Where to stay in Halong: the 4 neighborhoods to know in 2026
This is a city that hides its scenery. The limestone karsts of the bay start offshore, and from the windows in Bãi Cháy or Hồng Gai, you mostly see a stretch of water, cranes, and a bridge. Half the trip happens on the water because the boats that take you through the bay double as floating hotels. They depart from two different spots, the Tuần Châu marina and the international port in Bãi Cháy, which are 13.5 kilometres apart.
Choosing a neighbourhood comes after making a different decision: staying on land or on the water. The number of nights you have makes the choice for you. Just one night means sleeping on board, where you will see the sunrise between the rocks. Two nights or more means one night on the water and the rest on land, keeping in mind that the city is a standard Vietnamese beach resort that leaves many visitors underwhelmed. Prices are quoted in dongs, and you do not actually have to stay in the city itself. Cát Bà, on the other side, belongs to Haiphong and is reached much faster by boat than by road.
You absolutely have to spend the night there to enjoy a bit of quiet in the evening and early morning. That is when you can really appreciate the karst peaks far from the crowds.
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At a glance: our picks by traveller type
Pick the profile that suits you to head straight to the recommended neighborhood.
The neighborhood map in Halong
Get your bearings on the neighborhoods and must-see sights before choosing where to drop your bags. Click a name to jump to its description.
Bãi Cháy, the hotel strip The western shore, facing the bay
Comfort and nightlife
This side packs in the high-rise hotels, an artificial beach, a cable car, and a giant Ferris wheel. The waterfront promenade gets lively after dark, international chains line the coastal avenue, and the market in Bãi Cháy brings a bit of local life to a setting that otherwise lacks it. Keep in mind what you are paying for here: a comfortable beach resort setup, not a direct view of the bay. Rooms advertising a view actually look out toward the strait and the bridge, while the towering islets stay further out in the water. The Sun World cable car sits 6.6 kilometres from the centre of Hồng Gai. One practical detail missing from the promotional photos: the international cruise port, where some of the boats depart, is 1.2 kilometres from the promenade, whereas the Tuần Châu marina is 13.5 kilometres away.
Where to stay in this neighborhood
Mường Thanh Luxury Hạ Long Centre Luxury
A 5-star property by the Vietnamese chain Mường Thanh right on Hạ Long Avenue. Its own page bills it as the group's largest hotel in the area.
Mường Thanh Luxury Hạ Long Centre II Luxury
A 5-star hotel from the same group, right in the tourist heart of Bãi Cháy. It gives Sun World park as 100 metres away and the beach as 500 metres.
Mường Thanh Grand Hạ Long Mid-range
A 4-star hotel with 192 rooms in the Đông Hùng Thắng neighbourhood, at the western end of this shore. It is the only one of the group's three properties with a published room count.
Novotel Ha Long Mid-range
An international chain hotel right on the waterfront, checked on the ground in March 2025. A solid landmark for travellers who prefer a familiar chain over an independent spot.
Vinpearl Ha Long resort Luxury
A resort complex by the Vietnamese group Vinpearl on Võ Nguyên Giáp Avenue, set on an island linked to the mainland. Pools and a private beach keep you well away from the traffic.
Pros
- The city's large hotels cluster here
- Restaurants, the promenade, and the cable car are all walkable
- The international port is 1.2 kilometres from the promenade
Cons
- The atmosphere is strictly resort town rather than fishing port
- You cannot see the bay from the rooms, only the strait and bridge
- Boats leaving from the Tuần Châu marina are 16 minutes away
Hồng Gai, the working city The east bank, once you cross the bridge
Experience everyday Vietnam
Cross the bridge and the atmosphere shifts. Hồng Gai is where locals live year-round, complete with a coal port, a morning market, local food stalls, and a church. Travellers are few, prices are lower, and you eat what the locals eat. The catch is clear: you book through a platform here, and you will need to head back across the bridge to reach tourist hotels and restaurants. Expect 7.4 kilometres and 9 minutes between the two banks.
What to see & do in the neighborhood
Where to stay in this neighborhood
Halong Boutique Hotel Mid-range
A small property on the east side, a few blocks from the waterfront. It makes the neighbourhood accessible for anyone who wants to stay right where the city lives.
Bella Hotel Budget
A small hotel in Hồng Gai, 200 metres from the shore. The kind of spot that fills the gap left by the lack of chain hotels on this side.
