Is Halong Bay still worth visiting?
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Halong Bay is one of Vietnam’s most famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It’s a dreamlike seascape of limestone islands, emerald water and hidden caves. But with its growing popularity, many travellers now wonder: is Halong Bay worth visiting, or has it become too crowded?
In this guide, I answer 9 of the most frequently asked questions about visiting Halong Bay, from choosing between Halong, Bai Tu Long, and Lan Ha Bay to deciding how long to stay, the best time to visit, and how to pick the perfect cruise.
Whether you’re considering a day trip, overnight cruise, or combining it with other destinations like Hanoi and Ninh Binh, this post gives you all the pros, cons, and insider tips so you can make the decision that’s right for your travel style.
All answers are based on my experience from my 3 weeks in Vietnam in 2025, the extensive research I did prior to my trip, and information from people I spoke with in Vietnam.
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1. Is Halong Bay worth visiting or is it over-crowded?
If you’ve just started planning your trip to Vietnam, chances are you’ve already come across people telling you to skip Halong Bay because it’s too full of people, boats and rubbish. At least that’s what lots of the forum threads I read kept saying. Some even said a day trip from Hanoi was better than wasting money on an overnight cruise, just to have been there, done that…
Having had Halong Bay on my bucket list for what feels like forever, this made me a bit bummed. And when I decided to give it a go on a two-day-one-night cruise, I wasn’t sure what to expect.
Now, I can confidently say: you get what you pay for and if you go on a random day cruise, expect crowds.
Halong Bay is worth visiting as long as you pick a cruise that doesn’t go to the same places at the same time as all other cruises. I’ll get more into depth on this on the next couple of questions.
2. Halong, Bai Tu Long or Lan Ha Bay – what’s the difference?
While Halong Bay is the most famous and the one that was originally listes as a world heritage, there are actually 3 very similar bays within the same area. As there are cruises going to all of them, you will need to pick one.
Halong Bay
As I said, it’s the most famous and has been on the UNESCO-list since 1994. It’s known for its almost 2.000 dramatic limestone karsts that peaks up from the emerald coloured water. It’s the most developed and visited of the three bays, and a wide range of tours come here. Because of this, it can feel busy, especially in peak season. And with a lot of people and many boats, unfortunately rubbish has become a problem over the years.
Bai Tu Long Bay
Located northeast of Halong Bay, this lesser-visited area offers similar landscapes but with fewer boats and a calmer atmosphere. It’s ideal for travellers seeking tranquillity, more authentic fishing villages, and unspoilt islands.
Lan Ha Bay
Lan Ha Bay is located to the south, just off Cat Ba Island, and similarly to the others it features hundreds of karst islands and hidden beaches. It’s less crowded than Halong Bay and is popular for kayaking and swimming. If you got more than a couple of days, you can combine a cruise a stay on Cat Ba. The Cat Ba archipelago (including Lan Ha Bay) was added to the Halong Bay UNESCO inscription in 2023.
As you can see, all of them share much of the same landscape, but Lan Ha and Bai Tu Long are less visited than Halong. So why not just go there? Well, it depends on a few things. Firstly, the type of cruises available. Second, if visiting a World Heritage site means something to you (if not, Bai Tu Long makes sense). Third, what kind of activities and sights you want to experience. Fourth, how much time you have.
Since Lan Ha Bay and Bai Tu Long are a bit further away from Halong, getting there takes longer to get there. I had initially booked to do an overnight cruise to Lan Ha Bay and realised a little too late that this meant quite a lot of cruising, as well as shuttle by tender from the port. Which again meant less time for activities.
And that brings us over to the next question.
3. How much time do you need in Halong Bay?
How much time do you have? I understand why you ask, because so did I.
The three main alternatives are:
- A day trip including transfer from Hanoi
- A two-days, one-night cruise including transfer (often shortened to 2D1N)
- A three-days, two nights cruise including transfer (3D2N)
If you have more time available, check out spending a few days at Cat Ba Island and explore the bay from there.
As with everything, there are pros and cons with all alternatives.
In my opinion, the day trips are for you who have very limited time and want a glimpse of what the bay is all about. It can also be a good option in winter, when it’s chilly in Northern Vietnam.
The 2D1N cruise is for you who want the full cruise experience. You get to see and explore the activities with more time than on a day cruise, as well as spending the night on board with meals and everything else that includes. Since I was travelling solo, I was also a bit worried that a longer cruise would get boring.
The 3D2N cruise is for you who really want to relax and see larger parts of the area. On a 3-day cruise, you have an extra full day of adventures. Normally, you will follow the 2-day cruise itinerary on day 1 and 3. On day 2, a different ship will take you around to different parts of the bay, before you get back on the original ship in time for the evening events.
