Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned the world over for its over 1600 stunning limestone islets that jut above the crystal clear turquoise waters of Vietnam’s most popular bay. What was once dotted with quintessential small fishing villages, is now quite packed with tourists. For some travel sites this might rob it of its charm and perhaps make the trip to see it disappointing, but when it comes to Halong Bay, it is popular for a reason and regardless of its over tourism is well worth your time on any trip to Vietnam.
The bay is stunningly beautiful. The waters are deep emerald color and the surrounding limestone mountains that seem to jut straight up out of the water provide an almost mystical, otherworldly atmosphere.
For any trip through the bay you will most likely be booking a stay on one of their many cruise ships. The ships operate on either 1-night, 2-night, 3-night or week long packages. Two nights are plenty, 3 would be nice if you have the extra time. A full week would be excessive. We used Paradise Cruises and stayed aboard their Luxury ship for 2 nights. We cannot possibly say enough good things about this tour company. By far the most luxurious tour we’ve ever taken with a level of customer service and detailed care that bordered on absurd. As you’ll see in one of the photos below, they literally threw red rose petals at our feet as we boarded the ship. The cruise liner was impeccable, the food was astounding, the drinks were constantly full and the customer service, like I’ve said already, was out of this world. Every member of the ship knew your name from the moment you stepped aboard and was ready to fulfill your every need at a moments notice, while also not feeling imposing. There’s nothing pleasant about having someone hanging over you or constantly interrupting you, but the servers on these cruise ships are unbelievable in how attentive they can be without making you feel overwhelmed. The best part, though, was the price…a 2 night stay including all your food, drinks, a deluxe balcony room, a kayaking excursion, a day trip to a cave and a cooking class came to just over $200 per person.
Don’t over think it and book one of the nicer cruise companies like Paradise (there are a wide range of quality and the cheaper ships can look pretty janky). Once you book your stay the biggest obstacle will be deciding how to get there. The closest major city is Hanoi and most people will add a couple day trip to Halong Bay from Hanoi as part of their visit to Northern Vietnam. The drive from Hanoi to Halong Bay can be as long as 4 hours depending on traffic. Paradise Cruise offers pick-up and drop off at your hotel in Hanoi for just $35. This will be a relatively private transfer (in a small air conditioned van with another couple or two), however, if you’re trying to save money Vietnam does offer public buses from Hanoi to Halong Bay that only cost about $5. There is also a train that is nice for approximately the same cost.
If you are a serious baller, transport by either helicopter or seaplane is also available. Click here for more information.
While you’re staying on Halong Bay, make sure to get off the boat and do some excursions. They have kayaking, rowboat rides to beautiful islands and cave tours all of which are a fun way to see the surrounding bay and the unique quaint fishing villages that dot the islands.
