If you have come to Hanoi, you are probably about to visit Halong Bay… one of the 7 wonders of nature according to UNESCO. Of course, if you are already in the capital, you have probably noticed that almost all the agencies, shops and hotels in the city are trying to sell you a cruise. There’s something to become a goat, but don’t let that give you up!
Should we choose a cruise? What is the quality of the tours? Can we access Halong Bay on our own? In this article, I share a few points with you to help you get a little clearer and choose the option that works best for you.
1. There are several types of cruises on Halong Bay
When you arrive in Hanoi, you will probably stay in the Old Quarter. You will be given options to go to Halong Bay like club blows on the head (sincerely) but you will be obliged to dwell on the different types of cruise, especially if your budget is tight or if you do not don’t want to end up on a boat ready to sink. Most agencies offer the options “2 days / 1 night” or “3 days / 2 nights”. The vast majority of travelers choose the first option because of the price. It allows you to admire the wonderful Halong Bay but is also likely to pass very quickly and leave you with a taste of not enough. It was the option I had chosen and the impression I had anyway.
When choosing your cruise, be especially careful about the length of your cruise, the quality of the boat and the number of activities included. With the quality of the meals served on board, these are criteria that will strongly influence the price. I do not recommend you take the cheapest cruise if you want a minimum of security and acceptable meals (around US $ 35-40). In general, you will pay US $ 65-75 per person for a good quality cruise, for the standard duration of one night on the boat. Check this out for the best of Halong Bay Cruises!
2. The boat route is very, very touristy
The vast majority of cruise ships take the same route in Halong Bay. Here is the classic itinerary of a “2 days / 1 night” cruise (very similar to the 3 days / 2 nights cruise). You take the boat in the tourist port of the city of Halong and head directly to the Surprise Cave. Of course, this will already give you time to admire the impressive karst formations but beware: once you arrive at the cave, expect a horde of tourists who, like you, have chosen to take a cruise. Want to go to some remote area? The cheapest boats usually go to the Lan Ha Bay area, while the luxury cruises stay in Bai Tu Long Bay, since it is a more remote (and quiet) area…. And that pays, obviously. You will have two ways to book the cruise: either by visiting the different travel agencies that are spread around Hanoi (or other cities in Vietnam), with which you can compare prices, cruise name, type of food, etc … Or online directly with the company or on some website. Lan Ha Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay should not be ignored when you need unforgettable cruises.
3. In “2 days / 1 night”, we are not exactly talking about 2 whole days.
There is only 160 km between Hanoi and Halong Bay, but it takes 4 hours (sometimes a little more) to get there. Road transport is excessively slow in Vietnam and the journey times should not be underestimated! This is why, when you are sold if you decide to go to Halong on your own, you must take this into account.
4. Cruise activities are available in various options
It all depends on tastes and what you are looking for, but personally, I wanted to spend time to admire the landscape and the mountains that pass by during the cruise. You can choose between options and these cruise activities are worth exploring. If you have enough time, a 2-day cruise is worth trying. But if you don’t have a lot of time, there are several types of cruise that take less time.
5. Sunrise and sunset over Halong Bay is of course possible. And it’s beautiful.
Of course, the privilege of being able to admire sunrise and sunset will depend above all on the weather. Vietnam is often foggy, with a slightly gray sky and a cloudy horizon, and Halong Bay is no exception. If you are lucky, however, you will most certainly have beautiful landscapes!
I hope this guide can help you. Good luck and happy holiday!