How long are you in Halong Bay on the different cruises?
Even though it’s called a two-day cruise, this doesn’t mean you’ll be on the bay for 2 days. You will be picked up in Hanoi in the morning for the approx. 3 hour drive to Halong and then board the ship around 12:00. The next day, you leave the ship some time between 11:00 – 12:00 for transfer back to Hanoi. The 3-day cruise let you have another full day in addition to this.
This is the reason I was worried that I’d spend too much time just getting to Lan Ha bay instead of actually enjoying the cruise. Since I, last minute, ended up going to Halong Bay instead, I don’t have first-hand experience. But from what I’ve read and heard, it’s more enjoyable to do a 3D2N cruise if you want to go to Lan Ha Bay.
The 3-day passengers on my Halong Bay cruise went to Lan Ha Bay on day 2. So by doing the 3 day cruise, you may get to visit both bays without any rush. Make sure to read the itinerary carefully to find out!
Explore more UNESCO-listed caves in Phong Nha!
4. What activities can you expect on a Halong Bay cruise?
All cruise itineraries offer an activities program with both off boat and on boat things to do. The typical off-boat activities in Halong bay on both one-day and two-day cruises include:
Visit the Sung Sot Cave
This cave is the largest limestone cave in Halong Bay and popularly known as the Suprise Cave. While the cave had been used by locals for ages, it was discovered by the French in 1901 who called it the Surprise Cave because they were so surprised by its beauty.
The cave is located on the Bo Hon Island, and you need to be able to walk approx. 500 steps in total going up to, through and down from the cave. It’s definitely worth getting a bit sweaty for, the huge cave is stunning. Mind that it can get crowded here, especially with day trip boats. My cruise arrived just as most other ships left, and I’m so, so glad that I got to explore the cave at my own pace instead of walking in a line of other tour groups.
Swimming and viewpoint hike at Ti Top Island
Another popular stop in Halong Bay is the Ti Top Island. Named by Ho Chi Minh himself after the Russian cosmonaut, Titov. Here, you usually have 45-60 minutes to walk up the 450 steps to a 360-degree viewpoint and/or go swimming on the pretty beach. There are a beach bar and other kiosks by the beach, and you can even rent sunbeds and chairs. If you don’t want to pay to sit for the short time you’re there, go for the sand or the stone steps by the quay instead.
My boat was the first to arrive in the morning and for a little while, we had the whole island to ourselves. Happy to finally have a hill to climb again, I went straight for the steps and was the first one on the viewpoint that day!
Several in my group went swimming and it didn’t look bad in the intense July heat (even at 7:30 in the morning). Because of an open blister on my foot, I opted out of this as there is no blue flag for water quality here – and the water is definitely not clean…
Kayaking and Pearl Farm visit
Paddling on the Halong Bay is a highlight for many, and I can confirm it’s worth getting a bit wet for! Where you go kayaking in the bay differs a bit, in some places you can even paddle through a cave. Other, like mine, includes visit to a pearl farm instead.
If you get the option of kayaking or visiting the pearl farm, go kayaking first. I assure there will be time enough to both learn about the pearl industry and shop jewellery after. I did the opposite, as I wasn’t sure how it was paddling a tandem kayak on my own.
No need to worry, though. The kayaks are lightweight so there’s no problem manoeuvring them alone, and you don’t need any previous experience. Make sure to bring a dry bag or a waterproof case for your phone! As they are sit-on-top kayaks, you will get wet from the paddle.
Activities on the ship
A Halong Bay cruise isn’t just about the fun activities off the ship. There are of course also fun things happening on board. From all the different cruises I looked into, it seemed like this was pretty much the same no matter the operator or bay.
It all starts with a sunset happy hour or party in the afternoon. It’s a great time to connect with fellow travellers and although you’re not guaranteed a colourful sunset, the view is stunning.
Following the drinks, you get a mini-cooking class by one of the staff. We learned how to make fresh spring rolls and it was surprisingly fun and tasted super good as an aperitivo before dinner.
After dinner, it’s time for karaoke. Because, have you even been to a Vietnamese event if there isn’t? How popular this is, depends on the ship and the group you’re there with. On my cruise, most people, me included, were ready for some downtime after dinner.
You’re also invited to try squid fishing from the boat in the evening. A few people tried their luck on my ship, but no squid was seen.
In the morning, there is a 30-minute tai chi class to the sunrise. I had planned to do this, but ended up journaling on my balcony with a cup of coffee instead…
Interested in coffee? Learn about the Vietnamese Coffee Culture here!
Activities in Lan Ha Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay
Common Lan Ha Bay activities are kayaking in calm lagoons and through caves, swimming at small beaches and hidden coves and visiting floating fishing villages.