Pros
- Local prices and everyday Vietnamese cooking
- The coal port and morning market are easy to explore on foot
- The bay opens up at the end of the streets
Cons
- You book through a platform
- Nightlife happens across the water, a 9-minute bridge crossing away
- Nothing here is set up for international travellers
Tuần Châu, the island where the boats depart The marina island, connected by a causeway
Boarding stress-free the next day
People sleep here for one single reason: to catch a boat the next morning. The island connects to the mainland by a causeway and holds a marina, a beach, an amphitheatre, and an entertainment park, all planned at once with no old centre. Staying the night before saves the 22-minute drive from Hồng Gai with your luggage at a time when cruise check-ins start at noon. On the other hand, you will not find a neighbourhood here to wander around in the evening.
Check the name of your boat beforehand so you do not get on the wrong ship, because the boardings happen one after another.
Where to stay in this neighborhood
Paradise Suites Mid-range
A hotel right on the marina, about 300 metres from the docks. Exactly the spot you want when your boat leaves at noon the next day.
Morning Star Hotel Budget
A small spot tucked between the seawall and the beach. It keeps the area affordable for a single night before setting sail.
Charmhill Hotel Mid-range
A hotel in the Tuần Châu villa district, on the southern part of the island. Quieter than the immediate surroundings of the marina.
Pros
- The boarding marina is on the island
- A beach and an entertainment park next to the hotels
- Drop off your bags without crossing the built-up area
Cons
- The island was built all at once, without any neighbourhood life
- The city is a 22-minute drive away, and the Bãi Cháy shore 16
- During the off-season, shops on the island close early
Cát Bà, the other shore The neighbouring island, which falls under the jurisdiction of Haiphong
Nature over the resort scene
The bay has two shores, and the second belongs to a different province: Cát Bà is administered by Haiphong. It is the go-to island for hikers and rock climbers, featuring a national park, a quieter neighbouring bay, and a small port town. Keep the geography in mind, as it dictates your entire day: the island is 25 kilometres away as the crow flies, but 88.6 kilometres and 1 hr 36 min by road, which loops all the way around the bay. The ferry cuts straight across. In fact, an official route connects the Tuần Châu marina to the Gia Luận port on the island.
This island does not have any particular charm, but it seemed less touristy to us than the city of Ha Long.
Where to stay in this neighborhood
Cat Ba Eco Lodge Mid-range
Secluded lodging on the northwest side of the island facing Lan Hạ Bay. It publishes its rates and packages directly on its own website, which is rare around here.
Cát Bà Plaza Mid-range
A multi-storey hotel right as you arrive in Cát Bà town, located 700 metres from the waterfront. It makes the island accessible without having to stay in a homestay.
Pros
- A national park, cliffs, and hiking trails
- A quieter neighbouring bay than the one crowded with day-trip boats
- Places that publish their rates and actually answer emails
Cons
- The island falls under Haiphong rather than Ha Long
- The road covers 88.6 kilometres compared to 25 as the crow flies
- The small town fills up with young travellers during the summer
Our tips for booking the right place
- What an overnight stay on board actually includes: Booking a cruise is nothing like reserving a standard hotel room, as it is a package that cannot be fairly compared to a hotel rate without knowing exactly what it includes. For a 2-day, 1-night trip, a bay operator details what is covered: cabin accommodation, 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner, all taxes and service fees, plus bay admission and excursion permits. Excluded are flights, airport transfers, visa fees, spa treatments, and gratuities. Embarkation takes place at the Tuần Châu Marina, check-in starts at noon, and a speedboat then transfers you out to the main vessel.
- A cruise rate without a clear unit, the question to ask: The same operator lists a range for a 2-day, 1-night trip: from 8,400,000 to 12,200,000 VND on its Elegance ship, and from 9,650,000 to 27,400,000 VND on the Legacy. Its page never says whether these amounts are per person or per cabin, and for a couple that means paying either once or twice the price. Confirm this before paying, and at the same time, verify how many nights you actually spend on board, since a "2 days 1 night" package starts at noon and wraps up the following morning.
- Two shores, two provinces, and a road that goes the long way round: Cát Bà is visible right across the water and looks close enough to touch. However, it belongs to Haiphong rather than Quảng Ninh province. This would not matter much if the road did not have to curve all the way around the bay: expect 25 kilometres as the crow flies, but 88.6 kilometres and 1 hr 36 min by car. Ferry connections do operate, and an official route links the Tuần Châu Marina to the Gia Luận port. Plan your crossing before booking nights on both sides.
- Booking a bay-view room expecting to see the limestone peaks: from both shores, you mostly see the strait, the bridge, and the cranes. The dramatic rock formations start further out, and you need a boat to get close to them.
- Booking a room in Hồng Gai while planning to head out for the evening in the tourist zone means crossing the bridge back over, which is 7.4 kilometres and 9 minutes.
- Going on from Ha Long to Cát Bà without looking at the map: the road covers 88.6 kilometres and takes 1 hr 36 min, for only 25 kilometres as the crow flies.
FAQ: where to stay in Halong
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