Review of the excursion to Halong Bay. How to choose an excursion, how to get to Halong, cost, useful tips.

Vietnam - tourist review of Halong Bay

Halong Bay - one of the most famous landmarks in Vietnam, is also a minefield for anyone who wants to buy a guided tour of this beautiful bay. This article will show you how to find a good Halong Bay tour operator and not run into scammers.

The legend of the emergence of Halong Bay in Vietnam says that during the Vietnam war with China, God sent a family of dragons to help the Vietnamese to protect their lands from invaders. The dragons descended to the place where the bay is now located and began to spit out precious stones and jade, which, in contact with water, turned into islands that adorn the coast and form a formidable defensive fortress against the invaders. The dragons loved the beautiful bay with calm waters and the kind attitude of the Vietnamese so much that they decided to stay. The mother of dragons lies in Halong Bay, and her children in the neighboring Bai Tu Long Bay.

Halong bay on the map of Vietnam

Halong Bay is located in the Tunka Bay of Vietnam. It is undeniably an extremely beautiful place, and the only way to get up close and personal with the dragon family and the jewels they spit is by taking a cruise across the bay's thousands of islets. Choosing the right boat, and the route is a rather difficult task, because hundreds of tour operators and cruisers conduct excursions here every day. Most often, excursions to Halong Bay begin in Hanoi, here you can buy a tour that includes transportation from Hanoi to the bay by bus, and then after the cruise you will be returned to Hanoi.

Which tour operator to choose for an excursion to Halong Bay (Vietnam)?

The second time I visited Halong Bay with my father. My first experience was not the best, so this time I wanted to do everything right and choose a good tour operator with a solid reputation. I scoured the forums and websites of tour operators all day and found only a dozen really large companies that had many different junk - traditional Vietnamese boats that ply in Halong Bay. But I read hundreds of reviews of tourists about unsafe boats, cases of deception, when the actual junk was very different from the declared one for the worse, right down to the rats on board.

Prices for excursions to Halong Bay

In the case of an excursion to Halong, it is very difficult to know in advance what awaits you. First, there is a very wide range of prices from $ 45 / day to $ 500 for an individual excursion. All tour operators have beautiful photos, a lot of positive reviews, but based on my previous experience, I already knew that many of the companies would not even live to see the first complaints.

Which excursion to choose?

First, you need to decide which tour duration you will choose. There is a one-day tour, a 2-day overnight tour, a 3-day / 2-night tour and a personal cruise where you rent a junk just for yourself.

After you decide how much time to spend on a tour of Halong Bay, you need to decide how much you plan to spend. There is also a choice here. You can choose a tour with high-quality service, white tablecloths and a chef who will wind you up with beautiful dragons made from fruits. And there are budget options with parties until late at night. It is very important to decide in advance what type of cruise is right for you, so as not to be disappointed that you cannot fall asleep at night because of the noise or, on the contrary, you want to have fun, and not with whom.

To find out the current prices for excursions and, possibly, purchase an excursion with a good discount, I recommend that you use the form below. Just enter the planned date of the tour. There are both 2-day and 3-day tours, as well as many tourist reviews about the trip to Halong Bay. Prices start at 5000 rubles, but you are guaranteed not to float in the trough. You can read about negative experiences.

My experience of excursion to Halong Bay from Hanoi

How to get from Hanoi to Halong on your own

Use the search form to find out the ticket price and the exact departure time of transport to Hai Phong. Haiphong is the closest city to Halong Bay. It is from here that all cruise junks depart and return here.

How to get from Hanoi to Halong for free and back

My dad and I chose the cruise on Agoda's website and, as with most things, our tour operator offered a free transfer from Hanoi to Halong and back. At 8 am a minibus was waiting for us near the hotel, we drove around the city a little more, picking up all the tourists and already at 8.30 moved towards Halong Bay.

A nice lady guide introduced herself to us all in English and handed out bottles of water. She asked if any of us are celebrating any of their holidays and if anyone has any special wishes regarding food and accommodation. Then she warned us that we would arrive at the place in 3.5 hours, and on the way we would make a short stop at a tourist shop.

