Da Nang to Halong Bay: First-timer’s Guide to the Best Transfer

Located in the center point of Central Vietnam, Da Nang is midway between Hanoi (768 km to the South) and Ho Chi Minh (963 km to the North). Da Nang is also known as a prominent port city located right at the mouth of the Han River.

Geographically, the city is surrounded by lush mountains to the West and the South China Sea to the East, making itself spectacular with a blend of the sea and mountain landscape. Sharing the borders with the Hoi An Ancient Town and the Imperial City of Hue makes Da Nang the most-wanted vacationing spot to discover the best of Central Vietnam.

The location of Da Nang and Halong Bay

In the vicinity of the East China Sea, Halong Bay sets a location in the Gulf of Tokin. Ha Long is a world-famous travel destination that belongs to Quang Ninh Province (170 km to the southeast of Hanoi).

The bay is right at the center of an archeological complexity including Bai Tu Long Bay in the northeast and Lan Ha Bay in the southwest. If the Central has Da Nang to explore, the North will feast your eye on the magnificent seascape in Ha Long Bay. 

It can be easily navigated to see that the travel distance from Da Nang to Halong Bay is about 897 km by land. It takes mostly 16 hours to transfer between these destinations by train or bus. With easy access to these transport hubs, traveling between Da Nang and Ha Long is much easier via the National Route 1A and the North-South Railway stretching along with the country.

Nevertheless, the fastest way is by plane to traverse the flight distance between Da Nang and Ha Long Bay of 535 km. It takes around 1.25 hours to fly from Da Nang to Noi Bai and Cat Bi International Airport (no flight to Van Don Airport). Add to that, you have to take a 1-hour bus ride to Ha Long.

The distance between Da Nang and Halong Bay

There are several options you can choose to travel from Da Nang to Halong Bay. As a first-time traveler, you must be confused while making a comparison between one and another.

In this article, we will spell out the 3 best ways to get from Da Nang to Halong Bay, including flight, night bus, and sleeper train. Let's go into detail about each way to opt for the most suitable one.

Da Nang to Halong Bay flight

In search of the best way to transfer a long-distance, flying always comes as the first choice. The flying time from Da Nang (DAD) to Cat Bi Airport (HPH) is 1 hour 10 minutes, whereas the non-stop flight from Da Nang to Noi Bai Airport (HAN) is almost 1 hour 20 minutes. Take note that there is NO flight between Da Nang and Van Don Airport (VDO). In case you want to take transit in Ho Chi Minh City (SGN), there are one-stop flights that take around 5 – 17 hours to transfer to Ha Long Bay.

The airfare of Da Nang to Halong Bay flight is averagely 48 – 54 USD for a round trip. It depends on the destination airport, time schedule, and cabin class you choose from. With regards to the one-stop flight, it shouldn’t be a priority due to the high fare (from 86 USD) and time-consuming journey.

Flying is the best way to get to Ha Long from Da Nang

From Da Nang to the closest airports to Halong Bay

Cat Bi is an international airport located in Hai Phong, which is approximately 60 km from Halong. Flying to Cat Bi Airport, you can save time to transfer between the hotel and the airport.

From Da Nang Airport, there are only 4 – 5 non-stop flights per day to Cat Bi Airport. After a one-hour flight, you have to take an additional one-hour bus ride or a private taxi to Ha Long Bay.

If you take transit in Saigon, Cat Bi will be your destination with a large number of non-direct flights to opt for. Despite the transit time ranging from 3 hours to 21 hours, we highly recommend choosing a long layover and spend a half-day exploring the most bustling city in the South.

Instead of flying to Hai Phong, you can take a flight from Da Nang to Hanoi then transfer to Halong Bay. Despite the distance of 175 km to Halong Bay, Noi Bai is still a preferable choice. Advantageously, this approach can save your waiting time at the airport and offer a variety of scheduled flights with a frequency of 15 trips per day.

Upon arrival at Hanoi Airport, it is effortless to get to Halong Bay by various means of transportation such as a private car, shuttle bus, taxi, and seaplane.

Da Nang to Halong Bay's closest airports

For further details, please check this out Hanoi Airpot to Halong Bay: 5 Fast & Safe Ways to Transfer

How to book a flight to Ha Long from Danang

To get further details, please take a glance at our Vietnam domestic flights website. Here, you can choose the best rate of flights to Halong Bay from Da Nang. At BestPrice Travel, we always strive for the best deal and reasonable cost that suits every budget.

Airlines from Da Nang to Ha Long Bay

You can fly from Da Nang to Hai Phong by VietJet Air, Bamboo Airways, and Vietnam Airlines. On average, there will be 12 flights per week from Da Nang to Hai Phong and around 105 flights per week from Da Nang to Hanoi.

If you are seeking a low-cost airline, VietJet Air is the very first choice for Da Nang to Ha Long flight. Since the first flight on 25^th Dec 2011, VietJet is one of the first airlines in Vietnam and region to have the new modern A320 of Airbus.

Pros: VietJet specializes in providing cheap & direct flights to help passengers save time and budget for air travel.

Cons: You should take into consideration as it is the most delayed airline in Vietnam.

Being the flag carrier of Vietnam, Vietnam Airlines is the most reputable brand name to stick with. With the long-lasting establishment and state-owned enterprise, Vietnam Airlines has become the leader of the aviation industry in the country. Up until now, the Vietnam Airlines fleet has operated a great variety of aircraft including Airbus A320neo, A321neo, A321-200, A350-900, Boeing 787-9, and Boeing 787-10.

