Explore Ha Long Bay by Cruise: Vietnam’s Must-Visit Destination

The sun was yet to rise above the limestone karst cliffs that jutted up like thousands of islands on these waters. In the dim light of dawn, it wouldn’t be hard to imagine these pinnacles as the gargantuan spikes of a giant dragon, slithering on these waters, resting in perhaps what are the most spectacular waters of the country.

The name would be justified, for Ha Long translates to ‘descending dragon’ – folklore has it that dragons came to the newly formed country’s rescue against invaders, hoisting these limestone towers and karsts from the waters to act as obstacles against the invading ships. Opponents defeated, the mother dragon descended in these very waters to rest and amaze at the beauty of the land, thereby providing the name to Ha Long Bay.

With its jade green waters, breathtaking tropical islets, peppered with limestone turrets and gigantic caves, Ha Long Bay is a wonder to behold and definitely high up on that bucket list, not just for Vietnam, but all of Southeast Asia.

Where is Ha Long Bay?

Ha Long Bay is located in the northeastern part of Vietnam, in the Gulf of Tonkin, adjacent to China. The port city of Haiphong is immediately close, though travelers will need to go to Hanoi to reach Ha Long Bay. Ha Long Bay itself is about a 3-hour bus ride from Hanoi (about 150 km). An overnight cruise is perhaps the best way to enjoy these waters, with most cruises arranging coach pick-up from Hanoi.

Over-Tourism Alert!

While Ha Long Bay is mesmerizing and quite unique, with popularity has come the burden of over-tourism. This UNESCO World Heritage site is the most-visited tourist attraction in Vietnam, and it is therefore very natural to find many other cruise ships, and throngs of fellow travelers at all the spots where you disembark from the cruise. If you do not long for the numbers, then the nearby Lan Ha Bay might be a better and quieter alternative.

Check Out Pearls on the Way

Most coaches on the way to Ha Long Bay make a stop at Pearl Centres very close to the Bay itself. Besides helping the local pearl industry, it is an interesting diversion while buying time for the earlier night’s cruise to prepare for the next batch of visitors.

You can learn about pearl cultures in the Bay and more about these shelled mollusks, besides finding some very expensive versions of pearls such as the Tahitian black pearls. Expensive souvenir purchase on the holiday – tick!

Read More: The Magic of the Mekong Delta: From Vietnam to Cambodia by River Cruise

What to See on the Cruise

Cruises start around midday and, given the astonishing number of visitors, run quite efficiently and punctually. Cruises explore different parts of the Bay – in general, travelers are taken to islands, beaches, caves, and some tranquil spots for kayaking (swimming is not allowed in the Bay). Alternately, if you are not in search of adrenaline, you can head to the upper deck and sip a glass of wine while gazing at the sea of emerald.

It is interesting to note that overnight cruises do not ply very far: they hover around 15-30 km of the coast, which is often enough to show various sides of the Bay. If you are keen to explore more, a 3-day, 2-night cruise is recommended.

Ti-Top Island

One of the most important stops on the cruise is Ti-Top Island. It is a fairly small island with a golden crescent of a sandy beach, apt for swimming. But the chief draw would be a hike to the very top of this island that provides brilliant views of Ha Long Bay. The hike is a bit steep – and can be very crowded depending on when you go – but is recommended given the views from the top.

Ti-Top, interestingly, is named after a Soviet cosmonaut, Titov, who visited the island in the 1960s with Ho Chi Minh himself. The island was renamed thereafter by the Vietnamese leader himself, reflecting the camaraderie of communism between the Soviet Union and Vietnam over 60 years ago. Soi Sim, Three Peach, and Cat Ba are other alternate islands covered in these cruises.

Spelunking at Sung Sot Cave

Southeast Asia is riddled with limestone caves and karsts, some of the largest in the world being in Vietnam itself. A teaser of these wonders can be found at the Sung Sot Cave – large, towering, and with a very well-made illuminated walkway that shows the grandeur of the cave, full of stalagmites and stalactites formed over millions of years. It takes about 15-20 minutes to walk through the cave with a bit of fitness required but is worth the walk.

It is to be noted that the cruise ships use smaller tenders for the last mile reach to these attractions. Our cruise included the two attractions above on the first day, and it was evening by the time we finished – the boat ride back to our cruise at sunset was another exhilarating experience with the green waters turning bright orange in the reflection of the setting sun, making for some unforgettable memories.

After sunset, dinner is served on the upper deck, giving guests the opportunity to catch up with others, exchange notes, followed by a bit of music and dance, and even squid-fishing that goes on till late at night.

Similar to sunset, sunrise is a spectacular experience, worth waking up early (with Tai chi lessons also provided in some cruises). As the sun rises above the limestone towers, bright morning sunshine floods the bay with colors bringing back the cerulean colors of the Bay.

Read More: Exploring the Temples of My Son – The Angkor Wat of Vietnam

Kayaking on the Bay

Most cruises cover three activities over the two days – our cruise covered Ti-Top Island and Sung Sot cave on the first day, leaving us with the option of kayaking near Dark and Bright Cave on the second day.

Boat trips are provided as an alternate. Either option takes you closer to the towering cliffs while marveling at the bottle green waters glistening in the early morning sunshine. Monkeys are a common sight (though it is the critically endangered and rare-to-spot Cat Ba Langur that attracts zoologists here).

The expansive waters of the Bay include many other possibilities of visiting fishing communities and pearling villages, along with innumerable other beaches and islets to visit (subject to the itinerary of the cruise). For a single-night cruise, the ship returns to the cruise terminal in the morning, letting you disembark by noon and head back to Hanoi thereafter.

Ha Long Bay Tours & Activities

If You Go:

• October to December is the most pleasant time of the year to visit, given this is a tropical region with lesser humidity in winter.
• It always helps to book well in advance – and don’t hesitate to negotiate as you finalize the type of room and other details.
• Check the itinerary and if the cruise takes you to Ha Long vs Lan Ha Bay.
• Decide, based on your time and budget, between a 1-night or 2-night cruise.

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Author Bio: Ayan Adak is a professional consultant who loves traveling and has been to nearly 30 countries. He likes writing about his travel experiences, as well as scribbling poetry, short stories, and essays.

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