Travelling to Halong Bay: tips to plan your trip
What’s up about Halong Bay
Location and seascapes
Located in the Gulf of Tonkin, Halong bay covers the area of 1,553 km2 with 2,000 islands and islets forming the seascape of limestone pillars. The outstanding scenic beauty is complemented by its great biological interest. In 1994, the core zone of Halong Bay was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site according to criterion vii, and listed for a second time according to criterion viii.
You do not come here just to visit its spectacular seascapes, and…herds of tourists who want to see the movie location of The Indochine won the Oscar in 1993. You can go to explore the local life here as well as cruising deep into the heritage sites for more unforgettable experiences.
Grottos and Caves
There are so many caves in Halong Bay, I just mention the most popular ones. In Route one just for 1-day boat trip cruising, you may visit Thien Cung Grotto (heavenly palace). This is huge and enhanced by chains of lights inside with different shapes of animals. They are formed due to millions of years of rock erosion by water, creating system of stalagmites and stalactites on both ceiling and grounds. Then you can explore Ba Hang by sampan boat rowed by locals. Its passage is only 2 meters high, that means you need to bow your head. Further than this, you may approach Sung Sot cave (Surprising Cave), however, you can only get there by overnight cruises or book with We Go Halong (the only day cruises with itinerary to visit this cave and Titov island). By the side of Sung Sot cave, you can rent a kayak to Bo Nau cave which is located just opposite to Sung Sot cave. Please put on shoes and spray insect repellents because snakes and mosquitos are quite popular there.
Up to the North, Hang Trong (Drum cave) is accessible for its fame of being the home for events with dining and wine party for big groups who wish to have unique dining inside the cave. Near Cat Ba island, there are Hang Sang, Hang Toi (bright and dark cave). These are for those who love to explore its mystery by adventure kayaks.
What activities you may join?
You have quite a lot of options: If you are a normal traveler, just get on the boat for cruising 4 – 5 hours (including meals, kayaking/sampan boat rowing by locals, then taking photos and watch sunset). Here are some reliable tour companies operating the day trip with high recommendation from travelers:
This is a budget cruise going directly to Titov island and visiting Sung Sot cave, they provide full package tours including 2 way bus ticket, 5 hour cruising, lunch…
With 4-hour cruising with transport from Hanoi, lunch, visit Thien Cung grotto, kayaking/sampan boat rowing, even you can have 1 cup of Jasmine tea free with some cookies. You need to accept some noises from others (it hosts maximum 35 passengers aboard)
The one I booked and went with. They only host maximum 24 guests and you may have your own table for your group, bus with plenty of room, good food and great staff. I love the way they display each room on boat, new and clean.
- For overnight cruises
you have so many ones to opt, Indochina-junk.com; www.orientalsails.com with the same quality. With lower standard, I do not not recommend any cruises, if you go with them, a little dissatisfaction may be happened. So please see them on tripadvisor to see how other travelers rated. The only way to visit Halong Bay that you should choose the reliable Tour Operator to book with.
www.paradisecruise.com for higher standard
How to get to Halong city?
There many ways to get to Halong city. Local bus is not a fuss, you can start from My Dinh bus station with low fare, not ontime and you need to take taxi from gate of Tuan Chau island to the dock. The fare is from 100.000 vnd – 120,000vnd/person/ 1 way. You can go with Kalong bus, Kumho from Gia Lam bus station – 15 minutes walking from the Old Quarter.
Tour bus is the most recommended one, you can book with the tour operators only bus ticket to Tuan Chau Dock, 1-way fare is 150,000 – 200,000 vnd/person then
- If you go by yourself, spend 40,000vnd/person for using public services in Tuan Chau Dock as toilet, sitting in a cool waiting room…then buy a ticket of 4-hour cruising (600,000 vnd/person) to visit Thien Cung Grotto, lunch can be prepared by yourself. There is a supermarket inside the waiting room.
- If you want to go with package tour, you should book from Hanoi in advance because when you are in Tuan Chau, not much time to contact the right cruise to go with.
I recommend you to book the whole package 1-day trip to eliminate risks and worries
Where to stay overnight in Tuan Chau harbor?
If you would like to stay overnight in Tuan Chau harbor, you do not have many choices. Here are some acceptable hotels you can stay cheap: Seaside Tuan Chau hotel
If you stay in Halong city, there are a list for you:
Halong Backpacker hostel: Just located in Anh Dao street where you can access to Sun Park with night market in Halong city. 1 bed may cost you from 120,000 – 150,000 vnd including basic
breakfast and toiletries.
BMC hotel: if you are not strict to have a shining room but a clean, large room with all facilities functioning, this hotel is for you. If is located right opposite to the Old Harbor and you can walk to the beach and Sun Park easily. Standard room can be booked with 600,000 vnd/room/night
Wyndham Legend Halong Hotel: Located in 12 Halong street is a good option if you pay a little higher, room rate may be included entrance tickets to Sun Park. Room rates can be seen at Agoda
Things to know when you visit Halong Bay
Prepare sun cream, hat/cap with you to Halong Bay, the weather there is changing quicky due to Sea climate. You should bring cash (VND, USD, EUR) when you travel, ATM machines sometimes do not function well, paying by credit card is only accepted in the big hotel or shopping center, 3% surcharge may be applied.
There are not many locals who can speak English fluently, even you join the 1-day tour to visit Halong Bay. A few times, the weather is changing badly, the Halong management board may ban all cruises departing, so be aware of the weather when you get there.