When we arrived in Halong, we were placed in the dining room and seated at tables according to which junk we were sailing. We got to know the cruise director, who said that the ships are currently washing and restocking and that soon we will be able to board. I looked around and noticed that our travel agency Indochina Junk has 5 more names and 12 different junk. We were told that all boats are the same, but I started to get nervous and remember the reviews on the forums.

Loading on board a ship in Halong Bay

After a while they took us to the docks, we got into a small boat and headed towards the junk. On the way, we sailed several identical ships, and as soon as we saw our own, we realized that we were not deceived and everything was in order. The junk looked new and in mint condition.

We boarded and headed to the main junk deck, where lunch was already served. After a brief introduction to the ship and safety instructions, the cruise director introduced us to the junk staff and told us about the itinerary. Then we sat down to dinner. They treated us with delicious Vietnamese dishes.

After lunch we went to get acquainted with the cabins. They were all clean and spacious with modern bathrooms. It is in no way comparable to my first unsuccessful excursion in Halong Bay.

Dau Tien Island

When we sailed to Dau Tian Island, which was owned by a tour operator, the guide told us that a family of 7 lived in a cave on this island, but the company convinced them to move to a fishing village and helped them get settled there. He also said that two of this family are alive and to this day work for a tour operator.

We climbed up to see the cave in which these people lived, it was small and completely uninteresting. There was literally nothing to see, if the guide didn't tell stories and joke, we would hardly have stayed there even for 5 minutes.

When we got out of the cave and looked around, we saw 7 junk standing near the island. I joked that the company promised no other tourists due to the privileged right to the island, but forgot to mention that their own junkies would be sailing here at the same time.

How we boated on Halong Bay

After the cave, most of us took our boats and circled the neighboring island. This is a great way to see the islands up close. We returned and some tourists decided to take a dip. I didn't join them because the water was cold and dirty. For a while, we just relaxed on a beach specially created for such occasions. As it turned out, Halong Bay has no natural beaches. In the late afternoon we returned to our junk to sail to the place where we will anchor for the night.

A delicious Vietnamese dinner awaited us on the ship, which we had a pleasant time talking with other tourists. After dinner, some of the tourists went to their cabins, and some went up to the upper decks to talk, drink beer and admire the stars.

Floating Village and Pearl Farm

Early in the morning we boarded a small motorized boat and headed for a floating village and pearl farm. There we got into bamboo boats and we were taken to the village. As soon as we turned the corner, an unusual picture opened up in front of us - several small clusters of houses floating on the water and one largest house, obviously the center of the village. We were shown a school, a community center, a few pearl farmers at work, and a gift shop. To tell the truth, I got the impression that I did not visit a village where people live, but rather a tourist attraction where they just work.

Then we went back to junk, had breakfast and started packing our things. the tour ended and we were sailing towards Halong City.

Return to Hanoi

A day later, after we first boarded the junk, we were already loading our things into a minibus to return to Hanoi. The trip was short, claimed 2 days and 1 night was actually 2 half day and night. But overall, I liked everything. If you are interested in the beauty of nature, and not in tourist attractions, then a day is more than enough to explore the bay.

Brief summary of the excursion to Halong Bay

The junk on which we sailed this time was many times better and newer than the one on which I made my first excursion to Halong Bay 2 years ago. I think there was no big difference in what we saw - the same landscapes, karst shores and a floating village. This time the rooms were clean, comfortable, the food was delicious, and at night no one was making noise in a drunken stupor. The menu was for vegetarians, for people with food allergies, and for mere mortals, so we had a choice. Overall, the service was good, the staff were polite and smiling.

Finally ... don't worry about the weather in Halong Bay

I understand the concern before booking an excursion - what if the weather is bad, because the whole trip is down the drain. I can assure you, there is not much difference, the bay is still very beautiful. On this trip, the weather was rainy and cloudy, although the sun came out several times. But it was not hot and I managed to take some beautiful photos of the foggy bay.

