Tips for Finding the Best Halong Bay Cruise

Do you want to experience the best Halong Bay cruise? Keep reading to find out how to start planning your tour!

Halong Bay, Vietnam is one of those places you need to see to believe. It’s probably the top tourist attraction in Vietnam. If you ask around, some people will call it a tourist trap and encourage you not to go on a Halong Bay cruise. I, however, did not heed their advice and went anyway. And let me tell you… I’m so glad I did!

This article will highlight:

• what criteria to look for when researching Halong Bay tours, and
• how to book your Halong Bay cruise.

Full disclosure: I went in February which is considered low season. The weather was a cool 18 degrees. As I was out sailing on the bay for 2 days, wind was naturally expected. The wind was harsh and made the air feel colder, but luckily, it did not stay that way.

Going on a Halong Bay cruise during low season was worth it because there were very, very few boats sailing and the sun was out to play.

This combination was the perfect recipe for photography!

The best way to see Halong Bay is to take a tour on a cruise. Fair warning that there are countless tour agencies offering cruise packages. To avoid choosing a bad option, there are several things to consider when selecting the best Halong Bay cruise for you.

Researching the Boats

Halong Bay sees about 6 million tourists per year! This is a whole lotta people. That’s why it’s so important to do some research before your trip. You really want to have the best experience possible! Keep reading to find out what you need to look out for.

Safety

With this high demand for tourism comes a high supply of agencies offering cruises. However, to meet with the high demand, some operators forego the proper safety protocols needed when having lives on a boat. There have been instances of boats sinking, so it’s crucial to do research on the tour agency and the boat itself before booking! Some factors to consider: the size and type of boat, if life jackets are provided, has the tour agency faced any safety issues…

The Halong Tourism Association offers a website to help you select boats.

Food

You will be on a boat for several hours or days, depending which tour you pick. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how bad getting food poisoning can be. That’s why I recommend researching the food quality too. What do past travelers have to say about the food on that Halong Bay cruise you’re considering? Will they buy fresh fish from the farming villages? Are they offering you enough bottled water to last the trip?

Number of Passengers

This is another very important criteria to consider.

Will the number of people on the boat influence your experience? You will see some cruise options where you will share a boat with 30 other people. You will be surrounded by your fellow passengers for all meals and activities. If you are a social butterfly or want to meet new people, this can be a great opportunity for you.

On the other hand, you will also find that you can take a Halong Bay tour on a private boat, like the ones offered by Eco Friendly Vietnam. This is an awesome choice for those wanting to spend quality time with friends and family.

Why is this so important? Remember…because you will be out on the bay, you will not have access to WiFi. 😉

Choosing the Length of Your Halong Bay Tour

You have the choice of selecting two types of tours: a day trip or an overnight experience.

Day tours

The Halong Bay day tour is a great option for you if you are short on time or on a budget, but do not want to miss this experience. This option is very popular with tourists so you will always find a day tour option available.

The day tour technically gives you a half day out on the bay. If you are going from Hanoi to Halong Bay, the rest of your day is spent commuting to and from the bay, which the tour company will arrange for you. The transportation will already be included in your tour price. Transportation + Halong Bay cruise will last about 10 hours.

The day tour is limited in activities and sights. With a half day spent at bay, you will not have the chance to sail deep into the bay, but you will still get to experience the beautiful limestone karsts!

Overnight cruises

You can opt to sail on the Halong Bay overnight cruise. You have the following overnight tours to select from:

• 2 days, 1 night (2D1N)
• 3 days, 2 nights (3D2N)
• 4 days, 3 nights (4D3N)

These options are ideal for those who have a bit more time to spend. Although I spent 8 days in Vietnam, I managed to fit in a 2 days, 1 night cruise!

Whichever overnight option you pick, your meals, activities, and transportation to/from will be included in the price. Meals include breakfast, lunch, and dinner. All the overnight cruises include kayaking and swimming. The tours that last 2 nights or longer will include more activities, a visit to Lan Ha Bay, and further exploration of Halong Bay which includes some cave visits!

Have some time to spare? Visit Cat Ba Island in Halong Bay to witness beautiful panoramic views of the bay!

Booking Your Cruise

The best way to book a Halong tour is online through a reputable travel agency. Unfortunately, there are many scams in Vietnam. Simply walking into a random travel agency on the streets of Hanoi won’t yield the best option for you.

Your hotel or hostel will also likely have relationships with tour agencies. You may end up being overcharged, or placed on an overcrowded and unsafe boat. This is why I don’t recommend going into this trip blindly.

Booking Options

Best Price Travel allows you to select your criteria to provide you with the best value.

Booking.com is one of the most trusted online travel agencies. In addition to booking hotels, you can also book your Halong cruise on Booking.

I hope this guide helps you better plan your ultimate Halong cruise. Think it could be beneficial to others? Go ahead and click that Share button!

If you need further tips and advice, feel free to reach out to me!

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