Halong Bay has been a popular travel destination for decades. In fact, it has been named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, so seeing this multi-cliff islands is a must for any new Vietnam visitors.

There are a few ways to travel from Hanoi to Halong Bay, but most will decide to take a cruise for about one or two nights. Picking the correct trip isn’t easy due to multiple travel agencies offering tours. Selecting a bad one would mean a huge waste of money and a terrible experience. So, what should you consider when picking a tour?

• Don’t take a one day trip. Going from Hanoi to Halong Bay takes about 4 hours, so going there for a few hours is only going to make you want to stay longer.
• Don’t try to go to Halong Bay via bus and take the last-minute cruise. There are a lot of stories of people trying to save money, and they had a disastrous ending. These people not only spend more money than they would have via purchasing a package, but they had lower quality tours as well.
• Don’t go for the cheapest offer that’s available. There are a lot of travel agencies that will offer you 2-day tours for about $45. Don’t be fooled; there are many horror stories from luxury travelers and backpackers who didn’t get any food from their cruise or had to share rooms with people because the travel agent overbooked the tour.

Pay a bit more to be safe, but don’t overpay an agent because they’re trying to convince you that their boat is the prettiest – they all have a similar appearance because of new regulations requiring that all boats are painted white, so boats aren’t able to display their intended colors.

What About the National Park and Cat Ba Island?

The Cat Ba Island consists of 366 islands and islets filled with beautiful grottoes and beaches. Just about 12 miles from Haiphong, with the Halong Bay bordering on the east and the Gulf of Tokin located to the west, the main Cat Ba Island is about 137 sq miles, with a beautiful landscape of coastal mangroves, forested hills, and freshwater swamps, as well as reefs, lakes, and waterfalls.

Cat Ba, is the island’s main port and settlement. Scattered along the coast are a group of floating fishing villages. Half of the island and 20 sq miles of the surrounding inland waters are apart of the Cat Ba National Park.

The thickly forested island has a wide range of fauna and flora, with numerous reptiles, 69 bird species, and 32 mammal species, including the serow, leopard cat, and the Cat Ba Langur. If you’re going to travel from Hanoi to Halong bay, we suggest giving this place a look.

Conclusion

When you travel from Hanoi to Halong Bay, you’ll see a lot of beautiful scenery, interesting caves, and have a fun adventure. However, you need to ensure that you and the group that you’re traveling with is safe, prepared and comfortable. By doing so, you’ll be able to have a great experience while seeing everything Vietnam has to offer.