Staying in Hon Gai: the old centre of Ha Long, on the east bank of the bay

Who should stay in Hon Gai?

Hon Gai suits travellers who want to see the everyday Vietnamese city as well as the bay: early morning markets, street food, coffee shops full of locals, and a seafront used for exercise and evening walks rather than for tourism. It suits budget travellers and longer stays, since apartments and small hotels here are often better value than in Bai Chay for the same standard, and business travellers with meetings in the provincial offices.

The trade-off is distance from the tourist sights. Hon Gai has no swimming beach, few restaurants with menus in English, and fewer travel agencies; Sun World and the Bai Chay beach are about 10 minutes away across the bridge, and Tuan Chau harbour, where most cruises leave, is about half an hour by taxi. Travellers on a short stay focused on a cruise usually do better on the west bank.

Apartments, hotels and guest houses in Hon Gai

The 73 properties listed in this zone are a mix of apartments, slightly the largest group, and hotels, followed by aparthotels, villas and guest houses. The apartments are mostly in the new towers along the seafront, with views over the islands and the bridge from the upper floors, kitchens and access to the building's facilities. The hotels range from small family-run places in the old streets to a few four- and five-star hotels on the waterfront. Guest ratings in Hon Gai are the highest of the four Ha Long areas on this site, with a median of about 9 out of 10.

As a guide for 2026, rooms in guest houses and simple hotels cost up to about 900,000 VND a night, three-star hotels and serviced apartments about 900,000 to 1,800,000 VND, and four-star hotels about 1,800,000 to 3,500,000 VND. Prices rise less at weekends than in Bai Chay, because Hon Gai depends less on domestic beach tourism, but the summer holidays and public holidays are still the busiest dates. In apartment listings, check how check-in works and whether parking is available, since street parking in the old centre is limited.

What is there to do in Hon Gai?

The Quang Ninh Museum, a striking black glass building on the seafront in Hong Hai, is the best introduction to the region: the geology of the bay, its marine life, the history of the coal mines and the culture of the province, over several floors. In the old town, the short climb up Bai Tho mountain gives a view over both banks of the strait and the islands; the Long Tien pagoda, at the foot of the hill, is the best-known Buddhist temple of the city and busy at festivals.

The Ha Long market, near the port, is the place to see the morning catch, from fish and crab to squid and clams, and to taste local food; the surrounding streets are full of small restaurants serving chả mực (Ha Long's fried squid cake), noodle soups and seafood. In the evening, the seafront parks and promenades fill with families, joggers and dancers. Sun World Ha Long and the Bai Chay beach are about 10 minutes away by taxi across the bridge; in 2026 the Queen Cable Car costs about 380,000 VND for an adult.

How do you get to Hon Gai?

From Hanoi, the road trip takes about 2.5 to 3.5 hours by expressway, crossing the Bai Chay bridge at the end; limousine vans cost about 200,000 to 300,000 VND per person and most will drop you at your hotel. From Van Don International Airport, about 50 km north-east, the drive is 45 to 60 minutes, slightly shorter than to the west bank, and from Noi Bai airport in Hanoi about 2.5 to 3 hours.

For the cruises, the Ha Long International Passenger Port in Bai Chay is about 10 to 15 minutes away by taxi and Tuan Chau harbour about 30 minutes; many overnight cruise companies pick up guests from hotels in Hon Gai. Within Hon Gai, the old town and the seafront are walkable, while the museum area is a short taxi ride from the port.

When is Hon Gai at its best?

March to May and late September to November are the most comfortable months for walking the old town and the seafront, and the best for a cruise. May to August is hot and humid, with afternoon showers; Hon Gai is less crowded than Bai Chay at that time, since it has no beach. December to February is cool and often grey, with drizzle, but it is the season of Tet, the lunar new year, usually in late January or February, when the markets and the pagoda are at their busiest and most colourful. As everywhere around the bay, storms are most likely between July and September and can stop the boats.