Halong International Cruise Port

Officially launched in November 2018, Halong international cruise port is the very first cruise port in Vietnam allowing the world's largest and most modern yachts to come to Halong Bay. The cruise port stands out with a modern design blended with classic European architectural features. It recreates the poetic rustic villages by the sea and impresses tourists with its state-of-the-art facilities. 

Invested and constructed by Sun Group - one of the most reputable multi-industry corporations in Vietnam, Halong port includes a variety of constructions such as bridges, international and domestic wharves, a passenger terminal, and functional houses of authority and management boards. The port is formally known as Bai Chay tourist wharf and later changed to Halong international cruise port.

Structure

The port covers an area of 13,500m2. There are 6 berths divided into inland wharf and international wharf. The inland wharf includes 4 berths that can welcome up to 300 domestic yachts and cruise ships. There are plenty of local junk boats, overnight cruises, speed boats.

International wharf includes 1 pier with 2 berths which can accommodate 02 mega ships (tonnage up to 225,000GT) at the same time. Celebrity Millennium was the very first international cruise to anchor at Halong international cruise port with more than 2,000 passengers and around 1,000 crew members. Besides, other world-class cruises docking here are Voyager of the Sea, World Dream, Westerdam, etc.

Additionally, a 4500m2 terminal designed by the world's leading architect Bill Bensley is a perfect stopover where tourists can relax and admire the striking Vietnamese architecture from the outside and the European-style space of the shipyard in the late 19 century from the inside. The terminal includes a lounge system, duty-free stores, mini marts, souvenirs, and food & drink services, and more.

Location

The port has an ideal location on the new Beach Road of Bai Chay ward, Halong city, Quang Ninh province. It is around 180 km from Noi Bai international airport (Hanoi), 54 km from Van Don airport (Quang Ninh), and 45 km from Cat Bi international airport (Hai Phong).The property is conveniently located, making it easily accessible to all the city's prominent hubs. Besides, Bai Chay is the most bustling center in the city where travelers can find a series of highrise resorts, hotels, and restaurants.

How to get there

From Hanoi

To get to the port from Hanoi, you can use public transport such as local bus, taxi, seaplane, or cruise bus or private transport such as motorbike or car.

From Ho Chi Minh City

Those coming from Ho Chi Minh City can get to Halong international cruise port by plane, train, or local bus.

• By plane: There are a bunch of carriers and time frames if you choose the airway. The ticket price ranges from US$60 to US$100 per way. Cat Bi international airport is the nearest airport which is over 1 hour from the Halong Cruise Port. Van Don is the newest and second nearest airport yet the schedule is more limited and the airfare is a bit higher. Meanwhile, Noi Bai airport provides a variety of flights with affordable prices yet it is the farthest airport among 3. However, if you intend to spend some time in Hanoi, it is highly recommended. 
• By train: This is the most time-consuming way yet travelers who want to have a local experience and see the scenery change from region to region can try. All trains are equipped with both soft seats and 4 and 6-bed cabins to make the trip more comfortable. It takes around 33 hours from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi and costs around US$30 to US$70 per person per way. From Hanoi, you may choose one of the above means of transport to get to Halong.
• By local bus: Instead of changing vehicles in Hanoi before going to Halong like traveling by railway, you can choose a local sleeping bus directly from Ho Chi Minh City to Halong Cruise Port. It costs around US$30 - US$45/ticket and takes around 35 hours. However, a sleeping bus is not as comfortable for a long trip since a cabin and a restroom are unavailable and travelers need to stop a few times on the way.

Restaurants

Situated in the heart of Halong City, the cruise port is close to a lot of restaurants serving local and international cuisine. As seafood is the specialty of Halong, a great diversity of seafood can be seen on the menu of every restaurant such as “sa sung”, lobster, crab, oyster, sea urchin, squid, abalone, sea cucumber, etc. However, rest assured that you can still order non-seafood dishes and other Vietnamese delicacies in these restaurants.

