Table Of Content
The evening offers another unique culinary lesson with the head chef–a splendid time to enjoy a live band performance and indulge in the gourmet dinner. The journey takes them to the mesmerizing Tien Ong Cave, renowned for its intricate stalactites and stalagmites. Within the cave, there's an archaeological exhibit showcasing relics from prehistoric times, evidence of life existing thousands of years ago. Following this calming routine, you can relish a luxurious buffet breakfast at the Le Marin restaurant.
Breakfast Time
The luxury cruise enjoys 46 elegant and well-appointed cabins, a deluxe restaurant, two capacious 360-degree Sundecks, an outdoor Jacuzzi pool, and a Spa lounge. Featuring exceptional cuisine, live music, private butlers, disabled-friendly access, and the most generous cabins in Halong Bay, Ambassador Cruise offers an experience par excellence. The staff does a phenomenal job caring for the hosts, as they are fun and extremely helpful.
How many days do you need in Halong Bay?
Certain cruise itineraries include a visit to one of these floating villages. Of these, Cua Van is the first and largest floating fishing village in the bay. Situated on the Gulf of Tonkin, Halong Bay - one of the World's New7Wonders of Nature is the perfect blend of aesthetic, geological and geomorphologic values. Furthermore, this is also a wonderful destination for cruising, kayaking and enjoying tropical charming beaches.
Last-minute Bookings Are Best
These waterborne communities provide an invaluable glimpse into the indigenous fishermen's daily lives, their quaint aquatic homes, and their water-centric livelihoods. However, you’ll encounter many tourists visiting Halong Bay year-round. So, when you get off to explore the different islands you may feel that it’s too touristy because of how many people are there. I booked my Halong Bay overnight cruise online with GetYourGuide, which offers various cruise styles and budgets (and even some discounts sometimes, like the 50% discount I received).
Taking a trip on a Bamboo Boat
These budget-friendly options prioritize essential amenities, often featuring shared accommodations. Experience luxury, entertainment, and breathtaking nature all in one package with our luxury Halong Bay overnight cruise options. This overnight cruise is meticulously designed, echoing the charm of traditional Vietnamese junks yet infused with modern luxury at every turn. From the outset, guests are greeted by interiors adorned with rich sophisticated fabrics and wood, creating an atmosphere that’s both elegant and intimate. For example, the full-day tour often includes a visit to Thien Cung Cave and Ba Hang fishing village or another fishing village for kayaking. In contrast, the 3-day tour will take you to Bai Tu Long Bay, an area that fewer tourists visit.
Adventure Cruises
Visiting Halong Bay: tips to plan your cruise - Lonely Planet Travel News
Visiting Halong Bay: tips to plan your cruise.
Posted: Thu, 18 Apr 2019 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The difference in the itinerary is when a cruise company makes the effort to avoid the crowds from the other companies. Be prepared for a hectic day if you are planning to travel from Hanoi (around 3.5 hour journey one-way). In order to make your planning that much easier, we have compiled a list of 15 of the best Halong Bay cruises. The closest airport to Halong Bay is the Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi.
Paradise Vietnam’s Halong Bay overnight cruise itinerary
Our second best selling cruise, the Aphrodite Cruise is a nice sized boat with only 17 cabins. If you are young and love to party, you will most likely enjoy the larger boats with more people. There are SO MANY Halong cruises to choose from that it can get totally overwhelming. While there are some things I’d do differently if I were to return, it was my favorite excursion in Vietnam. Halong Bay cruises leave from the Bai Chay region of Vietnam, which most foreigners call the Halong Bay port.
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Options included fried rice, chicken wings, fried sweet potatoes, spring rolls, salad, steamed fish, stir fried vegetables and chicken soup. There was also a selection of fresh fruit and desserts such as sweet coconut rice, profiteroles, and a little coconut cream sponge cake. If you wanted any other soft or alcoholic drinks you just ordered them with the waiter and charged it back to your room. There are also some budget cruises, so if you are travelling or backpacking on a budget in Vietnam, there are still some great options available for you. The best time of the year to go to Halong Bay are the dry and temperate seasons between September and November, and March and May. Avoid May and August when hurricanes occasionally affect the area.
Day 1: A Scenic and Activity-packed Day
Keep in mind that if you’re traveling from Hanoi to Halong Bay, it’s unlikely the shuttle will pick you up if you’re staying outside the old town. Grab is the Uber of Vietnam, so you can get a ride to Hanoi old quarter for cheap, especially if you book a scooter rather than a car. No matter where you travel from to start your Halong Bay cruise, double-check to see if the transportation fees to the port are included. I spent one month in Hanoi and took my Halong Bay cruise during that time.
You will stay in well-equipped cabins which come with a large window or balcony. Not only comfy bed and bathroom amenities, but the cabin also has Satellite TV, minibar, air-con, safe box, bathtub or jacuzzi, etc. After joining a bunch of activities, cabins onboard bring you the utmost comfort and convenience like home.
Our guide informed us that he altered the order of our original itinerary for this very reason, taking us kayaking when the tide was higher. But if you’re taking a 4-star or 5-star Halong Bay luxury cruise, you might want to pack a nice outfit for dinner. The boats also anchor in the same area at night, so all guests receive the same sunset and sunrise views.
All of the rooms have balconies and en-suite bathrooms, as well as a kettle and fridge. The bedrooms are small but very luxurious and the beds were so comfortable! It was definitely a nice change to the firm mattresses we had been used to in our budget hotels! We were lucky enough to be upgraded to a Premium Suite, located at the back of the ship.
And while that undoubtedly has truth, I’d argue that there’s a much greater difference sightseeing-wise between the 2-day and 3-day cruise than there is between the full-day and 2-day. It was fun walking through the three chambers, making it feel like I got to see multiple caves during a single visit. If your cruise doesn’t stop at Sung Sot, it may take you to another cave, such as Bright Cave or Thien Canh Son Cave.
The next phase of exploration entails boarding the Paradise Explorer. The vessel steers towards the most picturesque hotspots of Halong Bay, including Dong Tien Lake, Trong Cave, Trinh Nu Cave, and various other captivating sights. Upon returning to the cruise, guests are treated to a sumptuous breakfast buffet at Le Marin restaurant.
We managed to fit a lot into the 2 days (or 2 half-days if you think about it!) and the itinerary and organisation of everything was really smooth and professional. After brunch we relaxed on the sundeck as we sailed back to the port. We had to wait for the tender boat and then once we were in the cruise terminal we waited another 30 mins for the bus. As I mentioned previously, each company has different itineraries, however this was our itinerary on the Athena at the time of cruising.
You can also step into the soothing embrace of the bay's waters for a swim. Surrounded by green islands and tall, shadow-casting karsts, you'll truly understand why Halong Bay remains a top destination. Halong Bay's exploration takes on a new dimension when experienced from a kayak. Offering you the chance to navigate its clear waters, kayaking is your ticket to the hidden gems of the bay. However, there’s an environmental downside to so many cruises operating.
