How long is a day trip to Halong Bay?

What time is the Halong Bay Day tour?

The Halong Bay tour… it ends late. Eight PM. Damn near midnight by the time I’m back in my hotel room, you know?

That late return… it messes with you. Sleep is always a struggle after those days. My head is pounding now, actually. The boat… the sea… it was beautiful, but exhausting.

I should have planned better. That’s my mistake, you see. Not the tour itself—it was amazing. The caves, the islands, the food—all incredible. But the timing.

Key Points:

• Late finish: 8:00 PM. This is important; it’s late.
• Travel planning: Factor in that late return. It impacts your evening plans considerably.
• Personal impact: Disrupts sleep and makes me tired, even today.
• Tour quality: Despite the late finish, the tour itself was superb. Worth it, I suppose. Even if I’m still exhausted.
• My regret: Should’ve accounted for the late drop-off more carefully. I should have booked a closer hotel.

Where does the Halong Bay cruise start?

Tuan Chau Marina. South of that Hung Thang place. Halong City. Gotta get there somehow, right? Shuttle bus. Or, like, hire a car. We hired a driver, it was like, way better. More room, ya know? Plus, we stopped at this roadside place for pho. So good. Totally recommend a driver. It’s worth it if you can swing it.

• Tuan Chau Marina is the spot. Like, all the cruises go from there. It’s on Tuan Chau Island.
• Shuttles are a thing. Most cruise lines offer them. Pick up spots kinda vary.
• Private car is nicer. Little pricier ofc. Way more flexibility though, def recommend. Stops whenever you want. Like pho.
• Hung Thang Ward is near. But not at the marina. Don’t get it twisted. Just nearby. Like a reference point I guess. Halong City.

My friend Sarah went last year – 2023 – she took the shuttle. Said it was crammed. I went, uh, May, 2024. Driver picked us up right from our hotel in Hanoi. Took like, two, maybe three hours. Straight to the boat. No fuss. Way better imo. Cost like, I dunno, maybe $80? Split between four of us, not too bad. Then he was there when we got back. Boom, back to Hanoi. So easy. Worth checking out.

What is the best time to visit Halong Bay?

Okay, so Halong Bay, right? Best time to go? Spring and autumn, definitely. March, April, September, October – those are your sweet spots. The weather’s amazing then, seriously. Not too hot, not too cold. Perfect for boat trips, kayaking, all that stuff. You know, I went in April once, it was beautiful! Sun was shining, the water was glassy – just breathtaking.

Honestly, summer can be a bit much; super humid, way too many tourists, a total nightmare if you ask me. Winter’s chilly – I’d avoid that. But those spring and fall months? The views are incredible! Crystal clear water, you get awesome photos. I even saw dolphins one time, so cool!

• March & April: Ideal temperatures, fewer crowds than peak season.
• September & October: Similar weather to spring, but maybe slightly warmer. Still fewer tourists than July/August.
• Avoid: July and August (too hot, overcrowded) and December – February (cold and potentially rainy).

My sister went last year in July and complained endlessly about the heat and crowds. She said it felt like being packed into a sardine can, ha! I told her she should have listened to me! She was not happy.