(Vietnam). A photo of this natural landmark will be enough to understand why UNESCO included the bay in the list of World Heritage of Humanity in 1994. And all the tour operators that send their clients to Southeast Asia repeat by a refrain: "If you haven't admired Halong, you haven't seen Vietnam!" Well, let's follow the recommendations of the travel agents. In this article, we will tell you when is the best time to visit Halong, how to get there from popular places to stay and what else to see in the surrounding area. The origin of the bay is associated with a beautiful dragon legend. The monster lived in the mountains for a long time, until it suddenly became furious. All crushing in its path, the dragon plunged into the sea. Now only its island teeth stick out from the surface of the water. And the name "Halong" is translated as "The place where the dragon sank into the sea."

Where is the bay

The main natural site is located in the north-east of the country. The city of the same name belongs to the province of Nuang Ninh. And Halong Bay (Vietnam) is part of (locals call it Bakbo) of the South China Sea of \u200b\u200bthe Pacific Basin. What is this lagoon so famous for? Its area is one and a half thousand square kilometers. And throughout the bay in a chaotic manner are scattered over one thousand six hundred islets and simply rocks. Some have such a bizarre shape that when you look at them it seems as if you are Alice who has entered the land of fairy tales. If you swim to the islets by boat, you will see numerous grottoes and caves - with stalactites and stalagmites. There are also deserted beaches, jungles and other beauty. In a word, paradise. And it is recommended to visit here for everyone who came to this country of Southeast Asia.

When is the best time to visit Halong

This attraction of unearthly beauty never lacks guests. And the inhabitants of the city of the same name make money on this, which, with the exception of the bay, is nothing interesting in terms of tourism. But do not forget that this region is North Vietnam. Halong is often shrouded in fog in winter and watered with drizzling rain. This off-season runs from February to early April. And although the sea is not stormy, visibility is rather poor. And the windy, damp and slightly cold weather does not dispose to admire the beauty. And the rest of the year, the bay appears to amazed travelers from all over the world in all its irresistible charm. If you want to combine contemplation of natural beauty with swimming, of course, it is good to choose the hot summer months for this. But then there is a high probability of rain. The high season in the area is April-May and September-October.

Vietnam, Halong Bay: how to get there

The attraction is only one hundred and seventy kilometers away from the capital of the country. Therefore, you can easily go here for one day. Intercity buses run from Hanoi to Halong City. They leave from Mai Dinh. It is possible to leave by train, either by regular or high-speed express. Another great option is to buy a one-day excursion to Halong Bay. You will be quickly delivered to your place in comfortable minivans and taken by a tourist boat to the large island of Catba. The tour lasts over six hours and includes visits to iconic landmarks in the bay. Independent tourists need to reserve a place in the boat themselves. The ticket will cost one hundred and thirty thousand dongs. This price includes entrance to the national park. A taxi ride from Hanoi will cost fifty US dollars.

Day trip to fabulous bay from other resort towns

Many tourists dream of seeing with their own eyes the marvelous Halong Bay (Vietnam). Getting to him from Hanoi is not very difficult. After all, modern types of transport will help you overcome a distance of one hundred and seventy kilometers in a couple of hours. But is it possible to visit the bay in one day, coming from other resorts in Vietnam? If you are resting in the north of the country, in Haiphong or Sapa, then getting to Halong city is also not difficult. You may not even need to travel to Hanoi for this. But is it possible to visit the bay from the more southern resorts of the country? From or from the city of Ho Chi Minh City, this is unlikely to work. At least one day. Is Halong Bay (Vietnam) accessible to tourists from Nha Trang? Local bureaus undertake to organize excursions to the fabulous bay for $ 450 per person. But often they return the money because there are not enough people willing to form a group. For a hundred dollars, it is quite possible to go to Halong on your own. But for this, you first need to get to Hanoi. This is easy to do on board Vietnam Airlines, JetStar or VietJet aircraft. And from there, by train or bus, you can easily get to the coveted bay.

