Ha Long Travel Forum

Hi to all VT's,

New to this so if repeating oft asked question please forgive. I have read with interest all of the posts for past few months to do with Ha Long and cruising.

My question is that I have to be back in hanoi for a 1430 flight on the second day, how reliable are the times from different companies and does anyone have the name of a smaller more personal company over the big 5 that I should look out for when I am there. I lived in Vietnam as a child (shortly after the reunification) but have never been this far north and am excited but limited by time off work in OZ now.

Cheers
Bria

I note that some people on this site find Cat Ba a tourist trap; I do not quite share that opinion. Compared with the hundred of boats going out of the Bai Chay charter boat harbour it is very peaceful. I no longer live in Hanoi but I am back in Vietnam for work and would like to repeat my favourite trip. The itinerary would be:

Day 1:
Leave Hanoi at 6.30 am for the two-hour drive to Hai Phong and take the hydrofoil to Cat Ba. Arrival will be at 11.00 am. Check into hotel and then spend the afternoon on Cat Ba beach no. 2. Alternatively, a boat could be rented for the afternoon for $50 or $60 (possible activities are kayaking (extra cost about $7), caves, swimming and an island with monkeys & lots of other tourists).

Day 2:
Take a boat for the day back to Halong City. This is a six - eight hour boat trip including stops. Normally I stop at a couple of “natural” caves (these being without any facilities) and go for a swim or two; either on remote beaches or just off the side of the boat. Lunch is on the boat. Return to Hanoi by around 5 or 6 pm.

The costs for a good quality car or minibus from Hanoi to Hai Phong and subsequently back to Hanoi from Ha Long City is around $100. Boat rental should be under $100 for Cat Ba to Ha Long City. So with four people splitting the costs, each would have to pay under $50, more participants would lower costs. Other costs for each individual are hydrofoil tickets (<$10), hotel on Cat Ba ($15 for a single or double room in 2007 at my preferred hotel), and lunch on the boat ($2 or $3). Lunch & dinner on the Saturday and all beverages are not included in the above budget.

I am not sure how the practical aspects will work: I am working outside Hanoi before and after my proposed trip, but I would like some mechanism, so that I am not stuck alone with a minibus and hydrofoil at 6.30 on the Saturday morning! Alternatively, somebody else could collect down payments and fund the vehicle & hydrofoil reservation (I will do the practical work).

Right now I am just seeing if anybody is interested, it is a beautiful trip away from the crowds.

Hi tourist of the world,

I have recently posted my question on which halong agent to book with. After the valuable advise that i have rec'd we have decide to go for the Pinta Gold of Columbus Travel. However after make all the arrangment with them, they have requested for me to put a desposit with my credit card. Has any book with Columbus travel before can it be trusted? Can i not put this desposit? I am very uncomfortable with give these details.
Can any one help..pls

Thanks.

Regards,

Gillian

Hi fellow travellers,

My friends a group of 6 of us, are intending to do a 3D2N trip to halong. We heard that staying on Cat island isnt that great. So we are going all out for a boat stay. But i am so overwhelmed with the number of cruises and type of package.
Our budget is to keep it within 180USD per person. Please recommend help!!!
Your valuable insight will definiately help this lost soul haha

Regards
Gillian

Greetings forum folks!

I wonder if anyone knows of a reputable tour/cruise company that offers something alternative to the luxury cruises, at a reasonable price for a backpacker.

I'm looking for something like Indochina Junk's fisherman homestay trip <http://www.indochina-junk.com/Default.aspx/our-junk/The-fisherman/Cruise-Itinerary/>, but I'd also like to explore the caves and maybe even hike at Cat Ba National Park.

Your recommendations would be very much appreciated!

I am planning on a trip to Halong bay next month. Any Halong Cruise to recommend?
Anyone been on the Bai Tu long junk cruise or the Huong Hai cruise?
I was quoted 149USD and 170USD respectively. Am i been ripped off or the price is reasonable?

I've read some previous VT tips regarding ODC and they seem to be generally favorable so I intend to book an overnight cruise with them. To have a confirmed booking however, their terms in their website stated that they need not just my credit card details but also my 3 signatures.

