Halong Bay Travel Tips & Experiences

Travel Tips & Experiences

The Legacy of Green Spirit - “Halong Bay in My Eyes 2014”

The Legacy of Green Spirit - “Halong Bay in My Eyes 2014”

Since it opened for tourism at the end of the 20th century, Halong Bay has seen an immense rise in popularity to become one of the most sought-after destinations in Asia. Many tourists come daily to the bay in search of the ideal paradise that is advertised heavily throughout the country, and many find it aboard a cruise ship as they sail serenely through placid waters, out of which rise limestone towers in utterly unique shapes and sizes."Halong Bay in My Eyes" exhibitionThe side that many tourists don’t see, however, often lies below the surface or in the mangroves of its untouched islands. Rubbish cast off from boats left behind at tourist attractions, and discarded into the sea by the locals all add up to a polluted bay with piles of rubbish that amass daily, destroying entire systems that have been in place since pre-historic times.Adorable pictures drawn by childrenTo highlight the impact that such careless practices have, V’Spirit, a part of Incredible Asia Journeys, developed Green Spirit, an initiative that aims to keep Halong Bay clean and free of the pollutants that threaten the beautiful and ancient way of life here. In cooperation with Hanoi’s Foreign Trade University and the Université de Nantes in France, Green Spirit held a children’s art exhibition on Soi Sim Beach, one of the beautiful white-sand offerings in Halong Bay.Visitors enjoy the exhibitionThe exhibition, hosted on the 16th of April 2014, was called ‘Halong Bay in My Eyes’. Local children from Quang Ninh province were asked to participate, and we were blown away by some of the insightful submissions that we received. It seems that even in the eyes of a child, Halong Bay’s problems are severe and need to be shared with its visitors. Their drawings expressed a love for the environment and a clear desire for more environmentally friendly practices, such as correctly disposing of litter, helping to clean up existing rubbish, and refraining from overfishing.A masterpiece in the exhibitionThis was just a small exhibition, but many visitors, locals, and even the media made the effort to see it. We are very proud of the kids’ contributions and their desire to see a cleaner, greener Halong Bay in the future. ‘Halong Bay in My Eyes’ showed us that the future is brighter for Halong Bay if its little ambassadors are as passionate as the members of Green Spirit!

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Differences among Budget, Mid-Range and Luxury Cruises in Halong Bay

