Boat Tour in Halong Bay - Mystical or Too Touristy?

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The sight of the mystical Halong Bay and its approximately 1,600 small islands rising from the emerald-green waters enchants tourists from all over the world. The 340-million-year-old history of this UNESCO World Heritage Site contains myths and legends of gods and dragons. What a mystical place, one might think…

Read on to find out whether a boat trip in the famous and infamous Halong Bay is really worth it, or if this popular tourist attraction has already lost its charm due to the overwhelming number of visitors.

Halong Bay Tour – Impressions and Tips

When I traveled to Vietnam, a boat trip in Halong Bay was at the top of my list, alongside a trekking tour through the mountain villages of Sapa. The pictures in the travel guides were simply too spectacular for me to miss this experience.

How to Get To Halong Bay

The best way to reach Halong Bay is via Hanoi. Vietnam’s capital city is accessible from both domestic and international locations via various airlines. You can find affordable tickets and all the connection details on Skyscanner.

From Hanoi, there are multiple ways to visit Halong Bay. These include organized tours, taxis, buses, and even trains. You can take these transportation options at least as far as Hai Phong, from where you will need to take a ferry to Cat Ba, where most tours start.

Combo tickets, including bus or train rides from Hanoi, can be booked at many local hotels or online at 12go.asia. It’s best to check prices in advance, as they can vary significantly.

Halong Bay and the Legend of the Jade-Spitting Dragon

According to legend, a dragon transformed the landscape of Halong Bay into small islands by spitting out jewels and jade. It was sent by the gods to help the nation, which was under attack at the time, preventing enemy ships from maneuvering through the bay and ultimately causing them to sink.

How Can I Book a Tour in Halong Bay?

On-Site in Hanoi

In the city of Hanoi, there are many tour operators in travel agencies offering trips to Halong Bay at various price points. From backpackers to luxury travelers – everyone can find an offer here.

Advantage:

• You are more flexible and can decide spontaneously when to start the trip.
• There are offers for every budget.

Disadvantage:

• During peak season, last-minute trips may not be available due to overbooking. However, the selection of tour providers in Hanoi is massive.

From Germany

You can book your Halong Bay tour from Germany at any travel agency or online via the Internet.

Advantage:

• Offers from German travel agencies guarantee a certain standard.
• You don’t have to take time on-site to compare offers.
• A hotel pickup service is often included.

Disadvantage:

• Prices are often very high.

Tour Offers

Prices vary depending on the amenities and length of your trip. There are excellent luxury boats offering massages and other exclusive services. Likewise, there are simpler boats at more affordable prices with minimal programs. Most providers do not include a kayaking trip, so you will need to book it separately and pay extra. The length of the tours is usually 2-3 days. If you wish, you can add a visit to Cat Ba Island.

Best Time to Travel for a Halong Bay Tour

Halong Bay is located in a tropical climate zone. Temperatures average between 15°C and 25°C. The warm and humid climate makes it possible to visit Halong Bay all year round. The hottest months are from June to August. If you prefer drier, cooler weather, you should plan your Halong Bay trip in winter.

How Does a Boat Tour in Halong Bay Work?

Here’s my report from my 3-day trip to Halong Bay. I booked my tour at one of the travel agencies in Hanoi and paid about 60 euros for 3 days and 2 nights, including meals and a trip to Cat Ba Island.

Day 1:

• Pickup from the hostel and transfer to Halong Bay
• Start of the boat tour
• Delicious lunch around midday
• Afternoon swimming and kayaking opportunities
• In the evening, the boat docked at Cat Ba
• Dinner
• Overnight stay in a clean and comfortable hotel

Day 2:

• Breakfast
• Excursion to the caves on Cat Ba
• Excursion to the national park
• Lunch
• Free time
• Return to the boat in the evening
• Dinner
• Overnight stay in the cabin

Day 3:

• Breakfast
• Boat trip back to the harbor
• Bus ride back to Hanoi

Summary of the Boat Tour in Halong Bay

The transfer from the hotel in Hanoi to Halong Bay went smoothly and quickly. The boat tour was a great experience, and the sight of the thousands of small islands remains unforgettable. During the journey to Cat Ba, you have the opportunity to relax on deck in lounge chairs and seating areas, taking in the surrounding scenery.

For families with children, I recommend choosing a higher standard. Parties until dawn are not uncommon on low-budget boats.

Beverages are not allowed to be brought on board, and anyone caught will have to surrender them. Unfortunately, the crew was not very friendly, but that might be different on your tour.

Accommodation

The hotel on Cat Ba was very clean and comfortable. I also felt comfortable in the boat cabin. However, staying in the cabin is only allowed from late evening until early morning.

Food

Meals for lunch and dinner were plentiful. There was a variety of seafood specialties, and vegetarians were also well catered for.

Cat Ba

Cat Ba is the largest island in Halong Bay and is home to the beautiful national park. There is much to see on Cat Ba. You can still admire rare plants and endangered animal species in their natural habitat. The rare yellow orchid is a visual highlight of this unique area.

The time we spent there was unfortunately very short. We spent a lot of time in the caves, so there wasn’t much left for the Cat Ba National Park. The hike to the viewpoint in the park took longer than agreed with the guides, and almost everyone was late. This led to a bad mood among the guides.

After that, we had some free time. You can explore the island on your own within a limited timeframe. We ended up at Cat Ba’s harbor, where several fishing boats are docked. However, the view of the hilly landscape of Cat Ba Island was one of my highlights of the entire tour.

Tourism

Upon arrival at the harbor of Halong Bay, crowds of tourists gather. Boats of all standards depart from here, and people from all over the world sit in waiting areas, often packed closely together. However, once the journey begins, the ships and boats disperse considerably. It is not a situation where boats are clustered so tightly that one would fear capsizing.

On Cat Ba Island and especially at the viewpoint, however, mass tourism and congestion are prevalent. The tour group consisted of a comfortable size of about 12 people, ensuring there was no overcrowding or lack of space on board.

Don’t Forget:

• Sunscreen
• A light jacket for cooler evenings
• Mosquito repellent
• If you have extra space in your luggage: Binoculars

Have fun on your boat trip in Halong Bay!

Halong Bay: Tours and Tickets

Do you prefer to travel with a guide who knows the area very well? Then we recommend a guided tour with a local. This way you can get to know the Halong Bay in a completely different way. GetYourGuide offers a wide selection of exciting tours for the Halong Bay.

Have you ever taken a boat tour in Halong Bay? Share your experiences with us and other readers.

Photos: Photo 1: Jeremy Weate/flickr (CC BY 2.0) – photo 3 & post thumbnail: LazyO79/flickr (CC BY 2.0) – photo 5: cristinabe/flickr (CC BY 2.0)