An Insider’s Travel Guide to Halong Bay, Vietnam

Halong Bay is one of the most beautiful natural wonders in the north of Vietnam, close to the nation’s border with China. A bay dotted with about 1.600 islets and limestone islands covering an area of more than 1.500 square kilometres. This exceptional area was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994, and many tourists had confessed that this place feels like it was brought out of a movie. The thing is, Halong Bay has a great diversity of everything, while the surreal landscape has been used in countless movies. The city of Halong is best accessed by car, a bus or a minibus from Hanoi, and that’s about 170 km away from Hanoi. If you are not on a budget or you have a few dollars to spare, then a helicopter transfer of about an hour is also available 😉

Halong is a Vietnamese word which means “descending dragon”. The dragons play an important role in Vietnamese culture, and the most famous legend says that a dragon and her children came down from heaven to defend Vietnam from invaders and sprayed fire, jade or emeralds. Then afterwards, she and her children stayed back on earth.

A Brief History of Halong Bay

While the city of “Halong Bay” has become a global phenomenon due to it being listed as one of the world heritage site, as well as one of the seven new wonders of the world. The legend has it that there were fierce invaders who attacked from the north, coming through the sea to attack Vietnam as a newly formed country, and a helpless Vietnam had to fight these forces. So the Jade emperor took pity on the country then sent the Mother Dragon and her kids to defend the people.

Historical research has shown that there is proof that prehistoric people lived in this area tens of thousands of years ago. There have been successive cultures of ancient times, such as the Soi Nhu culture of about 18.000 to 7.000 BC, then the Cai Beo between 7.000 and 5.000 BC, then the Halong culture around 5.000 to 3.500 years ago. There have been significant events marked in Vietnam as a result of the numerous artefacts found in the Bai Tho Mountain, the Dau Go cave and Bai Chay.

About 500 years ago, in verse Lộ nhập Vân Đồn, Nguyen Trai sang of the beauty of Halong Bay, and even called it “the rock wonder in the sky”. Then in 1962, the Ministry in charge of Culture, Sports and Tourism of North Vietnam included the Halong Bay in their publication of national relics and landscapes. The Halong bay core zone in 1994 was declared a World Heritage Site under criterion VII and was included for the second time under the criterion VIII.

Only 40 of the 1.969 islands of Halong are inhabited. These islands in size cover tens to thousands of hectares and are mainly in the eastern and to the southeast of the bay. Some decades ago, thousands of people had been settling on the pristine islands and began new communities, like in the Sa To island, which is known as the Halong City, or the Thang Loi Island also known as the Van Djon District.

The population of Halong Bay is quite small, approximately 1.540. They live mainly in the fishing villages of Cua Van, Cặp Dè, Ba Hang ((Hùng Thắng Ward or Hạ Long City). The Residents of Halong mainly live on boats or rafts which are buoyed by tires or plastic jigs which help to facilitate their fishing, as well as cultivating or breeding of most of their aquatic and marine species. The lives of the residents of Halong Bay have improved considerably thanks to the new travel or tourism sector that has brought in lots of foreign exchange and have boosted the economy.

(Fun) Facts About Halong Bay

• Halong Bay is located in Quang Ninh Province in Vietnam.
• It is known for its over 1.960 limestone islands, and are rocky and tall. The islands are very rich in tropical vegetation.
• The Halong Bay covers an area of approximately 579 square miles and is home to about 1.600 fishers who live on floating villages.
• Halong Bay is a Vietnamese word which means “descending from Dragon Bay”. The legends have it that the gods sent dragons, who left various jewels and jade which dropped from their mouths to the bay, as they created the islands.
• Research has recorded that prehistoric humans dwelled in the Halong region tens of thousands of years ago. The bay stretches over 120 km on the coastline and has a size of about 1.553 square kilometres.
• Most of the over 1.960 islands have secluded beaches, caves, and caverns.
• Some of the species of wildlife present on the islands are monkeys, lizards, antelopes, and birds.
• The Halong Bay has more than 450 molluscs and 200 species of fish.
• Many of the islands are founded around the tourism business and have permanent residents.
• Most islands in the Halong Bay are limestone. The limestone has been formed for over 500 million years.

Best Time to Visit Halong Bay

The climate on Halong consists of 4 different seasons. But they can be majorly divided into the dry and cold winter and the hot and humid summer.

WINTER (November – March) in Halong Bay starts from around November to March, resulting in cold weather, which gets even colder in January and February and may not be ideal for swimming. There are also days where there are fogs or where strong are visible in this period. Irrespective of the feature of this season, it seems to be one which favours tourists the most. The temperature ranges from around 12°C to about 20 °C.

