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 | 30-40 minutes |
| Cat Bi International Airport (Hai Phong) | 65 km | 1 hour - 1 hour 20 minutes |
| 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 modern airport serving the Halong Bay area, located approximately 53 km (32 miles) from Halong City. A new expressway now connects the airport to the city, with an estimated travel time of 35 to 45 minutes. For travelers heading to Halong Bay from Ho Chi Minh City, flying into Van Don Airport can be a time-efficient and cost-effective option.
- Location: Doan Ket, Van Don, Quang Ninh
- Official website: vandonairport.vn
- Pros: Closest airport to Halong Bay, significantly reduced travel time (53 km, approximately 40 minutes transfer)
- Cons: Limited international flight options are available.
Flight Schedule
| Airline | 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 complimentary bus routes that operate between Van Don Airport and Halong Bay:
- 14A (55 km, follows QL 18): The bus 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 (72 km, follows Halong-Van Don Highway): The bus departs from the Sunworld Complex Ha Long heading to Van Don Airport.
How to Book
Reservations can be made online at phucxuyen.com.vn/bussanbay or by calling +84 02033 55 66 99.
Bus Route Maps
3. Cat Bi International Airport
- Code: HPH
- Distance to Halong: 61 km
This airport serves Hai Phong, the third-largest city in Vietnam. The distance from Hai Phong to Halong Bay is approximately 65 km (40 miles). For further details on how to reach Halong Bay from Hai Phong, please refer to our ‘How to get there: Hai Phong to Halong Bay’ section.
- Location: Hai An, Hai Phong
- Official website: catbiairport.vn
- Pros: Numerous direct international flights operate from cities such as Seoul, Tokyo, and Bangkok to Hai Phong. The airport’s location is convenient for travelers heading to Cat Ba Island and Lan Ha Bay (27 km away, approximately 30 minutes by transfer).
- Cons: While there are direct international flight options, they are still limited compared to those available at 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 | 09:00 | 10:15 |
| 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 | 14:55 |
| Vietjet Air | Phu Quoc-Hai Phong | 13:10 | 15:00 |
| 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 International Airport serves Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. The distance from Hanoi to Halong Bay is approximately 193 km (120 miles). For more information on traveling to Halong Bay by bus from Noi Bai, see our guide.
- Location: Phú Minh, Sóc Sơn, Hà Nội
- Official website: http://noibaiairport.vn/HOME/Default.aspx
- Pros: A wide range of domestic and international flight options.
- Cons: Transfers from Cat Bi Airport and Van Don Airport can take longer, as they are 193 km away and typically require 2 to 2.5 hours for the journey.
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: All times are local. The flight schedules are subject to change, and we recommend contacting the airlines directly for the most current information.
