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If you’re coming to Vietnam, I am sure that you will want to visit Halong bay, one of the most amazing places and unique to Vietnam.
But what tour to choose? It is a question that every traveler is made, and often websites will not help to resolve this dilemma, as all the world wants to give you your own tour.
I ‘ve done both the tour of 1 day as the 2 -, tantor from the city of Halong as from Cat Ba, and I have come to the conclusion that each person should decide on a tour different.
One day Tour from Hanoi
✔️ This is your tour if you only have a day to visit Halong.
✔️ Everything is included except drinks (bus from Hanoi, boat, meals, activities, etc.).
❌ You are going to spend a lot of time on the bus.
👉 Where to book the tour 1 day from Hanoi?
I recently made this one-day tour by the bay of Halong departing from Hanoi. I booked the tour directly on the website of Get Your Guide, and the price was around€ 50 per person (including everything except the drinks).
💲 Approximate price: 50€
🌐 Language: English (but to be a place of nature, if you don’t speak English don’t lose much)
🚩 key Places: 1) Isle of Titop, 2) surprising Cave and 3) point to make a kayak or canoe ride.
⏳ Duration: 1 day enter. The bus departs from Hanoi at 8:30 or so, and comes back around 21:00.
The bus from Hanoi to Halong was very comfortable, spacious and air-conditioning. Our guide Lily was aware of us throughout the day and explained to us in a readable many things over the bay and the vietnamese culture. , The tour includes a lot of food, and stops on the 3 most important points of the Halong bay:
📌 Island, Titop. This is the viewpoint highest of the bay (92m), and offers breathtaking panoramic views. In this island is also a small beach for swimming, and beach bars.
📌 Cave of Surprise. This cave is impressive and, indeed, it is surprising for its size and its beauty.
🔹 Point for kayaking. The tour also includes a stop to do Kayaking or take a larger boat rowed by local people.
The most negative part of the tour was that the weather at sea is between 5 and 6 hours, and there are moments where you appreciate to spend more time in each place. , however, to be a tour of a day I was very surprised that the time it takes full advantage and do the same activities in the tours that start from Halong or Cat Ba. The tour that I have just described is exactly this one-day tour.
One day Tour from Halong or Cat Ba:
✔️ This is the tour that offers the best price-quality ratio. For about 20€, you can spend a whole day sailing around the bay, making Kayaking, visiting the floating villages, swimming, climbing to the top of some island, and also includes food What more can you ask for 20€?
✔️ As for to do this tour you should go to the city of Halong or to the island of Cat Ba, you can take advantage of and discover these places the day before or after the tour.
❌ To be able to do this option, you have to move to the city of Halong or to Cat Ba the previous day for your account. In the event that you go to Cat Ba, it is difficult to arrive at night, since the last ferries depart currently (August 2023) on 19:00.
Recommended accommodation in Cat Ba: If you are staying in Cat Ba I recommend to stay at Anh Nhu Hotel. Is a hotel with the 3 Bs. The room is correct, and with a comfortable bed, and is located quite near one of the beaches. It has bars, and shops nearby, and the owner was very nice. For example, we changed the room to a better the second day because I had availability, and helped us to find a lens in Cat Ba at 20:00 in the afternoon on a Sunday, because my friend gave him allergy his glasses.
👉 Where to book the tour 1 day from Halong or Cat Ba?
This tour can be booked through your accommodation in Halong or Cat Ba easily, and it costs about 25€ per person.
Tour of 2 days and one night from Hanoi
✔️This is the perfect choice to enjoy the Halong bay in a more quiet and relaxed,. For example, with this type of tour you’re going to be able to throw in a hammock and enjoy watching the sunset with your partner or family, or sunrise while you take a coffee warm.
❌ The biggest disadvantage of this tour is that its price is higher than that of the tours 1 day.
📌 I recommend the agency Holiday Travelling from Phuong Vu, to hire the tour of Halong 2 days. This is my trusted agency for years, with an excellent cost performance. She will advise you by WhatsApp in Spanish or in English on the different options and ship arrangements (with different prices and categories), as well as the transport to connect the tour with the rest of your itinerary. In addition, if you say that you have come to this page, I will make a discount of 100,000 VND per cabin (approx. 4€) and will give you a small gift when you come to Hanoi. Whatsapp from PHUONG VU, agency recommended.
You can also take a look at the website of the agency Holiday Travelling, my agency recommended in Vietnam.
¡Discount of 100,000 VND for being a reader of Adventures with Alberto!
Book at Booking.com
It is possible to book boats of great quality for the web, Booking,. however, the web prices often do not include transport.
Tours in Halong bay
One of the tours currently most recommended by travelers is Dora Cruise, a boat of 5 stars , which includes all the main activities, great comfort, quality food, and even a swimming pool on the deck,. The Royal Palace Cruise is a boat of the category slightly lower than that also has been highly recommended.
Tours in the bay of Lan Ha
The bay of Lan Ha, neighbouring the famous Halong bay, offers a landscape equally spectacular but with less touristed. In this bay, my tour is the recommended Venezia Cruises. , This cruise includes kayak and swim in areas of low traffic of Lan Ha Bay. Also offers a tour on a bike or electric car to the village of Viet Hai, a secluded village within the National Park of Cat Ba, which cannot be reached by road. It is an activity that is usually not included in the cruise Halong, and that adds a different, active, and authentic to the experience.
As a similar alternative, you can also consider the Sunlight Boutique Cruise or the Sunlight Cruise.
2-days Tour to one person
Normally, when a single person is going to do the tour of Halong going to have to pay for 2, for the rooms of the ship are mostly doubles. However, I have found a boat that allows you to pay for a single person, that is to say, paying half of what most of the boats are going to ask for a person traveling for free. Through the link, you can book this boat cruise on Halong Bay.
2-days Tour in Spanish
On the page of Civitatis there is a 2-day tour in Spanish. This tour is quite more expensive than the average. If you are looking for a tour in Spanish of Halong bay, this can be an interesting option. Although I think the price is excessive, and that having an English-speaking guide will probably not add much to this visit, as the Halong bay is a place of active tourism for enjoy the nature, the landscapes and the environment.
See you soon!