Differences among Budget, Mid-Range and Luxury Cruises in Halong Bay

As Halong Bay grows and grows in popularity, potential passengers find themselves with a frankly ridiculous number of options with which to access it. The hundreds of companies that ply the waters of the Gulf of Tonkin in the northeast of Vietnam offer three classes, but the differences between budget, mid-range and luxury cruises in Halong Bay is far from clear for the millions of tourists who visit the bay each year.[incredible_toc] Endless hours of sifting through brochures, staring at computer screens and speaking with travel agents are not unusual for tourists to Hanoi, who understandably want to be perfectly clear on the service they are receiving. For those people, the Incredible Asia Journeys blog is here to help clarify the key differences between Halong Bay’s budget, mid-range and luxury cruises.1. What is a Halong Bay Budget Cruise?Tourism in Halong Bay has done very well in offering every type of traveler a chance to see the world's wonders. For those on a tight budget, the dream of cruising around one of the most magical seascapes on earth might seem unrealistic, but several companies cater specifically to showing such tourists the wonders of Halong Bay from as little as $40 USD. Budget cruises offer the most basic service, but crucially give passengers a chance to cruise around the twice-recognised UNESCO World Heritage Site for a price that is next to nothing.V'Spirit Cruise1.1. Halong Bay Budget Cruise ItineraryOne of the main differences between cruises in Halong Bay is the route in which they sail. Budget cruises tend to have a bit of a cut-and-paste itinerary, showing their passengers the main sites of the bay in a pretty regimented fashion. This is especially the case with day tours, which have about 4 hours of cruising time and therefore have to hit each spot with military precision.Usually, budget cruises in Halong Bay will visit Titop Island, Sung Sot Cave, Vung Vieng fishing village and offer a kayaking excursion around a small area. The beauty of these places is the same, regardless of the cruise that you are sailing on, but the strict time allowances and touristic nature of the stops means that budget cruises can feel a little forced, with not much time for relaxing.1.2. Halong Bay Budget Cruise ShipYou can extend your beauty of the bay by opting for an overnight trip, be it a 1-night or 2-night tour, where much more of the bay’s beauty will open up to you. While stops will likely be ones with high volumes of tourists, you will have much more time to relax on the sundeck or in the bedroom of your budget ship. Usually, these are comprised of small but functional cabins with en suites, with a few of the fancier ships offering private balconies; all along with a practical dining room, sparsely decorated but useful sundeck and a bar with local beer, wine and a few spirits. The price difference among budget, mid-range and luxury cruises in Halong Bay is largely down to facilities on board the boat, so if the budget option sounds a little too much on the basic side, then you may want to look at the next option…Some suggestions for Budget Cruises in Halong Bay:Mila CruiseCozy Bay CruiseLa Pandora CruiseGarden Bay Legend Cruise4. What is a Halong Bay Deluxe (Mid-Range) Cruise?One of the many frustrations for tourists looking to book Halong Bay cruises is the vague terminology used by travel companies in categorising their cruises and cabins. ‘Deluxe’ in the Vietnamese tourism industry means ‘mid-range’, while inexplicably, cabins listed as ‘superior’ can actually be the most basic offerings on a ship. Amid all the confusion, mid-range cruises offer a decent 4-star service, aimed at tourists with a bit more cash to splash, but not so much that they want the most pristine service available.2.1. Halong Bay Mid-Range Cruise ItineraryThe route that mid-range cruises use is possibly the biggest difference between budget and deluxe cruises in Halong Bay. As Halong Bay becomes increasingly congested with more and more identical cruise companies wanting a slice of the action, more tourists are finding a quieter and equally breathtaking alternative in Lan Ha Bay, located just to the south. There are currently no budget cruises in Lan Ha bay unless leaving from Cat Ba Island, located about 140km from where most people book their cruises, Hanoi.Like budget cruises, mid-range cruises in Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay can still visit Titop Island, Sung Sot Cave and the fishing village of Vung Vieng, but have a world of other attractions available as well. The Dark and Bright Caves, Ba Trai Dao Beach, Trong Cave and Dong Tien Lake are all popular stops for such tours who, if sailing through Lan Ha Bay, can also benefit from having the entire of Cat Ba Island available for exploration on the second day of a 3-day cruise.Sung Sot Cave2.2. Halong Bay Mid-Range Cruise ShipYou will generally have more space to roam and better facilities when making a comparison between mid-range and budget Halong Bay cruises. These ships are well-equipped to carry their passengers through Halong or Lan Ha bays, starting with a more spacious cabin, more modern en-suite and a potential balcony. You’ll find a more elegant restaurant and bar area, with a wider sundeck on the top facilitating amazing views of the passage of limestone mountains outside. Crucially, mid-range cruises usually contain a more vivid character than budget cruises through Vietnamese decoration, better quality food, and various types of boats that offer different services for different people. If you want a private cruise, that’s totally possible, as is a cruise that caters to families or honeymoon couples, all offering a mid-range price tag for an individualized service.Some suggestions of Deluxe Cruises in Halong Bay:V'Spirit CruiseLa Casta Regal CruiseAthena CruiseMila Lux CruiseErina Cruise3. What is a Halong Bay Luxury Cruise?Luckily, there is no ambiguity in the name for Halong Bay luxury cruises. Luxury means luxury, and that is exactly what you will get on these 5-star cruises, differing from mid-range and budget cruises not really by the places to which they sail, but by the services that they provide on board the ship. Obviously, such cruises are catered to people with a higher budget, or without a budget at all, providing a stylised and opulent trip for passengers to see the bay in a sophisticated setting.3.1. Halong Bay Luxury Cruise ItineraryThere isn’t much of a difference between Halong Bay’s mid-range and luxury cruise itineraries; both visit the same areas and see much of the same wonders of Lan Ha Bay and Halong Bay. However, some luxury cruises do in fact have special access to some parts of the bay.Though luxury cruises mostly go to the same attractions, many of their passengers are more in the market for relaxation than activity, meaning cruises usually feature some fantastic alternatives if staying on the ship. Afternoon tea, fruit-carving demonstrations and cooking classes are some of these, while the 6-star ultra-luxury cruises may contain a gym, swimming pool, spa and even a mini-golf course in order to keep their top dollar-paying passengers happy.Perla Dawn Sails3.2. Halong Bay Luxury Cruise ShipLuxury cruises mostly present their opulence in the form of the ship with which you cruise. Aside from some of those features mentioned above, luxury cruises in Halong Bay, compared to mid-range and budget cruises, contain high-end amenities and a character born of classy, stylish, and traditional design. Cabins are very spacious, usually containing a balcony and a very modern and well-equipped en-suite. Luxury cruises are where you’ll find the floating suites of Halong Bay, complete with sofas, bookcases, hot tubs and many other features that breed an air of exclusivity. The service is also in a world of its own on these cruises. Staff will do more than facilitate your sailing, they will actively try to enhance it by offering companionship or extra, personalized services. The crew are trained to the highest levels and have a consistently friendly demeanor along with fluent English abilities; higher-end luxury cruises even have personal butlers who will tend personally to your every whim.Some suggestions of Luxury Cruises in Halong Bay:Catherine cruiseElite of the SeasCapella CruiseIndochine Premium CruiseScarlet Pearl Cruise

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Which Airport is Closest to Halong Bay