SPRING (March – May) The weather in these months is not hot yet, it is very likely that it will rain. Humidity will be on the increase during this period.
However, the weather will remain nice, and there will be more sunlight during the day for outdoor activities like swimming and kayaking.
If you visit the bay during this period, you can avoid what is known as the peak season while enjoying the good weather along with several festivals, as well as the Halong Carnival (which is celebrated annually in April).

SUMMER (May – September) lasts from May to the early period of September. Like other parts in the north of the country, Halong Bay can be quite sunny and warm for swimming in the clear blue sky days. You may experience light rains in some of the days, and your trips may even be cancelled as a result of unexpected typhoons. Temperature could rise to 25ºC. During this period, there are summer promotion rates.

FALL (October – December) This season is known as the peak period. This is the months from October to December, and it’s believed by many that it’s the best time of the year (hence, known as peak season) to visit Halong Bay, this is as a result of the pleasant weather. The humidity during these months drops considerably while and the temperature oscillates between 13°C and 21°C. In these months, there is less rainfall. However, the weather can be cloudy around the end of December. During this period, tourists enjoy the sunshine more, because it is not as scorching as it is in the summer. There may, however, be rare precipitation during the month.

Traveling to Halong Bay

SHUTTLE BUS: If you are to book a cruise to Halong Bay, you can request a shuttle bus service from your agent or company in charge of transportation. Of course, the cost varies by company and the type of bus available. Generally, it is quite easy and comfortable since you do not have to worry about the pick-up or drop-off points.

Your bus is to pick you up at the hotel upon request and will convey you to their cruise centre (i.e. the centre of the cruise ship which you have booked). After your cruise in Halong Bay, the shuttle will be waiting outside the cruise centre to take you back to Hanoi. Before now, the journey to Halong bay used to be around three and half hours, but it has been reduced to approximately two and half hours, since the opening of the Hai Phong – Hanoi high way on October 15, 2018.

• The distance from Hanoi to Halong Bay is about 125 km.
• There is a rest stop of about 15-20 minutes, 2 hours after departure.

BUS: Cost about 100.000 to 2.000.000 VND (5 to 50USD/way).
For budget travellers, this can be an attractive option. Because of the new highway, it now takes an average of only three hours to travel to Halong by bus. However, sometimes it may take longer than usual in unforeseen circumstances. Nowadays, there are more suppliers of local air-conditioned buses.

PRIVATE CAR: People who prefer to travel privately can choose this option as it allows your journey to be more flexible. If you desire a high level of privacy or going with a big family, this idea of a private transfer might be the best for you.

You can ask that your travel or cruise agency or operator arrange a private service for you. This is a matter of choice, and if comfort, privacy, and flexibility are essential to you, then you should consider choosing a private transfer. This, however, comes at a small extra cost of around 70-100 USD for a round trip. You may also confirm with your cruise operators if they have a private car packaged along with the cruise tour service that has been offered to you.

Best Halong Bay Cruises (+ Tips to Choose the Best)

Guidelines to take into account when selecting a cruise

Carry out your research
Many tourists choose to cruise in a junk boat across the various travel agencies in Hanoi. There so many boats to choose from, however, travel agencies will generally show you maybe two or three, so that you don’t feel overwhelmed.
For example, domestic travel agencies in Halong Bay may offer reasonable prices, better than what their online counterparts are offering. However, before you settle for a particular agency you need to do proper research on sites like TripAdvisor or Booking.com to know the best cruises and weigh the price of each.

Here are some other things to have in mind

• What is the total number of cabins on board?
• What are the perks of the package?
• What activities am I entitled to?
• What are the routes of cruises and destination?
• Although the region is only known and referred to as Halong Bay, there are actually three separate bays, and they are Bai Tu Long, Halong Bay, and Lan Ha Bay. They are all known for having some the of world’s most fascinating landscape with incredible limestone cliffs, great bays beaches, and caves. Maybe you actually prefer other than Halong Bay?

What are the cruise routes + destinations?
Also, you should always remember to see the activities that are included in your package. Know what you are interested in and then choose the best activities that serve you the most. Some of the activities that are available in Halong Bay include:

• Kayak or water sport
• Caves exploration
• Cooking demonstration
• Tai Chi practice
• Spa

It is crucial that you put into consideration the activities on the cruise, this is because the activities will determine if the cruise will be a boring one and the activities on the cruise will also determine if it is well priced or not. Some cruises are overpriced, charging more but delivering fewer services, you want to avoid this so that you can get good value for your money.

