Ultimate guide to Ha Long Bay: hotels, tours and cruises
Most people who visit Halong bay have a love or hate relationship with it. Half the people you ask will tell you it’s overrated while half will tell you it’s the most incredible place on earth. So which one is it? We spent almost a week exploring the Halong bay area to find the answer for you! There are a few ways to do Halong bay in the most fun and effective way so read on to find out what we learned.
Hotels in the Halong bay area
If you choose to explore Halong bay by land, there are a few ways to do it: you can either stay in Halong or on Cat Ba Island. There are a few considerations when choosing where to stay. Halong city has more inventory when it comes to hotels and there is extensive shopping and access to dining. Cat Ba island is more difficult to access but gives you access to more nature and a “local” feeling.
If you plan to spend a few nights in Halong city, our personal recommendations are:
- Luxury resort: Vinpearl
- Vinpearl is located off the coast of the city and is a true “resort”. They have a boat transfer to access the hotel. Prices are significantly higher than other properties in the area but it is a true resort.
- City brand hotel: Wyndham Legend
- Wyndham is located near the cruise terminal and where most of the day tours depart from. It provides easy access to the tourist center with restaurants and shops
- City hotel: Watson Premium
- We stayed at Watson Premium and found the location convenient to the less touristy area with restaurants and shops. It has a great view of the bay from the rooftop pool and the rooms were inexpensive and comfortable. It is also very close to the night market.
If you plan to head to Cat Ba, keep in mind that you will need to access it by seaplane or ferry so plan ahead. There are a few good options in Cat Ba to explore the island:
- Best resort: Hotel Perle d’Orient, Mgallery
- This is a great Accor property with a stunning beach. It’s a high rise property so all rooms have some views.
- Resort style property: Catba Island Resort
- This is a lowkey, colorful resort property on a beautiful beach.
- Beach hotel: Flamingo Grand
- Flamingo Grand is a reasonable property with great views. The balconies offer views of the mountains or the bay.
Tours in Halong Bay
If you are staying in Halong city or Cat Ba there are a variety of day tours that are worth checking out that go out into Halong bay. Keep in mind most of these tour prices include the transfer from Hanoi so contact them directly to get the price without the Hanoi transfer. Here are a few of our favorite options:
- Most luxurious: Jade Sails
- This luxury cruise is aboard a gorgeous sailboat. The cruise is primarily focused on the boat itself and guests and enjoy the cruise, kayaking and the views
- Comprehensive tour: Bookable via Viator
- This cruise is focused on the sites and you hit many of the common caves, mountains and stops along the way.
Cruises in Halong Bay
For many travelers, the only part of Halong they see if the bay itself and it’s a fantastic way to explore the region. Most luxury cruises offer 1 or 2 night cruises and some companies are even offering 3 and 4 night cruises. If you are coming to Halong bay just to experience the boat and what it’s like to be amongst the stunning karst formations, a one-night cruise is definitely sufficient. If you are planning to take advantage of the tours onboard, then I would personally recommend two nights.
Here are some of our favorite cruises:
What’s important to keep in mind when it comes to the cruises is all of the above cruises have the same exact itinerary, down to the tai chi classes, tea ceremonies and excursions. We recommend picking your cruise based on the room type you want to book as well as the design and spaces available on board because the ship itself is really the only difference. Planning to swim in the bay? Capella is the only overnight ship with a water slide. Want the modern yacht experience? Check out Elite of the Seas or Stellar.
Conclusion: Is Halong Bay worth it?
Halong bay is truly worth the detour from Hanoi. The stunning karsts, the epic landscape and the opportunity to stay aboard a floating hotel is 100% worth the experience. Whether you plan to stay in Halong city or experience an overnight cruise, don’t skip a trip to Halong bay.
