The most famous way to enjoy Halong Bay is on a ‘junk boat,’ which is a boat trip cruise ship. Most junk boats have around 15-20 cabins, so the groups are smaller than you would expect from a cruise ship.
Continue reading to find out when to go, what to pack, and how to choose the best boat for your Halong Bay cruise!
Complete Guide to Halong Bay Cruise
Halong Bay Cruise
Halong Bay is approximately 100 miles east of Hanoi. Transportation to and from the bay is frequently included in your Halong Bay cruise ship package, and they will pick you up from your hotel around 8:00 a.m. A large but comfortable and air-conditioned bus is included in the standard transportation package, or you can pay extra for a private car.
A brand new highway has reduced the travel time from Hanoi to Halong Bay to about 2.5 hours. However, it is a toll road, and some low-cost cruise lines will take the old road rather than pay the $15 toll.
It is also capable of going directly between Halong Bay and Ninh Binh, which will save you time if you intend to visit both and do not want to come back to Hanoi in the middle.
Please read the fine print if you book your Halong Bay cruise through Booking.com rather than a local travel agent. A round-trip transfer to/from Hanoi may cost an additional $25-40 USD per person.
When Should You Visit Halong Bay?
Junk boats function all year, so you can take a Halong Bay cruise whenever you want, as long as you don’t mind just that little rain.
The best time to visit is from October to March, when temperatures are mild and rainfall is minimal. Of course, there will be more people around during that time, so plan ahead of time to book your tour.
The months of April to September are hot and humid, with the most rainfall, with August being the wettest.
How Long Should a Halong Bay Cruise Night Last?
Most Halong Bay cruises will pick you up in Hanoi around 8:00 a.m. and drop you off at the boat around 12:00 p.m. If you choose the 2-day/1-night option, you’ll have lunch on the boat, participate in some afternoon activities, eat dinner, and then depart the boat around noon the next day. The most popular way to see Halong Bay is on a 2-day/1-night cruise.
We chose the 3-day/2-night Halong Bay cruise because we had an extra night on board and didn’t feel rushed to unpack and then repack our luggage. We also discovered that the activities on day 2 were far less crowded and rushed, allowing us to enjoy them more fully.
There’s also a two-night option in which you spend the second evening at a hotel on Cat Ba Island.
How to Select the Most Appropriate Halong Bay Cruise
Many tourists choose to book their ‘junk boat’ Halong Bay cruise through one of the numerous tourist agencies in Hanoi. There are literally dozens of boat options, so tourist agencies will usually only show you their top one or two to avoid overwhelming you (or so they say).
Local travel agencies, such as Halong Bay Tours, can sometimes get you better deals than you can find online, but before you go, do some research on Booking.com and TripAdvisor to find the best cruise ships. Then you can compare the rates provided by travel agents to the rates provided online.
Local tour operators are also willing to set up tours that have both a day in Ninh Binh and a nighttime cruise in Halong Bay, which is a good option to consider if you only have a limited amount of time in Northern Vietnam.
If you are already in Hanoi, you can also inquire at your hotel’s reception desk, as almost all Hanoi hotels provide similar services to travel companies.
When booking your Halong Bay cruise, keep the following points in mind:
- How many cabins are there on board?
- What does your package include? Water and other beverages are frequently charged extra.
- What kinds of activities are listed?
- What are the reviews on Booking.com and Tripadvisor saying?
Don’t cut corners on your Halong Bay cruise.
You can save money by selecting a lower-cost cruise line or foregoing a private balcony off your room. And, because most of the ships offer a similar schedule of activities, you’ll see the highlights of Halong Bay regardless of which boat you choose.
If you really want to enjoy your time on board, pay a little more for a private balcony and a nicer room with more amenities.
Halong Bay Cruise Recommendations
A voyage to Halong Bay can be an incredible experience, but many of the boat companies will leave you feeling like you’re on a traveler conveyor belt. Consider the following options to make it a truly at first when experience:
Peony Cruise
Peony Cruises only started sailing in October 2018, so their boats are brand new and cutting-edge. In their immaculate, spacious staterooms, they’ve combined luxury and style. Furthermore, their boats operate in a various location of the bay than most other cruises, giving you a more distinctive planned route with fewer crowds! Sailing with Peony Cruises is an unforgettable experience!
Cruise on the Athena Elegance
Because the Athena Elegance Cruise is a new addition to the Halong Bay cruise ships, the furniture and appliances are free of the wear and tear of previous vessels. With three decks, twenty-one spacious and luxurious cabins, a rooftop sundeck, coffee lounge, bar, and sauna, you won’t want to leave this beautiful ship to explore the bay!
Era Cruise Lines
Era Cruises provides state broadcaster and style! You’ll forget you’re on a boat at all (aside from the amazing bay views from your private soaking tub). The rooms are spacious and eloquently embellished, there is an inflight sports centre and spa, the food is fantastic, and the amazing staff will treat you like royalty.
The La Pinta Cruise
The mission of La Pinta Cruise is “safety – elegance – sophistication,” and those words really sum up what you can expect from your onboard experience. They have 16 spacious cabins, but the real advantage of La Pinta is that they take a different tour route, allowing you to avoid the crowds and enjoy a more relaxing Halong Bay experience.
What to Bring with You on Your Halong Bay Cruise
Passport
You’ll require your passport to visit Halong Bay, and your tour guide will ask for it on the way there. Make sure it’s in your carrier bag for quick access rather than in your suitcases under the bus.
Snacks to Eat on the Bus
The bus ride to Halong Bay takes about 2.5 hours, with most buses stopping at a massive souvenir shop. They’ll drop you off at one end and pick you up 30 minutes later at the other. The souvenir shop has clean western-style restrooms and sells everything from giant Buddha statues to traditional clothing, gold jewelry, and everything in between.
Everything in these souvenir shops is exorbitantly priced, especially the snacks. Think $10 USD for a bag of peanuts. If you think you’ll get hungry or thirsty on the bus, bring snacks instead of waiting to buy them there.