How Long Should the Cruise Be?

One day trip: It may be possible that you don’t have enough time or you are short on time, and so you only have one day of the cruise to enjoy. If this is the case, then you’ve got to get ready for an eventful and hectic day if you are travelling from Hanoi (this is about two to three and a half hour trip – one way).

Overnight cruise in Halong Bay: You may choose between one or two night cruises. The Halong Bay two night cruise is the most popular. With this option, you can enjoy several activities, travel even deeper into those quieter parts of the bay and also enjoy more free time.

Traditional Halong Bay Junk Boat or Newer Boat?

Next up is to decide if you want to enjoy the old traditional junk boats or not. The Junks boats may be beautiful, but in choosing it, you have to be ready for the older style boats with smaller spaces or rooms. If on the other hand, you prefer newer and more luxurious boats which tends to have more spacious rooms with terraces and balconies, then this might be for you.

Size of Boat and Number of Rooms on Board

The next thing you should consider is the number of rooms available on board. If you are backpacking, you might opt for, and probably enjoy the bigger boats which have more people on board. We wanted to settle for a more romantic getaway, so there was no fun part at night or the like, but more room for relaxing and reading a book as well as the usual conversation with the other travellers.

Activities Included

Beware of those boats that come across as “cheap”, and that looks like a bargain, but compel you to pay through the nose for each activity. It is nice to go for cruises that offer water activities like kayaking for free (or at least now the full price in the end!).

Itineraries

Most itineraries of the cruise companies are quite similar. Generally, you would visit a fishing village, a cave, kayaking and also the chance to go hiking to the top of the Titov Island and then enjoy swimming (this is typical of a one-night Itinerary).

The difference you may observe in the itinerary is when a cruise company attempt to avoid the crowd or hassle caused by other companies. A good cruise company will go out of their way to ensure that you are more relaxed and have a peaceful experience.

Destination Included in the Tour

Because many people know of this UNESCO heritage site, it’s (unfortunately) no wonder that this beautiful historic site is exposed to pollution and is highly likely littered with thrash. Many of the tourists may feel disappointed when they experience any form of dirty water caused by the crowd coming into the area. To avoid this, it is important to choose your cruise carefully. Deciding on any tour operator should be one that promotes sustainability, is conscious about the operation of the tour services and have a firm commitment to the reduction of environmental degradation preferably through a transparent programme.

Boat Operators

Pelican Cruise

The Pelican Halong Bay cruise is about the best-selling cruise you can get. It has a combination of luxurious 5-star boats as well as very affordable pricing which makes it a hard to resist cruise.

They have older style boats, which is why the company has impressive pricing. However, that the boat is older styled doesn’t affect the rooms, the rooms are beautiful, the food is delicious, and it has a wonderful itinerary that is full of excursions and activities. The boats are also excellent for families.

Duration: 1 or 2 night cruise available.
Hanoi transfer included: No
Activities included: Kayaking, cooking class, sunrise Tai Chi class, local rowing boat
Rooms Available: There are standard and deluxe rooms available. Some of these rooms are magnificent suites. There is also two stunning family’ deluxe bedroom.

Alisa Halong Bay Cruise

One of the most popular boat cruises is the Alisa Halong Bay Cruise, and the newness supersedes the traditional boats. The rooms within this boat are very wide and luxurious. The price could be steep quite a bit. However, if what you want is a room that has its own balcony, then this is the real deal. This boat is ideal for both couples and families.

Duration: 1 or 2 night cruise available.
Hanoi transfer included: No
Activities included: Swimming, Titov Island visit, cooking class, kayaking, Sung Sot Cave, Pearl Farm
Rooms Available: Family suites, rooms with balconies, family suites that connect.

V’Spirit Cruise

We decided to go for V’Spirit and was also recommended by several other travel companies. This is not for backpackers, but for families, couples and the like. We had a great time, but surely one night, two days were packed with great activities and too little time. Excellent cruise, perfect hosts and tour personnel catering and ensuring you have the best time in Halong Bay.

Duration: 1 or 2 night cruise available.
Hanoi transfer included: No.
Activities Included: Kayaking, Sun Sot Cavem Titov Island, cooking class, squid fishing
Rooms Available: Deluxe and family.

Things to Do in Halong Bay // What to Do in Halong Bay

Kayak Between Karsts Limestone Outcrops

You can enjoy the view of the fascinating landscape in the junk boat, while at the same time experiencing the great part of Halong Bay feeling relaxed. Kayaking between Karsts Limestone Outcrops in the city of Halong is an effortless activity to engage in even if you are visiting for the first time and is a great and fun experience!

