Halong Bay
Halong Bay, a place of truly breathtaking beauty. Imagine a picturesque landscape with emerald-green waters, towering limestone karsts, and hidden caves just waiting to be explored. Dive into crystal-clear waters, or grab a kayak and paddle through secret lagoons. Indulge in mouthwatering fresh seafood that will make your taste buds dance. Prepare for an unforgettable journey in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This is your DIYdly guide to Halong Bay, Vietnam.
Prices provided are correct at the time of writing and may vary depending on time of year, deals available and changes to exchange rates. Booking via our links may provide DIYdly with a small commission at no cost to you.
DON’T GO TO HALONG BAY!
We have been travelling to Halong Bay for 25 years. It is a beautiful place, everything you could imagine it would be like. But Halong Bay is being loved to death. Over tourism, too many boats all doing the exact same itinerary, and shonky operators who not only provide poor service to their guests but also pollute and degrade the ocean are common.
Yes you can still go to Halong Bay and have a good time if you are good at ignoring crowds, queues and rubbish. There are party boats for the younger crowds which focus on fun, booze and loud music. If that is your thing go for it. But we suggest another way.
LAN HA BAY: We suggest taking in the quieter, but still awesome, Lan Ha Bay, which is really the same body of water, just divided by a provincial border. The Province of Hai Phong where Lan Ha Bay is located is more protective of the Bay with a stricter boat licensing process and higher fees. The popularity of Lan Ha Bay never really took off as it did for Halong Bay in the 1990s, leaving Lan Ha in the shadow of its celebrity neighbour ever since.
Lan Ha Bay features the same jaw-dropping landscape of towering karst outcrops that you would typically associate with Ha Long and if it weren’t for the conspicuous absence of crowds in Lan Ha Bay, you probably wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between the two bays.
So the cruises do cost a little more but are well worth it for the experience. You may only see Halong Bay once in your life, dedicate a few extra dollars to making sure you have an awesome time.
BUDGET CRUISE: We don’t currently have a budget cruise recommendation as we haven’t yet found one that doesn’t just join the crowds and add to the negative impacts on Halong Bay.
VALUE CRUISE
SENA CRUISE
This is without doubt the best value cruise we know of that takes in Lan Ha Bay. The boat is very very comfortable with just 16 cabins across 4 different standards. The cheapest rooms are all you need to enjoy this cruise with views over the water from your room, but you will need to get in early as they only have a limited number.
FEATURES:
Visit both Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay in the same journey.
Kayaking or in a sampan to Dark-Light cave, one the most beautiful caves on the Bay.
Time for swimming (probably not in Dec/Jan when it’s cold!).
Visit a fishing house on the Bay.
Night squid fishing
Overnight in a quiet area of Lan Ha Bay.
The transfer from Hanoi is an additional cost so make sure you book this at the time of booking (departs Hanoi 7:45-8:30am, return journey departs from pier at 11:30am-12pm, arriving in Hanoi 3-4pm).
From US$200/person twin share • book
COMFORT CRUISE
ORCHID CLASSIC CRUISE
This was the first high-class cruise to explore both Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay. Consisting of 14 suites, all large rooms with balconies and private baths overlooking the water, an outdoor jacuzzi on the sundeck, lush wood panelling, this cruise is a high standard experience.
FEATURES:
Visit Trung Trang Cave on Cat Ba Island - a bus is used to drive you to the cave.
Kayaking in the Ao Ech area.
Time for swimming (probably not in Dec/Jan when it’s cold!).
Night squid fishing
Overnight in Tra Bau area of Lan Ha Bay.
The transfer from Hanoi is an additional cost so make sure you book this at the time of booking (departs Hanoi 8:30am, return journey departs from pier at 11:30am, arriving in Hanoi 2:30pm).
From US$240/person twin share • book
SWISH CRUISE
ORCHID PREMIUM CRUISE
Orchid Premium is a beautiful boat combining Asian traditions with the elegance of French architecture. With only 5 spacious suites with balcony and private bathtub overlooking the Bay, this is the choice for those wanting to experience Halong/Lan Ha Bay in luxury.
FEATURES:
Visit Trung Trang Cave on Cat Ba Island - a bus is used to drive you to the cave.
Kayaking in the Ao Ech area.
Time for swimming (probably not in Dec/Jan when it’s cold!).
Night squid fishing
Overnight in Tra Bau area of Lan Ha Bay.
The transfer from Hanoi is an additional cost so make sure you book this at the time of booking (departs Hanoi 8:30am, return journey departs from pier at 11:30am, arriving in Hanoi 2:30pm).
From US$400/person twin share • book
PRACTICALITIES
TIMING: While the cruises are advertised as 2 day/1 night they are in reality slightly less than 24 hours. The boats and crew work everyday. When you disembark on day 2, another group will board in an hours time. It’s the most efficient way to run these cruises. So if you want a longer experience book a 3 day/2 night cruise. All our recommended cruise operators offer these.
MEALS: All meals are included on these cruises - the meals will be one of the highlights of the trip! Meals included are lunch + dinner on day 1 and breakfast + lunch on day 2. Note that lunch on day 2 is very early (lunch at 10am anyone!?). This happens on all cruises because they run these trips back-to-back as explained above. So don’t complain about it! Eat as much as you can and eat again when you are back in Hanoi. More Vietnamese food?Yes please.
DRINKS: All cruises have a bar with drinks for purchase. Yes they will cost more than back in Hanoi but prices are still reasonable.
SINGLE TRAVELLERS: If travelling alone you are at a disadvantage with Halong Bay cruises as the single supplement is quite costly. There really isn’t anyway around this unless you can find someone to share your room for the cruise. There are a number of Facebook travel groups where you might be able to find someone, just be very careful and make sure you actually meet the person face-to-face before heading out of the cruise.
VIETNAM STORIES
ITINERARIES FEATURING HALONG BAY
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Highlights of Vietnam
Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City or reverse
12 days -
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Vietnam in Depth
Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh
18 days
DIYdly VIETNAM DESTINATION GUIDES
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Hanoi
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Hue
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Hoi An