Which Airport is Closest to Halong Bay

With Halong Bay continuing to find massive appeal amongst domestic and international tourists, the government has needed to find a way of improving transport links to the one, pot-hole-ridden highway that used to connect Halong City to Hanoi.[incredible_toc] Improved roads and an added highway were a good start to a better quality of travel, but with visitors flying from all over the world, many are asking which is the closest airport to Halong Bay. The two airports that serve Halong Bay can be found in its neighbouring major cities of Hanoi and Hai Phong, both of which offer transfers directly to the bay.Airport picking up1. Cat Bi International Airport – Hai PhongWith just 45km between them, Cat Bi International Airport is irrefutably the closest airport to Halong Bay, with a travel time of about an hour required to transfer along the beautifully scenic road between the two. The airport is rather small, but given the popularity of Halong Bay, still receives about 17 flights a day – mainly from Ho Chi Minh City, but also from Nha Trang, Da Nang, Pleiku, Phu Quoc and nearby international airports like Seoul, Shenzhen and Bangkok.Hai Phong Airport Transfer to Halong BayAlong with Halong Bay, Cat Bi is also the closest airport to Bai Tu Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay. Information about the various distances and time requirements for a transfer to all of the Gulf on Tonkin’s bays are laid out below.Harbour and BayDistance from Hai Phong AirportTime RequiredTuan Chau Harbour - Halong Bay45km60 - 70 minutesHon Gai Harbour - Bai Tu Long Bay55km80 – 90 minutesGot Harbour - Lan Ha Bay30km40 - 45 minutes2. Noi Bai International Airport – HanoiWhile not the closest, it could be argued that Hanoi’s Noi Bai airport is the most convenient airport for Halong Bay, as the vast majority of people arriving to see one of the New7Wonders of the world do so from the capital. The fact that almost all of cruise companies’ daily passenger arrivals come with a tour from Hanoi means that most of the government’s efforts in improving transportation links have been focused on the highway between Hanoi and Halong City. Along with this, there is much more to do in Hanoi than there is in Hai Phong, making Hanoi’s airport the main airport for Halong Bay. Contact Incredible Asia Journeys to find out more information!Hanoi Airport Transfer to Halong BayImproved highways to both Halong and Hai Phong from Hanoi have ensured that travel from the capital to Halong Bay is easy. Most cruise companies offer a direct transfer from Hanoi airport to Halong, Bai Tu Long or Lan Ha Bay, but it should be noted that times are longer if going with a tour company compared to going with a private car because of various stops that these companies make on the way. Consider booking our tour 4 Days From Hanoi to Halong Bay to exclude any hassle!Harbour and BayDistance from Hanoi AirportTime Required (without tour)Tuan Chau Harbour - Halong Bay170km3 – 3.5 hoursHon Gai Harbour - Bai Tu Long Bay180km3 – 3.5 hoursGot Harbour - Lan Ha Bay160km2.5 – 3 hours

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At Which Port do International Cruises Stop in Halong Bay?

At Which Port do International Cruises Stop in Halong Bay?