Extra for the 3-day cruises are visit to Cat Ba Island incl. bike ride or walk to villages or the national park and in general going deeper into Lan Ha Bay with multiple kayak and beach stops at quieter places.
The Bai Tu Long activities are similar, with kayaking around karst islands and into small bays, visit to Vung Vieng or Cong Dam floating fishing village and beach stops for swimming and relaxation
On 3-day cruises you may enjoy full-day excursions to remote areas (e.g. Cong Dam area) with lunch on the beach, longer kayaking tours and more cave visits. Depending on the weather and season, snorkeling may also be an option.
5. How to choose the best Halong Bay cruise for you?
Okey, so now you hopefully have a clearer image of what distinguishes the three bays, what it means to do a one-day, two-day and three-day cruise and what activities you can expect. Now, it’s time to narrow it down even more.
When you know how much time you got, find out how much you want to spend. The cruise will most likely be the most expensive part of your trip to Vietnam, and since it, for most of us, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, this isn’t where you want to skimp.
If a boat full of young, party-minded backpackers or large tourist groups doesn’t sound like your thing, opt for a mid-range or luxury cruise. The price difference isn’t huge, especially not if you are two sharing a cabin.
Another thing to bear in mind is the size of the vessel. What I really loved about my cruise was the small and intimate size of it. MilaLux only has 20 cabins which made it easy to socialise and connect with people on board.
When it comes to choosing which bay, you have to make up your own mind. Personally, I’d go for Halong Bay again on a 2D1N cruise, but Lan Ha Bay if I had more time. Since I collect UNESCO World Heritage sites, Bai Tu Long wasn’t on my list, but if the UNESCO status isn’t important to you, it can be a great option for a 3D2N cruise.
6. What is the best time to visit Halong Bay?
Don’t let anyone fool you, you can visit Halong Bay year-round. It’s only closed on occasional days when the weather is too bad.
However, if you haven’t already booked or decided on when to visit Vietnam and getting the best possible weather for your Halong Bay cruise is important to you, come in September/October – November or March – May.
As with the rest of Northern Vietnam, Halong Bay experience 4 seasons:
Winter (December – February)
The winter months are known to be dry and nice in Northern Vietnam, including in Halong Bay. The downside is that you can experience chilly temperatures. When I visited in January, daytime temperatures ranged from 25 to 13 degrees Celsius.
This is also the time of the year when you are most likely to encounter fog and mist in the bay. Which can give a mystic vibe, but it can also mean you don’t see much.
Spring (March – April/May)
Spring is one of the best times to go to Halong Bay and Northern Vietnam in general. Actually, this is the only time that is recognised as a great time to visit all of the country, as the central and southern regions are also dry and sunny.
March to April and partly May is usually dry and warm, and you have good chances of epic views of the limestone karsts.
Summer (May/June – August)
Summer is rainy season and typhoon season in Northern Vietnam. It’s also known for very hot temperatures and high humidity. Does that mean that summer is a bad time to do a Halong bay cruise? Not necessarily, but it depends on your luck and when during this time you come.
From what I learned doing my research, the heavy rain starts mid-July so the earlier you go the better. I was in Northern Vietnam the first half of July and was really lucky with the weather. There was a little bit of rain, but nothing that stopped me from doing what I wanted.
August and even into September is typhoon season with higher chances of heavy rain and storms forcing cruises to cancel.
Be aware!
If you travel to Vietnam, and Northern Vietnam in particular, during summer, be prepared to sweat. It’s manageable, but the heat and humidity are no joke. So, if you struggle in hot weather – this is not the time for you.
Autumn (September – November)
Like spring, autumn is considered a great time for visiting Halong Bay. Since typhoon season has shown to extend into September (f.ex. Typhoon Yagi on 7 September 2024), I recommend going from mid-September.
This is when dry season starts in Northern Vietnam and both humidity levels and temperatures start to drop. And while it isn’t directly related to Halong Bay, autumn is also the best time to see rice fields at its finest in places like Ninh Binh, SaPa and Phu Luong.
Get ready to explore with my best Vietnam travel tips!
7. How to get to Halong Bay from Hanoi?
The absolute easiest is to book a cruise package that includes transfer from Hanoi. If you stay near Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi Old Quarter, you will be picked up at your hotel in the morning and dropped off at the hotel upon return.
You can often choose between regular bus and the slightly more expensive limousine bus. The main difference is comfort, as you’ll have larger, more comfortable seats in a limousine and the bus is smaller in size with less people on board.
The journey between Hanoi and Ha Long takes approx. 2,5 hours, sometimes a bit more, including a break half-way. You will most likely stop at either a large souvenir outlet or a pearl factory, but you’re free to just use the toilets and/or buy some refreshments.
