How to go → MAI CHAU to HA LONG? ☀️

1. Bus – Mai Chau to Ha Long
2. Bus + Train to Hai Phong
3. Taxi / Car to Ha Long
🎫 Book a Tour in Ha Long
🎫 Book Ticket to Ha Long

From Mai Chau to Halong Bay by bus/minivan, car or bus + train.

• • The travel distance from Mai Chau to Halong Bay spans approximately 320 km, accessible by bus, car, or bus+train. The preferred mode of transportation from Mai Chau to Halong Bay is via Hanoi, typically by tourist bus or minivan. Notably, there are no direct trains from Mai Chau to Hanoi, nor are there flights from Mai Chau to Halong Bay, as Mai Chau lacks both a railway station and an airport. Traveling by tourist bus or minivan from Mai Chau to Ha Long via Hanoi generally takes between 7 to 10 hours and transfer costs about $10 to $37 per person. Buses arrive at various locations in Ha Long, including Bai Chay, Tuan Chau, Hon Gai, or Cat Ba Island.

BOOK TICKETS with Baolau ➜

• • Alternatively, travelers can opt to travel by bus+train to Hai Phong or Ha Long town. Trains operate from Hanoi to Hai Phong, offering the fastest route, or to Ha Long via Kep Railway Station, with a travel time of approximately 7 hours. Another viable option is to take a train to Hai Phong and then proceed by boat to Cat Ba Island. Traveling by bus + train from Mai Chau to Hai Phong (via Hanoi) typically takes about 7 to 8 hours, with ticket prices ranging from $12 to $20 per person. The final option to reach Ha Long from Mai Chau involves traveling by bus + private car via Hanoi. Various modern private cars or limousines are available from Hanoi to Ha Long town, although this option represents the most expensive mode of transfer. From Ha Long, travelers can travel to Cao Bang or Hanoi.

• • Alternatively, travelers can explore another route from Mai Chau to Ha Long via Ninh Binh, bypassing Hanoi. Buses or minivans operate from Mai Chau to Ninh Binh, followed by connecting buses from Ninh Binh to Ha Long. This route is an excellent choice for those eager to explore the captivating sights of northern Vietnam. Traveling by bus from Mai Chau to Ha Long via Ninh Binh typically takes around 8 hours in total. Notably, there is no railway connecting Ninh Binh to Ha Long. Ninh Binh boasts numerous historical attractions, making it worth spending approximately three days exploring. Travelers can easily search and book tickets or cars from Mai Chau to Halong Bay or Hai Phong online.

BOOK TICKETS with 12go.asia ➜

---

How do I get from Mai Chau to Halong Bay?

1. BUS from Mai Chau to Ha Long (via Hanoi)

The most popular and cheap way to get from Mai Chau to Halong Bay is by bus/minivan via Hanoi (or via Ninh Binh). There are different companies on this route and it is necessary to implement this route in 2 steps, preferably with a transfer in Hanoi, or you can go through the attractive place of Ninh Binh and from there also continue by another bus to Ha Long or Cat Ba. The route through Hanoi is a bit faster and more popular among tourists.

The first step is to travel by bus or minivan from Mai Chau to Hanoi, which takes approximately 3-4.5 hours. The companies Anh Dung Limousine, Huong Kien, Daiichi Travel, Trung Nghia, Yen Binh, Duy Thai, VietNam Travel Bus, Moc Chau Limousine, Grouptour, Truly Ha Giang travel on this route and they will offer you modern smaller minivans or classic and older buses with seats.

Transportation by bus or minivan from Mai Chau to Hanoi costs between $4-16/pp and the price depends on the type of bus. Minivans are usually a more expensive option than classic or older buses with seats. Bus or minivan is the most used option of transport, because there is no railway to Hanoi.

Minivans and buses can depart from various locations in Mai Chau and arrive at various locations in Hanoi. You can easily find and book bus tickets from Mai Chau to Hanoi online even in advance. Carefully read all transfer conditions and ticket instructions, arrive at the departure point at least 30 minutes before departure.

1. BOOK BUS TICKETS to Hanoi ➜

The second step is again a transfer by bus or minivan from Hanoi to Ha Long or you can also take a bus + ferry to Cat Ba Island. Most travelers first go to the city of Ha Long, from where they go on to explore Ha Long Bay.

On this route to Ha Long city, there are many buses and modern minivans of companies such as Techbus VN, Phuc Xuyen, Luxury Transport, Sapa Dragon Express, Grouptour, Kumho Viet Thanh, GreenLion, VietNam Travel Bus, Sapa Discovery Travel, Luxury Van Limousine, Cat Ba Express, Good Morning Cat Ba, Co To Limousine, Daichi Travel and more.

Transfer by bus or minivan to Ha Long from Hanoi takes approximately 2-4.5 hours and tickets range from $4-20/pp. The travel time depends on where you depart from in Hanoi and where you arrive in Ha Long, but on average expect a travel time of around 3 hours. You can easily find and buy bus tickets to Ha Long or Cat Ba online in advance. All travelers can use the bus transfer, if you use the minivan transfer, the journey is relatively comfortable.