Note that water sport is usually banned in times of adverse weather conditions.

Early Morning Tai Chi Practice

Practising Tai Chi in the morning is a great way to kick off your day with strong hopes of exciting experiences. Tai Chi is usually a form of gentle physical exercise that integrates breathing profoundly and relaxing with a smooth and steady movement of the whole or a part of the body. Tai Chi sessions are opened around 6:30- 7:30 in the morning. When it’s a rainy morning, it is held in the inside of the dining hall, on a bright morning, it is held on the sundeck.

Night Squid Fishing

If you are in Halong Bay and having a sleepless night, then think about squid fishing at night. Of all the incredible things to do in Halong Bay, this one is one of the less obvious ones. However, it gives immense pleasure to whoever engages in this nocturnal activity. Squid night fishing is one super way to spend the night in Halong Bay. Tourists are usually equipped with such fishing materials to catch the fishes effectively.

You may decide to use the caught squids to make delicious delicacies. The sea water surface glows when the light rays from cruise ship anchored on the bay fall on it. Tourists from all over the world have shown their deep love for squids caught during the night fishing, and they relish the taste.

Fishing Village

Halong Bay is not only known for its wonderful caves, the limestone cliffs, and the fascinating beaches but also its beautiful fishing villages. The fishing villages are part of the unique and special features of this legendary Bay. Among the fishing villages of Halong Bay; Cua Van, Vung Vieng, Cong Dam, and Ba Hang are the most known.

When you visit these floating villages, you can immerse yourself in the authentic and natural environment with the fresh air, the blue skies, and a picturesque seascape. Additionally, you can deepen your knowledge of the local culture and the daily life of locals. The natives here are very friendly and sociable too. They are ready to guide and direct you on things like how to row a sampan, building and spreading a net, baiting a hook, etc. So get ready for some interesting experiences and to become closer to a true Halong Bay fisherman.

Sung Sot Cave

The Sung Sot Cave on the Bo Hong Island has a steep path with shady trees. In the cave are two chambers with a square shaped outer chamber with a ceiling of about 30 meters high. It has inner chambers that have formations which looks like sentinels talking to each other, a general observing his troops, and other formations. The light which reflects from the water on the outside makes these formations look real. You will also find Virgin Cave on Bo Hong Island.

Sculpture and Cooking Class

The cooking exhibition is done on board the cruise to assist passengers in becoming acquainted with one another and also to familiarise themselves with the culture of the Vietnamese cuisine (and to enjoy good food). There is a cruise chef whose job it is to direct you on how to prepare some incredible dishes that are only peculiar to the Vietnamese tradition, such as dried nems or fresh news, fruits and vegetables of various kinds. You may receive an invitation to be a part of an exciting competition with some other passengers on board, to discover the actual person that prepares the dishes fastest, prettiest and tastiest. Lastly, you are entitled to your plate of food, and you may choose to enjoy it all alone or give a share of it to some of your fellow tourists. This is a fascinating experience for people who enjoy cooking.

Sunset and Sunrise Photography

Among the various things and activities to engage in during your time in Halong Bay Vietnam, this particular one appears to be one of the most interesting ones, especially for travellers like me. Halong Bay is a haven of beauty and perfect for fantastic photography. Never leave your smartphone or camera when you come to this epitome of natural beauty.

Halong Bay is a perfect definition of beauty and cleanliness especially during the early hours of the morning when the sun is just rising and the evening time when the sun is drawing to a close. The view of the sunset and sunrise is a spectacular one.

Enjoy the Limestone Island Scenery

So many tourists both from within Vietnam and across the world are familiar with Halong Bay. However, they have not heard nor seen the beauty that radiates from Cat Ba Island. Cat Ba Island is about the biggest island in Archipelago. This region forms the Halong Bay’s southeastern boundary. Cat Ba has been named the World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. It offers a variety of astonishing landscapes like the mangrove forest, tropical rain forest coral reefs, and some incredible cave systems.

Halong Bay is reminiscent of a fantastic fairy tale of green water and a series of limestone cliffs emerging out of the water and resembling the sea dragon. This incredible destination is home to about 2.000 islands looking like jungles. These islands have such incredible features like caves, lakes, and sinkholes and are dotted all over when you cruise the open sea.

Titov Islands

Titov Island stands out as a famous destination within Halong Bay. It is a symbol of the friendship that exists between Vietnam and the Soviet Union and is a memorable destination during your stay at the Bay. History has it that sometime in 1962, the popular President Ho Chi Minh visited the island alongside Titov; a Russian astronaut where the name of Titov Island was born. Before this time, the island was called Cat Nang. Titov Island constitutes a long white crescent-shaped sand beach, and it is the perfect place for engaging in swimming activities, resting, or hiking to the top.

