits. Also in the limousine there were no wifi and the driver had no idea where to drop us (fortunately a passenger who spoke English helped us). Since It should be luxury, no recommended at all.
Bus VIP 12pax, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), Sep 10, 2023
JS
Jonas S
Instead of the booked van we got picked up by a big tour bus 20 minutes late. The bus started then to drive around Hanoi old town to pick up more people from their hotels. So we eventually left Hanoi about one hour late. The drive was ok and we actually made up some of the delay until we stopped at a pearl souvenir shop shortly before Ha Long bay for half an hour half an hour. Eventually we arrived one hour late. Annoyingly this was not caused by the traffic bus by poor organisation by the operator (Vehicle not as advertised, late departure, stop at souvenir shop)
Bus Ford 16 Express, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), Aug 16, 2023
IC
Iain C
I bought a ticket to Tuan Chau, but they took me to the main part of city instead.
Bus VIP 12pax, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), May 30, 2023
JV
Jana V
The bus was too late and than they made a break about half an hour at some pearl store where it seems like they shuttle every tourist to. At least they brought as directly to our check in at the Harbour.
Bus Ford 16 Express, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), Apr 25, 2023
LG
Lukas G
All good :)
We even arrived an hour earlier, departure point was described & contact was made in advance via whatsapp
This review was autotranslated
Alles gut :)
Sind sogar eine Stunde früher angekommen, abfahrtpunkt war beschrieben & vorab wurde kontakt über whatsapp aufgenommen
Bus Minivan, Ha Long Travel Limousine (Hạ Long Travel Limousine), Mar 17, 2023
NS
Nela S
Tha car is really comfortable and pretty. We also used other car companies, but this one was the best.
Bus Minivan, Ha Long Travel Limousine (Hạ Long Travel Limousine), Feb 12, 2023
ZP
Zahn P
Comfortable bus and ride to the destination
Bus Minivan, Ha Long Travel Limousine (Hạ Long Travel Limousine), Nov 29, 2022
JF
Johan F
Fast, comfortable and with the little extra of a bottle, departure on time.
This review was autotranslated
Rapide, confortablement installé et le petit plus la petite bouteille, départ à l'heure nickel.
Bus Minivan, Ha Long Travel Limousine (Hạ Long Travel Limousine), Nov 23, 2022
RR
Rocio R
The guide, Harry, was very friendly and very nice, he explained things about Hanoi. 100% recommendable
This review was autotranslated
El guía,Harry, fue muy amable y muy simpático, nos explicó cosas sobre Hanói. 100% recomendable
Bus VIP 30, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), Nov 17, 2022
Bus travel remains one of the most affordable and convenient ways to travel between many destinations. Getting from Hanoi to Halong Bay by bus may not be the fastest way of travel, yet many travellers prefer to rely on the bus on this route; with easy online booking and tickets of different classes for all tastes and budgets available, the bus from Hanoi to Halong Bay a conscious and budget-friendly option.
Check the timetable before you book your ticket and read other travellers’ reviews to choose the trip that suits you best. Note that there may be several bus terminals at your departure or arrival point – always double-check where you are leaving from and arriving to. It may prove crucial if you have connecting trips.
Here is the list of operators serving the route: .
How far is Hanoi from Halong Bay?
If travelling by bus, you will cover the distance of 88 km between Hanoi and Halong Bay.
How long does it take to get from Hanoi to Halong Bay by bus?
Buses normally need between 1h 45m and 4h 30m hours to get to Halong Bay from Hanoi. Note that the travel time is for your reference only and can depend on different factors such as traffic and weather conditions. Heavy rainfalls almost inevitably make the trip longer due to poor visibility or floods. Road and surface repairs which happen quite often, result in detours and longer travel times. Major national holidays, long weekends, or peak season periods may cause delays both in departures and arrivals – plan accordingly to avoid disappointment, especially if you have further connections and a tight schedule.
On this route, Sapa Discovery Travel offers the fastest service. GreenLion Bus (Du lịch Sư tử Xanh) buses usually take the longest time to complete the journey.
Remember, though, that tickets offering the shortest travel time are normally the most expensive ones. Yet it pays to spend a bit more to ensure your bus goes direct without additional stops and uses highways instead of local roads.
How much does it cost to get from Hanoi to Halong Bay by bus?
The price of your bus ticket will depend not only on the distance you need to cover but on the class of your coach. E.g. expect to shell out more for VIP or sleeper buses while ordinary buses though being the cheapest option, often are a compromise on comfort and travel time. Of course, they do their job, too, and can be the only option if you hop on/off in the middle of the route.
Anyway, travelling by bus between Hanoi and Halong Bay remains an affordable option. The cheapest ticket is offered by Techbus VN JSC (Techbus Vietnam Joint stock company) and costs USD 6.28. A Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour)'s ticket will set you back USD 6.28 on average.
Travelling by bus essentials
If you are planning to travel during the high season, weekends, or national holidays, booking your bus tickets in advance is highly recommended. The demand is at its highest, yet very often, the number of coaches serving the route remains the same. The earlier you reserve your seat, the better. On some routes, you need to secure your ticket more than a month in advance; on others, a couple-of-days advanced booking is enough. During such periods, try to book online beforehand whenever possible, as showing up at the bus station without a ticket may result in many-hours of waiting in the queue or leave you downright stranded.
VIP, 1st, Gold, and similar bus tickets are the most expensive option, but they provide a higher level of comfort. Normally the price of such tickets will include wide soft reclining seats, blankets, water and snacks or lunch, and sometimes some toiletries. Upper-class buses travel faster, make fewer stops during the route, and normally provide more spacious seating to their passengers and a better travel experience.
Not all buses have an on-board toilet, but generally, for all trips longer than three hours, all operators schedule a bathroom and/or a lunch stop. While operators definitely do their best to keep on-board toilets clean, the smell may be an issue sometimes. For longer trips, booking a seat a bit farther from the toilet may be a good idea. Also, using bathroom stops for your toilet needs is always better than trying to find your balance in an on-board toilet on the run.
If you travel by an air-con bus, make sure to pack layers. A hoodie, a warm scarf, or a beanie hat may prove a good idea. Air-conditioning on buses tends to be excessive, and running nose and sore throats abound after even not the longest bus rides.
Always use the security belts even if your bus ride attendant or driver does not insist on it. Your safety comes first – for you, for sure. All buses normally are equipped with security belts, but they may be fixed behind your seat. Take time to find the belt and fix it appropriately.
To avoid being disturbed by overhead lights, switched on during stops even at night, and too loud music or sound from the on-board entertainment system, have earplugs and a sleeping mask at hand.
As a courtesy to other passengers, avoid using strong perfumes or smelly foods. Some foods like cheeses or durians are forbidden to take on-board – check in advance. Alcohol is also prohibited on the majority of buses.
Note that if the bus requires refuelling en-route, passengers will be asked to get off the bus. Operators are not allowed to refuel with passengers on board due to safety reasons. Usually, it takes from 5 to 10 minutes and is often combined with a toilet/lunch stop.
If not stated otherwise in your tickets, arrive at the bus station 20-30 minutes before departure. It will give you enough time to find the departure platform and check-in. For international trips, you may need more time for check-in and border formalities.