The draw of Halong Bay has long since reached international levels, with visitors coming from the opposite side of the world to experience its picture-perfect setting. Regardless of their origin, the millions of tourists who visit Halong Bay every year find a magical destination of forested limestone spires and the exquisite caves formed within, all sitting in an emerald sea that rolls up to remote islands’ shores.[incredible_toc]For cruise passengers on many international cruise lines, Halong Bay represents a wonderful starting destination or a beautiful conclusion to tours to and from Hong Kong or Singapore. Before departing on such a cruise, many potential passengers research which port international cruises stop at in Halong Bay, in order to assess their time and distance allowances for their one day on land. For the benefit of passengers eager to explore the north of Vietnam, here is the Incredible Asia Journeys list of day trips from Halong Bay’s cruise liner port.1. Sun Group Halong International Cruise Port - Updated 2024From 3rd May 2019, Sun Group has announced the opening of the Sun Halong International Cruise Port at Bai Chay Commune in Halong City. The Sun International Port officially opened on 28th April 2019 with top-of-line facilities designed to serve the international tourists visiting Halong.The Sun International Cruise Port can hold up to 300 ships and the facilities can serve the high-speedboat, yachts and overnight cruises. It is very convenient because it is close to the Halong City, Market, restaurants and Sun World Entertainment Complex.Halong International Cruise Port2. An Introduction to Cai Lan Port, Halong BayInternational cruise passengers touch down every few days at Cai Lan port in Vietnam’s northeastern corner. The port lies in the north of Halong City, just above Halong Bay, facing onto the Cua Luc harbour where cruise liners anchor for the day. On a typical itinerary, cruise liners arrive at Cai Lan at about 07:00 or 08:00, leaving at some point between 20:00 and 22:00 to head back into the open sea.The large time allowance gives visitors plenty of options for day trips from Cai Lan port. Many passengers opt to stick to the immediate shoreline and enjoy some of the famous attractions of the coast for which Vietnam is known, but many search for excitement further afield in the country’s highly cultural capital, Hanoi.As with everything around Halong city, Cai Lan port is surrounded by jutting limestone karts, providing a resplendent first impression of Vietnam as international cruise passengers pull up to the shore. After passing under the Bai Chay bridge, which connects the two halves of Halong City, tourists will be left for the day on land and the chance to join an organised tour from Cai Lan port to anywhere within a few hours’ driving distance.2.1. Cai Lan Port to Halong BayOf all the things to do around Cai Lan port, the most popular is certainly to visit Halong Bay, a seascape unlike any other on Earth. The distance from Halong City’s cruise liner port to Halong Bay is a very minimal 14km and its route cuts through the western half of Halong city, with readily available taxi services at the port taking about 20 minutes to complete the journey. The destination port is Tuan Chau Harbour, from where all-day and overnight cruises to Halong Bay leave. Both private tours and group tours are available from Tuan Chau, but cruises should be booked beforehand with a reputable tour company in order to get a reliable deal, as some of the more unscrupulous practices at the harbour prey on tourists looking for a bargain.At Tuan Chau harbour, your cruise will leave into the breathtaking world of Halong Bay and take you to many of the sites available for exploration here. These include a multitude of caves with astounding rock formations within, vibrant fishing villages where families live directly on floating rafts atop the water, and a host of magnificent tree-clad islands containing white sand beaches at their bases. Tours last either 4 or 6 hours cruising in Halong Bay and can be booked with Incredible Asia Journeys here.A Halong Bay cruise is waiting for you to experienceTours will end in the late afternoon or evening time, giving you a chance to either head back to the international cruise port or explore the wonders of Halong City. Finishing your Halong Bay day trip from Cai Lan port before sunset presents the opportunity to watch the magical spectacle from atop the Sun World Ferris Wheel or, for the more active cruise passengers, from the top of Bai Tho Mountain.2.2. Cai Lan Port to Lan Ha BayJust below Halong Bay lies a seascape of similar contoured rocks and their rain-eroded facades – Lan Ha Bay. For tourists looking for a quieter alternative to the occasionally crowded Halong Bay, Lan Ha Bay presents the perfect package with serene waters, quiet coves and the tranquil advantages of its indistinguishable appearance from its famous neighbour. Heading from Cai Lan port to a Lan Ha Bay daytrip is one of the less explored options for passengers on international cruises, but one that can reap a lot of benefits for those who undertake it.Once such benefit, along with the quieter waters, is an increase in cruising time. Around 7 hours is usual for a Lan Ha Bay day trip, offering one of the best options for things to do from Cai Lan port. The longer travel time of 1 hour to the departure terminal, Got harbour, means that you will get back to Halong city later, but still with plenty of time to explore before returning to your cruise liner in the evening.The magnificent scenery of Halong Bay2.3. Cai Lan Port to HanoiEspecially towards the end of an international cruise, passengers can arrive at Cai Lan Port with cruising fatigue, eager to head out for some land-based action. For this, Hanoi is well positioned, requiring a 3–3.5 hour drive from the cruise port and providing a fantastic account of Vietnamese culture, history and architecture. Customisable day trips to Hanoi from Halong’s harbour will show you the best of the capital through its beautiful attractions, starting in the Old Quarter. This is the historic and bustling centre, where street food stalls sit in front of layers of historical architecture, dating from as far back as the 6th century and spanning the dynasties and colonial rulers that have taken residence there since. Museums such as the Museum of Ethnology and Hoa Lo Prison Museum take you through the turbulent history and prosperous current state of Vietnam, while religious sites such as the Temple of Literature, Tran Quoc Pagoda and Ngoc Son Temple offer gorgeous aesthetics as well as a window into current culture.On a full-day tour of Hanoi from Cai Lan port, cruise passengers will return to their international liner with plenty of time to spare until their departure. If this sounds like an appealing option, then click here and opt to create your own tailored trip with Incredible Asia Journeys, including transport, lunch, all entry fees and a professional tour guide.

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The Legacy of Green Spirit - Monthly Beach and Village Clean-up in Halong Bay

The Legacy of Green Spirit - Monthly Beach and Village Clean-up in Halong Bay

As always, V’Spirit Cruises, part of the Incredible Asia Journeys team, is making conscious efforts to protect our homeland from the environmental issues that it faces. We focus most of these efforts on Halong Bay, the gorgeous and totally unique seascape of smooth water and forest-topped limestone mountains. Amidst the beauty, the consistent problem of rubbish pollution looms large, with much of Halong Bay’s eco-system being badly affected by current and history of careless practices.V’Spirit Cruises launched the Green Spirit initiative in 2014Not only does this pollution look very unappealing in a seascape as romantic as Halong Bay, but its presence poses a serious threat to the future survival of many plant and animal species, a lot of which are endemic to the region. V’Spirit Cruises launched its Green Spirit initiative in 2014 as a means to secure the safety of the bay by switching to eco-friendly practices both on and off our cruises.V’Spirit team joins hands to keep the bay cleanOne of our off-cruise initiatives is our monthly clean-up program, where the dedicated Green Spirit team provides the simple but widely overlooked service of litter collection around the bay. We started the program in January 2014 with the cleaning of Soi Sim Beach and Cua Van fishing village. Our enthusiastic team filled several rubbish bags full of litter found on the sand, across the shore, and in the deep sea surrounding fishermen’s homes, explaining to the locals the need to properly dispose of rubbish for both their environmental and financial health.All team were dedicated to contributing their best to the projectAt Green Spirit, we don’t believe that this is such a hard thing to accomplish. We realize that if everyone contributes a little, from recycling plastic water bottles to taking their rubbish with them when stopping at an attraction, then Halong Bay’s future will look both bright and green for the next generation of locals and visitors!

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How to get to Halong Bay from India

How to get to Halong Bay from India

Around 3000 km separates Hanoi from the Indian capital of New Delhi, a city with a rapidly growing interest in Vietnam and the various comings and goings of its primary tourist attraction, Halong Bay. To reach Halong Bay from India, tourists and prospective business partners only have one option – to fly – but the wealth of airports in Vietnam and the fact that there are currently no direct flights between the two countries can make the question of "How to get to Halong Bay from India" a little more complicated than it first seems. Let's Incredible Asia Journeys answer your curiosity![incredible_toc]1. Which Airport to Fly to?Indian tourist in Halong BayAny globetrotting Indians looking to experience an unmissable Halong Bay cruise should head for Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport, the country’s main airport and its second-closest one to Halong Bay. From here, it is fairly easy to reach Halong Bay by either booking a cruise with a professional company or by heading independently to Tuan Chau Harbour, Hon Gai, or Got Harbors, all of which service Halong Bay and its sister bays. For the most reliable service, we strongly recommend going with a company from Hanoi and leaving out the idea of flying to the closest airport to Halong Bay, the seldom-used Cat Bi International Airport in Hai Phong City.2. Which Indian Airports have flights to Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport?The following is each of India’s 25 international airports offering a relatively easy way to get from India to Halong Bay (routes with just one layover destination). Prices and routes are updated constantly so check an airline provider for the exact details of a flight.2.1. Northern IndiaIn the north of India, flights to Halong Bay are available from New Delhi, Amritsar, Srinagar, Jaipur, Varanasi and Lucknow. Of these, the cheapest are usually from New Delhi or Jaipur and the most popular airlines are Thai Airlines, lying over in Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, and Air Asia, lying over in Bangkok Don Mueang Airport.2.2. Southern IndiaFor prospective tourists traveling to Halong Bay from southern India, Kochi, Bangalore, and Chennai airports usually feature some of the lowest fares throughout the country, but Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Goa, and Coimbatore are also options for flights. Air Asia and Malindo Air are the two prime airline operators covering most flights between India and Halong Bay, usually stopping in Kuala Lumpur for a layover.2.3. Central and Western IndiaGiven the scope of central and western India, it is good news that a host of Indian airports provide flights to Hanoi, the cheapest coming from Mumbai and Hyderabad, but with several more less-frequent flights from Ahmedabad, Indore, Pune, Bhopal, Nagpur and Visakhapatnam. The cheaper flights from Mumbai often require long layovers in Singapore or Bangkok, but flying from Hyderabad with an airline like Silk Air or Singapore Airlines will get you from India to Halong Bay with a relatively low layover time.2.4. Eastern IndiaThere aren’t many airports in the east of India that have international capabilities, but those that do include Kolkata, Guwahati, Bagdogra, and Gaya, all of which fly relatively easily to Halong Bay. Air Asia operates most flights out of the region’s biggest airport, Kolkata, which usually features the cheapest fares, stopping over at Kuala Lumpur or either of Bangkok’s airports en route. Prices from Assam’s main airport, Guwahati are usually more expensive and require much longer layovers.3. Which Cruise to Take in Halong Bay?Paradise Sails Cruise in Halong BayOnce arrive in Hanoi, you will likely be bombarded by images of Halong Bay by companies trying to sell you tours. To make a more informed and relaxed decision, check out our list of Halong Bay overnight cruises by clicking on Halong Bay Cruises, all of which offer expert transport through and activities in the bay for a range of different budgets.If the choice still seems a little overwhelming, check out our list of recommended cruises in Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay, and Lan Ha Bay at Halong Recommended Cruises, all based on the best Tripadvisor views and years of experience around Vietnam’s most beautiful destination.For the Halong Bay full Tour please see our see: Halong Bay full Tour4. Do Indian Citizens need a Visa to Visit Halong Bay?Kayaking in Halong Bay Cruise tourOne crucial part of any Indian holiday to Halong Bay is the visa on arrival which must be attained before proceeding through customs at the airport. A 1-month single or multiple entry visa letter for Indians will cost around $35, plus a $25 stamping fee for a single entry visa at the airport. The price for a 3-month single entry is about $45 and a 3-month multiple entry is about $65, also incurring the same $50 stamping fee for a multiple entry visa.Another method is to go through one of the two Vietnamese embassies in India, one of which is located in New Delhi and the other in Mumbai. Once a passport is submitted with at least 6 months of validity left, as well as a completed application form, two passport-sized photos, and the visa fee, the holder can complete their Vietnam tours within the specified date of their visa.

