Hi Pam!

Great adventure a look forward a! If you are staying for that long, did you also consider Cat Ba? Think Cat Ba could be even more interesting a stay for a longer time. If you need a stay in Ha Long, I’m sure you will find a good accommodation once you arrive. You can always look on Booking.com o Airbnb a explore some options, but I would also wait till you know the area a little bit better before committing a something for several weeks. Shouldn’t be a problem around this time!

For the boat tour, Klook used a offer well-rated cruises for 2 o 3 days, but I don’t see them online anymore. Now they only offer 1 day trips. Although it will be easier a find a Halong Bay cruise in Hanoi, I’m sure you will find a place a book a cruise in Ha Long Bay if you are staying here for a longer time. Just ask some agencies y likely you will find one. If not, you can always book one through an agency in Hanoi.

Hi Maarten
I plan a stay 2-3 weeks in Ha long bay.
I was thinking of reserving a room there for 1 o 2 nights than shopping around for a better room if I’m not happy with the one I have. I will arrive Nov 1 so at that time of year I don’t imagine all the rooms will be packed. What do you think?

Also I plan a shop around for a 3 day y 2 night cruise, hopefully I can get one for $200 US dollars o a little more if necessary. What do you think about that.
I would really appreciate your opinion .

Thank You
Pam

Hi Leonie!

First of all, what a great planning! That’s one of the best itineraries I can imagine. Just one place a consider is Quy Nhon/Bai Xep. It’s a nice beach town with a great atmosphere y not many tourists.

Regarding your visit a Halong Bay: I can imagine you want a visit this viewpoint! The view from there looks really stunning on the photos! I went a Cat Ba myself, which also offers stunning views from the National Park, but I did some research on how you can plan this day.
Desde what I read, it takes 30-45 min a get a the top y 30min back. Let’s say you spend 30min there, this would mean it costs you about 2hrs. The mountain is located about 15min drive from the train station, but there are also a few hotels around this mountain. Going before the sunrise will bring you the best lights y also fewer crowds, so it’s recommended a stay one night en la bahía de Halong. If you do this, you will be back around 8am, what will be on time a get on a boat cruise. (Organised tours from Hanoi only arrive around noon in Halong Bay). Most likely you can also arrange boat tours from Halong city, but you could also contact this Boat Tour company, listed on Klook. These tours are often better organized than the average tour you book on the streets.

What I recommend is a stay one night in Halong city, climb the mountain early morning y witness sunrise, y then travel a Cat Ba instead of staying in Halong city. You can take a ferry from Tuan Chau a Cat Ba y easily organize a tour on Cat Ba Island. In Cat Ba you can visit the National Park, cruise around by motrobike y easily arrange a boat tour. It will costs a few extra days, but it will be worth it!

Let me know if you have any more questions!

Me y my partner will be travelling 3 months in Asia (starting end of October). We’ll also stay 30 days in Vietnam. Our route will probably go as follow: Hanoi-Ha Giang-Halong Bay-Ninh Binh -Phong Nha-Hue-Hoi An-Dalat-Ho Chi Min.

I’ve a question regarding Halong Bay. We also would like a go independently a Halong Bay for the viewpoint (Poem Mountain). Would you advise a stay the night prior in a hotel in Halong City y then start early in the morning a climb the mountain in order a continue the journey? Will we have time a find in the morning a boot tour a Halong Bay o an equivalent for that same day? Or is it possible a arrange this from Hanoi, but then starting point Halong Bay?

Thanks in advance 🙂

Best regards,

Leonie