Halong hotels (Vietnam)

This town is called the Gateway to Paradise. Doors are like doors. For those who aspire to heaven, the gate to it is not interesting. And all the guidebooks bypass the sights of the city of Halong in deathly silence. So what can you see in this village, built on an artificial dam that connected two capes? Only Halong Bay! The sandy beaches of the city are loose, they are not of interest to divers. The city is regarded by most travelers as a place to spend the night after admiring the evening bay. Therefore, there is no shortage of hotels in Halong. You can stay in budget hotels away from the sea or in luxury "five" on the first line. Among the most worthy are Winpearl Ha Long Resort. If you want to extend your vacation in a fabulous bay, then you can book a hotel on one of the large islands of the bay - at your service Catba or Tuan Chau. An unforgettable night will be on board a luxury liner (for example, "Signature Royal Cruise") or a traditional junky ("Imperial Classic"), which is moored in a picturesque place.

Types of excursions. Flight over the bay

For travelers arriving in Vietnam, Halong is "must see No. 1". Therefore, the travel agency offers a variety of excursions to this bay. Those who are not sorry to part with $ 175 can get a bird's eye view of Halong Bay. In order for the helicopter tour to take place, it is enough to recruit six people. Such a trip can be ordered from Northern Airport Flight Service Company. Departures operate every Saturday at 8 am from Hanoi's Gia Lam. If you are a guest of the Sofitel Metropol Hotel, you will be taken to the hotel free of charge. From above, you will see all the islands of Halong Bay and take breathtaking photos.

Other excursions

You don't need a boat to get to the nearby Tuan Chau Island. Indeed, it is connected with the mainland by a one kilometer long bridge. The island has a dolphinarium and several hotels - both expensive and simple guesthouses. A regular excursion involves a two-hour cruise along the bay on a simple boat with a landing at one of the beaches of Catba. For Russian tourists arriving in Vietnam, Halong may be of interest to Titov Island. The famous Soviet cosmonaut visited here in the 70s, and now one of the rocks bears his name. The islands of the bay abound with caves and grottoes, which can be accessed directly by boat. Catba is famous for its pristine jungle and mangroves along its banks.

What to bring from Halong

This bay is famous throughout Vietnam. Halong has been featured on advertising posters about the country, replicated on many postcards, magnets, mugs and T-shirts. Therefore, you will be provided with souvenirs. As a reminder of the beautiful legend of the origin of Halong Bay, get a dragon figurine. Also at the souvenir market of the city you can buy a beautiful model of a traditional junky under scarlet sails. These ply along the bay. If you book a boat in advance, you can spend the night on board or go fishing from it.

Halong Bay is located in the north of Vietnam in the South China Sea and has an area of \u200b\u200bover 1,500 sq. km. It contains several thousand islets, caves and cliffs - unique natural attractions.

Translated from the Vietnamese language, the name Halong means "The bay where the dragon descends". In the mid-90s of the last century, it was included in the famous UNESCO list and today is under state protection.

At the beginning of the 21st century, Halong Bay was recognized as a natural wonder of the world. It has an extraordinary, one-of-a-kind landscape, which is most interesting to observe while taking a boat ride between the rocks.

Brief Description of Halong Bay

Almost all the islands in the bay were formed of rocks. Over the millennia, an uncountable number of caves have appeared in them. Each of them contains stalactites, stalagmites, waterfalls, etc.

The most interesting and famous caves in Halong Bay are equipped with multi-colored lighting, thanks to which they have turned into fabulous underground palaces. Such natural artifacts are extremely popular with tourists.

There is no serious tourist infrastructure to have a good rest. The bay is exclusively an object of inspection and research for one or more days.

You can stay at a hotel on one of the most interesting local islands of Cat Ba and spend several days near the bay, enjoying the surrounding nature and the mysteries hidden in the caves.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW! When going to Halong Bay, remember that accidents with tourists, including death, often occur here. This is due to old ramshackle boats, on which tourists ride along the bay.

1. Cave of surprises... This is the best cave in the entire bay. Tourists visiting it are absolutely delighted. As you move deeper, it becomes more and more beautiful and more diverse, leading guests to admiration.

