Excursions Beyond Ha Long Bay by Road and Ferry

The best excursions from Ha Long split by how you travel. Some go by road, one goes by car ferry and one heads out by boat from a different port. Costs are in Vietnamese dong (VND), about 26,000 to the US dollar, and every figure here is approximate.

By road: Yen Tu

Yen Tu mountain, in Uong Bi, is a pilgrimage site that takes roughly 1 to 1.5 hours to reach by car. Pilgrims come for the Truc Lam Zen tradition founded in the late 13th century. The Bronze Pagoda stands on a rocky ridge at 1,068 m. You can ride a two stage cable car or climb. Cable car prices differ between sources, so ask at the ticket window. Because monks and worshippers use the site, wear modest clothes and talk quietly.

By road: Bach Dang battlefield

About 25 km west of Ha Long in Quang Yen, the Bach Dang River was the setting for the 1288 victory over the Mongol Yuan fleet. Stakes tipped with iron were driven into the tidal riverbed so that warships ran aground as the tide fell. You can see the preserved stake field at Yen Giang and the temple to Tran Hung Dao. There is no charge at the relic sites. Take a taxi for about 30 minutes and allow a half day. The mood is reflective, not festive.

By car ferry: Cat Ba

The Tuan Chau to Gia Luan crossing takes 45 to 60 minutes, and walk on fares are about 60,000 to 80,000 VND. Boats depart roughly 07:30, 09:00, 11:30, 13:30 and 15:00 in summer, with fewer in winter, and the return boats run about 09:00 to 16:00. Speedboats charge about 165,000 to 250,000 VND. From Gia Luan to Cat Ba town is about 25 km.

A single day is possible but rushed, so consider a night on the island. On Cat Ba look for:

  1. Cannon Fort, which is open and charges a few tens of thousands of dong, with an electric cart if you prefer not to walk.
  2. Hospital Cave, a field hospital dug in 1963 to 1965, with 17 rooms over three levels, in use until 1975 and open from about 08:00 to 17:00.
  3. The national park and its trails.

By boat from Van Don: Bai Tu Long

Ao Tien port in Van Don is about 50 km north east of Ha Long, a drive of around 45 minutes. Ten sightseeing routes into Bai Tu Long were approved in August 2024. The bay is calmer than Ha Long, and Co To, Quan Lan and Minh Chau islands are nearby. One operator sails from the Ha Long port, so ask where your boat leaves.

Lan Ha

Lan Ha, near Cat Ba, is run by Hai Phong city. It adds a separate entry fee of about 120,000 VND for adults and 60,000 VND for children in 2026. Link cruises from Ha Long into Lan Ha started in April 2026 and are overnight only.

Transfers

From Hanoi the road is about 160 km and takes about 2.5 to 3 hours. Van Don and Cat Bi airports are both about 45 minutes away by road. Noi Bai is about 2 hours.

Read more: Attraction tours in Ha Long covers the bay routes themselves.

Day excursions with transport can be searched on Viator . Road times from Noi Bai are on the Ha Long Bay Management Board getting there page .