In 2017 The Wife and I went on a two-day trip with V’Spirit cruise [1] in Halong Bay in Vietnam. Halong Bay considered a crown of Vietnam due to its significant history, culture and scenic beauty. It is enormous in terms of area as it consists of about 600 square miles covering almost 1,960 beautiful islands. The islands took a long time to emerge as they are estimated to be five hundred million years old. The origin of Halong Bay is Gulf of the Tonkin that is located 100 miles to the east of the capital of Vietnam, Hanoi. So, let’s jaunt together to this gorgeous place and explore nature’s wonders at best. I will highlight both the good and the bad!
- 1. Best Cruising Experience
- 2. Ca Bat Island
- 3. Kayaking
- 4.Tour of the Floating Villages
- 5. Delicious Sea Food
- 6. Sailing the Monkey Island
- 7. The Surprising Sung Sot Cave
- 8. Exploring the Pearl Farms
- 9. The Magnificent Beach of Titov
- 10. Squid Fishing
- 11. Tai Chi Exercises
- Challenges Halong Bay is Facing
- Notes and References
- Changelog
If you are one of those people who have wanderlust and want to keep on exploring the world, then this travel post might guide you if you are planning to explore Halong Bay in the near future. Travelling to different places is a great way to increase one’s knowledge about the culture, traditions and customs. The hopscotching becomes especially fruitful when you get to taste the fantastic and delicious foods during your excursions which the area of Halong Bay has to offer.
The Wife wasn’t so keen on the Halong Bay trip as I was. The two-day trip was way too cramped; there was so much to do, to see and explore that we sometimes felt that we were on a tight schedule. But again, I’m not the type that likes to sit and relax for two hours with a book as The Wife does. I have to agree with her, as the time on Titov beach was way too little. Maybe we should have gotten the three-day trip? There are multiple cruises, and the one from V’Spirit might not suit you the best. Ours was more relaxed rather than geared towards backpacker style with a party at night. So before you plunge out, do some little research, so you don’t sit a long grandpa and grandma hoping for Mojitos and party hour!
Nonetheless, let’s dive into the list!
1. Best Cruising Experience
Cruising is the ultimate choice, to admire the beauty of the bay. All you have to do is book a tour boat, but you have to carefully select and set out some requirements beforehand to ensure you get a responsible tour operator. The boats are mostly of good quality, well equipped and well run. The staff (like Vietnamese people) are always polite and friendly. They also offer meals and excellent dining choices. To view the sunsets and sunrises while boating is one of life’s greatest experiences that you’ll have, and the limestone karsts provide a magnificent view which you should not miss during your tour to Halong Bay.
2. Ca Bat Island
This island is the largest island of the bay, covering approximately 100 square miles area. This scenic island is a part of the Ca Bat archipelago which constitutes about 366 islands in total. There is a great diversity of flora and fauna in this place. The most sighted one is the Langur. The Langur is included in the list of world’s most endangered species which is why you should steer clear of them.
3. Kayaking
Kayaking is an essential experience to have while travelling Halong Bay in Vietnam. Guides take you to the hidden lagoons through the small tunnels. It is a fun tour, and people genuinely enjoy this. I might even have appreciated it a bit too much. While I was trying to film all of it, it might also look like The Wife did all of the hard work (although it actually might be true!). The peace and serenity that this place has to offer are precious, and everyone should take some time out to relax and enjoy nature.
4.Tour of the Floating Villages
These floating villages in Halong Bay have their unique history. For generations, people have been living in their niche without changing with the times. All the children know how to swim and boat even before they start to talk. Everyone owns their boat as the entire village is on floating boat-like houses. There are schools, police station, shops and a community centre. Experiencing such an environment is a must when you cruise to Halong Bay.
5. Delicious Sea Food
When the late afternoon is coming along the beach, you will feel the fragrant smell of grilled seafood: Grilled oysters and grilled squids. Other than that, there are simple dishes also available such as roasted, boiled, and steamed meat. The processing of these simple dishes retains the natural flavour and aromatic characteristics. There will most likely be a food class on your trip as well as which you can enjoy! Remember to get a hold of the menu as the staff usually come with one course at a time. You will want to save some room!
6. Sailing the Monkey Island
This island is also the part of the Ca Bat archipelago. It is a privately-owned place with one of the best beaches present in Halong Bay. This place offers a variety of delicious local food and has facilities for swimming, kayaking, volleyball, football and even billiards. This resort is excellent for just relaxing and enjoying the beach life! This one might be most suitable for backpackers!
