Ha Long for Foreign Travelers: Visa, Payments, Language, Getting Around and Independent Travel Tips
Updated: 8 November 2026. Visa rules and service fees can change; before your trip, check the official Vietnam e-visa portal (evisa.gov.vn) or the Vietnamese embassy in your country.
- Visa: since 15 August 2023, citizens of all countries and territories can apply for an e-visa valid for up to 90 days, single or multiple entry. Fee: US$25 (single) or US$50 (multiple).
- 45-day visa exemption: 12 countries (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, UK, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland) plus 12 European countries for tourism (Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland).
- Money: carry some cash (VND) for markets, small eateries and electric shuttle carts; Visa/Mastercard work well at hotels, larger restaurants, supermarkets and attractions.
- Connectivity & transport: buy a tourist eSIM at the airport or before you fly; in Ha Long use Grab or Green SM (formerly Xanh SM), metered taxis, electric shuttle carts or simply walk around Bai Chay.
- 2026 notes: seaplane flights stopped on 1 April 2026; bay ticket about 250,000 VND + round-trip port fee about 80,000 VND.
What do foreign tourists need for a trip to Ha Long?
Foreign visitors to Ha Long need four things: valid entry permission (a nationality-based visa exemption or an e-visa of up to 90 days), the original passport for hotel check-in and boats, some Vietnamese dong in cash plus an international card, and mobile data for ride-hailing, translation and maps. Hanoi to Ha Long takes about 2.5–3 hours by expressway; in Bai Chay you can walk, use ride-hailing apps or take a taxi.
This guide is for independent international travellers and for Vietnamese hosts welcoming foreign friends or business partners. For a full destination overview, see the Ha Long travel guide from A to Z.
Visa: exemption or e-visa?
Tourists enter Vietnam in one of two ways: a visa exemption based on nationality, or an e-visa applied for online before travelling. Visa on arrival is mainly for special cases, so independent travellers should not rely on it.
Visa-exempt groups
| Group | Countries (ordinary passports) | Length of stay |
|---|---|---|
| Unilateral exemption (valid until 14 March 2028) | Germany, France, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland | 45 days, any purpose |
| Tourism stimulus programme (valid until 14 August 2028) | Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland | 45 days, tourism |
| ASEAN bilateral | Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar (30 days); Philippines (21 days); Brunei (14 days) | 14–30 days |
Travellers from the USA, Australia, Canada, India, China and other countries need an e-visa before flying. The exempt period counts from the day of entry (entry day = day one); staying beyond the date on your entry stamp is a violation.
The e-visa
- Who: citizens of all countries and territories (since 15 August 2023).
- Validity: up to 90 days, single or multiple entry.
- Fee: US$25 (single), US$50 (multiple), paid online, non-refundable if refused.
- Documents: passport data page scan and a 4x6 photo on a white background; passport ideally valid for at least 6 more months.
- Processing: about 3–5 working days; apply 1–2 weeks ahead.
- Where: only the official portal evisa.gov.vn; third-party sites usually charge much more.
At check-in, hotels will ask for your original passport to register foreign guests’ temporary residence as required by law. This is routine.
From the airport to Ha Long
Most international visitors land at Noi Bai Airport (Hanoi), then travel about 2.5–3 hours to Ha Long by limousine van, coach, private car or tour shuttle. Some fly domestically to Van Don Airport, about an hour’s drive from Bai Chay. Options, indicative prices and times are compared in how to get from Hanoi to Ha Long and Van Don Airport to Ha Long.
Tip for hosts: send your guest the hotel name and address in Vietnamese plus the booking code in advance — drivers read Vietnamese faster. Seaplane sightseeing flights stopped on 1 April 2026, so leave them out of your plans.
Cash, cards and payments
The currency is the Vietnamese dong (VND). Visa and Mastercard are accepted at most hotels, larger restaurants, supermarkets and attractions. Local eateries, markets, electric shuttle carts and floating vendors on the bay mostly take cash or Vietnamese bank QR codes — which foreign visitors usually cannot use.
- How much cash: about 500,000–1,000,000 VND per person per day covers small expenses comfortably; pay big items (rooms, tours) by card.
- ATMs: plentiful in Bai Chay and Hon Gai; local banks may charge a fee for foreign cards, and your own bank may add its own fee.
- Easy-to-confuse notes: the 20,000 and 500,000 VND notes look similar in colour.
- Tipping: not mandatory; a small tip for guides or boat crew if you are happy is enough.
Seafood in restaurants is usually priced per kilo. Ask the price of each item and check the weighing before it is cooked, especially at floating restaurants on the bay. Dishes worth trying are in what to eat in Ha Long, and a full budget breakdown is in Ha Long trip costs.
SIM, eSIM and internet
The easiest option is a tourist SIM or eSIM from the carrier counters in the international arrivals hall at Noi Bai. By law you must show your original passport and take a selfie for registration; your phone must be unlocked. Popular tourist data packages cost roughly 60,000–180,000 VND for 7–30 days depending on data (SIM price not included). Alternatively, buy an international eSIM via an app before you fly.
Free Wi-Fi is common in hotels and cafés. Out on the bay, mobile signal can be patchy, so download offline maps before boarding.
Language and communication
Tour, cruise and many hotel staff in Bai Chay speak basic to good English. Taxi drivers, market sellers and small eateries usually know only a few simple phrases. Translation apps with camera and conversation modes help a lot.
- Useful phrases: “Xin chào” (hello), “Cảm ơn” (thank you), “Bao nhiêu tiền?” (how much?), “Không cay” (not spicy).
- Save your address: the hotel name in Vietnamese, a photo of its business card or a pinned map location.
