Halong Bay Airport: Which Airport to Choose?
There are 3 airports close to Halong Bay that you can fly into. It’s even possible to fly into Halong Bay directly via seaplane.
- Noi Bai International Airport: This is the main international airport serving the Hanoi region and is located approximately 170 km from Halong Bay.
- Van Don International Airport: Van Don International Airport is the closest airport to Halong Bay, located only 50 km away; This airport was opened in 2018 and is the first privately-funded airport in Vietnam.
- Cat Bi International Airport: Cat Bi International Airport is located in the city of Hai Phong and is approximately 120 km from Halong Bay.
- Convenient Transport: From these airports, visitors can easily reach Halong Bay via private taxi or public transportation such as bus or shuttle services.
- Expansion Plans: Plans are underway to expand and upgrade the infrastructure at these airports to accommodate the growing number of tourists visiting Halong Bay.
In this article, we will start with the airport that is closest and most convenient to go to Halong Bay and we will end with the one that is farthest away.
1. Map of airports near Halong Bay
Airport Map
Distance and travel time (closest to farthest)
| Airport | Distance to Halong Bay | Travel Time |
|---|---|---|
| Van Don International Airport (Quang Ninh) | 53 km | 35-45 minutes |
| Cat Bi International Airport (Hai Phong) | 65 km | 1 hour - 1h15' |
| Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi) | 193 km | 2-3 hours |
2. Van Don International Airport
- Code: VDO
- Distance to Halong: 50km
Van Don International Airport (VDO) is the newly constructed airport built to serve the area surrounding Halong Bay. It’s around 53 km (32 miles) away from Halong city with a brand new express way connecting the two. Estimated travel time from the airport to the Halong city is 35 to 45 minutes. If you travel to Halong bay from Ho Chi Minh city, it is recommended that you fly to Van Don Airport for time and money saving.
- Location: Doan Ket, Van Don, Quang Ninh
- Official website: https://vandonairport.vn/
- Pros: Closest airport to Halong bay, less travel time. (53 km, 40 minute transfer)
- Cons: Not many international flight options.
Flight Schedule
| Airlines | Route | Departure | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vietnam Airlines | Van Don- Ho Chi Minh city | 15:45 | 17:50 |
| Vietnam Airlines | Ho Chi Minh City- Van Don | 13:00 | 15:05 |
| Bamboo Airways | Van Don - Ho Chi Minh City | 11:50 | 14:00 |
| Bamboo Airways | Ho Chi Minh City-Van Don | 08:50 | 11:10 |
| Vietjet Air | Van Don-Ho Chi Minh City | 09:50 | 12:05 |
| Vietjet Air | Ho Chi Minh City - Van Don | 07:00 | 09:15 |
| Vietnam Airlines | Seoul / Incheon-Van Don | Charter only |
Free Bus from Van Don To Halong:
There are two FREE bus routes running between Van Don Airport and Halong bay:
- 14A (55km, follows QL 18): Starts from Công Viên Hoa Hạ Long at Lê Thánh Tông, P. Bạch Đằng, Tp. Hạ Long, Quảng Ninh (Map) to Van Don Airport.
- 14B (72km, follows Halong-Van Don highway): Start from Sunworld Complex Ha Long to Van Don Airport.
How to book:
Book online: http://phucxuyen.com.vn/bussanbay or by phone: 02033 55 66 99.
Bus route map:
3. Cat Bi International Airport
- Code: HPH
- Distance to Halong: 61 km
This airport services the 3rd biggest city of Vietnam: Hai Phong. The distance between Hai Phong and Halong Bay is around 65 km (40 miles). See our ‘How to get there: Hai Phong to Halong Bay’ section for more information on how to get to Halong Bay from Hai Phong.
- Location: Hai An, Hai Phong
- Official website: Catbiairport.vn
- Pros: There are many direct international flights from Seoul, Tokyo, Bangkok to Hai Phong. Cat Bi airport location is convenient for those who plan to visit Cat Bat Island and Lan Ha Bay (27 km and 30 minute transfer)
- Cons: There are still not as many international flight options compared to Noi Bai airport.
Flight Schedule
| Airlines | Route (Non-stop) | Departure | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vietnam Airlines | Ho Chi Minh City-Hai Phong | 06:00 | 08:00 |
| Vietjet Air | Da Nang- Hai Phong | 08:30 | 09:45 |
| Bamboo Airways | Nha Trang-Hai Phong | 17:00 | 18:45 |
| Bamboo Airways | Qui Nhon- Hai Phong | 12:10 | 13:45 |
| Vietjet Air | Da Lat - Hai Phong | 13:15 | 15:00 |
| Vietjet Air | Phu Quoc - Hai Phong | 13:10 | 15:15 |
| Vietjet Air | Seoul (ICN) - Hai Phong | 07:15 | 09:40 |
| Vietjet Air | Bangkok - Hai Phong | 15:20 | 17:15 |
| Donghai Airlines | Shenzhen - Hai Phong | 00:20 | 01:30 |
4. Noi Bai International Airport
- Code: HAN
- Distance to Halong: 190km
Noi Bai services the capital of Vietnam: Hanoi. The distance between Hanoi and Halong Bay is around 193 km (120 miles). See our guide on taking a bus to Halong bay from Noi Bai.
- Location: Phú Minh, Sóc Sơn, Hà Nội
- Official website: http://noibaiairport.vn/HOME/Default.aspx
- Pros: Plenty of domestic and international flight options.
- Cons: The transfer time is longer when flying into Cat Bi Airport and Van Don Airport, which are 193 km away and require 2-2.5 hours for transfer.
Flight Schedule
| Airlines | Route (Non-stop) | Departure | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vietjet Air | Singapore-Hanoi | 14:55 | 17:25 |
| Thai Airways | Bangkok-Hanoi | 17:50 | 19:40 |
| Vietnam Airlines | Kuala Lumpur- Hanoi | 19:10 | 21:25 |
| Japan Airlines | Tokyo (NRT) -Hanoi | 18:25 | 22:15 |
| Vietjet Air | Seoul (ICN) -Hanoi | 06:25 | 08:55 |
| Vietnam Airlines | London (LHR)-Hanoi | 11:10 | 04:35 (+1 day) |
| Vietnam Airlines | Sydney-Hanoi | 14:15 | 21:05 |
| Hong Kong Airlines | Hong Kong- Hanoi | 16:05 | 17:05 |
Notes: Please note that all times are local times. The schedules above are subject to change, you can contact the airlines directly for latest information.
