Halong Bay is one of those iconic places. You see lots of photos and it makes lots of ‘must do’ or ‘must see’ travel lists. But does it live up to the hype? Is it worth going to? Well, we set off to find out, and what better way to do our research than with a Halong Bay cruise?
It’s not an easy place to get to as it is not close to a major city. Hanoi is the closest and it is a 3-4 hour drive from there. So getting to Halong Bay requires a bit of commitment. We decided if we were going, let’s make it worthwhile. I had read the bay was very crowded with boats and it was quite touristy so it had the potential to disappoint.
After much research and equivocating, we decide on the 3 day/2 night option. At least that way we would get further into the bay and have a chance to see some of the less busy areas.
Well let me tell you, it was spectacular. Halong Bay definitely delivers on the scenery, the pictures, the vibe, the whole thing was just fantastic.
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A Luxury 3 day/2 night Cruise
We decided to take the luxury option for the best Halong Bay cruise, after all, what is there to do on a boat besides eat, drink and be entertained. The excursions would also be in a smaller group (and we are anti large groups of anything).
So our journey begins with a morning pick-up at the hotel in Hanoi. We took the private car option because it wasn’t much more expensive than the shuttle option and as the road was under construction, we were warned the ride could be long and uncomfortable. It was also in keeping with our luxury theme. So the driver arrived promptly for a drive to Halong Bay.
The ride is somewhat interesting in the sheer number of factories. There are many high tech industrial factories, including industrial ceramics. But traditionally produced ceramics, for which this area is known, are also common.
There are also a number of rice fields and if you haven’t been out to see rural Vietnam, this is quite scenic. Halfway along we have a comfort break at a rather large shop that sells everything!
You can arrange to make the trip to or from Halong Bay into a full day tour with stops along the way. There are some touristy villages you can visit, including Bat Trang ceramic village.
We are dropped by our driver at the Heritage Lines office, check-in, check our luggage and sit down for a quick drink and a relax along the water while we wait to board. When it is time to leave, a smaller boat takes us out to the Jasmine and we are shown to our cabin.
The boat is made of dark wood and decorated in the style of 1930’s Indochina. The hallways and public areas have beautiful antiques and old pictures which help set the scene. Our cabin is luxurious and we have our own little balcony to enjoy an evening drink and soak up the atmosphere of the bay – the perfect way to start a Halong Bay boat trip!
As we cruise out through the bay, the weather is spectacular. Halong Bay is busy but the scenery is captivating. We have boarded the boat just in time for lunch so as we move further into the bay, lunch is served in the dining room, which is surrounded by windows and has great views.
Day 1
The first day on the best Halong Bay tour includes two excursions one to Tien Ong cave, and the second to a floating fishing village in the bay, Cua Van.
The cave was recently discovered and has evidence of humans in the area going back to 10,000 BC. We arrive in Cua Van, the floating fishing village, just in time for the evening sunset. The light made for some spectacular pictures.
The whole village is floating – the house, the school, the grocery store, everything! This is not unusual in Halong Bay. These families have, for generations, made their living through fishing and today tourism also supplements their income.
The evening includes a cooking demonstration and a presentation about Halong Bay, before drinks and dinner. We anchor for the evening. Sunset provides some great picture opportunities. It is a relaxing day and a great start.
Day 2
Begins with Tai Chi on the upper deck, a great way to both try Tai Chi and get the blood flowing. After breakfast, those of us on the 3-day option transfer to a small ‘day’ boat.
The Jasmine will be returning to the dock to drop off the one night guests and pick up new passengers. This is rather clever, as it results in a small group for the day 2 excursions and it also means there will be new guests on the boat tonight when we return.
Our excursions for the day are a trip to Cat Ba (the Women’s) Island and a kayaking excursion. At Cat Ba Island, we bike for about a half hour to Viet Hai Village (you can also go on the back of a motorbike). This is a small village and you can see rural life. The bike ride itself is also very pleasant through the rice fields.
We set sail for Bat Cave and eat lunch en route. When we arrive we go for a kayak through the water, exploring the coves and caves. It is very pleasant and provides quite a different perspective being so close to the water.
We have time for a swim and sitting out on the deck as we head back to join the main boat where we will have dinner. There is a bar set up on the top deck which is a lovely place to watch the sunset and meet some of our fellow passengers.