Getting around Ha Long
Bai Chay is compact: the beach, walking street, night market, Sun World and many hotels are within walking distance. To reach Hon Gai or Tuan Chau port, foreign visitors usually use ride-hailing apps because the fare is shown upfront.
| Option | Best for | Notes for foreign visitors |
|---|---|---|
| Grab, Green SM (formerly Xanh SM) | Cruise port, Hon Gai, restaurants further away | Fare shown in the app; card or cash depending on your account. Fewer cars late at night. |
| Metered taxi | No data, hailing on the street | Choose companies with meters; show the address in Vietnamese. |
| Electric shuttle cart | Short rides around Bai Chay | Agree on the price before boarding; pay cash. |
| Walking | Walking street, beach, night market in the evening | Cross the street slowly and steadily; motorbikes will flow around you. |
| Self-ride e-scooter | Confident riders who want flexibility | Wear a helmet; more powerful bikes require a matching licence; check rules before renting. |
If you plan to ride, note that an International Driving Permit (IDP) is only recognised if issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention; always wear a helmet and avoid riding unfamiliar roads at night. If you already ride confidently and want to explore Bai Chay yourself, KUKU E-BIKE rents electric scooters in Ha Long from about 170,000 VND/day. A leg-by-leg comparison is in getting around Ha Long.
Visiting Ha Long Bay: tickets, boats and documents
Most bay boats depart from Tuan Chau International Passenger Port. Since 1 July 2026 the sightseeing ticket is about 250,000 VND per adult plus a round-trip port fee of about 80,000 VND; many tours and cruises already include these in the price. Bring your passport, especially for overnight cruises.
Route 1 (Sung Sot Cave, Ti Top Island, Luon Cave) suits first-timers, while Route 2 focuses on fishing villages and kayaking; see Ha Long Bay Route 1 or Route 2. If you are torn between sleeping on a boat or on shore, read overnight cruise or hotel; for going independently versus booking a package, see independent trip or tour in Ha Long.
For quality photos and video without bringing extra gear from home, you can rent a compact camera from KUKU Cho Thuê Máy Ảnh Hạ Long, for example a DJI Pocket 4 from about 180,000 VND/day.
Tips for travelling independently
- Weather: the storm season (roughly June–October) can pause boat trips by port order; winter (December–February) is cool with drizzle. See the best time to visit Ha Long.
- Drinking water: do not drink tap water; use bottled water.
- Dress: cover shoulders and knees when visiting temples and pagodas.
- Ask prices first: for shuttle carts, bamboo boats and seafood stalls; keep receipts when possible.
- Emergency: 113 (police), 114 (fire), 115 (ambulance); ask your hotel to call if there is a language barrier.
- 2026 updates: Dragon Park closed from 16 August 2026, Typhoon Water Park closed after 30 September 2026 (reopening expected around summer 2027). VUI-Fest at Sun Porto Town (Bai Chay) opened on 25 April 2026, but fireworks and 3D mapping schedules may have changed since late September 2026 — check close to your date. All changes are summarised in what’s new in Ha Long 2026.
Choosing where to stay
For first-time visitors to Vietnam, Bai Chay is usually the most convenient base: close to the sea, the walking street, restaurants and tourist services, and not far from Tuan Chau port by car. When booking, ask in advance about language support, card payment, check-in/check-out times and luggage storage. Areas are compared in where to stay in Ha Long.
If you want to stay near the sea and walk to the walking street and night market in the evening, consider Anstay Marina Hotel Hạ Long in Bai Chay; families or groups on longer stays who need their own space can look at the serviced apartments of A La Carte Hạ Long Bay by Anstay. It is best to message ahead to confirm specific needs such as English support or invoices.
Pre-trip checklist
- Check whether your nationality is visa-exempt; if not, apply for an e-visa on the official portal 1–2 weeks ahead.
- Passport valid for at least 6 more months, with a photo saved on your phone.
- Install a ride-hailing app (Grab or Green SM), offline maps and a translation app with Vietnamese downloaded.
- Bring a Visa/Mastercard and about 500,000–1,000,000 VND cash per day.
- Book your Hanoi–Ha Long transfer and bay boat; check the weather forecast 2–3 days ahead.
For other questions such as how many days to stay, what to pack or whether to swim, see frequently asked questions about Ha Long.
Frequently asked questions
Do foreigners need a visa to visit Ha Long?
It depends on nationality. Citizens of 24 countries (mostly European, plus Japan and South Korea) get 45 days visa-free; many ASEAN nationals get 14–30 days. Everyone else applies online for an e-visa of up to 90 days, US$25 single or US$50 multiple entry. Ha Long has no separate procedure beyond hotel residence registration.
Can I use Visa or Mastercard in Ha Long?
Yes, at hotels, larger restaurants, supermarkets and attractions. Small eateries, markets and electric shuttle carts mostly take cash, so carry some VND.
Is there Grab in Ha Long?
Yes. Grab and Green SM (formerly Xanh SM) both operate in Ha Long and work well for Bai Chay – Tuan Chau port or Hon Gai. Late at night or outside the centre, waits can be longer; metered taxis are a good backup.
Can foreigners visit Ha Long Bay without a tour?
Yes. Buy tickets at Tuan Chau International Passenger Port or book tours and cruises online; carry your passport. The sightseeing ticket is about 250,000 VND plus a round-trip port fee of about 80,000 VND if not included in the tour price.
Are there seaplane flights over Ha Long Bay?
No. Seaplane services stopped on 1 April 2026. To see the bay from above, climb the viewpoint on Ti Top Island or ride the Sun World cable car in Bai Chay (check operating hours first).
Inspiration from every journey is where every trip beginsAnstay is ready to accompany you with a 5% discount for members.
