Transparent pricing
One-way, with driver
1.900.000 ₫
Round-trip, with driver
3.400.000 ₫
Halong Bay — the UNESCO-listed karst seascape with 1,600 limestone islands — is Northern Vietnam's most-visited attraction outside Hanoi. The bay is reached via Tuan Chau Marina (most cruise departures) or Bai Chay Port (public ferries, older boats). Both are in Halong City, 165 km east of Hanoi.
The CT04 Hanoi–Haiphong–Halong expressway opened in phases through 2019-2022, reducing what used to be a 4-hour journey to a comfortable 2.5 hours. For travelers booking a cruise, the standard package is: 8 AM hotel pickup in Hanoi → 10:30 AM arrival at marina → 12:00 PM cruise departure → return Day 2 at 11:30 AM → 2 PM back in Hanoi.
Self-drive to Halong is uncommon because the bay itself requires a boat (cruises include pickup from the marina). However, if you plan to stay multiple nights in Halong or Ha Long City hotels rather than on a cruise, a car gives you access to local beaches (Bai Chay, Tuan Chau) and the underrated Bai Tu Long Bay further east — less crowded and equally spectacular.
Recommended itinerary
Standard 2-day Halong Bay cruise transfer itinerary:
- Day 1, 8:00 — Pickup at Hanoi Old Quarter hotel.
- Day 1, 9:45 — Arrival at Hai Duong service area for restroom stop.
- Day 1, 10:30 — Arrival at Tuan Chau International Marina. Driver drops you at cruise operator's check-in desk.
- Day 1, 12:00 — Cruise departure.
- Day 2, 11:30 — Cruise returns to marina.
- Day 2, 12:00 — Pickup at marina. Lunch stop if desired.
- Day 2, 14:00 — Drop-off at Hanoi hotel.
We coordinate timing directly with your cruise operator (major brands: Bhaya, Indochina Sails, Paradise, Pelican, Heritage Line) — provide booking confirmation at time of car reservation.
What to see along the way
Halong Bay itself is best seen from a cruise boat, but the route to/from offers some options:
- Hai Duong city (en route) — rest stop with Vietnamese mung bean cake (bánh đậu xanh) as local souvenir.
- Tuan Chau Island — has beach resorts and a water park; worth half a day if extending your stay.
- Bai Chay Beach — town beach in Halong City; clean sand, restaurants.
- Sun World Halong Complex — cable car across the bay, Ferris wheel, amusement park.
- Bai Tu Long Bay (extension) — less-visited bay east of Halong. 2-3 night cruises possible with operators like Indochina Junk.
Road conditions & driving notes
CT04 driving notes:
- Speed limit 100-120 km/h on the expressway, enforced by camera.
- Two tolls (Đại Yên and Vĩnh Niệm). Rental prices include tolls in the fixed fare.
- Heavy truck traffic on the Hai Phong section — port bound. Typically morning and late afternoon. Stick to right lanes if speed differential is high.
- Marina access — Tuan Chau has a free arrival drop-off; Bai Chay has a small gate fee (20,000 VND), included in our fare.
- No border checkpoints — Halong is within Vietnam's mainland. IDs needed only for the cruise, not for driving.
Alternative transport options
Shared shuttle bus (Hanoi hotel pickup → marina drop-off): USD 12-18 per person. Pro: cheapest. Con: 8-10 other passengers, schedule not flexible.
Cruise-operator included transfer: Some cruise packages bundle transfer free; others charge USD 25-35 per person. Check when booking cruise.
Train: No direct train from Hanoi to Halong city.
Flight + car: Cat Bi Airport (Hai Phong) is 60 km from Tuan Chau. Flights from HCMC make sense; not practical from within Hanoi.
Private car with driver (our service): USD 78 one-way, USD 140 round-trip (sedan). Best value for 2-4 people.
Best time to travel
Halong weather is variable due to the bay microclimate:
- Oct-Apr: dry, cooler (18-25°C). Best visibility for bay photography. Peak season Dec-Mar — book cruises 4+ weeks ahead.
- May-Sep: warm, humid, occasional typhoons. Cruises can be cancelled with 12-24h notice for safety; most operators offer refund or reschedule. July-August is peak typhoon risk.
- Fog: common Feb-April, can reduce visibility to 100m on the water. Most cruises still operate but photography suffers.
- Tết 2026 (Jan 29-Feb 4): most cruises operate normally, but premium price and limited availability. Book 6+ weeks ahead.
