Hanoi Halong Bay cruise - relax on board

Anchors away in Halong Bay

Halong Bay is an awe-inspiring archipelago composed of almost 3000 limestone islands. The spellbinding region is one of the greatest natural wonders of Vietnam, and is best explored leisurely by boat on a Halong Bay cruise. During our Hanoi Halong Bay cruise trip, you'll weave slowly through the maze of islands on a traditional Chinese junk boat.

You'll spend one magical night aboard the comfortable Huong Hai junk and anchor at several of the tiny islands in this mysterious bay. If you need to cool off during our two-day Halong Bay cruise, you can dive into the turquoise waters and watch the exotic fishes scatter under the surface.

Please note that the weather can deteriorate during August, September and October due to the typhoon season. In case of bad weather, our Hanoi Halong Bay cruise may have to be adjusted slightly.  

Duration 2 days / 1 night
Departs daily from Hanoi

Accommodation

1 night aboard a comfortable, traditional junk boat.
Comfort Level 2-3 (see accommodation)

Price

£119 per person - based on 2 people sharing a cabin

Included

Transport from Hanoi to Halong Bay, one night accommodation aboard boat, all meals, Halong Bay cruise, English speaking guide

Transport

Air-conditioned bus and Huong Hai junk

Excluded

All drinks other than tea and coffee, entrance fees to caves and other Hanoi Halong Bay cruise stopoffs, 8 dollar entrance fee for two days.

Day 1: Departure Hanoi - Halong Bay cruise

This morning, you'll be collected from your hotel in Hanoi for your Halong Bay cruise adventure at approximately 8:00am and transferred to the coastal town of Halong. The junk awaits you. Once you're onboard, you'll kick off your trip with a lunch caught fresh from the sea. Afterwards the boat will begin its cruise through Halong Bay past small limestone islands, some of which are thickly forested and others which have secluded sandy beaches. During your Halong Bay cruise you'll visit one of the many hidden caves and you'll be able to take a dive into the azure waters from one of the tropical beaches. Fishing enthusiasts can attempt to catch their evening meal with a traditional rod and tackle. During dinner, you can watch the sunset whilst enjoying a glass of Vietnamese wine. Life doesn't get much better than this...
Hanoi Halong Bay Cruise - Traditional junk boat at sunset
Hanoi Halong Bay Cruise - Junk boat sundeck

Day 2: Halong Bay Cruise - Hanoi

This morning you'll be woken by the wafting scent of a delicious breakfast. You'll then begin your morning Hanoi Halong Bay cruise, which features trips to various islands and rock formations. Following this, you'll board a small bamboo boat to explore the spooky Luong Cave. Lunch will be served aboard the junk during your return voyage to the mainland. At Halong, a transfer will be waiting to take you back to Hanoi. This is where your Hanoi Halong Bay tour ends.

To follow this laid back trip, we would recommend a more active module in North Vietnam, such as our Hill Tribes of Sapa tour or our Sapa: Train and Trekking trip. Alternatively, you could choose to travel south, dropping in on the historic city of Hué or taking our Hoi An tour along the way.

 Halong Bay Legend

Ha Long literally means ‘descending dragons’ and legend holds that this is precisely what happened at Halong Bay. A long, long time ago when the ancestors were fighting invaders from the north, the gods decided to send help. They sent a family of dragons from heaven to help the local people defend their land. The dragons descended into Halong Bay and began to spew jewels and jade. As soon as these gems touched the water they turned into islands, forming a barrier to keep the invaders away. This allowed the ancestors to keep their land and form Vietnam. After the victory, the dragons liked Earth so much that they decided to stay. Legend has it that the mother dragon still lies in Halong and her children lie in Bai Tu Long. The tails of the dragons form the Bach Long Vi area. Keep an eye out for them during your Hanoi Halong Bay cruise.
Hanoi Halong Bay Cruise - Junk boats and islands of Halong Bay

A peek at your accommodation 

       

 

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