The short answer
Bai Chay Bridge: what visitors should know first
Worth a short look from the shore or the road, especially at dusk. It is a landmark more than a destination, so add it to a walk rather than making a special trip.
History and context
The story behind Bai Chay Bridge
The bridge opened on 2 December 2006. It replaced a ferry line between Bai Chay and Hon Gai and carries Highway 18 over the Cua Luc strait.
Useful facts
Bai Chay Bridge facts at a glance
- Location
- Cua Luc strait, Ha Long
- Experience type
- Landmark viewing
- Opened
- 2 December 2006
- Length
- 1,106 m
- Type
- Cable-stayed bridge
Why it matters
Why Bai Chay Bridge is worth your time
The bridge links the two halves of Ha Long and made the city one place. Before 2006, travel between the resort and the port side depended on a ferry.
For visitors it is an easy landmark: you will cross it, see it from the shore and use it to orient yourself in the city. It is also a useful reference point: if you can see the bridge, you know which side of the strait you are on, which helps when you are finding a taxi or planning the next day's pick-up. Add it to an evening walk along the Bai Chay waterfront and you have seen it properly in half an hour.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
Cable-stayed design
The first central-line cable-stayed bridge in Vietnam.
- 02
Evening view
Lights on the strait at dusk.
- 03
Linking two sides
It connects Bai Chay and Hon Gai.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
The Bai Chay Bridge carries Highway 18 across the Cua Luc strait, joining Hon Gai and Bai Chay. It opened on 2 December 2006 and is 1,106 metres long. Wikipedia describes it as the first, and at its opening the longest, central-line cable-stayed bridge in Vietnam.
The best way to see it is from the Bai Chay waterfront, where the bridge towers frame the water. At dusk its lights show on the strait, which is a pleasant stop at the end of a cruise day. A taxi across gives a quick look at both sides of the city.
Before the bridge, a ferry connected the two sides, so the bridge changed daily life in Ha Long. Crossing it is a good way to move between the resort side and the older city.
Plan with confidence
Small decisions that make the visit easier.
- View from the Bai Chay shore
- Go at dusk
- Use a taxi to cross
- Keep it short
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- Cua Luc strait, between Bai Chay and Hon Gai
- Time needed
- 30 to 45 minutes
- Best time
- Dusk
- Walking level
- Easy
- Senior comfort
- Viewing from the waterfront is level and easy. Crossing by car or taxi is quick. There is no need to walk on the bridge.
- Tickets and access
- No ticket; the bridge carries Highway 18. Take photos from the shore.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near Bai Chay Bridge
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
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Travelling with parents?
Viewing from the waterfront is level and easy. Crossing by car or taxi is quick. There is no need to walk on the bridge.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
When did the bridge open?
2 December 2006.
Can I walk across?
Plan to view it from the shore and cross by taxi.
What is it called locally?
Bai Chay Bridge.
Sources and further reading
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.
