Halong Bay Cruise Port & Terminal: Guide to Arrange Proper Transfer

If you plan to explore beautiful bays around the world by cruising, Halong Bay with the numerous limestone karsts, caves, and islets of various shapes and sizes should be at the top of your must-see list. Either arriving in Vietnam on an international cruiser or flying here, you will need to transfer to the ports to get on your cruise. The below article with all information about Halong Bay Cruise Port & Terminal will be helpful for your trip, so do not miss it.

How Many Cruise Ports Are There in Halong Bay?

Halong Bay is divided into 4 main parts: Halong Bay central (the center of the bay), Bai Tu Long Bay (to the northeast), Lan Ha Bay (to the south), and Cat Ba Island (to the southwest).

There are 5 cruise ports in Halong Bay to embark tourists to visit each part of the Bay. International cruise ports such as Cai Lan and Halong International Cruise Port welcome both international and domestic cruises. Domestic ports such as Tuan Chau pier, Hon Gai harbor, and Got pier mostly are embarking terminals for domestic cruises.

Therefore, do not forget to check which port or terminal your cruise will embark on to arrange the proper transfer. 

Halong Bay cruise port & terminal maps

 

International Cruise Ports in Halong Bay

There are 2 international cruise ports in Halong Bay that can receive a big ship carrying over 5,000 TEUs and an international cruise ship: Cai Lan and Halong International Cruise port (Sun Group port). 

Cai Lan Port - The deepest water Halong cruise port

• Location: No 1, Cai Lan Street, Bai Chay Ward, Halong City, Quang Ninh Province (155 kilometers from Hanoi, capital of Vietnam)

Invested by the ODA of the Government of Japan in 1999, Cai Lan has become the number one International Container Terminal in the North of Vietnam. The 13-meter deep and modern equipment system allows the port to receive container ships carrying over 5,000 TEUs. It currently consists of 3 piers, one of which can accommodate 40,000 DWT ships. However, it is expected to expand 2 more piers by 2030. 

Cai Lan is not only a cargo port but also an attractive destination for international cruises due to its natural beauty of the landscapes as well as a lot of investments in marine transportation and other infrastructure. 

From Cai Lan, visitors who are interested in geography and geology or stalagmites and stalactites can take a guided tour to Thien Cung Cave, or Sung Sot cave. Those who love to learn more about the local life can visit the Cua Van Floating Village to catch a glimpse of how the everyday life of the locals in the region.

Cai Lan - The deepest water cruise port in Halong Bay

 

Halong International Cruise Port - The newest cruise port

• Location: No.9 Halong Road, Bai Chay Ward, Halong City
• Capacity: 300 boats
• Cruises depart: Scarlet Pearl, Dragon Legend, Dragon Pearl Junk

Located in the center of the Bai Chay tourist area, next to the Sun World Halong Complex, Ha Long International Cruise Port is the perfect place for all kinds of domestic and international cruisers. It has welcomed nearly 56,000 visitors from about 40 international ships, including Celebrity Millennium, World Dream, Mein Chiff, Westerdam, and Voyager of the Sea.

The port consists of four modern docks with a maximum loading capacity of 300 boats to Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay, and Cat Ba Island.

Designed by Bill Bensley, one of the top five architects in the world, the terminal boasts Vietnamese and European culture and architectural design: yellow color painted as the color inspiration from the ancient town of Hoi An in Central Vietnam, an ocean cruiser shape with elegant and sophisticated interior decoration, wooden poles and steel and wooden ceilings.

The waiting area covers 13,500 square meters and has a capacity of 2,000 people. Tourists can also easily find tax-free shops, restaurants, fast food stores, souvenir shops, etc. here. 

Halong International Cruise Port - The newest Halong Bay port

 

Domestic Halong Bay Cruise Ports

Besides International ports that can embark tourists to cruise in Halong Bay, there are three domestic ports that have terminals to embark tourists: Tuan Chau harbor, Hon Gai pier, and Got pier (Hai Phong city).

Tuan Chau Harbor - The largest Halong cruise port

• Location: Ngoc Chau, Tuan Chau, Halong, Quang Ninh 
• Cruises depart Paradise Elegance, Stellar of the Seas, Ambassador Cruise, Indochine Cruise, Capella Cruise

Situated in the northwest of Halong Bay, 8 kilometers southwest of Halong City, connected to the mainland by a long bridge, Tuan Chau Pier is the largest pier in Halong Bay. It stretches 8 kilometers into Halong Bay and can hold up to 2000 sea vessels at one time.

