Oh Halong Bay! Such amazing beauty and in a peaceful setting. The hype has come and the tourism industry is humming along here. And with so many overnight cruises and classes of boats and route options, it can easily become overwhelming on what to choose to do. But google no further, take this advice to save some of the planning anxiety away.
Skip the overnight cruise!
Gasp!
What? Skip the overnight cruise in Halong Bay? That is exactly what I said.
And here is why….
Halong Bay is certainly a must see on any Vietnam itinerary. So I am not saying skip Halong Bay altogether. But I am suggesting skipping the overnight cruise and seeing the Bay in a different way.
The Halong Bay overnight cruise is tempting for sure. Most companies pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi, bus you to Halong Bay where you board the ship and have a full schedule of activities over the next 24 hours: visiting a floating village, optional kayaking, stopping by a remote beach, early morning tai chi, visiting a cave on one of the islands and experiencing a cooking class of spring rolls. Plus 3-4 meals are included (all drinks including water are not included). And you have the opportunity to stay on a boat overnight in the bay. Some of that may entice you.
But here is the reality. You aren’t the only boat out on the water. You will see many other boats following the same route as your boat. It can be “crowded”. And the overnight cruise is forced group activities that are lackluster. The floating village isn’t that impressive with very few houses left. Many of the residents have left because they can’t make a living out on the water anymore. The beach we visited is pretty (certainly not a beach like in the Pacific Islands) but you don’t really want to get in the water since it is very dirty. So you just go look at it. What good is a beach if you can’t swim and enjoy the surroundings? The small cave is interesting but not one of the most impressive places you’ve seen.
And finally, the impressive limestone islands scattered all over the Bay are the main reason tourists visit Halong Bay. They are a site to see for sure. But after 2-3 hours of seeing the karsts, you have seen them all. While they are certainly beautiful and you want to take all the photos you can, they all become the same after a while.
For those of you that love groups and everything planned for you, an overnight cruise could be a good option. But for those of you that want to see beauty off the beaten path, then organize your own trip. And you don’t need to organize all the details of the trip until you are there.
MY SUGGESTION: STAY ON CAT BA ISLAND
The main reason you visit this area is to see the stunning limestone islands. So instead of booking a boat tour full of other activities (many of which you may not want to even do) just to fill up a 24-hour itinerary, go to Cat Ba Island, the largest island in Halong Bay.
Find a bus company from Hanoi that will take you to Cat Ba (including the boat transfer to the island). And book a hotel on Cat Ba Island.
Once on the island, work with the hotel or tour operators to book your private half day tour of Halong Bay. This will allow you to see the beauty of Halong Bay and other parts of the Bay that the cruise boats don’t go to, and give you time for many other things. And there are many more options of seeing beauty on Cat Ba Island, including Cat Ba National Park, a World Heritage Site, where you can climb up the mountain and get an amazing view of Halong Bay from above.
Visiting Cat Ba Island will allow you to stay in Halong Bay and provide many more opportunities that you want to see instead of the forced overnight cruise activities.
