The best luxury hotels and resorts in Ha Long Bay (2023)

FAQs

What is the best month to visit Halong Bay? ›

October to December (Fall) is the best time to visit Halong Bay thanks to the pleasant weather and low chance of rain, though you can expect double of the crowds. However, with some planning, you can have an amazing Ha Long tour with half of the normal price.

Halong Bay is definitely a go-to destination if you are a nature lover. From untouched beaches to ancient floating villages, secluded islands, and an amazing system of natural caves and grottoes, natural beauty is what the bay draws your attention to.

The most common route is visiting the Sung Sot Cave ( Surprising Cave) and Titop Island on the first day, and then visit Luon Cave on the second day before disembark the cruise. These destinations are also the most beautiful and precious quintessence of the bay.

IUCN noted many threats to the site, including increase in tourism; the infrastructure developed may have potential to impact adversely on the site; the coal loading operations through the inshore waters of the Bay; large fishing presence in the Bay, and urban and industrial development.

Normally, people will need to stay in Halong Bay for 2 days to 3 days either on cruise or a hotel on land.

However, the months of July – August often see sporadic hurricanes and storms, which may render cancellation and delay of your trip. In those cases, you can switch around by visiting another destination in the North of Vietnam and visit Halong Bay later. These storms will not last longer than 3-4 days.

The traveling time is about 1.5-2.5 hours. It takes about 1h 30m to get to Hai Phong by taxi, quite the same time if you go by personal means of transport like a motorbike or private car. The taxi cost is $75 – $95.

(TITC) - Ha Long Bay was officially recognized by New7wonders as one of the new 7 natural wonders of the world on 11/11/2011. Since then, Ha Long Bay has become part of the global memory and one of the seven landmarks forever remembered by history.

We recommend tipping between 50.000 VND and 100.000 VND to individual staff that you would like to thank. To thank the crew in general, we recommend tipping around 200.000 VND per cabin for a 2 day 1 night cruise, and 250.000 VND for a 3 day 2 night cruise.

A 3-day cruise itinerary gives you a chance to explore the most secluded and faraway destinations, not only in Halong Bay, but also in Bai Tu Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay. Compared to 2 day trip, you will have more opportunities to kayak or swim, cycle or trek, and see more for less.

Which is better Halong Bay or Lan Ha Bay? ›

For beach-lovers, head to Halong Bay for larger but more touristic beaches and come to Lan Ha Bay for small, pristine, or even private beaches. If Titov and Soi Sim are the 2 most famous sandy beaches on Halong Bay, Ba Trai Dao and Van Boi Beach are the two most beautiful ones on Lan Ha Bay.

At present, water in Halong Bay shows pollution by oil and coliform. Other pollutants such as heavy metals, chlorinated pesticides, cyanide, organic mater… are still lower than Vietnamese standard for coastal water.

At present, water sample measurements in Halong Bay shows signs of pollution by oil and coliform. Other pollutants; namely heavy metals, chlorinated pesticides and organic matter are also above the limits set by the state for water management.

The bay is not only an ideal place for sunbathing with dazzling sunlight, but also a beautiful beach with calm tides, clean, and green water. It would be even much more enjoyable if you have a chance to swim far away from the beach, maybe diving from a cruise, because the water there is much more clear.

Known as 'Halong bay on land', Ninh Binh province is an area of natural beauty and is definitely worth visiting when you are travelling in Vietnam.

Swimming in Halong Bay is an absolute sensation you should not miss. Nothing can cool off hot summer days better than swimming in the bay. There are many stunning beaches surrounding with a collection of green limestones such as Titov Beach, Ban Chan Beach, etc., which will make you fall in love right away.

What Halong Bay Is Famous For? Ha Long Bay as known as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is famous because its stunning limestone mountains raising up from emerald waters that formed from thousand years ago. You also can have a chance to explore amazing caves as well as the culture of Ha Long.

The best time to visit Hanoi is between the months of October and April, when the region experiences a pleasant weather along with a low level of humidity. However, December and January are the peak months to visit Hanoi.

