When you are in Halong, there are buses, minibuses, hydrofoils, junks, bikes and a range of small motorised boats you could employ to get you from one place to the other. Just for a few dollars, you can choose which way you would rather go as you make your trip around Halong.

Getting around Halong is easy because walking and cycling distances are short.

This transportation page will tell you all you need to know about travelling to, in, and around Halong Bay. Use our Halong Bay Destination Guide or click on our Vietnam Country Guide if you want to know more about travelling to Vietnam.

Halong Transportation Guide

Boats will be the most common way to see many of the attractions, so bring your "sea-legs" with you. The waters of the bay and surrounds can become rough at times, so you may wish to pick up some motion-sickness pills before you get here. We have compiled this list of transport information for Halong, but as always, ask your host and the staff. They live here so they will have the latest local knowledge.

The Junks - as the locals call them

The junk boat, which are actually Chinese boats, offer for a unique form of transportation while you discover your own sense of Halong Bay. If you book through a reputable agency, the boat companies run vessels that are spacious and the traditional wooden architecture is very pleasing. There is a deck where there are seats and tables for meals, small lounge for drinks and dancing, etc. The lower deck contains rooms for travellers to stay overnight and the upper deck is an open deck for travellers to relax, sun-tan and enjoy the scenery. There are many games and books on board the junk boat for people to pass time. Meals are included in the ticket price though all additional refreshments will cost you.

Hydrofoil to Cat Ba

There are also Russian built hydrofoils which can take you from Haiphong to Cat Ba Harbour. The journey takes about 1.5 hours.