7. The Surprising Sung Sot Cave
Sung Sot cave is one of the largest caves of the Halong Bay. The interior has been furnished according to the need of the travellers (although it might be the best for the cave itself)[2]. The view is magnificent and leaves you in awe. Various patterns related to the local folklore are also engraved on the rocks which adds history to the cave and make it more appealing for travellers to explore the culture and heritage of the country.
8. Exploring the Pearl Farms
For economic and trade reasons, Halong Bay is developing swiftly to meet the needs of the local villages and communities. The tour boats let the visitors see the local people excelling at culturing the pearls. Visitors first see how the culturing is performed which takes about an hour and then you have the option to buy the shiny pearls at a discounted price. The farms are located right on the bay and floating on the water.
9. The Magnificent Beach of Titov
This beach in Halong Bay is a peaceful site to visit. It was very calm and had clean surroundings. The air is fresh, and the water is also clean here. The atmosphere is capturing, and there is a bar present which offers swimming clothing, floats and space for showers. It is a popular tourist attraction, located 14 km from Bai Chay.
10. Squid Fishing
In the late afternoon at your cruise, you will be able to engage in catching squids around Halong Bay. But, you have to schedule your visit around in April or January to have the best chances to fish the squids. If you love squids, then it is an excellent opportunity to try this fishing, and you might even get the chef on board the boat to prepare it for you!
11. Tai Chi Exercises
Waking up and engaging in Tai Chi session in the early morning leaves you ready for a new day in Halong Bay. Waking slowly up with the fantastic sunrise while doing Tai Chi is a gentle physical exercise and is extremely beneficial for the health. Along with the beautiful scenery, Tai Chi helps to reduce stress, and improve balance and general mobility. I highly recommend to wake up early, snap a few photos and then to participate in a session of Tai Chi at Halong Bay.
Challenges Halong Bay is Facing
Unfortunately, it’s not all beauty and glamour. There is no doubt that within the last few years, the tourism industry has risen a lot in Vietnam due to the massive popularity of Halong Bay among the tourist communities. The magnificent scenery, the opportunities for water activities and sailing the waters always lure sea lovers and travellers to visit Halong Bay. However, several challenges are present which tourist alongside locals has to face and act upon.
Water Pollution & Environmental Issues
According to an estimate, almost 5,500 people cruises on the waters of Halong Bay daily (2015)[3]. The beaches and lakes are the real charms which captivate a large number of people to visit this place every year. Halong Bay is associated with clear and sparkling green waters of the bay, but the landscape is facing changes due to the pollution. Travellers on TripAdvisor recommends a three-day/two-night cruise, as it will get you to more remote and less polluted areas, but that will not remedy the problems Halong Bay is facing. There is no denying, the water pollution stems primarily from the hundreds of tourist boats that operate the seas.
Due to a rapid influx of visitors to Halong Bay in the spring and fall seasons, the bay has to be dredged, allowing the boats to get through. When the seabed is cleared from obstructions, it can result in sediments being dumped on the shore which in turn can damage the mangroves and coral reefs.
The more the visitors come, the more waste is generated which needs to be handled correctly. However, this is not always the case. Sometimes it will be dumped on the shores by irresponsible acts causing severe environmental concerns. Taking care of the garbage should be the topmost priority of both the traveller and the tour operator.
Unsustainable Tourism
Tourism plays a critical role in uplifting the economy of Halong Bay and Vietnam in general. The tourism in Halong Bay has for some time been turned into a discussion about an unsustainable system as the local community might not be getting any favour. The economic state of the locals remains in a precarious state, as all money can end in the pocket of the few instead of being distributed to several individuals or family-operated communities.
Does it sound bad?!
What You Can Do
Choose a responsible tour operator; Research online or ask around for their tourism policy, their methods of trash disposal and wastewater. Do they invest in local clean-up and do they employ local staff? A lot of incentives to improve touristy locations lies with the responsibilities of the traveller. If you demand a responsible tourism policy in which you will support and invest in, tour operators will have to adapt to such requirements in the long run.
One thing I always advocate is to buy local and spread the money around. Don’t just stay solely on the boat and buy your stuff in that single place, as it only will go to one person or the company. You should instead ensure to visit (floating) local communities and spend your money on various locals by buying, e.g. food, refreshments and handcrafted souvenirs.
Notes and References
Note 1: V’Spirit Classic Cruises, Halong Bay via Hotels.com
Note 2: Duc, T.A. & Guinea, J.G. Environ Earth Sci (2014) 71: 4899
Note 3: International Union for Conservation of Nature
Changelog
February 17, 2019
Published
March 23, 2021
Updated content