Time and where to catch the train

The train leaves once a day from Yen Vien station in Hanoi at 4:55 am. and arrives at Halong station at 11:41 am, a total travel time of 6 hours and 45 minutes. Once the train arrives in Halong City, you have to arrange additional transportation to reach your hotel or the cruise port.

Unique experience. Cave dinner, kayaking through the tiny tunnel, swimming on a secluded beach amidst the caves and grottos, biking past the rainforest on an island, squid fishing at night, practicing Tai Chi as you watch the sun rises over the Bay – these are just some of what a cruise trip to Halong Bay has to offer.

How many days do you need in Hanoi? ›

3 days is the average time that most visitors spend in Hanoi. 1 or 2 days seems to be a little tight as there are plenty of tourist attractions, cool bars, nice restaurants and great cafes offering panoramic views over the city.

Ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft are not available in Vietnam in 2023. The good news is that there are a few Uber alternatives in Vietnam that you can use instead. Keep reading for all about how to use other ride-hailing apps in Vietnam, like Grab and Gojek!

Uber offers 4 types of transport services + 1 deliver service in Vietnam (Uber MOTO, Uber X, Uber BLACK, SUV, Uber DELIVER). The Prices for transport with Uber in Vietnam are almost one third versus Vietnamese taxi services. However, these prices are almost the same in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Halong Bay has an area of 1553 km² and coastline spanning 120 km. The bay is relatively shallow with its deepest depth measuring at 33 feet (10 metres).

1. The Great Pyramid of Giza. Of all the ancient seven wonders of the world, the Great Pyramid of Giza is the one and only wonder that has survived to stand tall through thick and thin.

Iceland's Blue Lagoon is considered one of the wonders of the world, and it's a spot on many travelers' bucket lists. With the new Sky Lagoon, residents and visitors get to continue to enjoy Iceland's natural geothermal waters and landscapes.

When you forego tipping on your cruise, you aren't hurting the corporation. You're just lowering the pool of funds that hard-working service employees share at the end of the journey. Automatically added gratuities take the confusion out of tipping on your cruise.

Do I Need to Tip at an All-Inclusive Resort? While tipping is a discretionary and optional gesture, at all-inclusive resorts in Mexico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and others, it is certainly encouraged.

It's not necessary, but a small tip can be offered for in-room dining. Personally, when I have a great housekeeper, even on a ship that includes gratuities, I will leave a small cash bonus (maybe $20 per passenger) at the end of the cruise. The same goes for waiters.

The best time to visit Vietnam is from March to April, when rainfall is low and temperatures are milder. In a country more than 1,600 kms (1,000 miles) long, the weather in Vietnam varies considerably as you go from north to south, from a temperate to a tropical climate.

Are luxury goods cheaper in Vietnam? ›

As a general rule of thumb, the more luxurious and verifiable the item, the less you'll save in Vietnam. If you go to a high-end retailer, the prices will look similar to London or Paris or Milan. The real savings come from shopping at local markets and boutique shops.

If you're bringing the whole family, a 5 or 7 day cruise might be the best way to make sure everyone has an awesome getaway. And for those lucky folks with even more time to spare, a cruise of 10 days or more will give you an incredible experience of all the best things a cruise has to offer.

Generally speaking, cruise ships can only stay at sea for around twelve days before they need to refuel. Despite this most cruise ships will refuel every few days as they stop at different ports. Just because a cruise ship could in theory stay at sea for 12 days, this doesn't mean that they do.

In recent years, well-known producers in Hollywood have discovered Halong Bay as an ideal place for filming movies. In the past, the Vietnam War was the main topic that brought producers to Vietnam. “The Quiet American”, “Indochine” and “The Lover” are the most famous movies working well from this topic.

Hoi An's beaches are probably nicer, although Da Nang's beaches have their champions too. Both have excellent seafood. The photo ops in Hoi An are so plentiful that it's almost impossible to take a bad picture. Da Nang's photo ops are a bit harder to find, but some say that makes them all the more treasured.

