Around 3000km separates Hanoi from the Indian capital of New Delhi, a city with a rapidly growing interest in Vietnam and the various comings and goings of its primary tourist attraction, Halong Bay. To reach Halong Bay from India, tourists and prospective business partners really only have one option – to fly – but the wealth of airports in Vietnam and the fact that there are currently no direct flights between the two countries can make the question of "how to get to Halong Bay from India" a little more complicated than it first seems.
Any globetrotting Indians looking to experience an unmissable Halong Bay cruise should head for Hanoi Noi Bai international airport, the country’s main airport and its second-closest one to Halong Bay. From here, it is fairly easy to reach Halong Bay by either booking onto a cruise with a professional company or by heading independently to Tuan Chau Harbour, Hon Gai or Got harbours, all of which service Halong Bay and its sister bays. For the most reliable service, we strongly recommend going with a company from Hanoi, and leaving out the idea of flying to the closest airport to Halong Bay, the seldom-used Cat Bi international airport in Hai Phong city.
The following is each of India’s 25 international airports offering a relatively easy way to get from India to Halong Bay (routes with just one layover destination). Prices and routes are updated constantly so check an airline provider for the exact details of a flight.
In the north of India, flights to Halong Bay are available from New Delhi, Amritsar, Srinagar, Jaipur, Varanasi and Lucknow. Of these, the cheapest are usually from New Delhi or Jaipur and the most popular airlines are Thai Airlines, laying over in Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport or Air Asia, laying over in Bangkok Don Mueang airport.
For prospective tourists travelling to Halong Bay from southern India, Kochi, Bangalore and Chennai airports usually feature some of the lowest fares throughout the country, but Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Goa and Coimbatore are also options for flights. Air Asia and Malindo Air are the two prime airlines operators covering most flights between India and Halong Bay, usually stopping in Kuala Lumpur for a layover.
Given the scope of central and western India, it is good news that a host of Indian airports provide flights to Hanoi, the cheapest coming from Mumbai and Hyderabad, but with several more less-frequent flights from Ahmedabad, Indore, Pune, Bhopal, Nagpur and Visakhapatnam. The cheaper flights from Mumbai often require long layovers in Singapore or Bangkok, but flying from Hyderabad with an airline like Silk Air or Singapore Airlines will get you from India to Halong Bay with a relatively low layover time.
There aren’t many airports in the east of India that have international capabilities, but those that do include Kolkata, Guwahati, Bagdogra and Gaya, all of which fly relatively easily to Halong Bay. Air Asia operate most flights out of the region’s biggest airport, Kolkata, which usually features the cheapest fares, stopping over at Kuala Lumpur or either of Bangkok’s airports en route. Prices from Assam’s main airport, Guwahati are usually more expensive and require much longer layovers.
Once arrived in Hanoi, you will likely be bombarded by images of Halong Bay by companies trying to sell you tours. To make a more informed and relaxed decision, check out our list of Halong Bay overnight cruises by click on Halong Bay Cruises, all of which offer expert transport through and activities in the bay for a range of different budgets.
If the choice still seems a little overwhelming, check out our list of recommended cruises in Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay at Halong Recommended Cruises, all based off the best Tripadvisor views and years of experience around Vietnam’s most beautiful destination.
For Halong Bay full Tour please see our see: Halong Bay full Tour
One crucial part of any Indian holiday to Halong Bay is the visa on arrival that must be attained before proceeding through customs at the airport. A 1-month single or multiple entry visa letter for Indians will cost around $25, plus a $25 stamping fee at the airport. The price for a 3-month single entry is about $35 and a 3-month multiple entry is about $95, both also incurring the same $25 stamping fee.
Another method is to go through one of the two Vietnamese embassies in India, one of which is located in New Delhi and the other in Mumbai. Once a passport is submitted with at least 6 months of validity left, as well as a completed application form, two passport-sized photos and the visa fee, the holder can complete their Vietnam tours within the specified date of their visa.
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