Hanoi to Halong Bay

[KTMphil]

If you visit Hanoi, you'd be foolish not to visit Halong Bay while you're there, which is about 160km to the east of Hanoi, 3-3 1/2 hours.


DSC_2662_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr



Mostly highway all the way, you do pass a memorial site where a B 52 bomber crashed into a river, all the plane remains have been removed.


Hanoi to halong bay txt by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




Once in Halong Bay, you have multiple boat charter choices - Join a day cruise, charter your own boat for the day or Join a larger boat that offers overnight sleeping in the bay. There's a multituide of hotels and restaurants around the boat wharf if you dont fancy a night on the boat.



DSC_2631_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr





As you can see there's plenty of boats, June through late July being the busiest period in Halong Bay



DSC_2629_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr

 

[KTMphil]

If you're not doing an overnight thing, ideally you want about a 6 hour cruise so that you have time to do the caves and see the most photogenic islands nearby

Our driver reversing off the steps


DSC_2632_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr





Headed south in Halong Bay


DSC_2655_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr





DSC_2644_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr






Provisioning, floating shop that has everything. A floating 7-11



DSC_2645_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr





Water barges



DSC_2641_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr

 

[KTMphil]

It takes about 30 minutes to reach the islands in Halong Bay


DSC_2698_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr



"Chicken Kissing Island" on the way in


DSC_2681_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr





Small boats ferrying you to some of the caves



DSC_2676_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr





DSC_2675_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr





Local fishing boats


DSC_2665_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr





"Dog Rock" to the right



DSC_2664_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr





DSC_2682_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr





You'd be a fool to miss it


DSC_2659_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr

 

[SGodfrey]

Good pics! Which cruise you did your trip? I found a nice booking site (https://www.bestpricevn.com/halongbaycruises/) which provides tours of different cruise lines (Signature, Paloma, Pelican, ...), I'm tending to book a Halong Bay cruise, and I dont know which cruise to choose.

 

[SGodfrey]

im gonna visit Halong next summer, hope there won't be a storm

 

[firestorm996]

Great photos. Cat Ba Island is worth a stopover too if you have a few days in the area, it's quiet and has a nice relaxed traveller vibe.

 

[KTMphil]

Good pics! Which cruise you did your trip? I found a nice booking site (https://www.bestpricevn.com/halongbaycruises/) which provides tours of different cruise lines (Signature, Paloma, Pelican, ...), I'm tending to book a Halong Bay cruise, and I dont know which cruise to choose.

A friend booked for us, Im not sure which agency.

 

[KTMphil]

One more Halong Bay panoramic shot

 

[The Bigfella]

Got to love Halong Bay. I had lovely weather there... end of July, 2010