If you decide to book a cruise without transfer included or for some other reason want to go to Ha Long on your own, you use 12Go Asia to find and book your transport. Your hotel in Hanoi can also help you book a private transfer if that’s what you’re looking for.
What if you are not returning to Hanoi?
Do you want to go directly from the cruise to your next destination instead of back to Hanoi? Simply book transfer there from Ha Long. If you are booking your cruise through your hotel in Hanoi or an agency, let them know and they will rearrange your transport for you. This may come at a small additional cost, but it saves you a lot of time.
I went straight to Ninh Binh after my Halong Bay Cruise, and it was super easy. My hotel booked a limousine transfer, and they picked me up at the port and dropped me off at my homestay in Tam Coc.
If you are going north of Hanoi, for example to Sa Pa or Ha Giang, you most likely need to go via Hanoi. It will still be simpler to book the whole journey at the same time.
Check out the best things to do in Ninh Binh and my guide to first-time visitors here!
8. What should you bring to a Halong Bay cruise?
What you should pack for a cruise on Halong Bay depends on the time of travel. If you go in winter, be sure to pack some warmer clothes as it can get surprisingly chilly. A light down or puffer jacket as well as a shawl are good ideas.
Things to remember regardless of the time of year:
- Shoes or sandals with good grip for off board activities
- Clothes to be active in
- Change of clothes for the evening
- Sun lotion, sunglasses and a hat (especially in summer)
- Camera or phone
- Kindle or a book for downtime onboard the ship
- Swimwear (you’ll get towels)
- A light backpack
- A refillable water bottle (plastic is not allowed to bring off the ship in Halong Bay)
- 1,5l water bottles if your ship doesn’t offer free filtered water (use it to fill the smaller bottle)
This means, that if you are returning to Hanoi, you can leave your main luggage behind and just take a smaller bag with the essentials for the cruise. If you are continuing to other destinations, like I did, it’s no problem to bring everything.
9. Is it safe?
I have to admit I didn’t even give this a thought before I left. Then, just one week after my Halong Bay cruise, the news was filled with tragic pictures and stories of missing people after a vessel capsized in the bay.
This happened because of sudden strong winds coming in in the days before Typhoon Wipha, and it’s more likely to happen in July – early September than other times of year. And out of all the ships out in the bay that day, it was only this small day trip vessel that had problems. It is also not something that happens often, and the bay is in general considered calm.
Unforeseen things, like this sudden wind in July 25, can happen anywhere. The cruise operators follow weather updates carefully, and with any sign of a potentially dangerous storm coming, they will cancel all departures.
I’d still say that a Halong Bay cruise is safe, but make sure to book with a well-known operator and make sure to do proper research. Although fake reviews is a thing in Vietnam, you will see real, bad reviews of cruises that felt unsafe. Overnight cruises also take place on larger vessels, less likely to get into trouble.
Recommendation: MilaLux Cruise
Have you read or skimmed through all of this and still feel overwhelmed about all the choices? Then make it simple and just book the cruise I went with. This is not advertisment, I’m just so happy I ended up going with the Milalux Cruise.
Because, it wasn’t what I initially booked. I had booked a mid-range 2D1N cruise to Lan Ha Bay (because I’d heard Halong Bay wasn’t worth it anymore). While the original cruise looked fine enough, I was a bit worried I’d spend too much of my time being shuttled from shore to the ship and then just on-board sailing. To my luck, the cruise was cancelled last minute due to engine trouble, and the hotel I booked through got me on the MilaLux instead.
And it was perfect in any way. The food was delicious, the cabin felt like the 5 stars they claim to have, the staff was so kind and service minded. Still, the biggest advantage was the itinerary. We got to experience all the highlights in Halong Bay with no or few other ships there at the same time!
Another perk about the MilaLux Cruise, was the intimate feel of it. It’s a rather small ship with only 20 cabins, which made it easy to connect with the other passengers. A big plus for a solo traveller!
So, is Halong Bay still worth it?
Well, I think my smile in the photos above tells you what I think. In my opinion, Halong Bay is still worth visiting. Just don’t expect serene quiet stops if you go on a day trip.
The difference from Halong Bay is that the pace is often slower in Lan Ha Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay, and many cruises place more emphasis on nature, tranquility and fewer commercial stops. But since it’s further away from Ha Long Port, I recommend doing Halong on day trips and 2-day cruises and Lan Ha or Bai Tu Long for a 3-day cruise.
I also want to emphasise the importance of choosing a cruise operator that matches your style. To me, a party boat sounds like a nightmare. Make sure to take the time to read reviews on Google, Tripadvisor and Get Your Guide, or even check on one of the many Vietnam Travel Groups on Facebook.
Do you have any further questions? Feel free to drop a comment below, send me an e-mail or message me on Instagram!
