Halong Bay
Halong Bay, in a few days
Thousands of limestone islets rising out of a green sea: a junk cruise, caves and kayaks, then the quieter waters of Lan Ha Bay, with the map, what is worth booking, everything that costs nothing, and where to sleep at three budgets.
- Day by day
- 1 Halong Bay cruise Days 1-2
- 2 Cat Ba Island and Lan Ha Bay Day 3
- Worth sorting before you go
- Words that help
- The practical page
- Packing checklist
Day by day
Halong Bay cruise
Roughly 1,600 limestone islands and islets, UNESCO-listed since 1994. The classic way to see them is a night aboard a junk, anchored among the towers.
- Two-day, one-night junk cruise2 days · from €150A day threading between the karst towers, with a cave, a kayak outing and a night on board, which is the only way to see the bay quiet at first light.
- The karst towers
- Surprise Cave (Sung Sot)
- Kayaking between the islets
- The floating fishing villages
Cat Ba Island and Lan Ha Bay
The largest island in the area, much of it a national park, and Lan Ha Bay just offshore: the same scenery as Halong, with fewer boats.
- Boat trip into Lan Ha BayHalf day · from €35A half-day among the towers, small beaches and fishing villages of the bay next door, away from the crowds.
- Cat Ba National Park
- The Cat Co beaches
- Lan Ha Bay
Worth sorting before you go
Cruise and transfers · Hanoi to the harbour at Halong takes about two and a half hours on the expressway, and most cruises include a shuttle bus. Cat Ba is reached by ferry or speedboat.
Online the moment you land, no roaming bill.
Get one · Holafly
Health, luggage, cancellation.
Cover it · Ekta
Compare the agencies before you land.
Compare · Booking
Pay at the real rate, with no exchange markup.
Open one · Revolut
A private car at a fixed price from the moment you land.
Book it · GetTransfer
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Flavours & local habits
🍽️ Worth tasting
- Cha muc: Halong squid cakes, pounded by hand and fried until golden.
- Seafood fresh from the fish farms of Cat Ba: clams, crab and steamed fish.
- Pho: noodle soup with beef or chicken, eaten at breakfast.
- Bun cha: grilled pork, cold noodles and a bowl of herbs, the Hanoi lunch before or after the bay.
- Banh mi: a baguette filled with pork, pate and pickles.
- Coffee beaten with egg yolk, or iced over condensed milk.
⚠️ Best avoided
- Very cheap cruises cut corners on boats, food and safety: read recent reviews before you book.
- Agree the price first, every time: taxi, boat, market stall.
- Use Grab, or Mai Linh and Vinasun, rather than an unmarked taxi.
- Do not drink the tap water, and keep small notes: change is often short.
Words that help
English ↔ Vietnamese
| English | Vietnamese |
|---|---|
| Hello | Xin chào |
| Thank you | Cảm ơn |
| Please | Làm ơn |
| Yes | Vâng |
| No | Không |
| Excuse me | Xin lỗi |
| Goodbye | Tạm biệt |
| Do you speak English? | Bạn có nói tiếng Anh không? |
| I don't understand | Tôi không hiểu |
| How much is it? | Bao nhiêu tiền? |
| Where are the toilets? | Nhà vệ sinh ở đâu? |
| The bill, please | Tính tiền |
| Help! | Cứu với! |
| Cheers! | Dô! |
The practical page
Scan to open this guide online, always up to date.
https://offwegooo.com/en/guides/halong-bay
Packing checklist
Have a good trip.
Guide made on offwegooo.com · Photos via Pexels · Details are indicative, check before you leave.