Transportation

How to get to Ha Long Bay

The travel from Hanoi to Halong Bay now takes only 2 hours thanks to the new Hai Phong – Quang Ninh expressway. For the client’s convenience, most of the cruises provide limousine shuttle service with a complimentary bottle of water, Wi-Fi, and USB chargers.

Ways to get around 

- Day trip boat: If your time is limited then booking for a day trip is a good idea to have a glimpse at the beauty of Ha Long Bay. The boat won’t take you too far from its dock yet allow you to visit some of the most popular attractions in the Bay. Lunch served on board with other included activities such as: visiting Wonder cave, fishing village, and kayaking or bamboo raft ride.

- Overnight cruise ship: The most recommended option, yes, is a fantastic cruise trip to admire the UNESCO Heritage site with the best it can offer. Various selections of boats to choose from at the harbor from elegant boutique cruises to fancy modern boats. Numerous limestone islands to behold on the way, fine dining experiences and other activities like morning Tai-chi lessons or squid fishing along with discovering spectacular grottoes shall make your trip memorable.

Best times to visit

The weather to see Ha Long Bay is ideal from April through June, allowing you to swim and relax on the deck in the evenings. Not to mention the sky is blue and clear, giving you the opportunities to explore the karst islands and grottos with a clear vision. The wintertime from October to December can also be considered a good time to visit Ha Long Bay as it’s dry on most of the days. The fog highlighted the magnificent layers of effect created by the differing distances between the islands and offers you the mysterious atmosphere.

Tips when visiting Ha Long Bay

- Tipping is not customary in Vietnam, feel no pressure to tip here. If the service exceeds your expectation, a tip is highly appreciated and valued.

- Some overnight cruises do offer WiFi on-board, however, the internet connection is not stable and even unavailable, especially when sailing far away from the mainland, since the area is surrounded by large karst mountains and can easily block the signals. This can also be applied to phone services.

- Halong Bay has thousands of islands, ensuring that the waters remain still, similar to those of a lake. Even the most sensitive people rarely get seasick, but it’s a good idea to have some seasickness medicines on hand just in case.

- When visiting Halong Bay, it is recommended that you bring sunscreen, mosquito repellent, and windbreakers in case the weather doesn’t somehow cooperate.