Since I'm suppose to divulge credit card info, I need to know if this is a reliable company and if others who have toured with them had no booking problems.

Thanks for any replies.

Hi please tell me if I should take a 3D2N or a 2D1N tour for Halong Bay. Thank you.

I went to the www.indochina-junk.com web site, having decided on the Red Dragon tour, e-mailed them, and got a reply from a "tropical-sails.com" e-mail address. Are these two companies the same thing?
I always prefer dealing directly with the supplier and avoiding middle-men, so there is no finger-pointing if things go wrong.

After reading reviews here and at other sites, we have pretty much decided to book with Indochina Junk for a trip late July. We are my wife and I, our 6 year old daughter, and my mother-in-law - all experienced travellers.

1. From the Indochina Junk web-site, I think I've figured out that the Red Dragon and the Princ are of similar quality in terms of luxury, except that the Princess has fewer cabins and more varied itineraries. Could someone advise if I have this wrong? Are there other differences between the junks?

2. I have read about different cabin sizes on the Red Dragon - would it be possible for all four of us in one triple cabin with a cot, or something, or are we looking at getting two cabins? Similar question about the Prince.

3. Most interested in this one: has anyone sailed on any of these boats recently, as in, the past month? Are they still as good as most other reviews say they are? No major changes?

Thank you.

I'm still in the mid of making decision whether to overnight on junk or in Cat Ba island? Appreciate if anybody can advise me on this issue.

Will it be bored if overnight on board?
What can I do if overnight in Cat ba Island or halong city?
What are the night activities for on board and around Cat ba island?
Is it safe to take the overnight junk which offers the cheapest tour fare at about USD50-80 (i couldn't remember the junk name)?

Hi,

I wish to book a 2D1N tour at Halong, with overnight stay, in May. Is it more expensive to book online? For e.g., it costs abt US$112/pax at ODC Travel, and US$137 at Handspan? Is it more than what u guys pay when u book in Ha Noi at their offices? And are there hidden costs? One last worry, if I were to book when I'm in Ha Noi itself, will it be readily available i.e. I can go on the tour the next day?

This will be my first time going to Vietnam... nervous!!!!=D

hi,

I will make my trip for a 2D1N at Ha Long Bay around 3rd week of Jan 09, jz myself.
I did surf the net and there are plenty of offers.

Is there any price different between pre-book online and book thru local travel agent?

Any more website for me to reference besides these 2 website
http://www.halongluxurytravel.com/
http://www.southpacifictravel.com.vn

Cheers,
Marcus

It seems that for every agent recommended to me I can find 4or 5 people who had a terrible experience with them. Like I posted before this is making me very nervous about the whole Halong Bay cruise thing.
I have read terrible reviews of Kangaroo, ODC and Tonkin, and even someone on LP Thorn tree whose ODC boat sank, and the crew did not help him and his wife!
Can anyone recommend a company that is trustworthy?I know there are fake ones but how can I tell which are which?
thank you .If I don't get reliable answers I will give up the quest pretty soon.

I have read lots of bad experiences of the Halong bay cruise.Can anyone recommend a really good company? Should I book before I get to Vietnam? Also is it essential to do an overnight tour on a junk or can I get a good idea of the place just with a day trip and return to Hanoi to sleep on dry Land (I prefer that) Thanks in advance.

Has anyone been to Ha Long Bay 2D 1N with Sinh Cafe? How was the overnight stay on the boat like? Are the rooms clean and with bathroom?

I am planning to book a flight to Hanoi in the first week of December. Based on initial plans, I'll have 4 full days and one of my objectives is to visit Ha Long Bay. I've been browsing through VT and with the wealth of info available, I'm having info overload :) To simplify, I have few clarifications:

1. I'm thinking of spending day 1 and day 4 in Hanoi, and days 2&3 in Ha Long. Will an overnight be enough to see Ha Long including travel time from/to Hanoi?

2. As I understood it, Ha Long bay can be toured in either a junk boat or a paddle-wheel boat. Based on pix, the latter seems to be more luxurius and thus more pricey, am I correct? Any idea on the price difference between a junk and a paddle-wheel boat? Do they have the same itinerary such that it won't matter which one I book (except the boat's amenities)?

