Tag: Halong Bay

How To: Choose a Halong Bay Cruise

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Recently, myself and my family went on a Halong Bay Cruise. We are not big cruise people, but since this was only 2 nights and is the best way to see Halong Bay we went for it. The only other time I have taken a Cruise was in the Galapagos Islands.

The main reason we chose this cruise was the range of activities on offer which we felt would be suitable with young children, the reviews were in general very good, the boat was luxury without being ridiculously expensive and the area the boat visited was Lan Ha Bay which is much quieter and less frequented than the main Halong Bay area. See my post here for information about the cruise we went on and what we did.

When choosing a cruise there are 5 main things to think about:

Location

Firstly, assess how important location is for you. Halong Bay is a large area with not a huge amount to ‘do’ other than enjoy the view. You can visit the very famous (and overrun with tourists and trash) part of Halong Bay which has the most impressive and numerous cliffs OR the quieter areas of Lan Ha Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay which really aren’t much different just less frequented by tourists.

Time

The other important choice to make is how much time you have to visit. You have the choice of a day trip, 1 night cruise and 2 night cruise for your Halong bay trip. We chose a 2 night cruise as its a very long way from Hanoi for a day trip (especially with kids) and I feel with a one night trip you don’t get a lot of time to relax on the boat (or much time for activities as we only did very short excursions on the first and last day).

Activities

Make sure to select a trip with activities you actually want to do. When booking a cruise you can always see its itinerary (although this is subject to change) and select from there. I disregarded a few cruises as the activities didn’t seem like things my kids could stay occupied doing or many be a bit too strenuous physically for my 3 year old or for me carrying a 3 month old. For example, the cruise we went on had the option to skip biking to a village and take an electric car instead without missing the entire activity.

Convenience

For us, travelling in a large family group, it was more convenient to take a cruise as everything is organised for you (including getting from one place to another) and everything is designed to be pretty relaxing and activities not too strenuous. However, you may decide not to take a cruise at all. Most tourists visit Halong Bay via a cruise but it is also possible to stay on Cat Ba Island – you can get there via ferry.

Cost

We went for a pretty luxury cruise because it seemed like a time you would actually use a lot of the hotel’s (in this case boat’s) features (ie. your only options for food, activities and spending your free time are on the boat). Also, all the cruises were pretty pricey (for Vietnam) so we saw no harm in spending a bit more for a luxury experience. However, there are much cheaper options and as you spend a lot of your time on a day boat theres really no harm going for something basic but maybe take some extra snacks and things in case the food is awful.

I hope this guide helps you to select a cruise (or not a cruise) to visit Halong Bay. Enjoy!

Erika xx

Must See Spots in Vietnam

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Vietnam is a beautiful country with so much to see! This is definitely not an exhaustive list – going back I would definitely try to visit the Mekong Delta and a couple of the Southern islands (such as Con Dao or Phú Quốc). If I didn’t have young children tagging along I may have done a hike through one of the National Parks and braved some of the long rural stretches around northern Vietnam. BUT, this list gives a good mix of amazing places which all have something unique to offer. All were super child friendly locations too!

So here are all my must-see spots in Vietnam (ESPECIALLY if you are visiting with children):

Hanoi

Hanoi is chaotic, hot and frantic but is a must see part of Vietnam. The food and coffee scene is killer and the markets and shops are never ending! Definitely my kind of city!

Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh is beautiful and green – such a great place to just chill out and enjoy nature. There is also a big mountain you can climb if you like to challenge yourself a bit more (its particularly challenging in 37 degree heat!

Halong Bay

Halong Bay is the jewel of Vietnam – we did a cruise through the cheaper and less crowded Lan Ha Bay which is really the exact same as Halong Bay. Go luxury here and enjoy a 5 star cruise if you can because nothing beats sailing through this bay watching the sunset from the swimming pool of your cruise ship.

Da Nang

We stayed by the beach here – it was absolute bliss staying right next to the beach but being so close to all the amenities a city offers! Find a hotel by the beach on booking.com.

Hoi An

Hoi An is one of those towns you just want to keep wandering through as there is something new and beautiful around every corner! It’s also a great idea to time your visit for the monthly lantern festival where the night lights are extra phenomenal (although there is a little bit of this magic every night).

Vinh Hy

Vinh Hy is the place to go to feel those real authentic Vietnam vibes. Its still very much off the beaten track which is so rare these days. Hardly anyone speaks english and tourists are few and far between (international ones anyway!) If you like a local experience with great landscapes and seafood I highly recommend checking this bay out!

We went to Vietnam during rainy season in the south so we didn’t get down to that end of the country – if we had we would have visited Ho Chi Min City (Saigon); Phu Quoc Island, The Mekong Delta and Con Dao Island. If you have been to these places please let me know any must sees! – I’m planning to hit these spots up next time I go.

Erika xx