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About the ride from Halong Bay to Hanoi

     After the peace and serenity of Halong Bay, you might be craving some big-city noise. If that’s the case, that’s exactly what you’ll find in Hanoi, with bustling bars, jam-packed roads and thousands of street food vendors.

     For the 180km (112 mile) journey from Halong Bay to Hanoi, you have four options: 

• Bus from Halong Bay to Hanoi - typically around 3.5 hours
• Minivan from Halong Bay to Hanoi - typically around 3 hours
• Private car from Halong Bay to Hanoi - typically around 3 hours
• Train from Halong Bay to Hanoi - typically around 7 hours

     Buses, trains and some minivans leave at designated times, but some minivans - along with most private cars - can be hired privately, so you can choose your own departure time.

     All options are great, but we recommend taking a bus. It’s the cheapest option, and the journey time isn’t much longer than taking a car or a minivan. The bus to Hanoi from Halong Bay is comfortable and easy to use. 

     But most importantly, it’s very affordable - for even the tightest of budgets.

 

What to see when traveling from Halong Bay to Hanoi

     If you travel by car, minivan or bus from Halong Bay to Hanoi, you’ll quickly become acquainted with the hustle and bustle of Hanoi’s rampant roads.

     Compared to the tranquility of Halong Bay, Hanoi is noisy, hectic and crowded. But that is part of its charm. As the shoreline makes way to high-rise buildings and more scooters than you’ve probably ever seen, you’ll know you’re reaching Vietnam’s chaotic capital city.

     The train to Hanoi from Halong Bay allows you to experience a little more remote rurality, taking you past many smaller towns.

 

How to get from Halong Bay to Hanoi

Taking a bus

     If you want an easy, cheap way to get to Hanoi from Halong Bay, the bus is the best option. You can choose between Luxury Buses and Economy Buses. 

     Amenities on these buses are great - some have WiFi, TVs, charging sockets and more. They all have air conditioning. For details on the particular perks offered by each operator, check the individual listings. 

 

Taking a train 

     In a country where most journeys are taken by road, a train from Halong Bay to Hanoi can be a real treat. 

     There are no beds on this train; only seats.  These seats are pretty comfortable, though not as soft as you may expect. The train has air conditioning, and food and drink is available at the on-train food trolley.

     There is one train from Halong Bay to Hanoi every day.

 

Taking a minivan 

     If you take a minivan from Halong Bay to Hanoi, you can choose between Limo Minivans, Luxury Minivans and Standard Minivans.

From these options, you can either:

• Take a shared minivan, which is basically just like being in a smaller bus.
• Hire a full minivan with you and the people you’re travelling with.

     Some of the pricier minibus options include WiFi, TVs and very plush, comfortable seats.

     With some minivans to Hanoi from Halong Bay, you can choose your own departure time along with your own pickup and departure points.

Driving with a private car

     Interesting fact: Did you know that you can only drive a car in Vietnam if you’re a citizen of the country? 

     If you decide to rent a car in Vietnam, it will come with a private driver. All of these drivers can speak at least a little English. 

     A private car is a more bespoke experience than any other we offer. You can stop wherever and as often as you like. Want a selfie? Make a stop. Want some food? You can stop for that too.

     With most private cars, you can be picked up and dropped off wherever you like.