Halong Bay is one of the most famous places in Vietnam and consists of a series of impressive limestone islands that are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. There are around 2000 islands in the bay and many of them are with beautiful lush vegetation, making them ideal for walking. Many of the islands are also the home of caves. The best thing to do in Halong Bay is taking a cruise, where you can see these islands up close and take trips to caves and floating villages. 5 reasons to visit Halong Bay
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There are day tours from Hanoi that give you a good impression of the bay, but if you have time try to stay at least 1 night here. Keep in mind that the travel time between Hanoi and Halong is already 3 hours.
There are ATMs In Halong City and Cat Ba Island. You can pay by credit card on almost every cruise. Best time to visit
Where to stay in Halong BayOn a cruiseAs already mentioned, the best thing to do in Halong Bay is to stay on a cruise. It provides a unique experience and is also a nice change from a stay in a hotel or homestay during the rest of your holiday. You can stay on a cruise in both Halong Bay, Lan Ha Bay and Lan Ha Bay. Because there is so much to offer you can check our selection of the best cruises in Halong Bay. Cat Ba IslandThere are several islands that offer accommodation in Halong Bay, but Cat Ba is the first choice for most people. Here you have the most options in hotels, hostels and resorts. Another advantage of staying here is that the island is so big that you have plenty of activities. If you still want to take a boat trip, you can also arrange that from here. There are plenty of freshly caught seafood restaurants, pier access, scooter rentals and close to things to do such as Cat Ba National Park. Tuan Chau IslandTuan Chau Island is where you will find the harbor from which most boats depart. In addition to the port, there is also a large landscaped area for tourism with hotels, resorts and beaches. However, this island lacks the local atmosphere. The island can be reached from the road. Halong CityHa Long City actually consists of two cities, Bai Chay and Hon Gai, which are connected by a bridge. The first is the tourist district of Ha Long City, while the second is more of a local scene. Food & drinkingWhen you choose a cruise, all food is always included. Each multi-day boat also has its own restaurant. Drinks are usually not included. When you stay in Halong City or Cat Ba you will mainly find seafood restaurants, but there are also plenty of other options. How to get thereLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Most cruise lines include pick-up and drop-off to Hanoi. It is not always included for boats going to Lan Ha Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay, but there is always an option to book this. This is because these depart from another port that is further away.
There are buses from Hanoi to Halong City, 160 km away and takes about three and a half hours. Buses leave from My Dinh, Gia Lam and Luong Yen bus station and the ride costs between $ 5 and $ 10. Most buses stop at a terminal near the Bai Chay bridge.
Booking a mini bus is more convienent with pick up in the city center. The limousine buses are very comfortable too. Another options is to take a private car.
There is a sea plane flying from Hanoi to Tuan Chau Island in Halong Bay, close to Halong City. How to get aroundOn Cat Ba island you can rent a scooter or car with a driver to go around and visit places of interest. Another popular way is to go cycling. Many accommodations on the island have a bicycle to borrow for free or else you can always rent one somewhere. If you want to see more of the bay, you should always take a boat trip. Itinerary 2 days in Halong BayA standard 2 day Halong Bay cruise itinerary looks like this:
As mentioned before, it is highly recommended to check out the Halong Bay alternatives to avoid mass tourism.
Because cruises pick up and drop off from Hanoi, this is also the logical next point for most people. From Hanoi you can also reach all parts of North Vietnam by bus, south by train or even further south by domestic flights.
However, from Halong it is also possible to arrange your own transport to Ninh Binh, so that you do not have to travel to Hanoi first.
If you are traveling through Vietnam with children, Halong Bay is highly recommended. They can swim, kayak and do other activities. It is useful to take a good look at which boat has the best offer in child-friendly activities.
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