Iconic limestone towers protruding from bright green water, a view that seems to go on forever. How do you even begin to select the best cruise in HaLong Bay? Continue reading for answers tips to help you select the best HaLong Bay cruse.
Step 1: Decide Where to Visit
Your first decision is to figure out which part of Ha Long Bay to visit. The area spans more than 160 miles and has over 1,600 islands. There are three separate parts of the general area referred to as Ha Long Bay, there is Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long, and Lan Ha Bay. Cat Ba Island (also referred to as Jurassic Park Island) is nearby and is a popular destination known for its forests, sandy beaches, and dramatic cliffs.
Our goal was to try and stay off the main tourist route as much as possible, but it can be hard to do in this popular destination. It is a blessing that this area has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list because it helps control the amount of tourist ships allowed per day. We chose Bai Tu Long as it is less popular and allows 50 boats vs. the Halong Bay route which allows 150 boats per night.
Step 2: Decide How Long to Stay
Most cruises offer 2 Day/1 Night, 3 Day/2 Nights, and 4 Day/3 Night trips. One Day trips to this area from Hanoi are possible, but your day would feel terribly rushed as it is a 4-hour drive from Hanoi. We planned a 2 Day/1 Night trip.
Step 3: Identify a Cruise Ship
There are many options when it comes to choosing your ‘junk boat’ cruise. The cruises span the range from luxury to pretty bottom rated, cockroach infested accommodations. It can be overwhelming to decide, but to avoid being stuck on a crappy boat, it pays off to do your research in advance. Here are a few key considerations that will help you narrow down the options and select a winner:
- Identify what is actually included in the trip and do not assume something is included if it is not clearly explained. Our two must haves were kayaking and transportation to/from Hanoi. We realized that most boats have the exact same itineraries including visiting a pearl farm and floating village, cave exploring, tai chi, cooking classes, and squid fishing.
- Limit the passenger size of the boat. Since you follow a set itinerary onboard, the more passengers onboard means the more waiting around and chances you have of being stuck on a boat with annoying people (or in our case, one particularly obnoxious child). A boat that holds 30 people is probably the largest you should choose, also if you don’t want relax on board with kids running around it is best to find out in advance if the boat is family friendly.
- Read reviews! This should be pretty obvious, but reading about other travelers experiences can assure you that you are making the right choice.
Step 4: Negotiate Before Booking
You may be booking through a travel agent or an online website, either way you should be able to reach out through email or phone to negotiate the price of your cruise. It doesn’t hurt to ask for a lower rate, there is so much competition for these cruises you have the advantage as a buyer to shop around.
I hope these tips will help you decide pick the best HaLong Bay cruise. We had a relaxing, yet interesting experience during our time in HaLong Bay, read about our experience and the cruise line we selected.
Traveling to Vietnam? Check out some of our other posts including Tips for Traveling to Vietnam, Eating Our Way Through Hue, A Rainy Day in Hoi An, and Two Day Trek Through Bac Ha!
