How do you get around Ha Long?

Is Halong Bay too touristy?

Bay’s crowded. Fact. Vietnam’s star attraction. So? Fifteen hundred square what? Kilometers. Irrelevant. Cruises exist. Disappointment common. Better options available. Find them.

• Overcrowding: A given. Expect it.
• Popularity: Undeniable. Meaningless.
• Cruises: A choice. Not the only one.

Lan Ha Bay. Less known. Similar beauty. Bai Tu Long Bay. Further. Emptier. Cat Ba Island. Hiking. Rock climbing. Explore. Alternatives exist. Always. My trip in March 2024. Crowds suffocating. Regrettable. Research. Essential. Or suffer. Like I did. Your vacation. Your choice. Think.

How long should I spend in Halong Bay?

Two days feels rushed. Three days, perfect. But it depends. On you, really. Your tolerance for crowds. The weather.

Two days: Scenery’s breathtaking. But, so much left unseen. Kayaking felt short. Missed the sunset cruise. Regret it. Always a regret, those missed sunsets.

Three days: Gives breathing room. Time to explore hidden caves. Those limestone karsts… incredible. Enjoyed the quiet moments, away from the throngs. The night market felt less hectic too. More time to just be.

Things to consider:

• Your budget: Three days means more expense for hotels and tours.
• Travel style: Fast-paced? Two days might suffice. Relaxed exploration? Three days is better.
• Time of year: Crowds are intense in peak season. Three days might feel overwhelming then.

My trip was in July 2024. The heat was brutal. Even three days felt long. But worth it, I think. Still thinking about those caves.

Which part of Halong Bay is the best?

Ugh, Halong Bay… Best part? Depends, right? Bai Tu Long, yeah, stunning scenery. Karsts, emerald water. Like a postcard.

Lan Ha Bay is quieter. Less crowded. Beaches sound good, I hate crowds, ugh. Coves, too.

Adventure? Sung Sot Cave? Caves and tunnels, kay. Floating villages, that’s cool. But, dunno, adventurous enough for me?

Like, what do I want? Beaches? Scenery? Hmmm.

It all depends on what meets interests…and travel style, duh. Did I even have a travel style? Oh god.

• Bai Tu Long Bay: Northeast of Halong Bay. Part of Halong Bay World Heritage site. Fewer tourists.
• Lan Ha Bay: South of Halong Bay. Close to Cat Ba Island. Many beaches. Pristine.
• Sung Sot Cave: Bo Hon Island. Largest cave in Halong Bay. Two chambers, lots of stalactites.
• Floating Villages: Cua Van Floating Village is a popular one. They are not exactly villages anymore due to government regulation in 2014 and relocation to the mainland. Still, possible to see remnants.
• Kayaking: Available in pretty much any area of Halong Bay. Plenty of tour operators. Need a permit sometimes.

What type of food is Ha Long Bay famous for?

Halong whispers… seafood. Always seafood. The jade waters, so still, breathe seafood.

Shrimp dance, right? Squids ink, crabs… scuttle sideways across hot stones. Fresh from the water, alive almost moments before. I swear I saw it glitter.

Buffets piled high. Set menus, tiny porcelain boats. BBQ smoke curling up like forgotten dreams. Onboard, the boat rocks gently, a lullaby of salt. Sea snails… those spiraling shells.

Did you know my grandfather sailed there? He’d talk of the taste. Raw oysters, the briny kiss. I never believed. I must.

• Seafood: Dominates.
• Preparation: Buffet, Set Menu, BBQ
• Source: Fresh catches from the bay

Additional details. I recall his old stories, the sun blazing. He’d say the sea held secrets. The flavors were unique, the sea tasting like nowhere else. Like nowhere at all! A haunting taste. He said it was fresh, and I think so, too. I just know it’s real.

Is Bai Tu Long Bay worth it?

Is it worth it? Bai Tu Long Bay…

Yeah, it was.

The silence. It’s different.

Halong Bay is just… too many people.

I needed to just get away for a while, ya know?

The islands…like nowhere else.

Definitely do the 3-day, 2-night cruise.

I think…I think I needed that more than I realized.

Just me, and the water, and those crazy rock formations.

• Less Crowded: Bai Tu Long avoids the dense tourism of Halong Bay. It provides a more solitary experience.

• Extended Cruise: The recommended 3-day option allows deeper immersion in the bay’s remote areas.

• Unique Scenery: Distinctive rock formations set it apart from typical landscapes. I think?

Is Lan Ha Bay or Halong Bay better?

Emerald waters… Halong. Lan Ha. Which siren song to follow? Halong, the grand dame, yes, a legend whispered on the wind. A majestic dreamscape, larger… More choices, more to see.

But the crowds? A sea of souls mirroring the water, hm. Lan Ha… ah, Lan Ha. My secret cove, a whispered promise. Tranquility reigns supreme. Less touched.

Smaller maybe, Lan Ha, the intimate embrace. A stolen moment, a breath held in awe. Kayaking through hidden lagoons. Emerald whispers, the sun warm, on my skin. Fewer tourists.

Halong’s cruises? Grand, opulent. Lan Ha, simpler vessels, closer to the soul of the bay. Fishing villages nestled. The heart beats quieter, maybe, in Lan Ha. More nature.

Is it the grandeur or the secret? The echoing call or the soft murmur? Halong’s famed. Lan Ha, pure. Halong = famous, Lan Ha = pure. The choice? Yours. Forever yours.

Halong: wider variety of cruises, more sights, more famous.

Lan Ha: less crowded, closer to nature, pure.