If you’re going to Hanoi, then a trip to Halong Bay is an absolute must. Cruising along a UNESCO World Heritage site in a traditional junk boat – no way can you pass that up! With so many cruises to choose from, selecting the right one can be a rather daunting task. Here is what you need to know…
All tours will include round trip transportation from your hotel in Hanoi. Meals are included but drinks typically are not. I advise bringing a large bottle of water and if you want to drink alcohol, then BYOB!
Types of Cruises
There is a type of cruise to suite everyone’s preferences – relaxing, romantic, active, party – you name it. Travelers in their 20s to 30s will take the lower budget cruises while couples, honeymooners, and those seeking peace and quiet will be on the more expensive cruises.
Solo Travelers
There will be a single supplement fee for solo travelers unless the cruise offers the option to share with another traveler of the same sex. Make sure to inquire if this is an option. Single supplement fees vary between cruises.
Kayak for one? Don’t worry it’s totally fine and there are plenty of solo riders from other junks out there paddling around the bay. You will ride in the back seat of a two seater kayak.
How Long on Halong
There are one day tours available but I’d strongly advise against this. The drive time between Hanoi to Halong Bay is about 3 1/2 hours each way to Halong City where you will board the junk boat. Doing that in one day would make for a very exhausting day trip. The roads are also very bumpy so it isn’t the most comfortable ride.
If you are limited on time, two days one night is enough. While very impressive, Halong Bay is after all a bay and there is only so much to see. A lot is packed into these two days but it’s still pleasant.
If you have the time (and money) to spend, then I’d advise taking the three day, two night trip. You won’t feel like you are on a forced march with the two day trip and you will have more leisure time.
What to Pack
This is mainly for the ladies as we (definitely me) have a very hard time packing properly.
- Sarong – it’s easy to throw on if you want to go up to the deck and sunbathe.
- Swimsuit – duh!
- Swimsuit cover-up – in addition to a sarong I’d suggest bringing something that you can wear over your swimsuit that would be suitable for the dining area. I wore a little coverup over my swimsuit when I went to breakfast in the morning.
- Tongs (flip flops) – you don’t need any other shoes. All the caves and islands can be explored in sandals. Nothing requires tennis shoes.
- Jacket – it can get a bit cold on the outside decks
- Sundress or shorts/tank – best for exploring the islands and caves.
- Clothes that can get wet for kayaking. I wore my swimsuit cover-up.
- Hat – I never wore my hat because it was rather overcast but always good to have.
That’s all you need. Don’t overpack! Your hotel will likely keep your main suitcase for you so you don’t have to lug it all the way to Halong.
What to See
Itineraries vary between boats so if you have certain sights in mind that you would like to visit, make sure to read through the itineraries. The most popular sites in Halong Bay are Sung Sot Cave (pictured below), Ti Top Island (pictured below), the floating village, and Cat Ba Island. The latter is typically only visited on the 3 day/2 night tours.
The limestone caves of Halong Bay are 11,000 to 700,000 years old. They are made by water seeping through the cracks and slowly eroding the limestone.
Ti Top Island: This is a very cool island with a nice hike to the top. Stairs wind to the top where you can take amazing pictures of the bay. After hiking back down, post up on the beach and relax. There are little lounge chairs but you can only use them if you pay a small fee.
Suggested Cruises
Low Budget
Fantasea Cruise – prices starting at $80 USD per person.
This is the one that I took and it was great. Super inexpensive and a great value. The food was awesome and they were very accommodating to any dietary restrictions. (I’m a vegetarian but will eat fish on occasion.) The crew was great – very friendly and fun. What made this trip were the people. We had an amazing group on our boat. One New Yorker, one Belgian, two Aussies and five Germans. This was not a quiet boat – drinking games and dance parties and a couple hangovers the next morning. Big shout out to all my new friends!
Mid-Range Budget
Galaxy Classic Cruises – prices starting at $179 USD per person.
After speaking to several travelers, I’ve heard really positive things about Galaxy Cruises. I think that they have a great itinerary set up as well and are reasonably priced for a mid-range budget.
Luxury Budget
Au Co Cruises – prices starting at $540 USD per person.
Friends went on this cruise and said it was amazing. Check out Karen Bianchi’s photos on Instagram from her trip with Au Co.
