Thứ Ba, 14 tháng 2, 2017

Attractive tours to Sapa in spring 2017

Coming Sapa, tourists can admire the snow, peach blossom, Ban flower and ẹnjoy warm dishes in the cold winter. Perhaps, anyone could resist the freezing air with a brilliant yellow landscape of terraced that majestic soft ethnic people here. Sapa is always a great place to experience in your travels. However, to have a perfect trip, visitors should find out Sapa travel guide.

ruong-bac-thang

Promotion tour in 3 days 2 nights

The autumn in Sapa is really beautiful, September is the season of grain to 11 gold rice, yellow sun like silk and shiny under the sun of the North. Sapa is put on a new dress gorgeous, lovely and bright yellow below all angles. Enjoying the terraces will give tourists a panoramic view of Sapa: quite nice and poetic. This time moderately cool climate, clean air to the strange, early morning Sapa town like floating in the clouds.

ecotourism-zone-ham-rong-mountain

ecotourism-zone-ham-rong-mountain

If you love flowers, you will surely enjoy watching the sunrise was gorgeous on the high valley in the early morning. Ecotourism Zone Ham Rong mountain and the lakeside area where the town center flower blooming color most. This period is considered the best time for trekking Sapa in Cat Cat, Ta Phin or conquer the summit Phansipan legendary, etc.

Sapa tour: Sapa poetic beauty bewitching countless visitors to this place. Beauty was not just in the clouds mountain dew, it is also the beauty out through gentle faces of people where land is the source country. With the typical cultural features of ethnic highland, Sapa has really become a destination not to be missed in your travel itinerary.

muong-hoa-valley

muong-hoa-valley

Ham Rong Mountain is a popular destination located adjacent to the town of Sapa. To visit Ham Rong, travelers lost in the gardens, clouds preferred closed body, brilliant flowers ground, beautiful natural scenery and fascinating charm. Up to Ham Rong Sapa panoramic view of the town, watching the Muong Hoa valley, Sapa, Ta Phin hidden in smog. Currently, embellished with the hand of man, Ham Rong is indeed a fruitful landscape.

ta-phin-village

To Sapa, guests will have the opportunity to immerse in the atmosphere of the situation with the bold demo traditional culture of highlanders, are known to enjoy praise, trumpet or leaves that floated to infinity, are firsthand that dances unique characteristics. And to Sapa, visitors cannot help the highland specialties with traditional dishes of the local people such as Com lam, cider cats, etc.

food-in-sapa

food-in-sapa

These are the specialties that tourists cannot forget about a region northwest – Vietnam.

Chủ Nhật, 12 tháng 2, 2017

Chuẩn bị hành trang cho chuyến du lịch Yên Tử đầu xuân

budget junk cruise halong bay - Yên Tử là một danh lam thắng cảnh nổi tiếng của Việt Nam và còn lưu giữ nhiều di tích lịch sử với mệnh danh “đất tổ Phật Giáo Việt Nam”. Lễ hội đầu năm Yên Tử bắt đầu từ ngày 10 tháng Giêng đến hết tháng 3 âm lịch. Cùng du lịch 4 mùa tìm hiểu một số kinh nghiệm khi đi du lịch nhé!
1. Chuẩn bị
Trang phục: Thời tiết trên Yên Tử thường lạnh, bạn nên mặc áo thể thao hoặc áo phao ấm, không thấm mồ hôi. Chú ý là bạn nên mang những áo nhẹ vì khi leo núi bạn sẽ nóng và cởi áo ra cầm tay hoặc buộc ở bụng, áo nặng làm cho hành trình leo núi của bạn vất vả hơn. Đừng mặc quần jean hay những đồ chật, bạn nên mặc những đồ co giãn, thoải mái thuận tiện cho việc leo núi.
Giày leo núi: bạn cần chọn cho mình đôi giày nhẹ, êm và có độ bám tốt. Đặc biệt chú ý là bạn không được đi giày cao gót vì đi đường dài và leo lên những bậc thang sẽ làm bạn đau chân.
Nước và đồ ăn dọc đường là những thứ bạn nhất định phải mang theo. Nếu leo bộ thì mỗi người cần 1 lít nước, còn nếu đi cáp treo thì tầm 0,5 lít là đủ. Nếu đi đoàn đông người, các bạn nên chia đồ ăn và nước uống cho mọi người, như vậy sẽ nhẹ hơn và mang dễ dàng hơn.
Khi leo núi, bạn không nên mang theo túi xách mà nên mang balo. Việc đeo balo trên lưng cũng làm bạn cảm thấy nhẹ nhàng hơn.

2. Đường đi
Vì đường leo lên chùa Đồng rất dài nên khi mệt bạn cần phải nghỉ ngơi và bổ sung nước luôn. Bạn đừng cố leo vì chặng đường phía trước còn rất dài cần bạn chinh phục.
Đoạn đường lên chùa Đồng dốc đá rất cheo leo, nhưng nếu bạn đi con đường bên phải (sau tượng Phật Hoàng) thì sẽ dễ đi hơn vì đường này bậc thoải và thấp. Con đường này dài hơn nhưng lại dễ đi và an toàn, đặc biệt phù hợp cho người cao tuổi và những người ít leo trèo. Nếu bạn muốn khám phá bạn có thể lên một đường và xuống một đường.


Nếu muốn vào thắp hương ở các chùa trên đường đi, bạn nên vào các chùa đó ở lượt xuống vì lúc xuống bạn đỡ mệt hơn. Thông thường, nếu đi bộ bạn sẽ mất từ 6-8 tiếng đồng hồ để hoàn thành cuộc hành trình này. Còn nếu đi cáp treo bạn mất khoảng 4 tiếng.


3. Đặc sản
Món ăn đặc sản ở Yên Tử là măng trúc, có nhiều cách chế biến khác nhau nhưng đơn giản nhất là luộc chấm muối vừng.
Trầu 1 lá – đặc sản Yên Tử dành cho những ông/ bà thích nhai trầu. Ngoài ra, cây trầu này khi ngâm rượu còn chữa được bệnh lao phổi và mụn nhọt.
Canh rượu gà Bâu:Rượu Bâu là loại rượu được lên men bằng lá cây rừng của người dân tộc quanh núi Yên Tử. Canh gà được nấu với gừng và rượu Bâu nóng hổi, thơm phức làm bạn quên hết những mệt mỏi sau chặng đường leo núi vất vả.

Trong mùa lễ hội, có rất nhiều người bán các loại lá và thuốc chữa bệnh. Nếu bạn biết chắc chắn công dụng của những loại lá, củ này thì hang mua, còn không bạn đừng mua kẻo bị lừa, mất tiền oan.
Điều đặc biệt chú ý là bạn không được vứt rác bừa bãi, giữ gìn về sinh chung. Chuyến đi của bạn sẽ càng tốt đẹp hơn nếu bạn có ý thức bảo vệ môi trường. Với những chia sẻ này, chúc bạn có một chuyến đi Yên Tử đầu năm thật vui vẻ.

Thứ Tư, 8 tháng 2, 2017

Phu Quoc – a paradise island

With wonderful landscapes, exciting tourism activities and beautiful beach resort, Phu Quoc easily makes tourists “fall in love at the first sight”.

The beauty of nature

Phu Quoc is considered as a gift of mother nature with blue sea, lush greenery; 99 hills and a lot of beaches in the island have been voted as the top beautiful beaches in the world. You will have chance to immerse yourself in fresh air, amazing scenery when visiting Phu Quoc. The island is surrounded by ocean, beaches are quite deserted and quiet so you can totally relax without worrying about being bothered. Because there is not many human interferences, the beaches in Phu Quoc are extremely clean. Depending on your hobby, you can go to small beaches to dip into sea or larger beaches to join some exciting activities. If you want to look for a private place, the beaches in the South are often more crowded than beaches in the North island.