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Which Harbour for Halong Bay?

Which Harbour for Halong Bay?

The overwhelming success of Halong Bay on the international stage is not at all surprising, given the beauty and uniqueness of its limestone seascape. Tourists still arrive in droves to visit the twice-recognised UNESCO World Heritage Site, keen to explore it on a day trip, 2-day or 3-day cruise, but ever-increasing tourist numbers have advanced the popularity of Halong Bay’s sister bays, namely Bai Tu Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay. [incredible_toc]The jumping-off point for all three bays is spaced widely apart, leading some tourists to question which harbour they need for Halong Bay. Though Halong Bay cruises provide transport to the harbours from Hanoi, many tourists still prefer to make their own way there to try to get a last-minute deal on tours. If you are planning on doing this, then this quick guide by Incredible Asia Journeys on which harbours to use for Halong Bay and its sister bays is definitely for you.1. Halong Bay - Tuan Chau HarbourAs the main Halong Bay harbour, Tuan Chau Harbour is the longest-established and by far the most active of the three ports serving the bays. Guests coming from Hanoi or Halong City to Halong Bay are treated to a whole host of services, ranging from restaurants and bars to souvenir shops and entertainment shows. A staggering 2000 boats can dock here at any one time, and the harbour has become so large in recent years that it has morphed into its own attraction, with plenty of accommodation options as well as a 2km beach constructed with imported sand. The marina stretches 8km into the Gulf of Tonkin and houses a waiting lounge for each of the companies offering cruises to independent travellers or those on a Vietnam group tour. From Hanoi, it takes about 3.5 to 4 hours to reach Tuan Chau Harbour, where tours enter the bay via its most popular route. Tuan Chau Harbor2. Bai Tu Long Bay - Hon Gai HarbourThough the entrance points of Bai Tu Long and Halong Bays are just 18km from each other, the answer to which Halong Harbour to use for cruises will be different between them. Hon Gai Harbour and Tuan Chau Harbour are separated by the Bai Chay Bridge, which in turn joins the two halves of Halong City. Facilities at Hon Gai Harbour aren’t as developed as they are at Tuan Chau due to the much smaller number of tourists using the pier to set sail to Bai Tu Long Bay, but a smattering of restaurants and cafes provide everything necessary for passengers awaiting pick up for their cruise. Driving to Hon Gai Harbour from Hanoi takes roughly the same time as driving to Tuan Chau Harbour. The harbour is backed by the giant Sun Wheel, a Ferris wheel offering fantastic views over the Gulf of Tonkin from the top.3. Lan Ha Bay – Got HarbourAt the time of writing, Got Harbour on Cat Hai Island, Hai Phong, is a construction ground of cranes and building materials. Due to the success of Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay is readying itself for a new wave of tourism, so preparations at Got Harbour are in full throttle. There are currently a few scattered stalls around Lan Ha Bay’s harbour, all of which are sure to transform into full shops and restaurants in the coming months and years. Driving to Got Harbour from Hanoi is actually much quicker than driving to Tuan Chau or Hon Gai and, depending on the will of your driver, can even take around half the time to reach. When researching which harbour to use for Lan Ha Bay, visitors should be careful not to mix Got Harbour with Dinh Vu Harbour, which lies nearby on the mainland and transits purely between Hai Phong City and Cat Ba Island.Got Harbour4. Which Harbour is used by which Halong Cruises?Below is a useful table of cruises for visitors to the overall Halong Bay; which harbour to use for cruising depends on the destination of the company you select. These are just some of the more popular Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay cruises.Tuan Chau Harbour(Halong Bay)Hon Gai Harbour(Bai Tu Long Bay)Got Harbour(Lan Ha Bay)BudgetV'Spirit CruiseMajestic CruiseLavender CruiseSwan CruiseOriental SailsBai Tho JunkLa Paci CruiseDeluxeLaFairy CruiseStellar CruiseAlisa CruiseDragon Pearl CruisePaloma CruiseRed Dragon JunkGinger CruiseMaya CruiseLuxuryAphrodite CruiseHera CruiseAu Co CruiseEmperor CruisesStarlight CruiseAncora CruisePerla Dawn SailsEra CruiseMon Cheri CruiseAll of the above cruises can be found and booked here.

