The 8 Best Day Trips from Hạ Long
How far each place is, what to see there, and a plan for the day.
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There are 8 good day trips from Hạ Long, Vietnam, led by Hanoi, Haiphong, Bắc Giang. The closest is Haiphong, about 50 min by car, and 1 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.
Built from 8 nearby places, with sights from real traveler trips, on Packy AI. Last updated November 2026 by the Packy AI Travel Team.
Day trips from Hạ Long
- 1
Hanoi, Vietnam
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr by car128 km west of Hạ LongKnown for Tháp Bút.
- 2
Haiphong, Vietnam
Half-day tripAbout 50 min by car42 km west of Hạ LongKnown for Chè Cô Hương.
- 3
Bắc Giang, Vietnam
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 30 min by car98 km west of Hạ Long - 4
Nam Định, Vietnam
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 40 min by car109 km south-west of Hạ Long - 5
Thái Nguyên, Vietnam
Long day or overnightAbout 2 hr 15 min by car146 km north-west of Hạ Long - 6
Bắc Ninh, Vietnam
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 40 min by car107 km west of Hạ Long - 7
Thị Trấn Đông Triều, Vietnam
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 10 min by car60 km west of Hạ Long - 8
Hải Dương, Vietnam
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 30 min by car77 km west of Hạ Long
A sample day: Hạ Long to Hanoi
- 07:30Leave Hạ Long
- 09:30Arrive in Hanoi (2 hr drive)
- 09:45Walk the centre of Hanoi
- 11:45Lunch
- 13:00Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Hanoi
- 15:30Head back to Hạ Long
- 17:30Home in Hạ Long
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best day trips from Hạ Long?
- The best day trips from Hạ Long are Hanoi, Haiphong, Bắc Giang, Nam Định, Thái Nguyên. The closest is Haiphong, about 50 min away by car.
- What is the closest day trip from Hạ Long?
- Haiphong is the closest, 42 km west of Hạ Long, roughly 50 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
- Where can I go within an hour of Hạ Long?
- One place is within about an hour's drive of Hạ Long: Haiphong (50 min).
- What is the biggest city near Hạ Long for a day out?
- Hanoi is the largest city in day-trip range, 128 km west of Hạ Long and about 2 hr by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
- Where can I go for a weekend from Hạ Long?
- For a weekend away from Hạ Long, pick the places far enough to be worth a night: Thái Nguyên (146 km, 2 hr 15 min), Hanoi (128 km, 2 hr), Nam Định (109 km, 1 hr 40 min), Bắc Ninh (107 km, 1 hr 40 min). Closer places on this list work better as a single day.
- How far is too far for a day trip from Hạ Long?
- Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Thái Nguyên at 146 km, around 2 hr 15 min by car, which is better as a long day or an overnight stay.
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