Romantic Phu Quoc bungalows

Visiting Phu Quoc island, one of the best choice for staying is beach bungalows. Each of Phu Quoc accommodation bungalow has beautiful ocean view and modern amenities. Moreover, the price for renting a bungalow is not too high, just about 500.000VND per night. Some best bungalows in Phu Quoc that you can choose are La Mer Phu Quoc, Huynh Gia bungalow Phu Quoc, La Paloma bungalows & spa and so on.

Delicious foods

There are many types of seafood that only available in Phu Quoc. Tourists can enjoy Trich fish salad or spidercrab at Ham Ninh. They are all must-try dishes when travelling to this island. In the town also has many restaurants and lovely coffee shops with varied menu and affordable price. At night, visitors can walk around Dinh Cau night market, eat seafood and buy souvenirs for family.

Exciting activities and entertainments

Phu Quoc is not only famous for natural beauty but also for a variety of activities. You can swim, sunbathe or even trekking in the national park with diverse ecosystems. A series of other activities are waiting you to explore such as squid fishing, snorkeling, visiting wine factory, pepper plantations, etc.

Sunrise and sunset

Visiting Phu Quoc, do not forget to get up early to see sunrise in the morning and sunset in the evening. The best spot to see the sunrise is Vung Bau beach. It is a little bit difficult to go there because of a red dirt road but the beauty and peace of Vung Bau beach are totally deserved. Dining in the sunset also is amazing experience you should try in the North of Phu Quoc island.

Source: https://hungvuongbungalow.com

Thứ Hai, 6 tháng 2, 2017

Top Mid-range Cruises in Halong Bay

Halong Bay is a marvelous place for cruising on a junk. There are many types of junk cruises in Halong Bay. The luxury cruises may be suitable for luxury tours to experience full services and the whole beauty of Halong bay. Meanwhile, the mid-range cruises are usually used by the family travel, with some good services they can also enjoy the beauty of this bay, but the price is not too high. These following Mid-range Cruises can provide you the best services for your Halong tour.

Amira Cruise

The Amira Cruise is a junk cruise in halong bay which will bring you the best services. First, this cruise is furnished in white, all units are air conditioned and its rooms feature a desk and dress with wardrobe. All rooms can have the vision of the sea and mountains; some certain units offer a seating area with sofa. Moreover, an iPod docking station, electric kettle and refrigerator are equipped inside also. Guests can enjoy a meal at the in-house restaurant or grab a drink at the bar. There is a shared kitchen and TV area on board. Finally, airport transfers and luggage storage can be arranged upon request at the 24-hour front desk.

Amira Cruise offers leisurely cruises and activities across Ha Long Bay and embarks from Hon Gai Wharf, 3.5 km from Ha Long Night Market. Featuring elegant accommodation on board, the cruise ship boasts views of the sea and barbecue facilities. Guests can relax in a hot tub and lounge in the sun terrace. Free WiFi can be accessed throughout the property.

Halong Silversea Cruise

The standard 4-star Silversea Halong Cruise was launched in November 2015 with modern design, including 18 luxurious rooms with balconies, iron frame and case. They will provide guests with the safety and comfort in the Halong bay tour. The rooms on the Silversea Halong Cruise are designed with ample space, large windows to enjoy the landscape of Halong bay. The rooms are equipped with amenities to help guests have a good time around, relaxing.

During the trip on Halong Silversea Cruise, visitors can experience a lot of interesting activities, such as: squid fishing at night, kayaking, Tai Chi exercising in the morning, visiting the fishing village Halong Bay, watching and photographing on the bay, cooking classes, screening, enjoying tea, coffee or cocktails on the deck.

Rosa Cruise

Founded in early January 2016, Rosa Cruises offers leading experience on the largest, most modern, comfortable cruise. With the desire to provide guests with the experience of culinary and safest services, Rosa Cruise has built a unique journey different in Halong Bay. Rosa Cruise is one of the best standard 3.5-star cruise of Halong Bay reflecting the splendor and majesty of the surrounding landscape offered by the heritage site. This ship has 09 cabin safe, modern, designed to provide you with the exceptional service. All cabins are well equipped to meet all requirements of the travelers are looking for luxury services. With a team of loyal and dedicated the professional, Rosa Cruise is sure to bring you a very interesting and unforgettable trip in Vietnam.

Thứ Năm, 2 tháng 2, 2017

Attractive destinations in the North on Tet holiday 2017

https://redgeckotravel.com - When tourists visit Vietnam on Tet holiday 2017, destinations in the North is a good choice for both foreign tourists and domestic tourists. Because there are many magnificent views and exciting activities for visitors. In the spring, around the northern mountainous provinces will have cherry, plum blossom flowers, spectacular natural and fresh air.

Ha Giang (Northeast)

In the spring, Ha Giang becomes brighter with cherry, plum blossom, yellow flowers bloom throughout to improve the village. Tourists will discover Dong Van plateau pristine, watch the national flag flying in the wind at the Lung Cu flagpole, admire the grandeur of the most important heroes of Ma Pi Leng, watch the line peach blossom sides path runs through Sung Being.

These beautiful destinations in Ha Giang that tourists should not be overlooked include Thanh Thuy border gate, fair Decision Tien commune, sky and mountains port pair Quan Ba, hang Lung buttons, pine forests and terraced fields in Yen Minh, Sung Am township Deputy Japan, fox Street, the headquarters surnamed Wang, Lung Cu flagpole, Dong Van town, Ma Pi Leng Pass, Son Vi.

Sapa

Spring is a season, throughout the northwestern mountains are dotted petals peach, plum blossom. This time, Sapa is very cold. Sapa travel guide with some attractions such as Ham Rong Mountain, Silver waterfall, bridge Clouds, sun gate, Muong Hoa, stone church, Ta Phin brocade village, Cat Cat village, the Sin Chai, Ta Van village. It's interesting to enjoy the fragrant barbecue skewers, cold feeling numbness or watch the snow here. Sapa engulfed in mist, put on its coat of peach blossom brilliant throughout the streets and villages, visitors will have a wonderful New Year holiday.

Especially, Sapa group trekking is a new experience for you. It is an excellent journey for your Tet holiday 2017. When trekking, tourists can see rice terraces with sweeping mountain vistas. Sapa is really incredibly picturesque, the cool mountain air is very fresh, Sapa is a great place to explore nature. Besides, visitors can make new friends from over the world with group trekking.

Bac Ha (Lao Cai)

Bac Ha is a place not to be missed in the tourism map. Each spring, having the peach and plum blossom, Bac Ha is also embellished with crystal white flowers. This is the land was granted in favor of natural spectacular natural scenery, colorful meeting place of the national culture of the Northwest. Tourists will get to witness the lives of local people, enjoy try to special food and wine.

Chủ Nhật, 22 tháng 1, 2017

Phu Quoc – a paradise island

With wonderful landscapes, exciting tourism activities and beautiful beach resort, Phu Quoc easily makes tourists “fall in love at the first sight”.

The beauty of nature

Phu Quoc is considered as a gift of mother nature with blue sea, lush greenery; 99 hills and a lot of beaches in the island have been voted as the top beautiful beaches in the world. You will have chance to immerse yourself in fresh air, amazing scenery when visiting Phu Quoc. The island is surrounded by ocean, beaches are quite deserted and quiet so you can totally relax without worrying about being bothered.

https://phuquochotels.biz/travel-guides/top-3-accommodations-phu-quoc.html

Because there is not many human interferences, the beaches in Phu Quoc are extremely clean. Depending on your hobby, you can go to small beaches to dip into sea or larger beaches to join some exciting activities. If you want to look for a private place, the beaches in the South are often more crowded than beaches in the North island.

https://phuquochostels.com/travel-guides/top-5-cheap-hotels-in-phu-quoc.html

Romantic Phu Quoc bungalows

Visiting Phu Quoc island, one of the best choice for staying is beach bungalows. Each of Phu Quoc accommodation bungalow has beautiful ocean view and modern amenities. Moreover, the price for renting a bungalow is not too high, just about 500.000VND per night. Some best bungalows in Phu Quoc that you can choose are La Mer Phu Quoc, Huynh Gia bungalow Phu Quoc, La Paloma bungalows & spa and so on.

Delicious foods

There are many types of seafood that only available in Phu Quoc. Tourists can enjoy Trich fish salad or spidercrab at Ham Ninh. They are all must-try dishes when travelling to this island. In the town also has many restaurants and lovely coffee shops with varied menu and affordable price. At night, visitors can walk around Dinh Cau night market, eat seafood and buy souvenirs for family.

Exciting activities and entertainments

Phu Quoc is not only famous for natural beauty but also for a variety of activities. You can swim, sunbathe or even trekking in the national park with diverse ecosystems. A series of other activities are waiting you to explore such as squid fishing, snorkeling, visiting wine factory, pepper plantations, etc.

Sunrise and sunset

Visiting Phu Quoc, do not forget to get up early to see sunrise in the morning and sunset in the evening. The best spot to see the sunrise is Vung Bau beach. It is a little bit difficult to go there because of a red dirt road but the beauty and peace of Vung Bau beach are totally deserved. Dining in the sunset also is amazing experience you should try in the North of Phu Quoc island.

Source: https://hungvuongbungalow.com

Thứ Sáu, 20 tháng 1, 2017

Guide to Halong Bay Cruises in Vietnam & Our Cruise with The Au Co

Halong Bay is considered one of the most beautiful natural landscapes in Vietnam, and a Halong Bay cruise is a must-do on many travelers’ lists. Imagine an emerald bay peppered with about 2,000 tiny vegetation-topped islands which feature numerous caves, lagoons, coves, and coral reefs. This breathtaking UNESCO heritage site has recently received the honor of being named one of the New Seven Natural Wonders of the world and is not surprisingly one of the most popular attractions in Vietnam. Most visitors need little convincing to visit, but the array of cruise options can be daunting as hundreds of boats ply across the waters of Halong Bay each day. Cruises range widely in price and companies offer a variety of cruise lengths, itineraries, amenities, and activities. We’ll share our tips on how to choose a Halong Bay cruise, answer common questions about Halong Bay cruises, and review our own recent Halong Bay cruise with The Au Co.

>> https://halongcruisesbooking.com/cruises/why-tourist-should-choose-emeraude-cruise-for-vacation.html

Halong Bay Cruise Vietnam The Au Co Cruises Review

A Few Facts about Halong Bay

    • Halong Bay is located east of Vietnam’s capital city Hanoi. It takes about 3.5 to 4 hours by car to get from Halong Bay from Hanoi or the Noi Boi airport (outside Hanoi). If you are using a transfer service, you’ll likely stop for a 15 to 30 minute break along the way. The closer but smaller Cat Bi International Airport is located about 1.5 hours drive from the main Halong Bay docks.
    • Note that there are several different ports in and around Halong Bay where cruise ships may dock. While most cruises leave from the Halong Bai Chay port, some also leave from Haiphong and Cai Lan. In our case, our cruise left from the dock on Tuan Chau island. Knowing this information is only necessary if you are arranging your own transportation.

    • Legend has it that Halong Bay was created by a great dragon from the mountains and the name Halong translates to “where the dragon descends into the sea”. Scientists, however, suggest that the landscape was formed through tectonics and water erosion. Halong Bay is considered a notable example of a karst landscape formed by the dissolution of limestone in the area that occurred over millions of years.
  • As tourism continues to increase in Halong Bay, so have the regulations to try to ensure safety and prevent overcrowding and destruction of the bay. After some disastrous incidents, such as the sinking of one tourist boat in 2011, a number of regulations were enacted in regards to Halong Bay cruise boats that has hopefully led to increased safety. Stricter regulations also mean less flexibility for cruise operators as to where they can go and where they can anchor. Cruise boats can only anchor in certain areas and must anchor near other boats at night for safety reasons. A recent and not very popular regulation requires all boats to be painted white (supposedly so they could easily be seen but this doesn’t work very well in foggy conditions) so many boats are not able to show off their intended colors.
  • >> https://halongbaydaytour.com/halong-cruise/advice-for-a-halong-bay-cruise.html

Choosing a Halong Bay Cruise Company

Halong Bay Cruise Vietnam The Au Co Cruises Review

How much should I budget for a cruise?

If you want to splurge on one activity during your time in Vietnam, I would recommend that you consider doing it on a Halong Bay cruise. Most cruise packages include transfers to and from Hanoi and you can get really cheap cruises beginning at a rock-bottom jaw-dropping $30 per person to do an afternoon cruise around the bay and going upwards to $400 per person/day for a luxury overnight cruise. You do not need to book with a luxury operator to have a nice cruise, but if you book at the budget level it is hard to know what to expect in terms of service, food, safety, and accommodations. The budget tours are often booked through travel agents who place people with different tour operators and boats in order to adequately fill up as many spaces as possible, so you really may not have a good idea of what things will be like until you get aboard. Our recommendation would be to try to budget for a mid-range operator with good online and/or word-of-mouth reviews and you should be able to get a good day cruise starting at about $70/person or an overnight cruise starting at around $120 to $150 per person. If you shop around and check promotions, you may find even better rates as most cruise companies are anxious to fill their boats and offer good last-minute deals. Don’t fret if this sounds like more than you can spend, just find a reputable travel agency in Hanoi, book at a price you can afford, and then go knowing you’ll still be seeing the same beautiful bay without any of the bells and whistles. On the other hand, if you are looking for excellent food and service, check out the luxury cruises and expect to spend a little more. The activities and sites are often the same between the mid-range and luxury operators, but the food, service, and staff-to-passenger ratio often improves.

Do I have to book an organized tour to take a cruise?

No, but it is the most convenient way. You can also make your own way to Bai Chay (a.k.a. Halong City) by bus and then arrange a cab or bus to the Bai Chay harbor and book a boat to tour Halong Bay or take you to Cat Ba Island. You can stop at the Halong Bay Tourist Information Centre at Bai Chay dock for information and then negotiate a price with companies at the dock. You’ll likely wind up as a daytrippper on another cruise for a budget price, but you will likely have to pay extra for any onboard services such as meals, drinks, activities, etc. If you are not interested in any of the extras, this can be a great budget idea, but if you do want some of the extras you may end up paying more for them than if you joined a budget cruise. If you head to Cat Ba island, this then gives you the option to explore and stay as long as you want. I would check with backpacker-friendly guidebooks or websites such as Lonely Planet and Rough Guides for recommendations on how to best do this on your own.

On the opposite side of the realm, private boat charters are also possible for those with money who are not interested in cruising with a fixed cruise tour itinerary or a group of strangers. While expensive, this can actually be a reasonable option for those traveling as a family or larger group and you may be able to customize an itinerary. Note that the company will likely still have to get an itinerary approved in advance so not a good last-minute option if you want a customized trip. Many of the larger mid-range and luxury tour operators offer private tour options.

How much time should I spend at Halong Bay?

You’ll want to spend at least a few hours on the boat cruising the bay if you are just going for the day. Also factor in that it will take almost 4 hours to get from Hanoi to Halong Bay and another 4 hours to return to Hanoi, so it may feel a bit disappointing to spend more time in the shuttle van than on a boat. If it is within your budget, I would strongly recommend choosing an overnight cruise as things become much quieter and less crowded in the evenings and it is nice to have more time to move around the boat and engage in more activities. We also greatly enjoyed being able to witness both sunset and sunrise from the boat. Let’s put it this way, those who just do a day trip often wish they had spent at least one night and those who spend one night, often wish they could have spent two, etc. You’re unlikely to regret spending an extra day or night here, so I would choose the tour that best fits your budget and schedule. Note that it is often a good value to do a 3 day/2 night trip compared to a 2 day/1 night trip as even though it costs a bit more, the cost per day is often less. Also pay attention to the amount of time spent on the cruise as a 2 day/1 night cruise itinerary may only account for 24 hours or less of time!

https://halong.voyage/halong-bay-voyage/top-mid-range-cruises-halong-bay.html

Best times of the year to cruise Halong Bay?

Tours operate all year long, but the best months are generally considered between October and May, with October, November, March, and April considered ideal. The summer months can be hot and rainy and winter months can be cold with strong winds. It is also good to avoid major holidays such as Tet. During any visit, it is best to check the weather forecast before scheduling and ask about the company’s weather cancellation policy (will cost be refunded? will you be rescheduled for the next available tour?) before booking a tour.

I’ve heard that there is a lot of pollution and trash in Halong Bay, is this true?

We personally did not witness much trash in the bay during our recent visit in April. However, we have heard that trash and pollution is a serious issue in the area, stemming from the tourism industry as well as the fishing industry and inhabitants of the floating villages. Do your part to protect this beautiful area by refraining from throwing anything into the water, disposing of rubbish appropriately on the boat and while visiting caves and islands, and supporting cruise companies that promote sustainable and responsible tourism in the bay. Responsible and eco-friendly tourism is still a growing concept in Vietnam but it is increasing.

Some Halong Bay cruises mention Cat Ba Island, Gulf of Tonkin, Bai Tui Long Bay, and/or Lan Ha Bay. Are these places worth visiting as well?

The Gulf of Tonkin is the full area stretching from China to Vietnam and includes three bays: Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay, and Lan Ha Bay. Cat Ba Island is the largest island in the bay and is well-recognized for its biodiversity and about half of the island is protected as a national park. Many Halong Bay tours stop here for trekking, biking, birdwatching, kayaking, and other adventure activities and some cruises stay overnight here at one of the island’s hotels. Bai Tu Long Bay is located east of Halong Bay and includes numerous islands and a national park and is often referred to as a less-visited Halong Bay. Lan Ha Bay to the south of Halong Bay is even less visited than Bai Tu Long Bay and also offers great natural beauty as well as more beaches than the other bays. Most of the budget tours and day cruises stay within Halong Bay as it requires more time and fuel to venture further, but many of the mid-range and luxury cruises offer the chance to explore further afield. Don’t expect to be the only boat in any of the bays, (at night boats must stay within eyesight of other boats for safety), but it is nice to get away a bit from the crowds. We visited all three bays and all are quite beautiful. The biggest advantage is that you’re more likely to have the opportunity to find less crowded beaches and coves for swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking if you venture outside Halong Bay.

What things should I take into consideration?

This is a matter of preference of course, but the factors that were most important to us were length of the cruise, itinerary, cost, activities included/available, number of passengers, quality of food, commitment to responsible travel, safety record, and quality of overnight accommodations. We also had a preference to book directly with a cruise company rather than booking through a third-party travel agency and we wanted a cruise where we stayed on the same boat the entire trip (no boat transfers). At a minimum, find out specifically what all is covered in the cruise price (meals, activities, gear, cave tours, park fees), and if there are any additional costs that you will need to pay (e.g., optional activities, drinks, cave entrance fees. kayak rentals). If you are staying overnight as part of your cruise, you might also want to ask about whether the boat also accepts daytrippers which might indicate the boat may be crowded during the day. During overnight cruises, you’ll either sleep overnight on the boat or the company will arrange accommodations elsewhere such as at a hotel on Cat Ba Island. Almost all cruises stop to tour at least one cave and one fishing village, and some make stops at beaches, pearl farms, Cat Ba Island, and other attractions. For those wanting to party or meet up with backpackers or singles, choose budget and midrange cruises as most of the cruisers on the luxury cruises are traveling as couples or families and tend to be older. If you or anyone in your group has any physical mobility issues, I would definitely avoid budget companies and make sure that you talk about potential issues before booking.

What Halong Bay Cruise companies should I consider?

There are dozens of cruise companies that own boats in Halong Bay and hundreds of travel agencies that will gladly sell you tickets to cruise Halong Bay. Personally we have only used The Au Co (owned by the same company as Bhaya Cruises), but the list below reflects companies and agencies we considered as well as companies that have received good reviews from reputable sources and fellow travelers. This is by no means an exhaustive list as new companies seem to be popping up all the time and we definitely recommend checking out recent reviews before booking. Most of the below fall in the mid-range to luxury range in terms of price as budget cruises often come with mixed reviews.