A bathtub facing the bay, a private balcony, and limestone islands sliding past your window. My cabin in Ha Long Bay tempted me to stay put with a bottle of wine for the entire trip. But the ship’s crew were organizing the next group activity.
The scenery is the main attraction
Ha Long Bay and the neighboring bays have different names and are included in varying routes, but the main attraction is much the same: steep karst islands rising out of the water. Floating through them is beautiful. The onboard entertainment is optional and only worthwhile if it’s your cup of tea.
I did the usual overnight trip from Hanoi. That felt like enough time to experience the boat and the landscape without overstaying.
A little group enthusiasm goes a long way
Kayaking, a beach or cave stop, morning tai chi, spring-roll making, squid fishing. The program on my boat had something happening seemingly every hour. It felt a bit like band camp, or a company teambuilding with better scenery.
Getting off the boat gives you some variety, the onboard jacuzzi is worth a dip, but the cooking class was less compelling. Pick the group activities you want to do; sitting on your balcony with a cold glass of wine is also an activity.
Choose the boat, not just the itinerary
Most tours I looked at followed a similar route. The cabin and facilities made more of a difference than the list of included activities. Look carefully at photographs of the actual boat and room you’re booking.
I used La Casta and can recommend them. Compare booking with the boat operator directly against agency offers that include the Hanoi transfers - the boat is the main event. Drinks onboard were expensive, so bring your own bevvie and enjoy it on your balcony.
January gave me some gloomy weather as well as sunshine, but it was still worthwhile. Note that many boats share the same stops, so go in expecting that, and the scenery can do its job.
These photographs and tips are a small selection from my more comprehensive Ha Long Bay guide. I’m developing guides from my visits, with fuller recommendations on where to stay, eat and drink, what’s worth your time, what to avoid, and how to put a visit together. Keep an eye out for those - I’ll let you know when they come out.
I’ll share photographs and a few useful notes from another stop each Sunday morning.