Cruise on Halong Bay, Vietnam

Anju Chandna
Jul 21
3 min read

Updated: Sep 24

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Halong Bay is renowned for its stunning limestone rock formations, which span over 600 square miles of emerald-green seawater. The rocks seem to be perched atop the surface of the sea and are covered in a thick green coat of tropical rainforests as far as the eye can see!

The mesmerising landscape changes colours throughout the day, from azure during the day to a dark green as dusk falls.

In the evening, all the cruises light up with ferry lights casting luminous glows on the water below...

Noteworthy is that, as a measure to protect the fragile environment of the bay from the pitfalls of excessive tourism, the Halong Bay Cruises in Vietnam are permitted to operate in a small area of the bay only.

Tourists assemble at the Ferry Boarding Point, and they are then led into a smaller ferry that takes about an hour to reach the point where the cruises are parked. You can see cruises of all shapes and sizes hovering around this area, offering a multitude of options to the tourists, from day trips to overnight cruises.

A lesser-known fact about this part of the world is that, apart from Halong Bay, two more bays have cruising options, Bai Tu Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay. All three bays are accessible from the same harbour, Tuan Chau Harbour.

Halong Bay is the most touristy, with most luxury liners cruising on this route. If you're looking for a regular touristy experience, go for the Halong Bay Cruise.

But if you're the adventurous sort and wish to explore the unexplored part of this region, then go for Lan Ha Bay. The topography is very similar to Halong Bay, but it's way less crowded. You might not get the luxury liner of your dreams, but you can go for fun activities like kayaking with bioluminescent plankton. Most excursions will include the Cat Ba National Park.

Bai Tu Long Bay can be your pick if you're looking for a more authentic Vietnamese experience. You can visit some typical fishing villages with far fewer crowds. But you will need at least 2 to 3 days to be able to enjoy this far-flung locale.

Here are a few handy tips that you could use to plan your trip to Halong Bay...

There are many cruise options available for Halong Bay. Day cruises, overnight cruises and even cruises for 2 to 3 nights. You can take your pick depending on what you're looking for.
The best way to make bookings is through the official websites of cruises or from major booking platforms like Agoda.com and Booking.com. Look out for good deals when making your booking.

We opted for an overnight cruise by Peony Cruises. The cost of a couple for a night's stay, all meals excluding drinks, was Rs. 24000 or USD 285.
Halong Bay lies close to Halong City, a major tourist destination for cruises. A lot of tourists who head to Halong City from Hanoi travel by road, which is about 2.5 hours. There is a good expressway connecting the two cities.
The best time to visit Halong Bay is from September to November and March to May.
The times that one should avoid going to Halong Bay are the local Vietnamese holidays, especially around the New Year, both by the international and lunar calendars. This region sees a surge in local tourists at this time.
There are two embarkation ports for Halong Bay cruises: One, Tuan Chau Marina and two, Halong International Cruise Port, Bai Chay Ward. As a tourist, one doesn't need to worry about where to embark since most travel companies have operators who will take you directly to your port of embarkation. So, you can just sit back and enjoy the scenic locales.
The ferry terminals are very organised with all facilities like restaurants and free toilets. Cruise companies have their ticket counters and also offer some basic refreshments free of cost to their patrons.