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Choose Bai Tu Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay

Choose Bai Tu Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay

Many people hear it before they even arrive in the country: Halong Bay is overcrowded. Whether this statement is true or not depends on your own view on the term ‘overcrowded', but it is true that there are many more tourist boats there than were in recent years gone by. [incredible_toc]With this in mind, travelers are starting to turn their attention towards a question that is beginning to take form in Hanoi: Bai Tu Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay? If you’ve not heard of either of these Halong Bay alternatives, you now have two more reasons to visit the Gulf of Tonkin in the northwest corner of Vietnam.Overview of Bai Tu Long BayThe most northwesterly corner of this northwest corner is occupied by Bai Tu Long Bay, claimed to be the place where the mother dragon’s many children rested after they helped her defeat the foreign invaders in Halong Bay. Lan Ha Bay, by comparison, is relatively new in terms of tourism and has yet to develop a mystical backstory to aid the influx of wide-eyed visitors. Both areas contain hundreds of the exact same rugged limestone mountains that Halong Bay sports, with caves, beaches, and fishing villages to boot. If Halong Bay is truly off the table for you, then let Incredible Asia Journeys guide you through the battle of the alternatives: Bai Tu Long Bay, or Lan Ha Bay?1. BeachesBai Tu Long BayBan ChanNgoc VungQuan LanMinh ChauTra GioiLan Ha BayBa Tra DaoCat Co BeachesTung ThuVan BoiOne of the biggest draws to Halong Bay is the perception of castaway beaches with uncombed white sand and rugged casuarina pines poking out of the bases of cliffs. This, unfortunately, is not an accurate portrayal of beach life in Halong Bay, but both Bai Tu Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay contain stretches of sand with much more of a resemblance to that idyllic scene.The scene in question can be found best at Ban Chan Beach, Bai Tu Long’s most stunning beach and the absolute paragon of a castaway spit of sand. While, like most of Bai Tu Long Bay’s beaches, Ban Chan is lacking a bit in the size department, the small stretch of golden sand is flanked on three sides by perfect tree-topped mountains, with one eye open onto the shimmering sea stretching to the horizon. If it’s a longer beach you’re after, head to Quan Lan, which doesn’t usually feature on Bai Tu Long Bay tours but can be reached independently. This accounts for the fact that it is so ridiculously quiet, and remote homestays on the island can keep you in utter paradise for days at a time.Ban Chan BeachYou could not find a more opposite scene at the Cat Co Beaches on the major island of Cat Ba in Lan Ha Bay. These beaches are close to the main town and receive droves of tourists and locals, who sometimes completely eclipse the sand when viewed from atop the neighboring cliff. Avoid these, but don’t be disparaged. Ba Trai Dao (Three Peach Island) is a beautiful sandy offering in Lan Ha Bay, set amongst three plump limestone rocks (or “peaches”). Kayaking is highly popular in this area, as is lying in the shade of the peaches on the secluded beach. There’s not a lot of space for other tourists, but being the complete antithesis of the Cat Co Beaches, it is hard to feel overcrowded here.>> Bai Tu Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay?Bai Tu Long Bay has to be the winner here for overall serenity and wealth of choice.Some suggestions of cruises that go to Halong Bay:Catherine cruiseElite of the SeasCapella CruiseV'Sirit Cruise2. CavesBai Tu Long BayThien Canh SonLan Ha BayDark and Bright CavesHospitalTrung TrangThien LongIf Bai Tu Long Bay is looking a bit outnumbered in this round, that’s because it is. There is only one cave available for visiting here, whereas Lan Ha Bay’s prolific Cat Ba Island houses three of its interesting systems, with one out in the water. Neither Bai Tu Long Bay nor Lan Ha Bay enjoys the same depth of cave options as Halong Bay, but you’re certain to find more freedom from tourists here.It’s not hard to know where to start in Bai Tu Long Bay. There isn’t a single standard itinerary of the region that doesn’t go to Thien Canh Son Cave, translating to the impressive-sounding ‘Mountainous Landscape in Heaven’ for the stone staircase that leads from inside the cavern to a viewing platform outside. The stalagmite and stalactite formations within the cave are impressive, and some do indeed bear small resemblances to the animals they purport to, but the general size of the cave is a little small, and tours that try to spend half an hour here are really stretching the limits of imagination by the end.Thien Canh Son CaveIn stark contrast, you could easily fit a swimming pool and a cinema in the cavernous Hospital Cave in Lan Ha Bay. The Viet Cong who operated this cave from 1963 thought much the same thing, as this is exactly what they did. The cinema room and swimming pool were abandoned after the war in 1975, as were all of the other medical rooms in this hidden hospital, which went completely undiscovered by the Americans for the duration of the war.While Hospital Cave covers the history of the region, the Dark and Bright Caves cover the beauty. These two caves of contrasting light levels are beautiful wet caves, traversable by kayak or local sampan boat, which emerge onto in enclosed lake shimmering with light and protected by high-rising streaked mountains on all sides.