To get to Lan Ha Bay, you will have to transfer to Cat Ba Island first. From Hanoi, you can take a tourist bus directly to Cat Ba, travel by train to Hai Phong and travel to Cat Ba from Hai Phong, and get to Halong and transfer to Cat Ba. If you travel by tourist bus, it will take about 3,5 hours.

Why should you visit Halong Bay? The unique beauty of the bay, with its towering limestone karsts, make this a natural wonder worthy of a UNESCO World Heritage listing. There are more than 1,600 islets in the bay, their limestone worn down by 500 million years of tropical downpours, and topped by thick jungle growth.

Ha Long Bay is one of Vietnam's most renowned travel destinations. However, over the years it has gained a reputation of being swamped with tourists and having expensive boat tours in a polluted bay.

Van Don, Noi Bai and Cat Bi are the closest airports to Halong Bay.

How much does it cost to go to Halong Bay? ›

Booking tips

The Halong Bay entry fee is US$13 per person for a day cruise and US$25 for an overnight cruise. This is generally included in your ticket, though it's worth double-checking for the cheapest cruises. Activities like kayaking and island bike rides may cost extra.

IUCN noted many threats to the site, including increase in tourism; the infrastructure developed may have potential to impact adversely on the site; the coal loading operations through the inshore waters of the Bay; large fishing presence in the Bay, and urban and industrial development.

Other attractions during your stay in Ha Long, beside exploring Ha Long Bay itself, if to visit the Royal Park in Halong City, Water Music, a circus performance by dolphins, sea lions, crocodiles, and much more.

Quan Lan – Best Area in Halong Bay for Families. Quan Lan is one of the outermost islands in Halong Bay, making it a peaceful destination throughout the year and perfect for families. The large, unspoiled beaches offer panoramic views of the ocean on one side, and towering Halong Bay mountains on the other side.

The best time to visit northern Vietnam is during spring (March to April) and autumn (September to November), when days are generally warm and sunny.

The best month to visit Siem Reap is December with the tourism industry exploding during this period, especially between Christmas and New Year. Another part of the year when it is a good time to visit Siem Reap is later during February to April when the temperatures are low, and crowds are a bit sparse as well.

Overall, September is a pretty good time to visit Halong Bay. If you are still concerned about the weather, you may consider booking your trip from mid-September onward.

January to March. From January to March is the ideal time to visit Hoi An, since Hoi An weather is cool, dry and comfortable with the average temperature varying from 18 to 23OC.

For a two-week trip, your Vietnam travel budget should be about $2,530 per person based on my suggestions and itinerary as indicated above.

How much money do I need for 3 weeks in Vietnam? ›

Three Weeks

This route cuts down on travel costs as the only expense there would be renting a motorbike, which is quite easy to do in Hanoi Old Quarter or Pham Ngu Lao in Ho Chi Minh. You shouldn't spend more than $4-$6 per day. Three weeks could be done as cheaply as $800, but more realistically aim for $1,500.

Malaria risk is present throughout the year in all areas except Phnom Penh, other main cities, Angkor Wat, Siem Reap and close to Tonle Sap. Risk is highest in the north east regions of Preah Vihear, Stung Treng, Ratanakiri and Mondolkiri. Malaria precautions are essential.

It's home to interesting architecture, a thriving food scene, and a surprising nightlife that make it a favorite destination for both backpackers and expats. We were intrigued. Angkor Wat may be its main draw but there's enough to see and do in Siem Reap to keep you busy between temple visits.

Ostensibly, the best time to visit Angkor Wat is during the dry season, which runs from November through to mid-April. During this period, temperatures dip, making the days cooler.

What Halong Bay Is Famous For? Ha Long Bay as known as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is famous because its stunning limestone mountains raising up from emerald waters that formed from thousand years ago. You also can have a chance to explore amazing caves as well as the culture of Ha Long.

Planning Your Trip to Vietnam

Travelers with limited time can rejoice that Vietnam is small enough to experience the highlights in just a few days. That said, the ideal timeframe is about 10 days, as it takes at least this long to immerse yourself in Vietnam's rich culture.

Summer lasts from May to October when it is hot and humid and the region experiences its highest rainfall. July to September are often the wettest months of the year.