Halong City
Most Ha Long Bay boats leave from Halong City, so many trips to the bay start at its piers.
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Halong City is a port and resort city on the Quang Ninh coast of northern Vietnam. Most boats into Ha Long Bay leave from its piers, so this is where many trips to the bay begin. The city's hotels cluster in Bai Chay, the beach area near the piers, and on Tuan Chau Island, which is reached by road from Bai Chay and has its own resorts and a marina.
The right base depends on the kind of trip. If your boat departs from town, a night nearby makes an early start to the piers easier. Stay in Bai Chay for the shortest walk to the boats, or on Tuan Chau for quieter resorts. Hon Gai is cheaper and more local, but it is a longer trip to the piers. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons, with milder weather than the humid summer and less cold than winter.
Halong City in five
- Decide cruise or independent before you bookMost visitors take a packaged cruise with transport to and from Hanoi, the tourism board says. Independent travelers can take a bus to Ha Long City or Hai Phong, then a taxi to the port.Ha Long Bay
- Check the boat, not just the photosThe UK advice warns that overcrowding and poor safety standards have led to accidents on overnight Ha Long Bay trips. Ask about the registration, crew certification and safety briefing, and wear a life jacket.
- Match the season to your planThe tourism board puts clear, cool skies in September to November, mist from December to March, sunshine and breeze in April and May, and unpredictable monsoon weather from June to August.Best time to visit Vietnam
- Landing on an e-visa? Use a designated gateThe official gate list for e-visa holders includes Van Don airport, Hon Gai and Cam Pha ports and the Mong Cai land gate in Quang Ninh. Check yours before you book.Vietnam e-visa and exemption
- Look beyond the main bayBai Tu Long Bay and the Lan Ha and Cat Ba side of the bay offer routes with different crowds. Choose the route before you choose the boat.Bai Tu Long Bay
Things to do in Halong City
See all attractions in Halong CityNeed to know
- Airport
- Hanoi (Noi Bai) for most; Van Don is also an e-visa air gate
- Getting there
- Road from Hanoi or Hai Phong; seaplane from Noi Bai
- Getting around
- Taxi in town; boats for the bay
- Best base
- Bai Chay, or Tuan Chau Island
- Time needed
- A night before or after a cruise
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Poor
- JanuaryCloudy10 rainy daysHigh20°Low14°Misty, coolJanuaryCloudy
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 47 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Misty, cool
- FebruaryCloudy9 rainy daysHigh21°Low15°Misty, drizzleFebruaryCloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 45 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Misty, drizzle
- MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh24°Low19°Mist, mildMarchRain
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 58 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mist, mild
- AprilRain15 rainy daysHigh27°Low21°Sunny, breezeAprilRain
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 102 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Sunny, breeze
- MayRain21 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°Sunny, warmMayRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 213 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Sunny, warm
- JuneRain23 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh32°Low26°Hot, rainJuneRain
Poor
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 308 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, rain
- JulyRain26 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh32°Low26°MonsoonJulyRain
Poor
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 330 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Monsoon
- AugustRain27 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh31°Low26°Monsoon, stormsAugustRain
Poor
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 494 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Monsoon, storms
- SeptemberRain23 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°Clear, warmSeptemberRain
Poor
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 333 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Clear, warm
- OctoberRain13 rainy daysHigh28°Low22°Clear, coolOctoberRain
Good
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 141 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Clear, cool
- NovemberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh26°Low19°Clear, coolNovemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 41 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Clear, cool
- DecemberPartly cloudy5 rainy daysHigh22°Low15°Mist, coolDecemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 20 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mist, cool
Average daily high and low in Halong City, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Halong City
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
24
- Feels like
- 27°
- Humidity
- 88%
- Wind
- 7 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 51%
Ha Long Bay
03:37 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today29°24°51%Tuesday: Rain. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 51%.
- Wed29°24°46%Wednesday: Rain. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 46%.
- Thu30°25°76%Thursday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 76%.
- Fri29°24°84%Friday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 84%.
- Sat29°23°76%Saturday: Rain. High 29°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 76%.
- Sun30°20°90%Sunday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 90%.
- Mon26°17°71%Monday: Rain. High 26°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 71%.
Updated 11:29 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 25,787 VND
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Ha Long Bayby boat from the piersThe karst seascape, caves, floating villages and kayak lagoons.Read the guide
- Bai Tu Long Bayby boat or a longer cruiseA quieter stretch of the same limestone coast.Read the guide
- Cat Ba Islandby road and boat via Hai PhongA larger island with a national park and Lan Ha Bay beside it.Read the guide
Before you go to Halong City
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Halong City, checked
- Check boat safety before an overnight Ha Long Bay trip: overcrowding and poor standards have led to accidents, and you should have a life jacket and briefing.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- E-visa holders must enter and exit through designated gates; the list includes Van Don airport, Hon Gai and Cam Pha ports and the Mong Cai land gate.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around Halong City
Overnight cruises, Lan Ha and Cat Ba
Read the guideBai Tu Long BayA quieter karst route east of the main bay
Read the guideCat Ba IslandIsland base for parks, caves and beaches
Read the guideHaiphongPort city and Cat Ba gateway
Read the guideHanoiThe usual starting point for Ha Long trips
Read the guideTravel insuranceBoat trips, weather and delays
Read the guideAll of VietnamEntry, seasons, regions and money
Read the guideHalong City FAQ
Do you need to stay in Halong City?
Not if you book a packaged cruise with transport from Hanoi. Stay a night if you are traveling independently, since you will need to reach the port and board a morning boat.
Is Halong City worth visiting on its own?
Mostly as a gateway. Bai Chay and Tuan Chau Island are the main hotel areas, and the bay is the reason to come.
How do you get from Hanoi to Halong City?
By packaged cruise transfer, or by bus to Ha Long City or Hai Phong and a taxi to the port. A seaplane charter from Noi Bai also operates, according to the tourism board.
Is there an airport near Halong City?
Van Don airport on the Quang Ninh coast is the nearest air gate and is on the official list for e-visa holders. Most visitors still fly into Hanoi and continue by cruise transfer, bus or seaplane, according to the tourism board.
Are Ha Long Bay boats safe?
Standards vary. The UK advice warns about overcrowding and poor safety on some overnight boats, so check registration, the safety briefing and that a life jacket is provided.