My desire to visit Vietnam was ignited the first time I glimpsed a photograph of Halong Bay. It countered the image I had conjured in my head of chaotic streets crowded with motorbikes and stifled with pollution.
Since viewing that picture, I’ve been intent on traveling to Vietnam just to see Halong Bay with my own eyes. I didn’t know it then, but my expectations would be surpassed when we sailed away on a 2-Night Halong Bay Cruise!
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Our Halong Bay Cruise from Hanoi
Choosing a 2-night Halong Bay tour from Hanoi is not easy – there are so many choices! We waited to book our cruise until after we arrived in Hanoi.
Rather than reading reviews online, we waded through mounds of glossy brochures while eating breakfast at our hotel.
The staff helped explain our options; from a cheap Halong Bay day trip to an extravagant Halong Bay luxury cruise.
Regardless of the vessel, they all seemed to offer similar packages that include single day or overnight expeditions.
We were told that the differences in price would be apparent, not just in the quality of the boat, but also in the food, crew and guides. Finally, we settled on the mid-range A Class Cruises.
While not a luxury operation, they are also not one of the budget cruises (which we heard some horror stories about). Once we settled on a company, we had one more choice to make: How many nights?
Halong Bay Cruise Options
Although we were on a budget, we knew a Halong Bay day tour would not be long enough for us. We wanted to experience an overnight so that we could wake up at sea.
However, the biggest decision for us was the how many days on the boat. After considering the options, the 2-Night Halong Bay Cruise quickly became the clear winner.
The biggest advantage was having a full day exploring the area. Halong Bay was what lured us to Vietnam in the first place, so we were willing to stretch our budget for an extra day on the sea amidst the giant karsts.
Read reviews and check prices for Halong Bay Cruises!
Our Halong Bay Cruise Itinerary
When you visit Halong Bay on a cruise, all of the planning is taken care of. While small details may differ, each Halong cruise itinerary includes similar activities – like hiking, swimming, kayaking and squid fishing.
Day One of Our Halong Bay Boat Trip
Our first day was highlighted by getting that initial glimpse of the bay, meeting the crew and fellow passengers, swimming in the sea and feasting on Vietnamese fare.
Hanoi to Halong Bay
On the morning we left, we were informed that we’d been upgraded to a better boat with the same company. (We are unsure if this is a common practice or not.)
Included in our Halong Bay tour package was transport from Hanoi via shuttle bus. We were picked up at our hotel at 8:00am for the four-hour drive.
At the halfway point, we stopped at a shopping center where we could stretch our legs and use the toilet. Back on board, our tour guide provided information about the area and gave us insight to customs and modern life in Vietnam.
Note: With the completion of the new highway, the drive time is now significantly shorter!
A-Class Opera Boat
When we arrived to the Tuan Chau Marina, we could see hundreds of karsts dotting the horizon and the sight was astounding.
We were tendered to our A Class Opera, and were greeted with the smiling faces of the crew. After a brief review of the itinerary, we were shown to our cabin.
The room itself was compact and not as glossy as the photos, which made us wonder what it would’ve been like if we hadn’t been ‘upgraded’.
The walls and ceiling were dark wood, there was a rainfall shower in the private bathroom and a small window. Best of all, our room had an ice-cold air conditioner.
Once everyone had boarded and the captain’s course approved, we set off into the aqueous sea surrounded by thousands of karsts.
Our First On-Board Meal
Much more like a traditional cruise than I thought it would be, we were assigned to a table for meals and had activities planned throughout the day and evening.
Lunch was the first item on the agenda. We were treated to an amazing seafood feast as plate, after plate, after plate was delivered to our table family-style.
We fell into easy conversation with our four other table-mates, who were also two-night Halong cruisers.
Rooftop Deck Halong Bay Views
After lunch we retreated topside, mingled with the other passengers and stared in awe at our surroundings.
The rocky islands that have evolved in the last 20 million years vary in size and shape and are covered in dense flora.
We passed by remnants of floating villages, where generations of families have lived. However, most of the inhabitants have been required to move onto land. (For UNESCO, we were told.)
Small fishing boats, usually painted a teal color, were scattered about. Rowboats served as floating convenience stores, pulling up alongside offering everything from water to batteries, beers and cigarettes.
Kayaking on Halong Bay
The first scheduled activity was kayaking. We tendered to an abandoned floating village stocked with kayaks and hopped in for a one-hour paddle through karsts and caves.
The shallow, green-blue water was still and easy to maneuver in, but regrettably was also ripe with litter. It’s quite sad that the natural beauty has been marred by years of careless human interaction.