The cave ceiling is decorated with stalactites like colored chandeliers. On the floor are rocks of various shapes. Here you can see various animals, trees, flowers, etc. The further into the cave, the more interesting.

2. Monsters... In Vietnam, many are convinced that a large mysterious animal lives in the depths of the Halong caves. Some saw a giant snake with large eyes, at least 20 meters long, covered with scales.

At the beginning of the last century, French sailors noticed a creature with a turtle's head more than a meter long and a huge body with a crest near Halong Bay. He managed to hide from his pursuers in the depths of the sea.

As in all of Vietnam, Halong Bay has a pronounced tropical climate. The whole year is divided into two seasons: hot and very humid, rainy summers, and cold and very dry winters.

It is best to travel around the bay in April or May, or September or October. In principle, you can come to Halong at any time of the year. But a special pilgrimage takes place during the months indicated above: late spring and early autumn.

Of course, there is no frost here in winter, but very cold, piercing winds are possible. And in summer, showers often occur, from which you can get wet through and through in a minute. Therefore, prepare in advance for the trip, take warm clothes or an umbrella.

At the beginning of March it becomes warm here, the water in the sea warms up, you can start swimming. The favorable season for visiting Halong Bay is approaching. It is hot all summer with heavy rains. In the first half of autumn, you can again go to Halong.

In Halong, most tourists come from Hanoi. The Chinese come here from Nha Trang by bus. To get to the bay from Ho Chi Minh City, you will have to fly by plane to Haiphong. You can also book a taxi transfer from Hanoi to the bay.

Hanoi to Halong by bus

The easiest and most convenient way is to get to the bay by bus. From Hanoi to Halong, a tourist bus ticket costs about $ 10, it travels at least 3 hours. A trip on a regular bus will cost less: 50,000 VND or $ 2.16.

Regular buses move very slowly, they often stop, so it will take 5-6 hours to get from Hanoi to Halong. The final stop along the way is called Bai Chai Bus Station.

If you want to get to the pier, from where pleasure boats leave for Halong Bay, then stop at the pier in Halong. There you should buy a tour of the bay and immediately set off on a journey.

Halong Bay is one of the main attractions of Vietnam. Halong is located in the northern part of the country, 300 km from Hanoi. Like everyone who is going to go to one of the most high-profile sights of northern Vietnam, we read reviews, compared the opinions of different people, listened to those we trust and chose the most optimal option for both of us.

Wonderful Place in Vietnam - Halong Bay

How to go to Halong

• Tour for 1 day for $ 40-60. If you want to see the famous Halong Bay, take pictures at the viewing platforms, visit a cave, take a boat ride and return to your hotel in the evening, then you need to buy a one-day tour. It is no different from the two-day program, except for an overnight stay on the ship.
• Tour for 2-3 days from $ 100. If, in your opinion, it is romantic to spend the night in the ship's cabin, you have a free $ 150-200 per person and there are enough days in Vietnam, then take a tour for 2-3 days.

Although we are romantics, we somehow intuitively felt what we needed specifically. Having traveled one day and looking at Halong for several hours, we realized that we had not lost anything. In 1 day we saw the most beautiful and at the same time gained time. We bought the tour at the reception of our hotel and did not lose.

Halong Bay Day Tour

At 7:40 am a minibus came to pick us up at the hotel. Unexpectedly, a minibus, because the journey from Hanoi to Halong takes 4 hours. Even before we were driven by a big bus, even if the road was only 2.5 hours. On the way, they brought me to a gift shop with a toilet. Everything as usual.

The guide was a wonderful Vietnamese student. She spoke excellent English and most of the information was clear. The guide immediately informed us that nowhere would rush us, so that we would not feel like on a typical excursion, where we were running everywhere in order to have time to see everything. So in the end it happened, we had time everywhere, we were in no hurry.

After 4 hours, the roads arrived at the port, from where ships depart for Halong.

As soon as the group left the minibus, we immediately went to the ship that was already waiting for us. We did not languish for half an hour waiting, as is the case with other tourists. The ship was modest, but very dignified, clean, with an open upper deck.

