What to Expect on a Halong Bay Tour: Pros, Cons and Tips

After two weeks traveling in Vietnam, it was finally time for a 2-day tour of Halong Bay. This famous bay, located in the northeast of Vietnam, is one of the most stunning and well-known destinations in Southeast Asia. Halong Bay impresses as much by the great variety in shape and size of the islands as by the large number of them.

Halong Bay was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 and was recently named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, making it a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to Vietnam.

In this post, I’ll share a bit about the legend of Halong Bay, walk you through our two-day experience in the bay, and outline the pros and cons we discovered during our trip. Let’s dive in!

The legend of Halong Bay

This legend tells that many years ago, the Vietnamese fought against the Chinese, who sought to invade Vietnam by sea. The Emperor of Vietnam prayed to the gods for help, and that’s when a dragon, sent from the heavens, descended upon the waters of the Gulf of Tonkin.

The dragon spewed large stones and jewels into the sea and waves caused by the falling stones and the dragon’s power sank the enemy ships, ensuring victory for the Vietnamese people. After the battle, the dragon remained in the bay, peacefully swimming in its waters and forming the islands, which, according to legend, represent the scales of its body.

The name “Ha Long” translates to “where the dragon descends.” According to the legend, “Ha” means “river” or “water,” and “Long” means “dragon.” The name reflects the story of the dragon descending from the heavens into the sea to protect the Vietnamese people.

What to know before taking a boat tour of Halong Bay?

In Hanoi you will find hundreds of agencies that do routes in Halong Bay. They are usually cheaper than taking the route from Halong city, as there is much more offer.

A 2-night tour is advisable. Although if you are on a tight schedule, a one-night tour is also sufficient. The route can vary depending on the days you want to stay and the company you choose to travel with. However, the route is often quite similar.

Be careful; we have seen people who have been promised a lot of things by the agencies, have paid more for it and then have done the same as the rest. In our case, we spent the first day on the boat going around the bay. We had many stops and lost time. We visited a cave and slept in an area surrounded by islands, where the waters are calmer.

Day 1: Halong City, floating village and a cave

As soon as you arrive in Halong City, Halong Bay impresses with its emerald-green waters and the incredible variety of limestone islands scattered along the coast. The awe begins even before setting sail, starting from Halong City’s beach. Looking out at the horizon, it’s impossible to find a gap without islands—it’s a skyline of mountains rising from the sea.

We were taken to the port, and upon arrival, things became a bit chaotic. Crowds of tourists queued to board one of the many boats docked there, and the atmosphere felt rather disorganized. Despite the chaos, everyone eventually managed to set sail. Once aboard and surrounded by the islands, the scenery and tranquility returned to take center stage. Sailing through Halong Bay feels almost like being inside the movie Avatar—except on water, with Vietnamese boats instead of flying ships.

In our case, we spent the first day aboard the boat cruising around the bay. It was a relaxed day spent admiring the islets, taking photographs, and enjoying drinks with the other tourists on board.

However, there were many stops and moments of wasted time. It felt as though they were trying to conserve fuel or avoid traveling too far. We visited a floating fishing village and the Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Cave), which felt very touristy. We spent the night in a calm area surrounded by islands, where the waters were more serene.

Day 2: Visiting Cat Ba, the largest island in Halong Bay

On the second day, we visited Cat Ba, the largest island in Halong Bay. If you book a multi-day tour, spending a day on Cat Ba is almost always part of the itinerary.

During the day, you can hike to a viewpoint accessible through a scenic walk in the forest. Later, we headed to the beach to watch the sunset. To wrap up the day, you can enjoy a night out with the fellow tourists you’ve met on the tour.

On the third morning, as we made our way back, we stopped for a kayaking excursion. It was a great way to burn off some of the rice we had been enjoying over the past two days and marvel at the bay’s stunning rock formations up close.

Before we knew it, our two-day tour of Halong Bay had come to an end. We returned to the coast, bidding farewell to one of the world’s wonders. One down, six to go.

What’s good about Halong Bay:

• You’ll see some dreamy scenery.
• The prices of the crossings are usually relatively cheap.
• You’ll enjoy the peace and quiet during the day and, if you want, partying at night on most boats.

Downsides and tips:

• It’s easy for agencies to try to rip you off and promise you more activities than you end up with. So be carefull and negotiate well.
• It is a place with too much tourism, so try to go in low season to avoid crowds.
• The water is getting dirtier every year, and it’s a shame to see rivers of shit in this wonderful landscape.

Next Destination: From Halong Bay to Hanoi

Our next destination was the capital of Vietnam: Hanoi. Famous for its history and culture, Hanoi is also home to the mausoleum where the embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh rests.

Comment, evaluate and/or share if this post has been useful to you. Subscribe if you want to receive travel updates. If you plan to travel to Vietnam, you may also be interested in our Vietnam Travel Tips list or the post about the Coast of Vietnam, the most beautiful beaches. Also, another of the places we liked the most in Vietnam: Ninh Binh: karst mountains, villages and lakes. Have a nice trip!