As unsightly as it was, it didn’t impede us from being in awe of the enormous rocks and peaceful atmosphere.
Hiking to Ti Top
The second activity was a trek to the top of a karst. Ti Top has 425 steps to the peak and offers sensational views of Halong Bay.
In the heat and humidity, it was pretty brutal, but worth it for the incredible scenery. We looked down on dozens of little islands, like green paint droplets dripped on a mat of swirling blue.
Halong Bay Beach at Ti Top
After descending the karst, the man-made beach was a welcome sight and we plunged into the semi-cool water without hesitation.
The sea was salty and buoyant (or I’ve just been eating too much rice) and we floated effortlessly as the sky began to fade above us.
Halong Cruise On-Board Dinner, Karaoke, Squid Fishing
The daylight was gone, but the fun was not over. Dinner, much like lunch, consisted of an incredible array of local dishes.
Still more was to come; we had an obnoxious, yet entertaining, round of karaoke and then a try at squid fishing. We came up empty, but the entire day had been more than fulfilling!
Day Two on Halong Bay
Today we ventured further into the bay and found secluded spots and some stunning attractions.
Waking Up on Halong Bay
Soft morning light was filtering through the window of our cabin and I quickly rubbed the sleep from my eyes.
It was only a little past 6:00am, but I tossed on clothes, grabbed my camera and dashed up to the top deck to take photos.
The stillness of the early morning was only broken by a flock of birds soaring across the bay. That moment of silence and solitude was my favorite part so far.
It wasn’t long before breakfast was being promptly served at 7:00am, with our day trip boat arriving just an hour later.
Along with our four table mates – the only other 3-day passengers on our boat – we were making the journey deeper into the bay while the other passengers headed back for the shore.
Exploring Less-Visited Halong Bay Spots
Our guide, Gam, gave a brief introduction to the day: hiking, swimming, oyster farm, swimming, lunch, kayaking, and more swimming.
The smaller boat was able to navigate narrow coves and shallow waters, taking us through even more astonishing scenery than we had seen the day before.
As we made our way into an area compacted with karsts, we were the only other visible vessel. Gliding among the towering rocks was tranquil; the magnificence truly taking our breath away.
Hiking and Swimming in Halong Bay
The sun was still coming up, but the heat was already overbearing by the time we made our first stop. This karst had steps to an outlook and a man-made beach on the shore, very similar to Ti Top.
There were fewer steps, but it was no less strenuous. The hike was worth it though, as it delivered on spectacular views with no other boats in sight.
Once back down, we didn’t hesitate a moment to get into the refreshing water, not yet heated by the midday sun.
Halong Bay Oyster Farm
On the move again, we cruised to an Oyster Farm set back into an inlet. Here, several floating buildings were all connected by a creaky boardwalk.
Gam explained how pearls are made and then took us inside to peer over the shoulders of workers as they used precise, dentist-like tools on oysters to aid in the pearl-making process.
It was quite an interesting scene and the final product, set in gold and silver, was gorgeous.
Jumping Off The Boat into Halong Bay
We continued exploring, this time motoring to a private spot where we could jump from the boat and swim in the open sea.
The guys all raced to the top deck and flung themselves over the side. Without flip flops, my feet were burning on the deck, giving me little time to contemplate my actions before I, too, went overboard.
The nearby natural beach was within swimming distance, but instead of sand, the bottom was covered in sharp, jagged shells. After a few nicks, I opted to remain in the refreshing water.
On-Board Lunch
While we swam and explored, the crew had been busy preparing lunch. This meal turned out to be an even more impressive spread than we had on the large boat!
Whole grilled fish, stuffed crab, spring rolls, salad, chicken, prawns and some unknown dishes covered our table leaving hardly any room for our plates. It was incredible how they managed to create such a feast in the small space.
Halong Bay Kayak Tour
Soon we arrived at our kayaking spot and moved together as a group, with Gam leading the way.
We easily paddled past giant sea mountains through a series of hidden caves that led into small, secluded lakes.
Surrounded by towering limestone cliffs, we seemed to be cut off from the rest of the world. Our only other company were the giant jelly fish that swam by. Monkeys inhabit these islands, but we weren’t lucky enough to see any.
Returning to the boat, we were back in the water for one last, relaxing float with the karsts overhead looking down on us.
Insight into Local Halong Life
On the hour-long ride back, we lounged on the bow and chatted with Gam. So open and sincere, she told us about her life in Vietnam.
Her parents are rice farmers from the countryside. After Gam got married, she moved from the farm onto the floating fishing village where her husband’s family lived.
They – along with their two kids – have lived on the water for four years. Just two months ago, however, they were required to move to land, which has been an adjustment to say the least.