When making a list of the most incredible and scenic places in Halong Bay, that list is never complete without mentioning Titov Island.

How Long to Stay in Halong Bay

If you have this fascinating place on your bucket list, then the next question that might pop up in your mind is how long to stay in Halong Bay, Vietnam? Usually, some people may choose to spend about three days in Halong Bay inside an on-land hotel or inside the cruise ships.

DAY TRIP: A day trip means you have to return to the port in one day. Because of its very low price point as well as the compact itinerary, this isn’t the most popular option. You may need a hotel at Halong to spend the night if you visit the bay for one day only. However, this option is not usually advisable especially for tourists who have travelled from other parts of the world.

2D1N: 2 Days/1 Night is where you will find many of visitors who come here taking this particular option. The two days and one night option, and a one night stay in the hotel of Hanoi is about the most flexible option especially for tourist who are travelling from other parts of the world and are taking part in the cruise in Halong.

This is the best plan for international travellers or tourists who take a flight to the city of Hanoi, then spend one night there then drive to Halong the next morning so that they can join the cruise right on time. We did the 2D1N tour but wanted the 3D2N: You know how it is, we can’t have it all with the time we sometimes have.

3D2N: 3 Days/2 Nights is for visitors who are seeking for a more pleasurable experience in your stay at Halong Bay, then this option is for you. Another day in this beautiful environment allows you to reach into even the most remote part of Halong Bay and do more activities. A 3-day cruise provides the option of visiting more tourist attraction sites, like paying a visit to the pearl farm, biking on an island, or you may choose to enjoy the weather on a (private) beach.

(Our) Halong Bay Travel Itinerary

DAY 1: Halong Bay

• Pick-up at hotel and 3½ hour drive to Halong Bay.
• Embark the cruise.
• Lunch onboard the cruise among the limestone islands.
• Exploration of the amazing Sung Sot Cave.
• Cruising to Titov island to swim and relax on the beach (or climb up to the top of the island for a panorama view of Halong Bay).
• Sunset Party on the sundeck.
• Dinner.
• Fish for squid.
• Overnight on board.

DAY 2: Halong Bay

• Start the day with Tai Chi exercises or a photo of the sunrise.
• Breakfast on board.
• Kayak among the hidden areas of the bay near the Drum Cave.
• Return to the boat and check out of the cabin.
• Continue cruise back home exploring the Bay, passing Ba Hang fishing village and Dog Islet.
• Fruit carving demonstration and participate in a Cooking Class
• Traditional Vietnamese lunch.
• Disembark the cruise and either transfer back to Hanoi or explore Halong.

How Much Does It Cost Travelling Halong Bay?

ACCOMMODATIONS
Highly subjective and dependent on the cruise you take, but you should be able to find a proper cruise to a good pricepoint. We booked our tour with V’Spirit Cruise for about USD 179 per person (2D1N).

PICK-UP / DROP-OFF
We opted for a cruise pickup arranged by the tour operator to avoid any hassle of finding the right dock. It was about USD 35 per person for a roundtrip. The price is cheaper if you are under 18 or an infant.

SNACKS
Although all meals was included, we still had to have some snacks during our trip. You can either pack it in advance or buy it along the way (cheaper if you get it in Hanoi beforehand!). When the boat is anchored you will see small boats rowing and selling different goods/snacks also. Budget about USD 10 per day.

BOTTLED WATER
Water and soda is not included and is an extra expense you need to factor in. I believe it was roughly USD 1 for a bottle of water (0,5 litre).

BEER
Beer, vodka & rice wine is also an option. You can either get local beer or Heineken for 2 USD, a glass of relatively sub-par house wine for 5 USD or bottles starting at 35 USD. Cocktails were between 5 – 7 USD (and half during happy hour).

Travelling Responsibly in Halong Bay

Several news articles about the unsustainable tour have been written about Halong Bay and the adverse impact on the natural environment. If you decide to go to Halong Bay, it’s essential to have the ecosystem in mind, as well as to respect and to appreciate tour operators that have a green and transparent policy towards the preservation of the bay. Take five minutes more before deciding on an operator, as it will keep all visitors able to enjoy the beautiful place and nation which we love to visit. It’s not only the duty of the operator, but also the tourists as it will have an impact on the tour operators in the long run.

A responsible tour operator has methods and ways to improve the general environment through various exercises embedded in sustainable travel activities with utmost responsibility, respect for the locals and their culture.

Notes and References

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