Pros: The most trustworthy and high-class services of Vietnam Airlines will give you the best flight ever.

Cons: The airfare costs higher than others but you have a more standard baggage allowance while flying with Vietnam Airlines.

Known as a newbie in the aviation industry of Vietnam, Bamboo Airways is a 5-star-oriented airline for upper-class travelers. Apart from Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo Airways is more and more popular for those in search of both domestic and international flights. The new airline fleet consists of the mentioned aircraft: Airbus A319-100, Airbus A320-200, Airbus A320neo, Airbus A321-200, Airbus A321neo, Boeing 787-9, and Embraer 195.

Pros: More than just a flight, you can enjoy the most pleasant customer service on every flight of Bamboo Airways.

Cons: The high-end airline usually comes up with expensive ticket fares that are unaffordable for budget travelers.

The best airlines to choose while flying to Halong from Danang

Da Nang to Halong Bay bus

For those seeking a money-saving way to travel, taking a night bus from Da Nang to Halong Bay is the best choice. The ride can take nearly one day to transfer since it is advisable to book a comfortable sleeper bus to enjoy a good night’s sleep. Like every other bus route in Vietnam, Da Nang – Quang Ninh bus is a type of 45-seat vehicle equipped with leather sleeping berths, pillows, blankets, water, air conditioner, sandals, and an LCD screen.

On average, there are around 13 bus trips departing from Da Nang bus station in the early afternoon (1:30 pm – 3:00 pm) to Bai Chay bus station at around 7:30 am the next day. The direct bus is preferable to the connecting bus (transit in Ninh Binh) because of time-saving and budget efficiency. The average cost of a sleeper bus from Da Nang to Ha Long Bay ranges from 20 USD to 25 USD, depending on bus providers and promotional campaigns.

The bus is an economical way to travel around Vietnam

How to book a bus from Da Nang to Halong Bay

Once you do research online, you can get hundreds of results about Danang to Halong Bay bus booking sites. First and foremost, it is essential to find a good bus provider. Van Luc Tung Bus is considered the most favorite choice among previous passengers, followed by Viet Son Anh Bus. When you have several options to refer to, let’s contact them via the hotline number on their official site. Or else, go to their office if it is in your neighborhood.

Da Nang to Halong Bay train

In fact, there are no direct trains getting to Halong Bay from Da Nang. However, if you still want to travel by train, you can take the train to Hanoi and transfer to Ha Long City.

Da Nang to Hanoi by train

There are daily tourist trains like Livitrans Express departing from Da Nang to Hanoi Train Station in 18 hours. During the daytime, the earliest train from Da Nang to Halong Bay leaves at 12:45 pm, and the latest train ride leaves at 1:55 pm.

The train ticket costs around 13 to 35 USD for a seat (not including meals). However, we highly recommend you should spend more (approximately 45 USD) booking a soft berth in a 4-bed cabin. Outstandingly, the tourist train ride on Livitrans Express is worth a try for the deluxe class to get from Da Nang to Hanoi on the railway. It is such a new luxury train connecting many famous tourist destinations in Vietnam. The Livitrans Express train ticket costs from 70 USD to 90 USD (including tax, passenger insurance, and fee for hotel transfer).

You have to take a train from Danang to Hanoi first

Hanoi to Halong Bay by bus

Upon arrival at Hanoi Train Station, you can choose one of these recommended ways to get to Halong Bay. For the most part, a shuttle bus or limousine van must be the best choice with straightforward transfer and reasonable cost (10 – 15 USD).

How to book a train from Danang to Halong

To make a reservation for a train ride from Danang to Ha Long, you need to access the official website of Vietnam Railway or tourist train provider. You have to fill in all essential information step by step, from departure/ destination points, date of departure, to the number of passengers. After submitting, you can see a table of train schedules and prices for the available seat option. Once you finish the booking process and make a payment, you will get the confirmation and e-ticket via the provided email.

3 best ways to get from Da Nang to Halong Bay

• Flying in Vietnam doesn’t cost an arm and a leg if you choose budget airlines such as VietJet Air and Pacific Airlines (a low-cost airway belonging to Vietnam Airlines).
• You can hunt for sale-off and promotional campaigns to get the best flight deals. If you are lucky enough, you can get free tickets (not including tax). Such a super-saving way to travel from Danang to Halong!
• Try to avoid the high season in Vietnam unless you want to experience fully booked transportation, overpriced ticket fare, as well as the hustle and bustle. In case of planning ahead during the tourist season, you should better book a few weeks in advance to make a reservation.
• If you are solo travelers or backpackers, traveling by train/ bus is a great budget choice. For families with kids, it is much more convenient to book a Vietnam package tour covering Danang and Halong Bay in the itinerary. Or else, traveling by plane is advisable.
• It is essential to buy a baggage fee before your flight since it costs so much to buy additional luggage at the airport.
• Let’s take the weather into account. The bad weather can affect your flight schedule or cruise tour. You should get to know the best time to visit Danang and Halong Bay before your trip.

All in all, getting from Da Nang to Halong Bay is not as struggling as you expect. Either you are a first-timer or a returned traveler, booking with a local travel agent is the most effective way. At BestPrice Travel, you can find any flight routes, Danang – Halong tour, and even ask for help to book other means of transportation.

Don’t hesitate to contact us and enjoy your trip to the fullest!

Nhung Dang

(Image source: BestPrice Travel & Internet)