European girls undressed to sunbathe

Lunch on the ship overlooking Halong bay

It's time to satisfy your hunger. Dinner time came as soon as they sailed from the mainland. The dinner was not at all good. There was no buffet and the food left a lot to be desired.

They brought one fish for 6 people, meat, some kind of cabbage snack and tofu. Fortunately, Koreans were sitting with us at the table and apparently realized that I do not eat meat. Therefore, I ate most of the fish

Drinks are available for a fee. Prices are low, see for yourself. For the same prices we buy drinks in cafes in Hanoi. We had our own water, it was not forbidden to drink it.

Mountains in Halong Bay

After lunch, we went upstairs and contemplated the passing mountains.

Despite the many opinions that the rocks in and the rocks in Halong are one and the same, we did not think so. They are somewhat similar, but the key word is similar, not identical. Only vaguely reminiscent.

The cliffs in the Krabi province are more elongated, tall and bare. The cliffs from Halong are green and fluffy. Mostly completely overgrown with trees. They are so shaggy that you want to reach out with your hand and stroke.

In Halong Bay, the rocks are presented in such a huge number that you swim and do not see the edges, where they end. There are ten times more of them than in Krabi.

Ha Long Observation Deck and Largest Cave

A little later, we were dropped off at the first stop with an observation deck. Climbing it is not difficult, it is not very high.

That rare case when I asked an outsider to take a photo and it turned out to be successful

Surprise Cave in Halong Bay

The cave was the next place after the observation deck. She's huge and so fantastic ...

This is the most beautiful cave we have seen

The cave is brightly illuminated by various lamps, and there are steps and bridges along its entire length. A comfortable and convenient inspection is definitely guaranteed to you.

Surprising cave really turned out to be a surprise for us

You can wander through such caves for hours, and not like in Ninh Bing or James Bond, when you swim in a canoe, swim down and in the dark you try to make out at least something, a candle with your flashlight. At the same time, it also stinks of bats' waste.

Everything was perfect in Halong Cave. Clean, beautiful, safe. We were given enough time and our group in the cave was the only one. It was the same on, when our group was brought before the massive arrival of the Chinese and all other tourists, so that we could photograph up and down every corner of this island and be in silence. This time we were lucky again with the agency.

Second observation deck

After getting out of the cave, there was again an observation deck and a small counter with souvenirs.

Having passed the bridge, which reminded us, we loaded onto our ship and sailed to Titov Island.

Where can I book an airport transfer?

We use the service - KiwiTaxi
We ordered a taxi online, paid with a card. We were greeted at the airport with a sign with our name. Drove to the hotel in a comfortable car. They have already told about their experience in this article.

Titova Island in Halong

Our cosmonaut German Titov found a name island and monument in Halong Bay, thanks to friendly relations with Ho Chi Minh City. For some reason, only on his monument is Ti Top, not TiTov. We even came up with a version that Ti Top can be an abbreviation for the English Titov Top, Titov's summit?

There are not as many people on Titov Island as it could be. The beach, of course, is not a bounty, but the water is transparent, the garbage does not float in it and you can swim.

Titov Island Beach

Rent of a sunbed-chair 30,000 dongs ($ 1.5). Very cheap for such a tourist destination

The mountains are close, the views are crazy. Even a little bottom near the coast is visible. In principle, a very bathing island

To stay on Titov Island is given 1 hour. We decided to swim in a more suitable place, sometime next time and on another island. It is better to devote the allotted time to the ascent to the most beautiful observation deck in Halong Bay.

Observation deck on Titov Island

The ascent to the view point turned out to be more difficult than on the previous viewing points. In addition, there were crowds of people on the narrow staircase, even traffic jams sometimes formed. We didn’t climb to the very top.

We stopped in the middle. From here, there is already a magnificent view and fewer people.

We stood and watched for 20 minutes

There is even time left to go downstairs, wander along the beach and drink an expensive coconut for 50,000 dongs ($ 2.5).

In Halong Bay, we spent 4 hours in total.On the way back, all tired, but happy, set off back and headed to the pier, where a minibus was waiting for us.

