![\"\ud558\ub178\uc774](\"https:\/\/vietgil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/hanoi-mydinh-terminal-bus-681x1024.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nConstruction has begun, but completion will not be possible until 2028. If you are planning a trip to Ha Long Bay now, you should first check the current transportation methods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sleeper bus \/ Limousine bus<\/strong>This is the most commonly used method. It departs from Hanoi's My Dinh, Gia Lam, or Nuoc Ngam terminals and travels to either Bai Chay or Hon Gai piers. The one-way fare is 100,000 to 150,000 VND (approximately 5,000 to 7,500 KRW). Depending on traffic conditions, the journey takes between 2 hours and 30 minutes and 3 hours. The downsides are that you need to travel separately to the terminal, and some buses still stop at intermediate points (souvenir shops). It is convenient to make a reservation on the website the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Private driver (pickup vehicle)<\/strong>It picks you up from your accommodation and takes you directly to the pier. For groups of 2 to 4 people, the cost per person is not significantly different from a bus, and you can stop at places of your choice along the way. It can be flexibly used for getting around Ha Long Bay city or returning after a cruise. It is also frequently provided as a means of transportation included in local tours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both methods have their place. If your budget is tight, take the bus; if you want convenience, take a driver. There is no right answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For inquiries about Ha Long Bay travel, Kakao Channel<\/a>You can receive consultation here. We handle everything from selecting your mode of transportation to booking your cruise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It takes 20 minutes to travel from Seoul to Suwon by KTX. The fact that it takes 23 minutes from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay gives that kind of sense of distance. A distance that currently takes 4 hours will become comparable to traveling to the suburbs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first thing to change is the structure of the day trip. While a day trip is not impossible now, it requires spending 5 to 6 hours traveling round trip from Hanoi. This significantly reduces the actual time spent in Ha Long Bay. Therefore, most travelers choose an overnight cruise. It naturally follows that one must sleep on the ship for at least a day to endure the fatigue of travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At 9:23, that calculation is completely reversed. Departing Hanoi at 9:00 AM, arriving in Ha Long Bay at 9:23 AM, enjoying the bay all day, and returning at 6:00 PM. Just like taking the Shinkansen for a day trip to Kyoto in Japan, a day trip to Ha Long Bay takes on a completely different meaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If asked if this is unconditionally good news for travelers, I pause to think. Easier access means more people will come. The spots that are currently quiet could become no longer so. Conversely, if one of the reasons people currently avoid Ha Long Bay is the psychological distance of feeling "too far," the removal of that barrier will bring in new travelers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over the years, I have frequented the docks and witnessed the changes in the cruise market firsthand. It came to a halt due to COVID-19 and has since recovered, with new cruises emerging and a diversification of price ranges and quality. The next change is high-speed rail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Budget overnight cruises will be the most directly affected. Currently, demand for this type of trip largely stems from the reason that "an overnight stay is necessary because a lot of time is spent traveling." With the advent of high-speed rail, that reason will disappear. It is highly likely that new types of tours will emerge, such as day trips, half-day tours, and packages departing early in the morning and returning in the evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, cruises lasting two nights or longer are moving in a different direction. As the number of people rushing through Ha Long Bay increases, so does the demand from those who wish to experience it at a slower pace. Choosing to spend two nights on a ship rather than taking a 23-minute trip becomes a deliberate choice. Consequently, that market will likely establish a clearer positioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are preparing for a trip to Northern Vietnam for the first time, please read this article first.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Until 2028, it is still \u201cthe current Ha Long Bay.\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The fact that it is not easily accessible is, paradoxically, what keeps Ha Long Bay in its current state. Now that the number of day-trip tourists has not increased significantly, it is still possible to find quiet spots with few boats, such as Lan Ha Bay or Bai Tu Long. There are still moments when you can sit alone in the fog when you go out onto the deck at dawn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The experience of Ha Long Bay will be different for a traveler who takes a three-hour bus ride from My Dinh Terminal compared to one who arrives via a 23-minute high-speed train from Hanoi Station. I am not saying which is better. However, the Ha Long Bay of today exists only now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Plan your trip to Ha Long Bay with a guide who has lived there for 10 years. We will personally guide you through everything from transportation and cruise selection to quiet spots. Consult on Kakao Channel<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Next episode preview<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In the next episode, the terminus of the Vinspeed high-speed train Ha Long Bay Development Vinhomes Global Gate \u2014 A $18 Billion City in My Backyard<\/a>I will share some details regarding this. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat changes at 23 minutes?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\ud558\ub871\ubca0\uc774](\"https:\/\/vietgil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/halong-bay-vinspeed-station-render-1024x741.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHigh-speed rail is reshaping the cruise market<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\ud558\ub871\ubca0\uc774](\"https:\/\/vietgil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/halong-bay-cruise-tuanchau-port-aerial-1024x846.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhy You Should Visit Ha Long Bay Now Before the High-Speed Rail Opens<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\ud558\ub871\ubca0\uc774](\"https:\/\/vietgil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/halong-bay-morning-quiet-576x1024.png\")
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