Halong Bay

Ha Long Bay is a magical place. It can get a bad rep and does deserve some of the criticism. Yes there are too many boats and yes the pollution is an issue. But it’s like criticising Venice for being too crowded and having restaurants that cheat you or complaining about rude French and pickpockets in Paris. Don’t let the negative points stop you from seeing one of the wonders of southeast asia. The only tourists who I’d say can skip Halong bay are those with extensive travel experience in Krabi or similar locations in Thailand which have the same elements as Halong Bay.

There are a few ways to see Halong Bay and as a photographer you may want a different experience than a regular tourist on a tight schedule. Some tips:

• Don’t day trip from Hanoi. The best part of Halong Bay is a few hours by boat from the harbor and the harbor is a few hours from Hanoi on a good day. It is just too rushed.
• 1 or two night cruise? I always opt for two nights when family visits. Again it’s a couple of hours to the best cruising ground and the ships depart in the afternoon. But 1 night is still a good experience vs. a day trip.
• Consider Lan Ha Bay or Bai Tu Long Bay. These are a bit quieter locations although you will have some overlap with the standard Halong cruises.
• Photographers should seriously consider a day or two in Cat Ba island and a 1 or 2 night cruis.
• If you head up the coast from Halong city you can visit other islands like Co To Island accessed from Ao Tien port.
• Motorcycle travelers can take a wonderful route from Hanoi. After your cruise and Cat Ba Island head to Ao Tien area and Co To island or just continue towards China and head up into the mountains towards Binh Lieu. The government just opened Binh Lieu for foreigners to overnight in 2026 so this is a special time. From Binh Lieu you head to Lang Son and either back to Hanoi or on to Cao Bang.
• Solo passgers have to pay a single supplement on all overnight cruises so it can end up being quite expensive
• If you are in Cat Ba and just want a nice day trip there are a number of cruises to Lan Ha Bay out of Beo Port on Cat Ba. This can be a much less expensive option particularly for singles.
• Though food is included in your cruise package drinks are not. You are a captive audience and the coctails, beers, smoothies, kids sodas can add up quickly. Most cruises will offer a happy hour or two per day.
• Don’t take all of your bags. Almost all Hanoi hotels will hold your belongings while you take your cruise. Of course take your valuables and passports which are needed to board the ship.

There are 3 ports plus Beo Port, the day boat port on Cat Ba that cruises leave from. These are: