Some tips you need to know when traveling to Ha Long bay
Ha Long Bay Vietnam is considered to be the must to come when visiting Vietnam and it’s the destination you should visit at least once in your lifetime because of its magnificent nature beauty. Going on a cruise around Halong Bay, climb Bai Tho (Poem) mountain, shopping at Hon Gai market, wandering at a night market, enjoy a view of Halong from Bai Chay bridge, having a good time in Tuan Chau Island are impressive activities. It’s normally cost you a large amount of money when going on vacation here but with my experience in backpacking tourism and using Vietnam visa on arrival, you can save a bundle if following my suggestion below.

Experience when traveling to Ha Long Bay
Halong Bay Vietnam is 177km from Hanoi. You can go to coach station to take one to Ha Long. There are many continuous coaches going there every day and it takes 4 hours to go there. If you only stay in Ha Long, you can go in 2 days. In the early morning of the first day, take the coach from Hanoi to Halong bay. You’d better take the first trip at about 7 am. At about 11:30 am, take off the car at the turning point that very near Bai Chay then take a motorcycle taxi to Bai Chay tourist port.

Have lunch in one of the restaurants on the side of the tourist port. In the early afternoon, go to the port to ask for sightseeing ticket and boat ticket. Here, you will buy a ticket for sightseeing and boat separately and because you and other tourists share the boat, the price is only from 100,000 VND to 150,000VND per person. If you go on vacation with friends and your family, you should hire a private boat with the price of 1.500.000 to 1.700.000 VND per 4 to a 6-hour voyage. On the peak season of tourism (from May to August), the price can be higher.

There is two type of sightseeing ticket in Ha Long bay. That is 4 hour and 6-hour ticket. With 4-hour ticket, you will visit Thien Cung cave, Dau Go cave, Hon Ga Choi and wandering around the bay in near distance. With 6-hour ticket, you will visit Thien Cung cave, Hon Ga Choi, Titov beach and tour around the bay in the further distance.

If you are not tired after the trip from Hanoi, you should climb Bai Tho (Poem) Mountain in the afternoon of the first day and go sightseeing around Ha Long Bay in the next morning. In the afternoon, take the coach back to Hanoi. Bai Tho mountain located in the area of Hon Gai, very close to the coast near Bai Chay bridge. From the peak of the mountain, you can see the Ha Long city panorama and a part of Ha Long Bay.

Package tour of two days and one night
With the trip of two days and one-night sleep on a boat, you can enjoy more activities. The price is from 90$ to 110$ per night with 3-star boat and from 170$ to 400$ per night with 4 and 5-star boat. You can choose the package that suits you and your budget. However, it should be noted that it doesn’t matter which boat you are on as Halong Bay is still an amazing spectacle.

The general schedule of the two days and one-night tour in Ha Long bay
The first day: Move from Ha Noi to Ha Long within 4 hours, arrive at Ha Long at about 12:30 pm. Then you go on the boat to go sightseeing in Halong bay. You will have lunch on the boat and visit Titov beach at 2 pm or visit Sung Sot cave. At the end of the day, you will explore the breathtaking beauty of Halong bay by kayaking (or kayaking in the next morning)

The second day: Go kayaking, have breakfast and the boat will take you back to the port on the other way. You can visit Hon Ga Choi on the way back. You will have lunch on the boat or in a restaurant in Bai Chay. Depending on the trip length and each travel agent, tourists have different kayak route and time frame. In the afternoon, you will be back to Hanoi.
With 3-day tour in Ha Long, they often combine with visiting Cat Ba. It’s also a stunning destination in Vietnam.

Hotels in Ha Long
Ha Long is divided into two zones: Hon Gai and Bai Chay connected by Bai Chay bridge. The main tourist area is Bai Chay with the long coast and port. Hon Gai is the administrative quarter. So, you should stay in Bai Chay area for convenience in traveling and eating. The hotels mainly locate on Vuon Dao street. The room price is from 250.000 VND to 350.000 VND/night/room. The price can be a little higher in summer. There are many restaurants in this area, you can choose some small ones near Post Office three-way crossroads. Food in these restaurants is delicious with reasonable price. Don’t forget to enjoy Cha much – made from cuttlefish – the specialty of Ha Long.

Attractions in Ha Long Bay
Thien Cung and Dau Go cave: You will go to Dau Go island by boat, keep walking up a stair to the mountain, explore the cave inside. You had better visit both caves. There are a lot of beautiful stalactites and of animal shape in the cave.

In the evening, you can go shopping in Ha Long night market to buy some small souvenirs. Remember to bargain. If you stay in Hon Gai zone, you can enjoy the food and discover a life of people here. You can also visit Long Tien Pagoda.

Sightseeing Ticket price in Ha Long Bay
The ticket price has increased since 2018. Specifically, daytime ticket (from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm) is 120 million VND each person (not include the ticket to visit each island, cave).
The resident ticket for one night in Halong Bay is 320.000 VND, 470.000 VND for 2 nights and 520.000 VND for 3 nights. Children from the age of 7 to 15, The old over the age of 70, the poor, the disable will be discounted 50%. Children under 7 will be free.