Halong Bay has amazing scenery. And fantastic many tourists. In some places the boats are so close that you can walk between the islands.
We went on a so-called 2 days- 1 night cruise. It’s a little insinuation. You leave Hanoi at 08:00, arrive at the boat at 13:00 and leave again at 12:00 the next day, ie a day in total. You can also choose day trips, which I think is a stressful program, or 3 days and 2 nights that give you a better time.
No time for a Gin Tonic
Calling it a cruise is also a bit imprecise. I associate cruises with quiet days with umbrella drinks on deck. The cruise we were reminded of more of a camp school where we were whipped through activities from the time we arrived until we left. It is probably the competitive situation that causes the various cruise companies to try to outdo each other in activities. In any case, the day we were there consisted of a cave hike, landing on an island with swimming and a high peak to climb, cooking classes, kayaking and “watching the monkeys”. Everything went very, very fast. And we who just wanted to look at the islands with a GT in hand. Anyway, after seeing the queue of tourists waiting to be led into the shoal that was going through the caves, we decided to drop activities and rather stay on board the boat. That was fine.
Strict program
The boat and cabin were good, the food excellent, in fact some of the best we ate in Vietnam. No socialization in the evening was encouraged. It was really nice to talk to the other tour participants, but we did not manage to drink up the wine glass until the tablecloth was torn away after dinner, and we were shoveled to the door. The instructions said that we should fish for squid after dinner (we assume), because that was what everyone dutifully did for ten minutes. We were strictly instructed to go to bed no later than 10 pm because breakfast was 07:30 and no one made a fuss.
We were there in late February, out of high season. Wondering how it is there then. It was hazy weather, a little drizzle, but not so much that it limited the view especially. The temperature around 20 degrees.
This is the impression of a trip, and need not be representative. There are very many tour operators and others probably have other programs. That is, it is wise to check if it suits you before you leave.
I would recommend less activities and more drinks. And the views are spectacular.
We were on this cruise:
Ha Long 2 Days (1 Night On Golden Lotus Classic Cruise 2★)
More about Vietnam and Cambodia:
Vietnam backpacking – Hoi An
Cambodia – Angkor Temples
Phong Nha National Park Vietnam
Hanoi Obstipation, or the dream of porridge.
Jungel trek with a fear of heights