>> Bai Tu Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay?By having more than one cave, Lan Ha Bay wins this one.Check out the top-rated & best Halong Bay cruises:Hermes CruiseCatherine CruiseEssence Grand CruisesMilaLux CruiseIndochine Premium Cruise3. Fishing VillagesBai Tu Long BayVung ViengLan Ha BayCai BeoA bit sparse on both sides here, and a foreboding sign considering that if this article was written just 20 years ago, we wouldn’t have had space to list even half of the floating villages around both bays. Fishing communities around the Gulf of Tonkin have declined to the point where the only ones permitted to visit are showcase villages, where a few locals remain to display to tourists the ancient way of life that used to prevail in these seas.Vung Vieng Fishing VillageThat offering in Bai Tu Long Bay is Vung Vieng Fishing Village, a small, colorful commune of houses, schools, and shops floating in the placid waters on huge buoyant drums. Locals make their money by showing tourists around the various waterways, pointing out a rural way of life that still exists around the country, just not authentically in Bai Tu Long Bay anymore. Still, it is a very interesting place to learn of this completely different way of life and a very beautiful one too.Cai Beo in Lan Ha Bay is perhaps a bit more representative of the other fishing villages in the region. From the top of Cat Ba Island, you can see many fishing villages still resolutely plying the waters in search of food and a livelihood, with many utilizing the same techniques that their ancestors did hundreds of years ago. Cai Beo is the only one that’s viable to visit and archaeologists believe it to be the oldest fishing village in the country.Cai Beo Floating Village>> Bai Tu Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay?For proximity to Cat Ba Island’s harbor, as well as a more genuine feel, Cai Beo and Lan Ha Bay take this round again.4. KayakingBai Tu Long BayCap La and Tra SanCong DoCong DamLan Ha BayBa Trai DaoTra BauViet Hai VillageAll that water in the Gulf of Tonkin is just begging to be explored by kayak. Both bays feature many wide-open spaces, a few of which are accessible to tourists who want to explore the placid waters and forested mountains at a touchable distance. Kayaking in Bai Tu Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay is one of the most tranquil activities that you can do in the Gulf of Tonkin.Kayaking in Bai Tu Long BayOf course, a lot of this tranquillity owes itself to the area in which it is found. Bai Tu Long Bay, it is probably found best in the areas of Cap La and Tra San, twinned bodies of water with wide expanses and the constant backdrop of an undulating mountain seascape. There is much to explore here and tour companies will often allow you the leisure of half a day to fully get acquainted with its wonders. Nearby Cong Do is a beached area with serenity at its heart. Many an hour can be spent relaxing in the calming waters here, and you’ll probably find yourself drifting, enraptured by the scenery, more than you will actually paddle.There’s not much difference in the area of Tra Bau in Lan Ha Bay. This is another wonderful example of the Gulf of Tonkin at its best and goes some way to helping Lan Ha Bay get the UNESCO World Heritage recognition for which it is currently applying. Ba Trai Dao is a nice place to kayak, but the lack of things to look at makes this a maximum 30-minute activity. There is also some kayaking to be done around the village of Viet Hai on Cat Ba Island, but the waters aren’t far from the ferry port, meaning scenes can be a little busier than a relaxing kayaking journey should be. Ba Trai Dao is a nice place to kayak>> Bai Tu Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay?The persistent beauty of Bai Tu Long Bay just about nips Lan Ha Bay in this round.5. Tourists numberRecent overcrowding in Ha Long Bay led tour companies to open cruises in Bai Tu Long Bay. As Bai Tu Long Bay begins to fill up in the same manner, companies have begun to fix Lan Ha Bay in their sights. It’s not hard to see an ominous pattern forming here.Despite the beautifully secluded image of Bai Tu Long Bay that the Quang Ninh Tourism Board likes to promote, the reality is that tourist levels between here and Halong Bay have almost reached an equilibrium. That isn’t to say that Bai Tu Long Bay is a write-off; far from it. Moments of quiet contemplation are not hard to come by in the bay, as there are fewer day trips here than in Halong Bay. Overnight stays in Bai Tu Long Bay still yield an engrossing silence during the night, and a visit during one of the many months of the off-season means clearer waterways for a lower price.Tourists in Lan Ha BayHowever, it’s impossible to refute that Lan Ha Bay sees much fewer tourists than Bai Tu Long Bay. At this time, it is Lan Ha Bay’s biggest asset and the reason why the question of Bai Tu Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay has cropped up so many times in recent years. The waters are much less congested and beaches and caves away from Cat Ba Island contain a very pure serenity, not one as easily found in the bays of Quang Ninh. Hai Phong Province realizes the potential of Lan Ha Bay and full-scale construction efforts are currently in place to build a harbor that can accommodate the ships of the many tour companies that will be operating here soon. If there’s any time to visit Lan Ha Bay, it’s now, while its tranquillity is still fully intact.>> Bai Tu Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay?Peace can certainly be found in both bays, but it will come much easier in Lan Ha Bay.3 to 2 in favor of Lan Ha Bay overall, but of course, experiences are subjective. If you’re not particularly looking for tranquillity, but more of an itinerary full of activities like cave visits, beach visits, and kayaking, then Bai Tu Long Bay might be the bay for you. Potential passengers looking for a relaxing time will probably find it in Lan Ha Bay but don’t delay for a few years, because the outcome of this little contest could be very different by then.

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