Note: Read until the end to learn about key tips on deciding about your Ha Long Bay tour. And to catch all my cheesy jokes in the article!
So you want to plan a trip to Ha Long Bay…and don’t know where to start? That’s how I felt too. When I told my friends I was going to Hanoi, all I heard was “HA LONG BAY, HA LONG BAY!!!” Honestly I knew nothing about Vietnam, so there I was trying to figure things out about this fascinating place: the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay.
The way I usually plan a trip is by asking friends and other travellers for [the low-down] advice. As I said, everyone I met raved about Ha Long Bay. They told me it was their favorite part of Vietnam and to take the three-day cruise. However, no one seemed to remember their tour company name, so that didn’t help much [insert sarcastic “Greeaat!” here]. I constantly researched online searching for high-reviewed tours and ended up emailing more than seven companies to inquire about rates, yet I still wasn’t convinced with the impersonal responses. During this time, I was worried because I was currently travelling and my Vietnam trip was quickly approaching. Well, the day came in a flash and I arrived in Hanoi around 8PM, and I still had no idea which tour I would take the very next day (and maybe the best tours would be completely full – yikes!) . I’m okay with winging trips, but this is way too last minute than what I’m used to! Although I try to avoid bookings at the airport because of the possible inflated rates, I decided that the best choice would be to book at the airport. Luckily I was able to get a last minute deal on a cruise! Hooray!
Arriving from Hanoi to Tuan Chau Marina to begin the journey at Ha Long Bay
My Ha Long Bay tour was with Aclass Cruises for the two day/one night tour. The price was mid-range at around USD200 for a single cabin room on the Aclass Stellar Cruise. Apparently, I got a good last minute deal since other travellers on my cruise paid a few Andrew Jackson’s more. Overall, the tour met my expectations with a variety of activities and delicious meals. Most people on the tour were families or couples, so I happened to be the only solo traveller! Nevertheless, all the travellers were great company and I enjoyed the trip. Here is the a brief description of the tour:
Enjoying the sundeck on Aclass Cruises and absorbing the peace of Ha Long Bay
HA LONG BAY TOUR: DAY 1
In a nutshell: transport from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay, lunch, caves, party, swimming at lagoon, dinner, squid fishing
The day started with pick-up at my hostel around 8am. It was a three hour drive from the Hanoi Old Quarter to Ha Long Bay, but it didn’t feel so long. While in the van, the tour guide introduced all the travellers and enlightened us with information about the city. Therefore, it wasn’t boring, and the rest of the time I jammed to my music on my headphones. Once we arrived to our boat in Ha Long Bay, we had some time to settle down in our cabins. The rooms were elegant with large windows overseeing the water and a queen bed sprinkled with rose petals – so romantic for a solo traveller! I walked to lunch with a smile on my face. Lunch was splendid with a set menu of soup, salad, seafood, and fruit. The food was fresh and tasty, and the foodie inside me was jumping for joy.
Exploring the beauty of Hang Sung Sot Cave or Surprising Cave
After lunch, we had time to sunbathe on the sundeck and absorb the scenery. It was one of those moments you just forget about the time and meditate with complete relaxation. I took my relaxation with me to the next activity of visiting Hang Sung Sot Cave, also known as Surprising Cave. The tour guide explained that you can depict a number of astonishing images throughout the cave, hence the name. Some of them were “special” body parts, so yes I was surprised! The caves were beautiful and there were picture perfect opportunities outside of the cave. As the day wrapped up, we returned to the boat for the “party.” We climbed up to the sundeck with the welcoming sound of pop and electric beats, including Justin Bieber (he’s everywhere!). There was a mini bar as well as fruit and wine waiting for us. And all of a sudden, the music changed and I could hear in the background “oh, you fancy huh”…just kidding! There was also the chance to dip in the water as the boat stopped at an isolated lagoon. It was a relaxing evening and filled the void before dinner. Dinner was impressive with pumpkin soup, mango salad, spring rolls, squid, shrimp, and dessert. The end of the night included hanging out on the sundeck or squidfishing. The latter was not very productive since there wasn’t much assistance except for handing you a fishing rod. Whoops!
The tai chi class was held on the sundeck of the boat – so cool!
HA LONG BAY TOUR: DAY 2
In a nutshell: tai chi, breakfast, kayaking, cooking class, lunch
Rise and shine! The next day I woke up bright and early for a class of tai chi – it was actually my first time trying this Chinese martial art! It was a great way to wake up my senses in the morning. Breakfast was superb with toast, fruit, and your choice of omelette (my favorite part!). Soon it was time to head off to the floating village. You had the choice of kayaking or hopping on a small boat to tour the village as a group. I chose to kayak and it was a great choice for getting my exercise and exploring at the same time. It was also an eye-opening experience to see the way people live on the water – incredible. There is even a school and temple in the floating village…and dogs that barked like thunder whenever our kayaks approached their homes. The kayaking pumped me up for the day, since I had woken up so early.
Note: FYI, drinks were not included in the tour. A glass of complimentary wine was served for the party and tea was served for breakfast. Also, the personnel does a great job of attending to dietary restrictions.
When it was time to be back on the boat, the cruise’s master chef demonstrated how to make an Asian delicacy: spring rolls. We got to make quite a few, so we ended up feeling like experts. It was nice to cook a part of our lunch. Since it was our goodbye lunch, aside from spring rolls, we had a buffet for our last meal. Enjoying a lunch outside with the magnificent view was amazing with so much food – fried rice, noodles, drumsticks, corn soup, vegetables, and fruit. I loved that they also had a variety of traditional Vietnamese sauces. The view of the clear blue waters of Ha Long Bay and the endless peacefulness was the final memory of the cruise. Sadly, this was the end of the Ha Long Bay tour before heading back to central Hanoi.
The memories of Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
TIPS FOR HA LONG BAY
First, decide how long you want to spend in Ha Long Bay – one day trip, two days/one night, three days/two nights, etc. The one day trip is usually not recommended unless you absolutely have no time; you will spend most of the time commuting to and from Halong Bay and that can interfere with relaxing at sea. Whether you stay one night, two nights, or more depends on how much time you have during your holiday. For me, two days/one night was enough at Ha Long Bay; I was content with the number of activities and a day and half of relaxing under the sun. More time would also mean more activities, although sometimes the extra places you visit are a way to get you to spend more money! For example, a visit to the Pearl Farm could mean you learn about the fascinating formation of the pearl, however if you have previously had a similar experience, it’s just another way to entice you to possibly spend thousands (USD, not Dong!). I noticed that travellers that opted for the longer tour were either long-term travellers or simply valued natural relaxation as part of their overall trip.
Second, decide how much you are willing to spend for the Halong Bay experience. Unless you are absolutely broke, most people advised to avoid spending anything less than USD100. The difference in price relates to the quality of the boat (size of boat, rooms, etc.) which equates to safety, the quality of the food, and the length and activities of the tour. I opted for the mid-range priced experience with Aclass Cruises. I do not care about luxury, but I also wanted the tour to feel special. Plus, I am a foodie and wanted the food to be good!
Lastly, decide where to purchase your tour. Sometimes it’s easier to book with your hotel/hostel either before the trip or upon arrival. You may even get a deal for doing so. Another option is to go straight to the tour counters towards the airport exit like I mentioned previously. And of course, there are tons of tour companies operating in the Old Quarter that provide convenience.
Consider Vietnam and Ha Long Bay for your next trip! If you crossed it off your bucket list already, what was your experience like mate? 😉