Major city · Vietnam
Ha Long CityThành phố Hạ Long
Treat Hạ Long city as the pier, not the destination: arrive on the cruise transfer, board, and leave; sleep here only if a boat is cancelled or you start very early.
Hạ Long city is the mainland harbour and resort town for Hạ Long Bay, with the Tuần Châu and international cruise ports, a Ferris wheel, theme parks and rows of hotels built for domestic groups. The bay is the reason to come; the city is where cruises start and end.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- VND
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- avoid Jul–Sep (typhoons cancel sailings)
- Airports
- VDO · HAN
- Nights
- 0–1
Rules in force · 5Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Vietnam ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal; lookalike sites charge extra.
- Vietnam ↗Crossing streets: walk slowly and steadily; motorbikes flow around you — do not stop or run.
- Vietnam ↗Carry Vietnamese đồng in small notes; many stalls and taxis are cash-only.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Ha Long City113 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Ha Long City, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?VND in small notes (10k–100k) for stalls, markets, xe ôm and tips at spas.Vietnam-wide
- SIM or eSIMViettel, Vinaphone and Mobifone sell tourist SIMs at airport arrivals; passport and a face photo are required for registration.Vietnam-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap.Vietnam-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: Round up or 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.Vietnam-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/C/F. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Vietnam-wide
- SafetycheckSafe; check boat licensing and life jackets.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in cities and hotels; squat toilets and no paper in rural stops and on long buses — carry tissues.Vietnam-wide
- Emergency numbers113 police · 114 fire · 115 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany museums close on Monday; the Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum is also closed on Friday and shuts for maintenance for about two months each year (usually…Vietnam-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckVDO Vân Đồn (About 1 h by car; few flights (check)).
- Getting aroundCruise transfers take you to the pier; taxis and ride-hailing around town.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Sit-down mealSeafood dinner₫300,000–600,000 (≈ US$12–25)
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed or homestay bed, a night, per person₫200,000 (≈ US$8)
- Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per room₫1,200,000 (≈ US$50)
- High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per room₫3,500,000 (≈ US$140)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ₫700,000 (≈ US$30) · Mid ₫1,500,000 (≈ US$60) · High ₫3,000,000 (≈ US$120)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- VDO Vân Đồn (About 1 h by car; few flights (check)) · HAN Nội Bài (Hanoi) (2.5 h by expressway)
- Phrases
- Vietnamese phrasebook
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Feb
not flagged
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Mar
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Apr
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
May
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Jun
not flagged
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jul
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Aug
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Sep
Care
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Oct
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Nov
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Dec
not flagged
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Best: Mar–May, Oct–Nov. Mixed: Sep. Avoid: Jul–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Jun (32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)), coolest Jan (14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C) low), wettest Jul (18 rain days), driest Dec (4). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Ha Long City: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
6 rd
Feb
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
9 rd
Mar
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
13 rd
Apr
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
12 rd
May
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
14 rd
Jun
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
16 rd
Jul
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
18 rd
Aug
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
18 rd
Sep
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
14 rd
Oct
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
9 rd
Nov
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
6 rd
Dec
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
4 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Cruise transfers take you to the pier; taxis and ride-hailing around town.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Yên Tử pagodas
goDoor to door: Half day
Car 1 h + cable car
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Bãi Cháy
Hotels by the cruise ports and theme park.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Mid
- ₫900,000–1,800,000 (≈ US$35–70) excl. bed
Trip budget
| Hotel double room1 × 1 night × ₫1,200,000 | ₫1,200,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × ₫1,500,000 | ₫3,000,000 |
| Overnight cruise2 × ₫4,500,000 | ₫9,000,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ₫1,320,000 |
| Trip total≈ ₫7,260,000 per person per day, bed included | ₫14,520,000≈ US$600 |
2026 estimate in đồng; flights and tours excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Day boat on the bay | ₫600,000–1,200,000 (≈ US$25–50) |
| Overnight cruise | ₫3,000,000–7,000,000 (≈ US$120–300) |
| Seafood dinner | ₫300,000–600,000 (≈ US$12–25) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Cancelled sailings in storms: keep flexible bookings.
- Unlicensed day boats and touts at the piers: book with the cruise or a licensed operator.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 113
- Fire
- 114
- Ambulance
- 115
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Ha Long CityThành phố Hạ Long
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Cho tôi đến địa chỉ nàyPlease take me to this address
Emergency
- Police113
- Fire114
- Ambulance115
Embassy
Embassies are in Hanoi.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Hanoi → Hạ Long, limousine van: ₫250,000–400,000 (≈ US$10–16), 2.5 h
Say or show
- Xin chào — Hello (sin chow)
- Cảm ơn — Thank you (gahm un)
- Bao nhiêu tiền? — How much is this? (bow nyew tee-en)
- Không cay — Not spicy, please (khom kai)
- Tính tiền — The bill, please (ting tee-en)
- Dừng ở đây — Stop here, please (yung uh day)
Show the address in Vietnamese with street and house number.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Ha Long City. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Mar–May, Sep–Nov · avoid Jul–Sep (typhoons cancel sailings) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 1 area to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 1 bands
- 2 day-trips, door to door
- 2 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Overnight cruise instead of a day boat
Sources
- officialQuảng Ninh tourism
- officialVietnam National Authority of Tourism
- secondaryWikivoyage — Halong