Explore Hanoi & Halong Bay
Frequently asked questions
Can foreigners legally drive in Vietnam?+
Yes, foreigners can legally drive in Vietnam with an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention plus your original home-country driver's license. Both documents must be carried while driving.
IDPs issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention (common in the US, Canada, Australia) are technically not recognized by Vietnamese law, but are accepted in practice by most police checkpoints and rental companies for short-term visitors. If you're staying more than 3 months, you should convert to a Vietnamese license.
For complete safety — especially if your IDP is Geneva-only — we recommend our car-with-driver service, which sidesteps the licensing question entirely.
Is insurance included in the rental price?+
Yes. Every Rocket Car Rentals vehicle includes:
- Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) with a maximum deductible of VND 5,000,000 (~USD 200)
- Third-party liability up to VND 150,000,000 (~USD 6,000)
- Passenger accident insurance up to VND 50,000,000 per seat
The policy does not cover: tire damage on sharp objects, undercarriage damage from flooding, damage caused under the influence of alcohol, or damage during unauthorized driver use.
For extra peace of mind, we offer zero-deductible CDW upgrade at USD 5/day.
What is the fuel policy?+
"Same level in, same level out" — you receive the car with a full (or specified) fuel level and return it at the same level. If returned with less fuel, we charge the difference plus a VND 100,000 refuel service fee.
Most of our fleet runs on RON 95 gasoline (~VND 24,000/L). Diesel vehicles are available on request. Electric vehicles (Tesla Model 3, VinFast VF8) are available in HCMC and Hanoi only — charging is included in the rental rate.
Is there a mileage limit?+
Self-drive rentals: 300 km/day included; excess is charged VND 5,000/km (~USD 0.20/km).
With-driver rentals: 80 km/day included within the assigned city; beyond that or for intercity routes, pricing is calculated as a flat route price (see our Routes page or request a quote).
Long-term rentals (7+ days): 2,000 km/week included, excess VND 4,000/km.
Mileage is tracked via odometer photos at pickup and return. No GPS spying — we only check at endpoints.
How much is the security deposit?+
Self-drive deposits (refunded at return):
- Compact sedan: USD 300
- Mid-size SUV: USD 400
- 7-seater / luxury: USD 500
- Electric vehicles: USD 600
Payment methods for deposit:
- Credit card hold (most popular — no cash movement; released automatically at return)
- Bank transfer in VND
- Cash in USD or VND (receipt provided)
With-driver rentals: no deposit required.
What is the cancellation policy?+
- Cancel 24+ hours before pickup: full refund.
- Cancel 12-24 hours before: 50% refund.
- Cancel less than 12 hours before: no refund (we've already blocked the vehicle and driver).
- No-show at pickup: no refund.
Exception: weather emergencies (typhoon, flood closing roads) are handled case-by-case — typically full refund or free reschedule.
Rescheduling within 24 hours is free if the new dates have availability.
What are the age requirements?+
Self-drive: minimum age 21, maximum age 70. Drivers aged 21-24 pay a young-driver surcharge of USD 5/day.
With-driver rentals: no passenger age requirement — infants welcome with our provided child seats (complimentary).
Driver must hold: valid IDP (1968 Vienna) + original license held for 1+ year.
What payment methods do you accept?+
We accept:
- Credit/debit card: Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex (via PayPal)
- PayPal (USD billing)
- Bank transfer: Vietnamese VND (VCB, Techcombank, BIDV)
- Cash: USD or VND (at branch pickup only)
VAT invoice issued automatically for all payments over USD 100; request specific billing details at booking time.
Are child seats available?+
Yes — child seats and booster seats are complimentary for both self-drive and with-driver rentals. Request them at booking time.
Available types:
- Infant seat (0-9 kg)
- Toddler seat (9-18 kg, 9 months - 4 years)
- Booster seat (18-36 kg, 4-12 years)
All seats comply with ECE R44/04 standards.
Do you provide roadside assistance?+
Yes — 24/7 English-speaking hotline for all rentals. Our network covers the HCMC, Hanoi, Da Nang metro areas directly; for incidents in other provinces, we coordinate with local partners (typically 30-90 minute response time).
Included free:
- Flat tire change
- Dead battery jump-start
- Lock-out assistance (up to 2 per rental)
- Fuel delivery (up to 5L)
Towing to nearest service center is included for mechanical breakdowns; if the fault is driver-caused (crash), towing fees apply.
Ready for the Hanoi → Halong Bay trip?
Book a sedan with a professional driver. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup.