Halong Bay Overnight Cruise: What to Expect & is it Worth it?
If you’re planning a trip to Vietnam, you may be wondering whether to book a Halong Bay overnight cruise. Well, the best way to see Halong Bay is by boat, and an overnight cruise is the most popular way to enjoy the stunning coastal scenery in North Vietnam.
Beautiful Ha Long Bay is a natural wonder and one of the most visited places in Vietnam. It deserves to be high on the list of places to see. Located on the coast just 3 hours from Hanoi, Ha Long Bay is easy to reach from the capital.
I’ve travelled throughout Vietnam and Halong Bay was at the top of my list on two of my holidays in the north of the country. But there are so many cruises to choose from, it’s hard to know which is best and I found the process a bit overwhelming. In the end I chose a mid-range cruise in a traditional junk boat and had a good experience and it’s not that expensive for overseas visitors.
In this article, I’ll review the Halong Bay overnight cruises I took, discuss the pros and cons and give an honest opinion about my experiences.
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Why Visit Halong Bay Vietnam
Halong Bay is a place of extraordinary natural beauty and the area is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site for its incredible scenery and geological significance.
Halong Bay consists of more than 1600 small, uninhabited islands on the North Vietnam coast and the area is stunning. Karst limestone mountains covered by jungle rise out of calm emerald waters creating a dramatic landscape with sheer limestone cliffs, caves, inlets and untouched beaches.
You’ll love visiting Halong Bay if you’re a nature lover and enjoy beautiful scenery and outdoor activities like swimming, snorkelling and kayaking. Ha Long Bay should not be missed, especially if it’s your first time in Vietnam.
How to Visit Halong Bay Vietnam
The best way to visit Halong Bay is by boat and most tourists take an overnight cruise package from Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital. The tours are well organised and hotel pickup and drop off from Hanoi are included.
An overnight cruise is an easy, convenient and popular way to visit this remarkable part of Vietnam.
But it’s also very touristy. Around 2.5 million people visit Halong Bay each year and you can expect to share the bay with many other cruise boats anchoring and visiting the same places. The cruise routes are tightly controlled for conservation reasons.
The cruises visit islands, beaches, viewpoints and caves and there are so many cruise boats that there are queues of people landing on the small islands. Ha Long Bay can be crowded, especially in the high season, from October to December.
TIP: I felt the Halong Bay overnight cruise experience was rather touristy and can recommend a Bai Tu Long Bay overnight cruise with Renea as a quieter alternative. I enjoyed this cruise on my second trip to Vietnam. Bai Tu Long Bay was cleaner and much less crowded than Halong Bay.
How to Choose the Best Halong Bay Cruise
When choosing a Halong Bay cruise the main considerations are:
- Budget: How much do you want to spend? Do you want to stay on a boat with spacious luxury cabins, a private balcony and 5-star facilities or are you looking for a cheaper option?
- Cruise duration: How much time can you spend on Halong Bay? Most cruise operators offer a 2 or 3-day Halong Bay cruise package from Halong City with transfers to and from Hanoi or Ninh Binh.
- Activities: Do you have specific activities that you want to include on your cruise such as kayaking, snorkelling, and swimming? Are there places you want to visit such as Sung Sot cave or Ti Top Island?
TIP: The various cruise operators have slightly different itineraries so it’s best to check the fine print before you book.
What to Expect on an Overnight Halong Bay Cruise from Hanoi
A typical Halong Bay cruise begins with 3 hour journey by bus from Hanoi to the cruise port in Halong City. Around midday, passengers board the cruise boat and lunch is served while motoring to Halong Bay.
The afternoon is spent enjoying activities in Ha Long Bay such as swimming kayaking and visiting the islands, returning to the cruise boat for sunset and dinner.
The morning starts early and is also spent in Ha Long Bay.
Passengers check out of the cabins early around 9:30 am on the second day so the staff can clean the rooms to prepare for the next group of guests.
Lunch is served on the boat around 11 am while the boat motors back to the port and around midday the cruise ends. You’ll spend the afternoon travelling back to Hanoi by bus.
TIP: If you’re very short of time a 1 day Halong bay cruise from Hanoi is an option. This cruise includes swimming and kayaking but you will spend around 6 hours in a bus travelling to and from Hanoi and have only a few hours actually in Halong bay.
Halong Bay Overnight Cruise Itinerary
This is a more detailed itinerary of my Halong Bay overnight cruise on La Fairy Sails, a comfortable 4-star wooden junk boat that takes a popular route on Halong Bay.
Day 1: Hanoi to Halong Bay
0800 Hanoi Old Quarter hotel pickup by shuttle bus and a 3.5-hour drive from Hanoi to Halong Bay.
Check-in at Tuan Chau International Harbor. Passengers join the cruise boat LaFairy Sails around noon.
Welcome drink and fruit juice and a short briefing before lunch. Cruise to Halong Bay.
Lom Bo area and Me Cung Cave. Kayaking, swimming, or climbing, around Luon Cave
Sunset on the boat.
7.00 pm dinner on the top deck under the stars in Halong Bay with traditional live music.
Leisure activities such as fishing for squid, chatting with other guests, and enjoying the atmosphere of Halong Bay.
- Meals included:Lunch & Dinner
Day 2: Halong Bay – Hanoi
Sunrise on the boat
06:30 Tai Chi on the top deck
0700 Breakfast
0930 Check out of cabins
Cruise to Ti Top Island for swimming and hiking to the viewpoint for a stunning view of Halong Bay. Return to LaFairy for a buffet lunch and a cooking demonstration.
12.30 disembark
Shuttle bus to Hanoi arriving 4.00 – 4.30 pm.
- Meals included: Breakfast & lunch
My Halong Bay Overnight Cruise Review
I chose a mid-range overnight cruise to Halong Bay on La Fairy Sails, a traditional wooden Vietnamese junk boat. The route around Ha Long Bay was very similar to many other cruise operators.
Pros
- I loved the traditional wooden cruise boat and the spacious deck areas.
- Spending time on deck while cruising through the majestic scenery was a memorable travel experience.
- Being on Halong Bay for sunset and sunrise was also memorable.
- I enjoyed the activities, especially kayaking amidst the stunning karst mountains and sheer limestone cliffs of Halong Bay.
- The viewpoints at Me Cung Cave and Ti Top Island were stunning but Me Cung Cave itself was a bit underwhelming after the incredible caves of Phong Nha Ke bang National Park in Central Vietnam.
- The tour was well organised with convenient hotel transfers to and from Hanoi or Ninh Binh.
- Life jackets were provided on all transfers on the smaller boat to the islands and when kayaking.
- The meals were good and I ate very well. The food was better than expected and dietary preferences and restrictions were accommodated.
- The guide spoke English and the crew were helpful and friendly.
- LaFairy is a small wooden boat and this means you’re travelling with a small group. The maximum group size is 22 people sleeping in 11 cabins.
Cons
- Ha Long Bay was a bit too crowded with many boats moored at the overnight spot and there was noise and music from the other tour groups.
- It was also quite crowded at the sights with too many people in the small areas on the islands and the cave. There was a long procession of tourists climbing the stairs to the viewpoint on Tit Top Island.
- I was travelling alone in Vietnam and was paired with a male solo traveller at mealtimes and during activities like kayaking. Unfortunately, we didn’t have much in common and it became uncomfortable after a while. Moving to another table to eat was discouraged.
- Halong Bay didn’t seem all that clean and I could see bilge water from the cruise boats so I chose not to swim at the beach on Ti Top Island. But the weather wasn’t warm enough for swimming anyway. I was in Vietnam in January during the winter when the weather is typically pleasant, cool and dry on both my trips.
- The cabins were small and cramped. There wasn’t enough room to comfortably unpack a suitcase and I was glad I took a small overnight bag and left my large suitcase at the hotel in Hanoi. Limited space is typical on smaller cruise boats and for me, it didn’t matter. I only spent a night on the cruise and most of the time I was on deck or enjoying sightseeing and other activities.
- The bed was quite hard but this is also typical in Vietnam.
TIP: If you want a soft bed and plenty of space book a luxury cruise with more modern, westernised facilities and a private balcony.
Was it Worth the Cost?
My Halong Bay overnight cruise was good value overall. The cost was US$135 per person and the package included transfers to and from Hanoi, and overnight accommodation on board a traditional wooden junk boat with all meals and activities included.
I stayed in a private cabin with a small ensuite bathroom. There was limited space for luggage in the cabins and the bed was hard but I enjoyed the traditional Vietnamese experience. There was no private balcony but the deck areas were spacious with plenty of outdoor seating.
Overall, I was happy with the accommodation and the food was tasty although the menu was aimed at Western tourists.
Drinking water was provided, but there was an extra charge in US dollars for alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks from the bar. Drinks on the boat were more expensive than on the mainland but the overall cost was not excessive. I spent around US$15 more on drinks.
My Halong Bay overnight cruise included kayaking along with many other activities and the days were planned and full. Overall, I had a good time on this Halong Bay overnight cruise and I’m happy to recommend La Fairy Sails.
La Fairy Sails is a comfortable traditional wooden junk and a good choice for a mid-range Halong Bay overnight cruise.
Is it worth spending a bit more money on a luxury cruise? If you’re looking for more comfort, more cabin space and a better menu then perhaps. But I you’ll be too busy enjoying Halong Bay to spend much time in your cabin.
Should you Book in advance?
Yes, book your overnight cruise to Halong Bay in advance if you must travel on a specific date or you have decided on a particular cruise.
While there are many cruise operators, the best Halong Bay overnight cruises do book out and if you wait you risk missing out, especially in the high season. I booked my first Ha Long Bay cruise through my hotel when I arrived in Hanoi and got the last cabin on the boat.
The second time I booked my overnight cruise well in advance when I was planning my North Vietnam itinerary.
TIP: Find the best and worst time to visit Vietnam for a Halong Bay cruise.
Alternatives to a Halong Bay Overnight Cruise
The Halong bay overnight cruise from Hanoi is a very popular and time efficient way to visit the area but there are other options to consider if you have plenty of time.
Bai Tu Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay neighbour Halong Bay and are also very beautiful with the same stunning karst islands as Halong Bay. The scenery is just as lovely but perhaps slightly less dramatic than Halong Bay.
Bai Tu Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay are less crowded and worth considering as an alternative to the famous Ha Long Bay.
TIP: On my second Vietnam trip, I took a Bai Tu Long Bay overnight cruise with Renea on a traditional wooden junk. The itinerary, activities and transfers were similar to the Halong Bay overnight cruise and it was a good way to see the area and avoid the tourist crowds.
I also stayed on Cat Ba Island and took a day cruise on Lan Ha Bay and Ha Long Bay. But of course, this itinerary took more time and planning.
It’s also possible to travel independently to Halong Bay by train or bus, stay in Halong City and book a 1 day cruise to Halong Bay. But again, this option takes more time on a packed Vietnam itinerary.
TIP: I booked my travel E-tickets online with 12Go Asia. It’s convenient and reliable for purchasing bus, train and plane tickets throughout Vietnam and Southeast Asia.
Final Thoughts: Halong Bay Overnight Cruise
Discovering the incredible natural beauty of Halong Bay on an overnight cruise is a highlight of a holiday in Vietnam. Halong Bay should not be missed, especially if it’s your first time in the country.
The easiest way to get there from Hanoi is to book a popular overnight Halong Bay cruise package. All transport, food, accommodation, tours and activities are included and it’s a great option if you’re short of time.
I enjoyed my Halong Bay overnight cruise and recommend spending a night on a cruise boat to see the sunrise and sunset on Halong Bay. It was the perfect introduction to this stunning part of Vietnam. The cruise and the transfers from Hanoi were well-organised and very convenient.
I felt the experience was rather touristy and can recommend a Bai Tu Long Bay overnight cruise with Renea as a quieter alternative to a Halong Bay overnight cruise.
Halong Bay is an incredible place and I recommend visiting if you’re in Vietnam, even if most of your trip is spent at the other end of the country on a South Vietnam itinerary.
An overnight cruise to Halong Bay is a classic Vietnam experience and one you’ll remember.
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