Cai Lan Cruise Port
Ha Long City, Vietnam · Asia
Cruise ships dock at Cai Lan Port — general cargo berths, Ha Long City.
Plan my port daysIndustrial cargo berth with no cruise facilities: take the ship's shuttle or a taxi or Grab from the port gate. Bai Chay and the day-boat wharf at Ha Long International Cruise Port are 5–10 minutes away. The bay itself can only be seen by boat, so book a licensed day boat or a cruise-friendly tour and keep a close eye on the time.
At a glance
Port summary
Cai Lan is Ha Long City's main cargo and container port, on the Cua Luc inlet just north of Bai Chay. Some cruise ships berth alongside its general-cargo quays instead of at the purpose-built Ha Long International Cruise Port, about 2 km to the south. There is no cruise terminal here: expect a working quay, basic temporary facilities for immigration and a walk or shuttle bus through the cargo area to the gate, where taxis, Grab cars and tour drivers wait. Ha Long Bay is the reason to be here, and it can only be seen from the water. The classic short trip is Route 2: a licensed day boat from the inland-waterway wharf at Ha Long International Cruise Port (or from Tuan Chau Marina) out to Sung Sot Cave, the viewpoint on Ti Top Island and the Luon Cave lagoon, where you can switch to a kayak or bamboo boat. Allow 4–5 hours on the water plus the transfer, buy the bay ticket (around ₫290,000) at the official counter and agree a firm return time with the boat before you leave. If you would rather stay on land, Bai Chay is 10 minutes away: ride the Queen Cable Car across the bay to the Sun Wheel and Sun World park, stroll the seafront promenade or swim at Bai Chay beach. Across the Bai Chay Bridge, Hon Gai is the older working half of the city, with Long Tien Pagoda, the markets and the striking black-cube Quang Ninh Museum. Yen Tu Mountain, Vietnam's Buddhist holy mountain, is about an hour inland and only works on a long call with a pre-booked car. The summer monsoon (roughly June–September) brings heavy rain and the occasional typhoon, which can cancel boat trips at short notice; November to April is cooler, drier and calmer. Bring dong in small notes, use metered taxis or Grab, and leave a generous buffer: the drive back through the port gate and security takes longer than you think.
Cruise dock
Cai Lan Port — general cargo berths
Ha Long City's commercial port on the Cua Luc inlet, about 2 km north of Ha Long International Cruise Port. Cruise ships berth alongside the general-cargo quays; there is no cruise terminal, and passengers walk or take a shuttle to the port gate, where taxis and Grab cars wait.
Latitude: 20.971724, Longitude: 107.053886
See dock on port map →Getting to Ha Long City
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
Map & things to do
Money & payments
Bring dong in small notes (₫10,000–200,000) for boats, tips and snacks; some tour sellers take US dollars, but at poor rates.
Build your perfect day in Ha Long City
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Inside the Southeast Asia collection
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Typical weather
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Excursions compared
4 comparedHa Long Bay junk cruise and Thien Cung Cave
≈ 3.5 h · sold by 2 cruise lines
Cruise line
€65$73
Do it yourself
€27$30
Save ≈ €38Save ≈ $43 (58% off)
From Cai Lan you can't walk out of the cargo port: take the ship's shuttle to the gate, then a 10-minute taxi or Grab (₫60,000–80,000, ~€2.50 per car) to the inland-waterway wharf at Ha Long International Cruise Port in Bai Chay. Buy the Route 1 bay ticket (₫250,000–290,000, ~€10) at the official counter and join a licensed shared boat (~₫300,000, ~€10) or charter a small one; Route 1 covers Thien Cung, Dau Go and the Dog Rock/Fighting Cocks islets in about 3–4 hours. Thien Cung has about 100 steps up and down.
See the DIY plan →
Ha Long Bay kayaking at Luon Cave with seafood lunch
≈ 7.5 h · sold by 1 cruise line
Cruise line
€120$135
Do it yourself
€49$55
Save ≈ €71Save ≈ $80 (59% off)
Take the ship's shuttle to the Cai Lan gate and a 10-minute taxi or Grab (~₫70,000) to the wharf at Ha Long International Cruise Port. Buy the Route 2 ticket (₫250,000–290,000, ~€10), which covers Sung Sot Cave, Ti Top Island and Luon Cave, and join a licensed shared day boat with lunch (₫700,000–1,000,000, ~€30); kayak or bamboo-boat hire at Luon is ₫100,000–150,000 (~€5). A pre-booked day cruise with Cai Lan pick-up (around US$96 on GetYourGuide) is the lower-risk option. The DIY route skips Vung Vieng village, which lies further out in Bai Tu Long Bay.
See the DIY plan →
Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Ha Long City?
- Your ship docks directly at the Ha Long City cruise terminal in Vietnam.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Ha Long City?
- Walking into Ha Long City from the cruise port isn't practical. Plan to use a shuttle, taxi, or public transport.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Ha Long City centre?
- Typical options include Taxi, Shuttle bus, Ferry, Other transport. Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Ha Long City?
- Plan for at least 4 hours ashore to see Ha Long City independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Ha Long City and are cards accepted?
- Ha Long City uses the Vietnamese dong. Carry some cash for markets, taxis, and smaller vendors — cards aren't accepted everywhere.
- Is there Wi-Fi at the cruise port?
- Wi-Fi isn't reliably available at the Ha Long City cruise terminal. Consider a local SIM or your cruise line's data package.
- When should I be back at the ship?
- Cruise lines usually require all passengers on board about 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Confirm the exact all-aboard time on your daily programme.
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