Day 3
Day 3 of our Halong Bay boat cruise begins again with Tai Chi. After that, we head to Soi Sim Island. Here you can climb to the top and be rewarded with panoramic views. Many of the boats in the area have their sails raised and the pictures are quite nice. There is an opportunity for a swim as well.
After that, we head back to the boat. Breakfast is served as we cruise back to the dock for our departure. Our Halong Bay boat adventure is over all too soon.
Final Thoughts
Having been to Ninh Binh, known as ‘Halong Bay on land’, there is considerable resemblance in the landscape and rock formations. In Ninh Binh, it is the stunning green of the rice paddies and in Halong Bay there are the tranquil waters. Both are very nice. You can read more about it and see the pictures in our Ninh Binh post.
We sailed with The Heritage Line on the Jasmine and were very happy. The transfer was booked at the same time as the cruise. The food, accommodation and excursions were all very good. There is also a spa on board the boat should you want a massage or other treatment.
We were very pleased we did the 2-night option; it provides more time to relax and we went much further into Halong Bay where it was less crowded with boats. And even then, we only saw a very small portion of the whole bay.
If you can arrange to leave the rest of your luggage in Hanoi and travel with only an overnight bag, it is advisable. The cabins are made for a 2-night stay, there is not a lot of room for luggage or unpacking.
So we can definitely say yes, Halong Bay did live up to the hype. Being able to cruise Halong Bay in luxury was paradise if only for 3 days. Halong Bay does deserve its place on so many travel wish lists. We hope you enjoy your trip!
evan kristine
Such a beautiful place! Good you enjoyed your beautiful ride. You took almost surreal photos of this majestic place!
Editor
Thanks for your comment Evan. It was a lovely experience and a good highlight to have right at the end of our trip.
Gemma
You did it right, we did it wrong! We chose the party boat option. There were three boats full of travellers who then met on an island. The place was a mess with litter in the water, but were told it’s actually the local fishermen that cause that!
Editor
Hi Gemma. Sorry to here that. Picking the right boat can be crucial can’t it? The clientele on our boat was maybe a bit older Thanks for your comment.
Mary {The World Is A Book}
Wow! What a great way to see Halong Bay. This is also on my travel wish list and now I may not see Halong Bay any other way than through a cruising option like this. I love that you were able to see a lot of places and then return to the comforts of the boat. Thanks for the travel inspiration!
Editor
Mary, It was great to get on and off the boat and the two day trip took us deeper into Halong Bay. More relaxing and we got to see more. I think I would have been disappointed if I only did 1 night!
Jennifer
Fantastic post! Thank you for sharing your adventures!
Editor
Hi Jennifer. Thanks for your comment. It can be hard to find out information in Vietnam so happy to share.
Himanshu
WOW. You have had a great time. Loved the last golden hour pic.
Editor
Yes it was a great time! Highly recommend it!
mar
Interesting to hear someone else who had a great time. Halong Bay was and continues to be one of my worst disappointments. I did also the 3 days and 2 nights cruise and thought the area was dirty with plenty of rubbish floating around and absolutely over run with loud and dirty tourists throwing their paper wraps everywhere. There were so many boats the area was packed. I felt very sad for the place. UNESCO threatened to remove them from the list if they did not improve the caring and conservation of the area, particularly the rubbish. it seems that maybe I went during the wrong time. Glad you had a good time!
Editor
Mar, I wasn’t sure what to expect. We did not going during peak season which I think helps considerably!
Nikoleta MÃchalová
This is really a spectacular place 😉
Editor
Nikoleta, It was spectacular. Vietnam in general is a very scenic country.
Mary Charie | Two Monkeys Travel
I will be moving to Hanoi soon. And will do a castaway in Ha Long Bay!
Editor
Mary,
Enjoy your time in Hanoi! There will be a post about Hanoi later this week.
Dannielle Lily
Hmm I did a cruise of Halong Bay and although there’s no denying that it’s a natural beauty, it upset me that tourists seem to be ruining it!
Editor
Dannielle, We didn’t get that impression while we were there but we weren’t there at a peak time either. It is a delicate balance for many places to manage, especially as tourism demand continues to increase. One of the place we have been that manages it well it the Inca Trail, but I think it took them a long time to get the system in place they have now.
Irene
Great post! You have an amazing blog:)
What about following each other on Instagram, Bloglovin, Twitter? Let me know:)
irenethayer.com
Editor
Irene, You can find us on twitter @CompassandFork and on pinterest, we are also on Bloglovin’ Glad you enjoy the blog!