2. BOOK BUS TICKETS to Ha Long ➜

2. BUS + TRAIN from Hanoi to Hai Phong (via Hanoi)

If you would like to travel, for example, to the city of Hai Phong, which can be used for a transfer to Cat Ba Island, then you can choose a transfer by bus / minivan and train again via Hanoi. You cannot get directly from Mai Chau to Hai Phong or Ha Long by train, you must first take a bus to Hanoi and from there you can continue by train.

So this option also has 2 steps and includes a train transfer in Hanoi. The total transfer by bus and train from Mai Chau to Hai Phong takes about 7-8 hours, depending on the transfer to the train in Hanoi. So the first step is again to travel by bus or minivan from Mai Chau to Hanoi, which takes about 3-4.5 and you can use several different companies.

1. BOOK BUS TICKETS to Hanoi ➜

The second step is a transfer by train from Hanoi to the city of Hai Phong, which is located approximately 45 km from the city of Ha Long. It can be a suitable place if you also want to travel to the popular Cat Ba Island in Ha Long Bay. Buses and ferries leave for this island from Hai Phong and go all the way to the city in the south of the island.

The train transfer from Hanoi to Hai Phong takes approximately 2.5 hours and train tickets range from $3-6/pp per seat. On this shorter route, it is enough to use a regular seat, which is always the cheapest option on trains. Trains by Vietnam Railways depart from Hanoi Railway Station (120 Le Duan) and arrive at Hai Phong Railway station (75 Lương Khánh Thiện) in the city center, see Vietnam railway map.

Approximately 4 regular Vietnam Railways trains run on the route per day, so the train schedule is rather limited. Train tickets for trains to Hai Phong from Hanoi can be easily searched and purchased online in advance. If you would like to go from Hai Phong to Ha Long, you can use a local bus or minivan transfer between these cities.

2. BOOK TRAIN TICKETS to Hai Phong ➜

3. TAXI / CAR from Mai Chau to Ha Long (via Hanoi)

The most convenient and fast, but at the same time the most expensive way to get to Ha Long Bay from Mai Chau is by private car / taxi via Hanoi. This transport option can be implemented again in 2 steps, with a transfer in Hanoi. First you will use a private car with a driver from Mai Chau to Hanoi and then you will use another car to Ha Long or Cat Ba Island. The total driving time by private car with a driver from Mai Chau to Ha Long can be about 6-7 hours, depending on the route and also the type of car you choose.

The first step is to travel by private car/taxi from Mai Chau to Hanoi, which takes approximately 3-3.5 hours. On this route, you can use the companies Saigon DMC, Ouros Travel, Taxi with VTS, Vietnam Transportation Service, which will offer you modern smaller classic cars, SUVs and even minivans for groups of people.

A minivan can also be advantageous if you are traveling in a group of people at once. The advantage is of course the choice of your departure point in Mai Chau and your arrival point in Hanoi. Some cars can also be used for transfer to Noi Bai Airport.

Private car with a driver is the most expensive way to get to Hanoi from Mai Chau and the fare ranges from $70-130/car, these prices are based on the type of car. Smaller cars are usually cheaper than larger minivans or SUVs. A private car with a driver is the most convenient option and the drivers are experienced. You can search and book your car with driver from Mai Chau to Hanoi online even in advance.

1. BOOK PRIVATE CAR to Hanoi ➜

The second step is again a trip by private car with a driver from Hanoi to Ha Long or Cat Ba Island. It is better to travel to the city of Ha Long first and possibly go further from there, e.g. to Cat Ba Island. Luxury Transport, Phuc Xuyen, Greenlion Bus, Rosa Eco Bus, Dichung Taxi, Ouros Travel, Tim Charter, Booking Car, Sapa Dragon Express, Taxi with VTS, or others operate private transfers to Ha Long or Cat Ba from Hanoi.

The companies again offer modern, air-conditioned and new smaller and larger cars such as SUVs and minivans. You can use these cars to go to various places of your choice, a popular destination is for example the Bai Chay area of ​​the city or the tourist island of Tuan Chau. From Tuan Chau you can then travel by boat to Cat Ba Island.

Transfer by private car from Hanoi to Ha Long takes approximately 2-3 hours and prices range from $45-170/car. Again, the price depends on the type of car, minivans or luxury SUVs are the most expensive options on this route. You can also easily book your private car from Hanoi to Ha Long online in advance. A private transfer is a great transport option, however, due to the higher price, ordinary low-cost travelers will not use it.

2. BOOK PRIVATE CAR to Ha Long ➜

❓ FAQ + TIPS – Travel from Mai Chau to Halong Bay:

BOOK a TOUR / ACTIVITY in Halong Bay ➜

---

BOOK your HOTEL in Ha Long ➜

---

🎫 Book tickets or taxi / car from Mai Chau to Ha Long Bay:

(You can also book and buy another routes and tickets, e.g. Hanoi > Ha Long, Hanoi > Cat Ba…)

Train Schedule – Vietnam ➔