Tourists will need about 1.5 hours to get there from Van Don airport by car, a 3 to 3.5 hours drive from Hanoi. Tuan Chau is actually an artificial harbor constructed in the Western style, equipped with a full-service lounge area, operating room, ticket counter, information counter for visitors, offices for police, and customs.

Tuan Chau has a modern and beautiful indoor waiting area equipped with air conditioning, lounge chairs, a bar, internet dedicated to businessmen and VIPs, and many tax-free shops, and restaurants. Outside the port are long rows of benches where visitors are free to look at the seaports while waiting for departure. 

Tuan Chau harbor - The largest Halong Bay cruise port

 

Hon Gai Pier - The oldest Halong cruise port

• Location: Group 1, Zone 2, Bai Chay Ward, Halong City, Quang Ninh Province
• Capacity: 5,000 passengers, 1,000 cars, and 400 trucks per day
• Cruises depart Paloma Cruise, Swan Cruise, Oriental Sails, Signature Cruise

Located in East Halong, close to Bai Chay Bridge, Hon Gai Pier (Vinashin Pier) is a popular departure point for cruises going through or to Bai Tu Long Bay. Although it is smaller and less busy than others, the Hon Gai pier is the important transportation infrastructure of Quang Ninh province, contributing to the marine economic development strategy of the province. It is a three-floor building with the area used on each floor being 4,500 m2.

This port has the capacity of receiving not only domestic cruises but also large international passenger ships, and luxury yachts. It has become an attractive tourist attraction and the departure point of the boat trip to Bai Tu Long Bay. Cruises embarking from Hon Gai pier often visit deserted areas such as Thien Canh Son cave, Vung Vieng (Vong Vieng) fishing village, and some beaches.

To get to Hon Gai pier, tourists will need to cross Bai Chay Bridge, one of the most beautiful cable-stayed bridges in Vietnam and South Asia. 

Hon Gai pier - The oldest Halong Bay cruise port

 

Got Pier - The terminal of cruises from Hai Phong

• Location: 356 Road, Cat Hai, Hai Phong
• Cruises depart Mon Cheri Cruise, Peony Cruise, Orchid Cruise 

Located in Hai Phong City, Got Pier connects the inland Hai Phong with Cat Ba island. This port is the most common way to get to Cat Ba island, the biggest island in Halong Bay. It is smaller than other piers such as Tuan Chau Harbor and Hon Gai Pier, however, it is the first choice for the cruise to Lan Ha Bay. 

To reach, Got pier from Hai Phong City, tourists need to transfer to Dinh Vu port by car or bus. Then, take the ferry to Ninh Tiep which is about 45 minutes. From Ninh Tiep, the next step is to take a quick transfer to Got pier.

Got Pier - The terminal of Halong Bay cruises from Hai Phong

Learn more about Distance & Travel Time from Hanoi to Halong Bay [Updated]

 

Port of the 10 Best Halong Bay Cruises

When booking a cruise, tourists need to know which port or terminal that cruise embarks from. The international cruises will stop in Cai Lan or Halong Bay International Cruise port while domestic cruises embark from 3 main domestic: Got pier, Tuan Chau harbor, and Hon Gai pier. Depending on the cruise you book, you can find the best way to get to the port. 

Below are the 10 Best Cruises in Halong Bay with the names of departure ports. Click the link for each cruise detail. 

Cruise	Cruise port	Price from
Mon Cheri Cruise 5*	Tuan Chau Port	168 USD
Peony Cruise 4*	Tuan Chau Port	148 USD
Indochine Cruise 5*	Tuan Chau Port	168 USD
Era Cruise 5*	Tuan Chau Port	169 USD
Heritage Binh Chuan Cruise 5*	Tuan Chau Port	185 USD
Orchid Cruise 5*	Tuan Chau Port	180 USD
Swan Cruise 3*	Halong International Cruise Port	127 USD
Scarlet Pearl Cruise 5*	Halong International Cruise Port	180 USD
Dragon Pearl Junk 4*	Halong International Cruise Port	147 USD
Dragon Legend Cruise 5*	Halong International Cruise Port	120 USD

 

Halong cruise ports are not only places where the cruises embark, but also beautiful places for sightseeing, and enjoying the culture and architectural design of the top architecture of the world. Do not forget to bring your camera for checking in at these. Visit one of the charming ports, and stay on the Halong Bay cruise by booking with BestPrice Travel.

Jenny Tran

(Image sources: Internet)