How long should you stay in Halong Bay?
A 2-day/1-night Halong Bay cruise offers a good overview, while 3 days/2 nights allows for deeper exploration and kayaking/hiking. Land-based stays can be tailored to your schedule, but allow ample time for boat trips and island visits to fully experience the bay's beauty.
How Many Days in Halong Bay? Optimal Trip Length?
Okay, so how long should you spend in Halong Bay?
Most folks seem to think 2-3 days is the sweet spot, whether you’re on a boat or chilling in a hotel.
Honestly, my own trip was a bit of a blur. I swear it was only one night on a cruise… or was it two? I think I got seasick and blocked it out, haha! It was beautiful tho!
Two days felt way too short, and maybe that’s why I am bit fuzzy about it all.
But hey, it really depends what you want to do. If you are into kayaking, swimming, and caving, you might need more time.
I do remember the price being around $200, for a boat. Including food, of course. It was during the off-season in November, which maybe why it wasn’t expensive.
Anyway, back to the original question. 2 or 3 days feels “right” for Halong Bay.
Do people live in Halong Bay?
Halong Bay: Inhabited. Absolutely. Floating villages. Unique lifestyle. Imagine living on the water. Entire communities. Boat homes. Fishing’s central. Generational thing. Adapting to the environment. A wonder of human ingenuity. Living differently. Makes you question conventional living, no?
- Floating villages: Key feature of Halong Bay. Cua Van, Ba Hang, Cong Dam. Names to know. Tourist attractions, yes, but also homes.
- Fishing: Main livelihood. Traditional methods. Passed down.
- Boat-building: Essential skill. Maintaining their homes. Repairing. Building new ones. Keeping the tradition alive. My uncle, a carpenter, would be fascinated.
- Aquaculture: Growing importance. Seaweed farming. Pearl farming. Supplementing fishing income. Economic diversification. Smart move.
- Tourism: Significant impact. Provides jobs. Guides, boat operators, vendors. Double-edged sword, though. Balancing tradition with economic realities. Halong Bay, 2024: The modern world reaches even the most remote corners.
I once kayaked through these villages. 2019. Amazing experience. Saw kids paddling to school. Life on the water. Unforgettable. Different perspective. A whole different world. Fascinating how humans adapt. So much to learn.
More than just a pretty place. Halong Bay. Living, breathing community. Tradition and change. Worth pondering.
Is it better to stay in Hanoi or Halong Bay?
Hanoi, def Hanoi. Way more to do. Halong Bay, pretty, yeah, sure. But, like, boring after a day, maybe two max. I went last year, June 2023, with my sister, Carol. She’s crazy about boats, so, whatever. Hanoi though, totally my scene. Food stalls everywhere. Crazy good pho, like, seriously. Got these amazing silk pajamas, too, near Hoan Kiem Lake. Bargained the guy down to, like, nothing. Carol bought a painting, I think. Hanoi has these temples, pagodas, cool stuff. Went to that Hoa Lo Prison. Sobering. Evenings? So much energy, buzzing. Night markets, live music, this one place with, um, water puppets. Weird, but kinda cool. Halong Bay? Boat trip, took pics of the rocks. Kayaked. Pretty. Then, what? Ate on the boat. Slept. More rocks. Beautiful, no doubt, but, uh, kinda one-note.
- Hanoi pros: Food, shopping, nightlife, history, museums, temples, energy
- Halong Bay pros: Natural beauty, boat trips, kayaking, swimming, peace and quiet
- My trip (June 2023): 3 days Hanoi, 2 days Halong Bay. Shoulda done 4 and 1. Carol disagress. She loved the boat. I got bored. We stayed at the Apricot Hotel in Hanoi. Pricey, but so worth it. Rooftop pool. Amazing view.
- If you go to Halong Bay: Do an overnight cruise. Day trip is to short. Too short. Saw some ppl doing that, looked rushed.
- Must-try in Hanoi: Egg coffee. Sounds gross. Tastes amazing. Seriously. Also, bun cha. Oh, and those fried spring rolls.
Can you stay on islands in Halong Bay?
Ugh, Halong Bay. So many islands! Over 1600, right? Crazy. I want to sleep on one, not just near one.
Three-day cruises, huh? Sounds luxurious but expensive. Probably not my style this year, gotta save for that trip to Japan. Day trips? A bit rushed, I think.
Staying overnight on those islands? Limited options, apparently. Not every island’s set up for tourists, duh. Makes sense though, some are probably just rocks.
Okay, let’s break it down:
- Cruise: The fancy option. Expensive, but you see more.
- Day trip: Budget-friendly but short. Good for a taste of island life but doesn’t give a real feel, you know?
What’s the deal with the few islands that do allow overnight stays? Are they special? They probably have better infrastructure – restaurants, maybe even electricity. Maybe I’m wrong, who cares? I’m just thinking out loud here. I’m eyeing that new Vietnamese restaurant downtown instead. More affordable. Next year, Halong Bay! But maybe I’ll go to that fancy hotel in Da Nang.
Seriously though, I need to find those specific islands allowing overnight stays. Need to check online, I guess. It’s a pain, this planning stuff. 2024, here I come, hopefully.
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