We swim and see the departing sun. Thank you Halong for spending a day in your bay. And thanks for the sunny weather!

A 4-hour road to Hanoi was waiting for us back, which seemed to never end

Halong reviews and conclusions on excursions

Is it worth going to Halong? Yes, it's worth it. Be sure to come when you find yourself in Hanoi. Even if you have already seen rocks in Thailand. The views are cooler. But, if you are vacationing in Mui Ne or in Nha Trang, then we don't think it's worth paying $ 400 for an excursion and flying because of Halong.

If you have already been to Krabi and now doubted that Halong Bay will not touch your soul and will not make any impression, then I hope that you will take our word for it. Halong Bay impressed even us, having seen enough of such beauty in Sam Roy Yot National Park, Ninh Binh, Vang Vieng and the Krabi Islands, for example.

Although the mountains are similar to Krabi, they are different here. And there are more of them. Uncountable number. The scale is astounding. Even the simplest one-day excursion will be remembered for a long time!

Perhaps when you just go to Halong for show, then such an excursion may not be remembered in anything. This is rare with us, but it also happened. But now, from a 2-month stay in Russia, we were so glad that we hadn't canceled the trip to Ha Long at all. But such a thought slipped more than once.

Panoramic photo of Halong

Excursion to Halong for 1 day or 2 days - which is better?

Our subjective opinion is that it is not necessary to take two or even more three-day tours to Halong. You go to see the bay with mountains and 4 hours is more than enough. Well, the way back to Hanoi is not so tiring in fact.

Please also note that the two-day excursions are not as tempting as they seem at first glance. The program is exactly the same as our one day tour. The only difference is that you spend the night on the ship. Moreover, such a tour costs 2-3 times more - from $ 100 per person. The price depends on the quality of the ship. There are 2, 3, 4 and 5 star ships.

You can certainly argue and say that while we trudge back to Hanoi in minibuses, you continue to admire the bay. But it gets dark in Vietnam at 18 o'clock. From the window of your cabin you will only see the darkness and nothing else. Add to this boring thing on the ship and somehow working wi-fi. A dubious pleasure, I tell you.

On the second day no outstanding program is offered. Tourists will be evicted early in the morning from the cabin of the ship, and the only entertainment will be canoeing in the area of \u200b\u200bTitov Island and a master class in Vietnamese cooking, which no one needs, as practice shows. That is, even the route of the ship does not differ from the one-day tour.

So, we recommend Halong Bay to visit. You can safely take a cruise for 1 day. Just look at the most interesting things. 4 hours on the bus there and 4 back is not as scary as it is in travel agencies. We went and were glad we didn't take the two-day tour.

Write your comments on what impressions you have left behind the bay and which tour would suit you personally.

Halong videos

- one of the wonders of the world. It attracts tourists with picturesque landscapes and interesting legends. Admiring the numerous islands and rocks, a slight fear and an irresistible sense of curiosity slips inside a person.

Yes, you can go crazy with such beauty, forget about everything around, but it is impossible not to feel the adrenaline rush going on inside. This is why you need to take a cruise on Halong Bay.

A little about history

The origin of the bay is associated with beautiful legends. One of them says that in ancient times the gods decided to save the Vietnamese people from enemies and brought down a family of dragons to them. Protecting people, amazing creatures spat gems, creating beautiful islands. Enemy ships collided with these islands and crashed.

But the legend doesn't end there. After the wreck, the wreckage of the ships turned into rocks, and the dragons remained in the bay, giving it the unique name "Halong" - the place where the dragon descended to earth.

Description

Halong Bay surprises tourists with a mesmerizing landscape. It is rich in rocks, islands, cliffs, of which there are about three thousand.

Lurking in the rocks are silvery waterfalls, deep caves that look like tunnels.

The Vietnamese gave the caves a wonderful look: they equipped the dungeons with colorful lamps, turning natural creation into a real underworld.

The islands of the bay do not have a logical order and differ from each other in size and shape. Numerous islands have interesting names, for example, "Antelope", "Fighting Rooster", "Cave of Wooden Spears", "Drum Cave", "Cave of Pillars", "Quang Han". Their names originated from their respective shapes or from living animals.