Always smiling, she expressed a sense of gratefulness that her children will have a better education and better life on land.
However, she also told us of the struggles of her husband’s family who lack land-living skills, like driving, and are unable to find work.
Gam brightened though when she talked about how much she loves her job and meeting people from all around the world.
She said getting to do that was like taking a vacation every day as she learns about different people, customs and lands. All quite humbling, actually.
Rejoining Our Halong Cruise Ship
Our day of exploring Halong Bay was complete and we joined the newly arriving passengers on our main boat. We were treated to a glass of wine and an intense, fiery sunset with both the sky and sea turning orange.
Final Day of Our Halong Bay 3-Day Tour
Next up, we participated in on-board activities and took a trip to Amazing Cave. As we sailed toward the marina, we relished our final hours among the karsts.
Tai Chi at Sunrise on Halong Bay
When we woke up early again, instead of racing outside to take photos, I joined a small group for a lesson in Tai Chi.
Thankful for the clouds and the cool morning breeze, I followed the moves of the instructor and stretched my way out of my slumber.
Halong Bay Amazing Cave
After a quick breakfast of Pho, we tendered to Amazing Cave, which was, in fact, amazing.
Limestone karsts often contain caves as rain and sea water have left their mark over millions of years, and this is one of the largest. Stairs and paths led us through three connected caves, each bigger than the previous.
Enormous stalactites dripped from the ceiling onto their counterpart stalagmites below. Colored lights illuminated the stones, which somewhat disturbed the natural setting, even though it was pretty.
On-Board Cooking Class
Alas, one activity remained when we returned: a cooking demonstration. The chef would be teaching us how to make Vietnamese spring rolls.
Pork, sprouts, two kinds of mushrooms, carrots, potato, spices and herbs were all finely chopped then mixed by hand.
We were then given thin sheets of rice paper and a scoop to make the rolls. I enjoyed it so much, I joined a Vietnamese Cooking Class back in Hanoi a few days later!
Meeting Our Captain
While the staff was frying up our spring rolls and the rest of lunch we had free time. Despite the heat, I headed out of the air-conditioned dining room to get my last look at the karsts.
As I passed the wheelhouse, I asked the captain if I could take a picture inside. He surprised me by saying I could also take the wheel!
This was not at all a lazy, barely-move-the-wheel steering system. I had to spin it up to 12 rotations just to slightly alter our direction.
With traffic picking up as we approached the shore, it was quite the task. One I was happy to leave to the professionals!
Final Lunch
Our last meal was as fabulous as all the others (the spring rolls were the best, of course) and we continued to wonder how they were able to turn out so much food so quickly that was so good.
Back on land and in a van, we started the long trip to Hanoi and began mentally preparing for all it’s organized chaos!
Tips For Your 2 Night Halong Bay Cruise
Our best advice: Don’t get too caught up in the details. Last minute changes may occur. Like a lot of things in Vietnam, what is presented isn’t always exactly what is delivered.
That said, here are a few of our takeaways.
- The iconic sails you see in many photos will likely not be raised.
- Jumping from the big boats is no longer allowed – and may not be possible from the smaller ones either.
- Beautiful Cave (or any other cave) might be visited instead of Amazing Cave.
- The guide on the shuttle bus may not be the guide on the boat (or even the same passengers for that matter).
Final Thoughts on Our 2-Night Halong Bay Cruise
Looking back at our experience, we couldn’t have imagined spending only one night. We would have felt rushed – in and out and gone.
On the first day, we sailed into surrounding karsts. However, we did so with about 20 other boats. Although the scenery was splendid, several ships anchoring in the same cove was a bit of a racket.
Spending the second day away from the crowds and in the hidden coves was exactly how I first envisioned visiting Halong Bay would be. We felt the solitude – just us, the karsts and the sea.
Start planning your trip to Vietnam! Search for the lowest airfares, the best accommodations and fun things to do…then start packing! Want additional advice? Head over to our Travel Planning Page and for country-specific information, take a look at our Travel Guides Page!
Vietnam Travel Guides
Over the years we have visited Vietnam multiple times and covered the country from North to South. Our free and honest travel articles can help you plan your amazing vacation to Vietnam!
- What To Eat in Hanoi
- Hanoi Walking Tours
- Ninh Binh Things To See
- Best of Hoi An
- Top Things To Do in Da Nang
- Visiting Hue on a Day Trip
- Ho Chi Minh City Itinerary
- Top Saigon Craft Beer Bars
- Relaxing on Phu Quoc Island
- Visiting Dalat in the Central Highlands
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