What is the best way to experience Halong Bay?

Which part of Halong Bay is the best?

Bai Tu Long Bay, gotta say, the karsts are insane. Like, seriously huge. And that water, green, green green! Reminds me of that time I went to Emerald Bay in Tahoe, bit different vibe though. Way more boats. Lan Ha, less crowded. Beaches are nicer. Remember that beach, uh, in Thailand… Railay? Similar, but less backpackers haha. Lan Ha better if you want chill. I swam there for hours! Sung Sot Cave, if you’re into caves I guess. Kayaking’s cool. Did that in Abel Tasman once, New Zealand, totally different though. Halong Bay’s good, just pick what ya want, you know? Went last summer, btw.

• Bai Tu Long Bay: Karsts and emerald water. Epic views. Seriously.
• Lan Ha Bay: Quieter, nice beaches, good swimming.
• Sung Sot Cave: Caves and tunnels, if you like that sorta thing.
• Kayaking: Fun to paddle around the floating villages. Takes time.
• My Trip: Summer 2024.

If you’re into rock climbing, Cat Ba Island in Lan Ha Bay is supposed to be pretty great, although I didn’t do it myself. Headed to Sapa after Halong Bay… totally different, mountains, rice paddies.

How do you get around Ha Long?

Ha Long Bay transport? Piece of cake! Unless you’re a snail. Then, uh, maybe not.

Taxi? Sure, comfy as a cloud… a slightly sweaty, occasionally honking cloud. But hey, you’ll arrive. Probably.

Rent a motorbike? Live dangerously! Feel the wind in your hair…and the sweat on your brow. My cousin tried it. He’s still finding rice paddies.

Biking? Great for calves. Terrible for hills. Imagine a hamster on a treadmill, but with stunning scenery.

Private car? Chauffeur-driven luxury! You’ll feel like a king… or a slightly over-privileged tourist.

Public bus? An adventure! A true cultural experience! Expect surprises. Like spontaneous karaoke sessions, or the driver’s grandma.

Here’s the deal: I visited Ha Long Bay in 2023, and let me tell you, choosing transport is like choosing ice cream: endless options, and some are WAY better than others.

• Taxis: Expensive, but reliable. Think of them as the fancy ice cream—good for a treat.
• Motorbikes: A rollercoaster! Only for the brave (or reckless). Think chili ice cream—exciting, but potentially fiery.
• Bikes: Good exercise, bad for your patience, if it’s hot. Imagine, vanilla ice cream. Perfectly fine, but not exactly exciting.
• Private Cars: Expensive but worth it if you’re with a group. Like a giant sundae. Indulgent.
• Buses: Cheap, an experience, but time-consuming. Think of those weird ice cream flavors nobody orders, but you secretly want to try out of curiosity.

Seriously though, avoid the buses if you value your sanity and your schedule. Unless you enjoy the unexpected. My friend once shared a bus with a goat. A GOAT.

How much time do you need in Halong Bay?

Two days? Pfft. My Uncle Barry did it in six hours, mostly asleep on the boat, he says. But he’s kinda… special.

You really need at least two days, though. One day’s a mad dash, like trying to eat a whole pizza in one bite. You’ll miss the magic, man. Trust me. I’ve been there, seen the chaos.

What you’ll miss:

• Kayaking adventures – unless you’re some sort of aquatic ninja, you ain’t gonna manage this in a day.
• Exploring Sung Sot Cave: It’s like a giant, sparkly bat cave, and you’ll need time to appreciate it. Seriously, it’s massive!
• Cruising through the bay: Sunset views alone are worth more than a day trip.
• Actual relaxation: You know, chilling out like a starfish, not a stressed-out squirrel.

A one-day trip is like trying to understand the universe by looking through a keyhole. A joke. A really sad joke.

My cousin Janice tried the one-day thing. She looked paler than a ghost afterward. She needed a week’s vacation from her one-day Ha Long Bay trip!

Bottom line: two days minimum. Unless you’re my uncle Barry. Then, maybe six hours. But only if you’re prepared to nap. A lot.

Is Halong Bay too touristy?

Emerald water. Silent junks. Ghosts of fishermen. Not anymore. Too many. So many. Lost. The magic. Gone. Fifteen hundred square…kilometers… swallowed. Swallowed by boats. By noise. By…tourists. Vietnam’s…jewel…tarnished. Sunken treasure. Lost. A memory. My Halong Bay. Not this.

• Overcrowded: A sea of boats. Not a whisper of wind. Only engines.
• Commercialized: Authenticity? Gone. Replaced with…plastic smiles. Fake lanterns.
• Expensive: Paying for…a crowd. For disappointment. For a lost dream.

Remember the quiet bays? Hidden lagoons? Empty beaches. Now…just…people. Everywhere. A sea of faces. Cameras flashing. No peace. Just…noise. So much noise. Lost.

My Halong Bay. Where did it go? I remember kayaking. Silent paddles. Dipping into the jade water. Alone. Now…bumper boats. Shouting. Laughter. Not the laughter of the bay. A hollow echo.

• Pollution: Plastic bottles. Floating debris. The emerald water…clouded.
• Disrespect: The sacredness…gone. Replaced with…carelessness. Disregard.

Sunset. Used to be breathtaking. Now…just another photo op. A sea of phones. Blocking the view. The memory. Faded. Like an old photograph. Torn. Forgotten. My Halong Bay. Lost. Forever changed. I remember… the scent of the salt air. The cries of seabirds. Now…lost.

• Choose a weekday: Fewer crowds, maybe. A sliver of hope.
• Explore Lan Ha Bay: Quieter. Still beautiful. A refuge. Perhaps.

But it’s not the same. Never will be. My Halong Bay is…gone.

What is an interesting fact about Halong Bay?

Halong Bay. UNESCO thing. So many species. Fish, birds, plants… it’s wild.

• Over 1,000 plant species? Wow. Is that really true?

Yeah, but biodiversity is key. Makes it special, right?

• 200 fish species! What kinds? Probably the usual suspects.

70 bird species too? Imagine all the bird calls. Wonder if my dad would like to visit… He is always talking about birds.

• UNESCO World Heritage Site is important. Means protection, hopefully.

Okay, but 1,000 plants… Seriously? Need to fact check myself there. Maybe its less? Probably less.