Natural attractions

The islands and cliffs of Halong stretch over 1,500 square kilometers. Various natural phenomena have turned them into real attractions of Vietnam. You can admire the cliffs with tower karst, reminiscent of towers or high pillars.

Many vacationers like grottoes - small caves with a large entrance, which have a landslide origin.

Here is some of them:

1. Acoustic grotto. Here you can hear extraordinary sounds that occur due to strong winds. It seems that the real Mother of Dragons lives inside the grotto;
   
2. Grotto of stone pillars has stone giants, which made it a popular place to visit. Inside it is a reservoir with fresh water. Judging by the inscription on the wall, in 1917 Khai Dinem visited here;
3. Grotto Quang Han is the largest cave in the Gulf of Tonkin. Its endless length of 1,300 m proves this.

Halong weather. When to book a ticket

Halong has two seasons: summer and winter. Dry cold winters start in December and end in February. The rainy summer months are June, July, August, September. When going on a cruise is the business of every tourist, but having overcome a long journey, one wants to enjoy the most favorable moments of the trip.

Therefore, the optimal months for rest are April-May, September-October. The beach season closes in November. The typhoon season begins at the beginning of August and lasts until October.

How to get to a unique place

Tourists prefer to get to the bay accompanied by a guide. You can get to Halong on your own, spending a small amount.

By bus

A tourist minibus ticket must be purchased. They are sold by any travel company that is easy to find on the streets of Hanoi city. They pick up passengers from hotels and take them to a large bus. But you should be patient, the route on this transport will last more than 5 hours due to frequent stops.

Or a ticket is purchased for a regular intercity bus. It is sent from the stations every half hour. Upon reaching Halong, the buses end their route at Bai Chay Bus Station.

All buses reach the final point in Halong. Here you can also buy a tour and go on a journey across the bay.

All tourists should be aware that the departure of the last scheduled boat takes place at 13.00. Late, travelers have to spend the night or go back.

By train

Surprisingly, if there is a good railway, the train does not go to Halong, so the starting point is the city of Haipong, Hanoi Long Bien station.

4 trains for passengers depart from it every day. This method will allow you to get to Halong in 2 hours.

By car in 3 hours

If it is not possible to travel along the bay for more than one day, then you can get to Halong from Nha Trang by car.

Upon arrival, you need to choose a tour of the bay of the same name for 4 hours. After the tour, the driver of the rented car takes the client to the hotel.

Things to do in Halong Bay

The nature of the islands and the proudly standing rocks are almost untouched by man. Local people have mastered life only on some pieces of land. They perfectly "made friends" with annoying wild monkeys who are happy with any delicacy from people. Here you can find decent entertainment for the period of rest.

Sea cruise

Halong cruises come in different prices and are available to every wallet. If vacationers have a desire to stay on the land of the island, then the Vietnamese are not averse to “park” the boat.

They closely monitor the behavior of tourists and follow the rules so as not to harm nature. The ride along the bay can last for several days, so the guides supply tourists with food.

Fishing

Vacationers are allowed to catch squid and fish. It is better to set aside for such an activity at night. In the dark, the water of the bay takes on irresistible beauty and even glows.

Kayaking

You can arrange an independent swim on a rowing boat. There are no obstacles and restrictions before the tourist, you can swim up to any island to view its wildlife.

You can take a memorable photo next to a rock that looms menacingly over your head, creating the feeling that it is about to collapse.

Beach vacation

In Ha Long, all the beaches are created artificially, and if you want to get to a wild beach, you have to change to a kayak. The Vietnamese and many tourists claim that each island has its own peculiarity, which confirms the diversity and splendor of Halong Bay.

Halong's nature is mesmerizing at first sight, you want to return here, abandoning your work. The wonderful world acts on a person like hypnosis, helping to forget problems, sorrows, gain strength and take a break from the stormy civilized life. After the day's excursion, the traveler feels light and plunges into a sweet dream.