Ha Long Bay

Since 7 March 2024, Mongolian citizens with an ordinary passport can stay in Vietnam up to 30 days visa-free (not for work or paid activity). Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months, have blank pages, and you need a return ticket. For more than 30 days, get an e-visa on evisa.gov.vn (single entry $25, up to 90 days).

Tip: Only evisa.gov.vn is official; look-alike private sites charge extra.

There are no direct flights to Ha Long: from Ulaanbaatar connect via Seoul, Hong Kong or Beijing to Hanoi (Noi Bai), then continue by expressway. Buy both legs on one booking so your bag is checked through. Booking the cruise for the day after you land protects you from delays.

International hospitals are expensive, so travel insurance is a must. Street food, markets and taxis are nearly all cash, so get dong (₫) from an ATM after landing or exchange US dollars. Declare foreign currency over $5,000 at customs.

Tip: Many shops and restaurants close over Tet (Lunar New Year) — plan for it.

9–19 seat limousines run from Hanoi's Old Quarter or Noi Bai airport to Ha Long hotels and cruise ports in ≈2.5 hours for ≈$10–20 one way. Most pick you up at your hotel and drop you at the pier.

Overnight cruises usually offer a bus from Hanoi hotels for an extra fee — the easiest option because it is timed to the boat. When booking, check which port: Tuan Chau or Ha Long International Cruise Port.

For families, a private car or Grab intercity car is convenient. Van Don (VDO) airport is closer to Ha Long but mainly has domestic flights — useful when coming from Ho Chi Minh City.

Viettel, Vinaphone and Mobifone have counters in the arrivals hall: a tourist SIM with lots of data for 15–30 days costs ≈250,000–400,000₫. Registration uses your passport; Viettel has the widest coverage.

If your phone supports eSIM, install Airalo or a Viettel eSIM before the flight so you are online on landing and can call a Grab straight away.

Tip: Download the Ha Long map and Vietnamese offline — signal can drop inside the bay.

A day trip lasts 4–8 hours, ≈$40–70; a one-night cruise ≈$105–250 and two nights ≈$250–600 per person (twin share). Overnight cruises include kayaking, caves, sunset and dawn tai chi — from Hanoi, one night is the sweet spot.

Charged by route: Route 1 (Thien Cung Cave) 250,000₫, Route 2 (Sung Sot, Ti Top, Luon) ≈290,000₫ plus a port fee; overnight routes 500,000–750,000₫. Usually included in the cruise price — check when booking.

Bai Chay (hotels, Sun World, night market) and Hon Gai (museum) are linked by Bai Chay Bridge. Use Grab or taxis; with children choose a car. For Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba, go by cruise or speedboat.

Notes have many zeros, so don't mix up look-alikes such as 20,000₫ and 200,000₫ (both blue). Vietcombank and BIDV ATMs are common in Bai Chay; there are no ATMs on cruises or in the bay, so take cash from town.

Cards work in hotels, supermarkets and larger restaurants; street food, markets and taxis are cash. Haggling is normal at markets and with street vendors, while restaurants and shops have fixed prices. Tipping isn't required, but a little is left for good service.

Cha muc — fried squid cakes (Ha Long's signature dish); prawns, crab, clams and grilled fish; banh cuon — steamed rice rolls. For children, fried rice, pho and fruit.

Tip: Ask the price by weight for seafood and agree it before ordering.

Don't drink tap water — use bottled water. Fake spirits have caused poisonings, so avoid loose or unbranded alcohol. Tell the cruise about allergies and children's meals in advance.

Police 113, fire 114, ambulance 115 — 24 hours. Operators usually speak only Vietnamese, so asking hotel staff or a Vietnamese speaker to call is faster.

In July 2025 the tourist boat Vinh Xanh 58 capsized in a sudden storm and 39 people died. Since then every vessel must carry AIS tracking and a VHF radio, and ports close when a storm warning is issued. Choose a licensed cruise and ask where the life jackets are; if a trip is cancelled, accept it.

Ha Long has Vinmec Ha Long International Hospital and Bai Chay Hospital; serious cases go to Hanoi. Call your insurer's assistance line first. Protect yourself from the sun and carry water when kayaking or climbing Ti Top.

At Yen Tu, pagodas and temples cover shoulders and knees, and take shoes off where asked. Don't photograph worshippers without permission.

Raising your voice in an argument means losing face in Vietnam — stay calm and smile. Show respect to elders and hand things over with both hands. Don't touch people's heads.

Don't throw rubbish into the bay — single-use plastic is strictly restricted. Don't insult the state or Ho Chi Minh. Drug penalties are extremely severe.

In Ha Long City, use Grab for taxis and food. Vexere sells Hanoi–Ha Long limousine and bus tickets online.

Google Maps shows walking, bus and metro routes; Google Translate's camera mode translates menus and signs on the spot. Both work offline.

Storms and fog can delay cruises, so spending the night before an international flight in Hanoi is safest. A limousine from Ha Long to Noi Bai takes ≈2.5 hours.

The visa-free period counts from your arrival day; overstaying means a fine at exit and may affect future entry. Spend leftover dong before changing it at the airport.