Here are some of the nearest restaurants to Halong Cruise Port you can refer to:

• Ngoc Luc Bao Restaurant
  • Cuisine: Vietnamese cuisine, fusion cuisine, Western cuisine
  • Address: 26 Ha Long Street, Bai Chay, Halong City
  • Phone: +(84) 969159888 / 327316111
  • Price: US$16.5 - US$33
  • Open time: All time
• Huong Cang Restaurant
  • Cuisine: Vietnamese cuisine, seafood
  • Address: 9 Thuong Cang Street, Bai Chay, Halong City
  • Phone: +(84) 988626810
  • Price: US$12.5 - US$30
  • Open time: 11:00 - 14:00 and 18:00 - 22:00
• Hong Hanh 3 Restaurant
  • Cuisine: Vietnamese cuisine, fusion cuisine
  • Address: 50 Ha Long Street, Bai Chay, Halong City
  • Phone: +(84) 2033812345 - 904385118 - 768395017
  • Price: US$11 - US$13
  • Open time: All time
• Hoai Thu 2+ Restaurant
  • Cuisine: Vietnamese cuisine, seafood
  • Address: Group 1, Zone 1, Bai Chay, Ha Long City
  • Phone: +(84) 829808889
  • Price: US$10 - US$13
  • Open time: 10:00 - 22:00

Accommodation

From the international cruise port, there is no shortage of resorts, hotels, residences, or motels for travelers to choose from. Check some most favored hotels near Halong Cruise Port in the table below:

Things to do

Cruising the bay

There are different cruises departing from Halong international cruise port. Day cruises offer a 4 or 6-hour itinerary while overnight cruises offer a 24 or 48-hour itinerary on the bay.

For day cruises, you can choose route 1 with Thien Cung cave, Dau Go grotto, and Ba Hang area, or Route 2 with Sung Sot cave, Titop island, and Luon cave. Depending on the duration, the trip can include a lunch onboard and 1 or 2 attractions. Some of the junks are Hai Dang, Phuong Dong, Duc Phuong, Thien Cung, Ngoc Linh, Binh An, etc.

For overnight cruises, the itinerary may visit Halong Bay, Lan Ha Bay, or Bai Tu Long Bay. The trip usually includes 1 or 2 nights on the cruise and all meals onboard. Transfer service can be requested if needed. Following are the best overnight cruises from Halong Cruise Port.

Exploring Sunworld Halong Complex

Spanning a 214-hectare area, Sun World Halong Complex is the biggest entertainment complex in northern Vietnam with 2 main zones. The first is Water Park and Dragon Park lying by the beach with a lot of thrilling games, shopping centers, and restaurants. The second is a Japanese-style entertainment area on Ba Deo Hill which is connected to the first zone by Queen Cable Car. Visitors can grab the best view of Halong Bay from the Sun Wheel and enjoy tempting food and beverages in this area.

Visiting Tuan Chau Island

Tuan Chau Island is a 20-minute drive from Halong Cruise Port. The island is the largest artificial island in Vietnam and offers not only a pretty sandy beach but also a myriad of hotels, restaurants, and entertainment areas such as Tuan Chau Park, water shows, dolphin and seal shows, an amusement park, etc.

Shopping at Halong night market

Just 1.6 km from the port, Halong night market will give you a closer look at local life in Halong City. The market sells a bunch of goods from handicrafts, souvenirs, and brocade products to local specialties. Moreover, you have a chance to savor many street foods such as squid cake, banh cuon (rolled steamed rice), banh troi (floating rice dumpling), mussel porridge, Ha Long pearl yogurt, etc.

Swimming at Bai Chay beach

Bai Chay beach is one of the best beaches in Halong City. Around 1 km from the port, the beach possesses a long coastal line with soft sand and a spectacular view of Halong Bay. The beach is ideal for swimming, kicking back on the beach, and other activities namely kayaking, kite flying, surfing, playing beach volleyball, etc.

Visiting Quang Ninh museum

The box-shaped structure covered by black tempered glass symbolized coal - the vital mineral of the province. Visitors can visit a library and an exhibition hall next to the museum to know more about the formation and development of Quang Ninh province.