Ha Long Bay is the UNESCO World Heritage, and one of the most attractive destinations in Vietnam. The bay consists of around 1,600 limestone islands, and islets each topped with thick forests and surrounded by emerald waters of the Gulf Of Tonkin. Several of the islands are hollow, with enormous caves and some even have their own lakes. The scenery is breathtaking, and there is no better way to experience it than on an overnight cruise. A day cruise will only show you the glimpse of the bay, but if you want to get the most out of your trip, allow at least 2, preferably 3 days. When looking for a cruise check carefully what is include and what is excluded, e.g. kayaking, admission tickets etc. Although you can visit Ha Long Bay all year round, be aware that bad weather can affect the visibility and even spoil your trip. The best time to visit it is during the spring and the autumn. Especially from March to May and September to November, when the temperatures are mild and the sun shines nicely.
Signature Cruise
The cruise was one of the highlights of our trip to Southeast Asia and is an experience not to be missed when visiting Hanoi. There are many different companies which organise cruises on Ha Long Bay, after a long research we chose a Signature Cruise, and we are glad that we did. We opted for a 3-day/2-night cruise, and we would recommend it over 2-day/1-night, to get a full experience. Also if you are travelling from Hanoi the transfer time is quite long, around 4 hours each way. The staff on board was great, especially our tour guide Lee, he coordinated the trip very well, was very knowledgeable and great fun too. The organised excursions and activities were all very enjoyable. On the first day, there was an excursion to the fishing village and pearl farm. On the second day, we were transferred to a smaller day boat to explore Bai Tu Long Bay, where we could do some kayaking, swimming and relax on the beach. On the last morning, there was a tour of Thien Canh Son Cave, which we skipped. The activities on both days included morning tai chi class, afternoon spring roll cooking class and a night squid fishing. All the activities, excursions and meals were included in our package, the only thing excluded were the drinks.
Our Room
Our room was spacious and well appointed, with a nice balcony. Going to sleep and waking up surrounded by such beautiful scenery was amazing. The bathroom was equipped with a smart toilet and a jacuzzi bath, which was very relaxing after a busy day. However there was no standing shower, and showering in the tub was a bit tricky.
Fishing Village
Vung Vieng is one of four traditional floating villages in Ha Long Bay. The village is covered and protected by Limestone Mountains that rise from the emerald waters. It’s a unique place, where families are living in the floating houses for many generations and are sustained through fishing and marine aquaculture. The daily life and all the activities here revolve around the boat, which is quite fascinating.
Pearl Farm
One of the most attractive tourist destinations in Ha Long Bay is pearl farm. You will be introduced to different types of pearls and oyster and have a chance to learn interesting facts about the cultivation process.
Food
The breakfast was served buffet style and was a mix of western and Vietnamese dishes, including pho soup and omelettes cooked to order. Lunch and dinner consisted of a 4/5 course set menu. They catered very well to our dietary needs, me being a pescetarian, and Andrew lactose intolerant. All the food was nicely presented and tasted fine. Personally, we would prefer more Vietnamese dishes. Drinks were not included in the package, but they were reasonably priced.
Lunch on the day boat
Main dining room
Lunch on the main boat
Dinner on the 1st night
Dinner on the 2nd night
Group Shot
I think one of the reasons we enjoyed the cruise so much was because of the fantastic people we met on board and had so much fun with. We were very fortunate as most of us were on a 3-day/2-night cruise.
