Halong Bay

Halong Bay is easily reached from any other cities in Vietnam with many internal flights and by other transports.

From Hanoi, you can get to Halong Bay after 2-3 hours of driving (170km)

From Danang, book a flight from Danang airport to Cat Bi airport (Hai Phong) and then travel by car to the bay. Or you can fly to Hanoi (1-hour flight) and go from there to Quang Ninh.

From Ho Chi Minh city, similar to when you travel from Danang, you can either go by plane from HCM City to HP (3-hour flight) or fly to Hanoi (2.5-hour flight) then drive to Halong Bay.

Halong Bay is in the north of Vietnam so it has a humid tropical climate, and sees four seasons in a year. Winter’s temperatures can drop down to 12°C-17°C. Summer is mostly sunny but rain showers are frequent as the humidity is higher. Spring and Autumn are nicely warm.

Summer is a good time for Halong Bay because you can go for swimming and kayaking. Yet summer remains as the shoulder season for tourists because of its hot weather.

In fact, the high traveling season in Halong Bay is during fall and spring (from October to April) because the weather is cooler and it gives you the best views of the bay.

On the other hand, these are the seasons for specific trips in Halong Bay:

Best time for sightseeing: April, May, June, October, November and December.

Best time for outdoor activities: March, April, May and June.

Best time for honeymoon: November, December, January and February.

Best time for money-saving: late May, June, July, August and early September.

The answer to this can vary from 1 day to 3 days. It depends on your plan for the whole trip and whether you enjoy staying for a night on a cruise (this is the best way to see around the islands).

If you start from Hanoi and don’t have too much time, you can do a day-trip.

But we always recommend staying overnight on the cruise so that you can fully experience the beauty of the bay.

Absolutely!

No matter how many people you are travelling with – it can be you and your partner, or with your family or friends, we sure you’ll all enjoy visiting the wonderful landscape of Halong Bay.

For families, you and your parents or kids can have chosen to for kayaking, squid-fishing, or exploring the magnificent cave system of the bay.

If you are with your friends, hanging out on the cruise deck and enjoying a nice cocktail with breathtaking scenery of islands will make another excellent option.

Well, the answer is up to you. There are many cruises operating in Halong so pick one that fits your preference and budget the most. If you choose a 3-star cruise, you can still have loads of fun. Their services are good and sure you will enjoy your time in Halong Bay.

If you are eyeing up an option of a 4 or 5-star cruise, especially for a special occasion, you’ll have the best time of your life. These cruises offer excellent services that come with plenty of activities for customers’ entertainment. Their rooms are spacious, and the food will be a highlight during your time on the cruise.

We suggest to bring with you your passport – this is the most important for your check-in. Then you should also bring a backpack/ travel bag with suitable clothes, hats, swimming suites, sunglasses, sunscreen, insect repellents and important medicines. If you are travelling with young kids, candies, toys, coloring books, minigames may be helpful.

Free Wi-Fi is available on the cruise so you can connect from your mobile phone, tablet and laptop. However, please note that the internet signal at sea may suffer frequent interruption.

This is the concern for many people because who would want to travel all the way to this beautiful place and then to feel so unwell that they couldn’t enjoy it?!

But in this case, you should not be worried at all. The water at the bay is really flat, there were barely any waves. And when you’re on big cruises, it’s unlikely that you can feel any motion and become nauseous.

Of course just to be careful, we suggest to bring with you some seasickness tablets so you can experience the trip to the fullest!

With all the striking scenery, together with great activities to do for visitors, there is no reason to miss out on Halong Bay, especially on your first holiday in Vietnam.

And we think that other travellers agree with us, too!

You can check out reviews from other travellers about Halong Bay here: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293923-d1968469-Reviews-Halong_Bay-Halong_Bay_Quang_Ninh_Province.html

• Search price comparison websites before booking

It’s a good idea to do your ‘homework’ before choosing a Halong Bay cruise. Different booking websites can offer you different deals – from price, booking policy and complimentary services.

• Book early for early-bird deals

This tip is extremely useful especially in case you plan to travel during peak season. If you have a fixed itinerary, then book early to get the best out of these deals.

• Or look for last-minute promotions

For visitors with the flexibility to book a cruise in a moment’s notice, you may want to check out flash deals as operators try to fill up the empty space on their vessels before the cruise date.

• Discuss with your tour operator

It can be helpful to talk to the tour operator in person. Not only you may be given secret deals, but you can also get a good idea of what is offered on a cruise trip.

• If possible, negotiate a group discount

Large groups sometimes may be able to get a special deal from the cruise itself as well as for transport and hotels.

• Travel during off-peak or shoulder-season

Not only that you will make some considerable savings, visiting Halong Bay in off-peak or shoulder season means you can enjoy more of the stunning landscape without other cruises around.