3. I read too that Vietnam has distinct dry-wet weather months. Generally, what is the weather like in December? Rainy, windy, cold? Is it wise to go to Ha Long during this time of the year?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Hi everyone,
I have two questions:
1) will it be too cold to swim in the bay waters during the first week of november?
2) Has anyone heard any bad/good reviews about Annam Junk or TUN travel agency? I'm hoping to use them but I've noticed some of the information on their site is inconsistent at times.

Hi,
My wife and I are planning a visit to Vietnam end February/March 2008. With all the junks plying their trade on Halong Bay, I was wondering if members could post their personal experiences of the following options:
Emeraude, Huong Hai, Bai Tho, Halong Dream, Lagoon Explorer, Bien Ngoc, Halong Ginger, Jewel of the Bay, Bhaya, Annam, Santa Maria and Dragon Pearl (which may still be unavailable at that time).
I have done research (including these forums) and have already compiled a list of features and recommendations. However, I would appreciate any first-hand comments (both good and bad) on the above selection.
Thanks so much.

Halo VTs,

I am planning on 3D2N at Halong Bay.
Can anyone give me some comment on Hai Long Junk by APT?

Previously book santa maria junk
but now they longer do low cost tour?

Need your guys advice.

Btw, is 3D2N too long in Halong Bay?
If we take 2D1N can anyone recommend where should be spent our 1 day time besides Hanoi City (we reserved 2 n half day for that)

Thanks

Hi guys! I'm planning my next trip to Asia. I'm trying to combine the Andaman Coast island from Thailand and the North of Thailand, including Ha Long Bay. I was pretty sure to go in mid April to Vietnam and then, begining of May, to Thailand. But I just read that Feb to April can be cold and the fog can let you enjoy so much of the scenery. Can anybody confirm me this information? How's is the weather during mid Aprin, begining of May in Ha Long Bay?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Hi, I've heard quite a few good things about the Lagoon Explorer run by Tropical sails, and will probably book a 2D/1N trip for me and my girlfriend in November. What would be the cheapest way to book it- straight from tropical sails/handspan or from one of the other tour agencies?

Thanks in advance

Hi!

Can anyone recommend a nice cruise for Ha Long? We were looking at Emeraude and it seems amazing but we're really open to options!

Thanks in advance!!

how much is the price for 3D2N (include kayaking) halong bay trip? i'm going 2 Vietnam tis 15/6/07 and can't figure out d budget 4 this trip...can some1 out there plz help me??10z in advance...

Hi, I'm going to Hanoi this weekend. I'm planning to book a 2D/1N trip to Halong Bay. But looking at all the itineraries from different agencies, it seems like I have to make a choice between going to Thien Cung and Dau Go caves OR Sung Sot cave, since none of the agencies go to all 3. So, can anyone advise me whether I should go for Thien Cung and Dau Go caves OR Sung Sot cave? Which one is better/more beautiful?

Hi,

If there's anyone of you that has enganged the service of vietnam paradise travel, please do share your experience. Me and my friends is about to book a tour from this tour operator, and we are required to pay deposit of USD500. I was wondering if this tour operator can be trusted. Usually other tour operators do not ask for deposit.

http://www.vietnamparadisetravel.com/Home.asp

Apparently the Emeraude junks are under repair when Im in the area. Is anyone familiar with THE LAGOON EXPLORER or the DRAGON PEARL junks from TROPICAL SAILS? Are they equal with the Emeraude junk?

We're tourists on a budget trip. Is it possible to go to Ha Long by ourselves by taking a bus or cab or is taking a tour operator a better option? Around how much is a 2-day 1-night tour around Ha Long? Do Ha Long tour operators charge less than Hanoi tour operators for the Ha Long tour?

Hi all,

Planning to go for Detian Waterfall from Halong Bay, need advise of mode of transports, do and dont while crossing border of Vietnam and China? Thanks.

i see all ur comments about halong and the prices for the trip. how come i am seeing a much more expensive price on the internet? did u all book the trip while u were in halong? plz give me a hint on how to book the trip. 2d/1n. thank you.