The 2 Day 1 Night Luxury Cruise Option in Ha Long Bay seemed to be one of the more popular choices. It cost $251.60CAD per person, which definitely is on the pricier side. Here is the option: https://www.tripadvisor.ca/AttractionProductReview-g293924-d15593261-All_Inclusive_2_Day_1_Night_Cruise_with_Meals_Kayaking_Caving_Beach_in_Halong-Hano.html
More information about Ha Long Bay itself (which was truly picturesque):
Halong Bay is a true natural wonder! In 1994 it was even declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ha Long Bay, in the Gulf of Tonkin, includes some 1,600 islands and islets, forming a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars. Because of their precipitous nature, most of the islands are uninhabited and unaffected by a human presence. The site's outstanding scenic beauty is complemented by its great biological interest.
It is an ideal model of a mature Karst landscape developed during a warm and wet tropical climate.
It’s a large area in the ocean that consists of a seascape made up from 1600 islands. It’s truly an incredibly beautiful place, but it’s also highly touristy.
Halong Bay is situated in the North of Vietnam. It’s about 170 kilometers from Hanoi, and the drive takes between 2-3 hours.
Here are some alternative options besides a 2 Day 1 Night luxury cruise:
If you’re staying in Hanoi, then you can easily book a full day tour to Halong Bay from here. This tour picks you up at your hotel in Hanoi in the morning, takes you to a 6-hour cruise in Halong Bay with Vietnamese lunch included, and drops you back off at your hotel in the evening.
There is also the option of going to Cat Ba island and doing a day tour from here. Cat Ba island is situated right in the middle of the beautiful bay. Since most tourists head straight to Halong Bay, it’s a quiet tourist destination.
Besides comparing the cost and environmental implications of both, you can also evaluate the time constraints to determine which one fits your schedule.
In all honesty, I’d give the 2 day 1 night luxury cruise a miss as it is expensive, and instead, select a day trip - I found the accommodations (not super clean :/) and food there to be just all right.
Day 1 consisted of chilling on the luxury cruise, mingling with super friendly folks, having lunch, taking photography shots, as well as kayaking and swimming (both of these activities were the highlights in my books). Kayaking over was a fun and interactive workout, and swimming was a peaceful and tranquil way to truly soak up the serenity and unparalleled beauty of Ha Long Bay.
In the evening, right after the beautiful sunset, there was rooftop mingling and a brief cooking class, which consisted of creating our own spring roll!
On Day 2, we had breakfast, before heading to Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave, which was definitely a great cave to explore.
Apparently there was a monkey here, hmm…
Thanks again for reading this post about the renowned Ha Long Bay!
Farewell from the tremendously gorgeous Ha Long Bay~
