Halong Bay, listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located 105 miles (170 km) east of Hanoi, Vietnam. Halong translates as ‘where the dragon descends into the sea.’ Legend claims that the islands of Halong Bay were created by a great dragon who lived in the mountains. The excellent tour experience and stunningly picturesque Halong Bay could bring home unforgettable memories for you to keep forever.
There are thousands of limestone islands rising out of the sea. Each has its unique size and shape. Some have dramatic arches and hollowed caves, while others remain completely untouched.
Best Time to Visit Halong Bay
I was their end of April and experienced one of the best weather in Halong Bay, but still, it’s a year-round destination based on your own preferences. Plenty of discount airline deals are available online; check yours from sky scanner.
Weather in Halong Bay: Springtime between March-May and fall between September – November would be the best time to visit Halong Bay. The climate is usually dry during these periods, and the weather is pleasant.
Best Time for Budget Travel: During the off-season, savings on hotels and cruise ships are significant compared to the high season. So not a bad idea for budget-minded visitors to travel between May and September. However, it’s important to know that the months of July to August may encounter unpredictable weather due to hurricanes and storms and get the trip canceled.
Picking Right Tour
There are hundreds of tour operators to choose from, but choosing the right one is essential. Note that the total cost should include meals, activity and entry fees, transfers, and accommodation. Don’t settle for super cheap offers. Reputed companies will definitely pay off for a great experience in Halong Bay, like delicious local food on board the cruise, comfortable cabins, safe and luxurious boats, English-speaking guides, etc.
How to Get There
The easiest way to get to Halong Bay is from Hanoi. I stayed in the Old Quarter by Hoan Kiem Lake, and plenty of cruise companies were operating out of that area. So it was not a problem to check out a few and get the best organized all-inclusive tour suitable for me. It’s a little over a 3-hour minibus trip to Bai Chay Wharf in Halong Bay. You could also do the self-guided tour by eliminating the middleman, but not recommended for tourists.
My Trip Story From Hanoi to Halong Bay
As part of 2 days, 1 night (2D1N) package trip, I was picked up by the tour guide from my Old Quarter hotel in Hanoi at 7:45 am, and the minibus made a couple of stops on the way to pick up a few more before leaving the town for Halong Bay. Our English-speaking tour guide kept us entertained during the trip.
We drove through many small towns and, in between towns, had the opportunity to view the Vietnamese village life with lush green hills, forests, and paddy fields on both sides of the highway. Finally, after a little over 3 hours, we arrived at Bai Chay Wharf in Halong city around 11:00 am.
The First Time I am Boarding a Junk Boat
After, we walked down the dock and then got on to a small boat to be transported to the main boat anchored a little away from the shore. It was a gorgeous-looking traditional junk boat. The junk looked nicer than I expected. There was a large dining room and an upper deck with lounge chairs and potted plants.
After we settled into our cabins, we went for a delicious Vietnamese buffet lunch in the upper deck restaurant. While we were having lunch, the captain started the engine and headed to Bai Tu Long Bay, passing the towns of Hon Gai and Cam Pha. On my way, I saw thousands of Limestone islands, not only the cliffs that impressed me but also their dropping shapes and numbers. It’s like the huge bay is dotted with thousands of mostly uninhabited jagged limestone islands.
The Scenic Halong Bay is definitely a photographer’s paradise. It is definitely one of the most stunning natural scenery in Vietnam and is ideal for capturing magnificent photos.
Arrival at Halong Bay
We arrived in the Halong Bay area; our Junk ship anchored in shallow water away from the bay and had to be transported with a small feeding boat to the Island where Hang Sung Sot Cave is. We had to climb 100s of stairs to get to the magnificent cave entrance. In the end, we were rewarded with a spectacular view of Halong bay with all the dropping dragons (islands) and anchored Junks from the higher elevation of the mountain. While Sun was about to set, we returned to our junk boat and spent most of the time on the rooftop to enjoy the sunset; what an awesome view.
I have also enjoyed Kayaking in the bay and hopping from one islet to another, not to mention that I got tired pretty soon as I am not used to heavy-duty Kayaking. But, when I returned to reality, it was almost getting dark and time for us to return to our junk.
Spending Overnight on a Junk Boat
Anyway, back to our cabins, I managed to shower in the tiny box. I was a little hungry after all the fun activities throughout the day. We had dinner at the restaurant upstairs; the food was delicious, and many courses and a lot of seafood.
After dinner, I hung out on the rooftop for a couple of hours as our boat dropped anchor for the night. Lying on the roof on a beach chair and watching stars in the clear sky was once in a lifetime experience.
Spending overnight on the boat was interesting. First, I woke up very early to take some nice pictures of the Sunrise. Then, a delicious breakfast was served while the captain started the boat and finally cruised back. On our return, we made a quick stop at Cat Ba Island before arriving at Bai Chay Wharf. Our minibus was already waiting for us at the harbor. Finally, we arrived in Hanoi around 7:00 pm.
Top Things To Do In Halong Bay
Most importantly, just the experience of being in Halong Bay is enough. But if you like to do little extra activities, there are many things that will keep you busy for a couple of days. There are plenty of ways to enjoy Halong Bay. Here are a few activities that are popular among tourists.
National Park in Halong Bay
For an amazing hiking experience, visit Cat Ba National Park—a great place to enjoy its beautiful coastal cliffs, white beaches, and sleepy fishing villages. If you have time and are interested in these activities, check out your tour company.
Kayaking in Halong Bay
My tour included Kayaking on our itineraries, a popular activity in Halong Bay. The environment is perfect as the water is calm, the current is fine, and the wind is mild for kayaking with low-arching caves, tranquil conditions, and picture-perfect lagoons absolute paradise. Definitely, you need to try it and discover a few secret lagoons.
Visit Caves in Halong Bay
One of the most popular sightseeing activities in Halong Bay is to visit one of the islands called Bo Hon, and the Sung Sot cave. A small transporter boat picked us up from the Junk boat and dropped us off at the island. We took an elevator halfway to the top of the hill, then to the stairs to climb up the rest of the way to the top. The cave was spectacular, with different colors and shapes of rock formations. The natural skylight falls from above through a large opening creating a spectacular colorful view of the rock formations.
Where To Stay
Accommodation in Halong Bay ranges from budget hotels, luxury Junk Boat to luxury hotels.
Great Pictures Pathway to My Memory Lane
Have you been to Halong Bay? Any additional tips to share?
Please leave a comment below! I’d love to hear from you to improve my knowledge.
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