Three million tourists visited Halong Bay in 2007 and that statistic alone will give an indication how popular the day excursions and overnight cruises are. Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site and includes 1,969 small limestone islands. (We were told the “1,969″ number represents the year Ho Chi Minh died.) Each little islet or island…View image… is topped with thick vegetation and several are hollow with enormous caves. A few islands have floating fishing villages. …View image…

The two main sights in Halong Bay included in both day tours and overnight cruises are: one big cave and a fishing village. All tours depart from Bay Chay (Halong City West)…View image…, about 170 kms/105 miles east of Hanoi. It’s an easy 3-1/2 to 4- hour ride (if you want to call four hours to drive 105 miles “easy”) on good roads by either car, taxi or public bus (around $5 U.S. round trip).

What to know about cruising:

Ha Long Bay map, Vietnam
- The 2 day/1 night cruises follow the exact same sea lane route;

- All boats are motorized. The sails are for show only;

- Day tours usually leave the dock at 12:00 noon and return back to the same spot at 4:30 pm. The junk passes islets, rocks, floating villages and passengers disembark to visit one cave. Lunch is included, drinks are not;

- Overnight cruises also leave the dock around 12:00 noon and return back to the same spot the next morning at 9:30 am. The junk passes islets, rocks, floating villages and passengers disembark to visit one cave and one floating village. Lunch, dinner and breakfast is included, drinks are not;

- There are approximately 600 boats plying the waters of Halong Bay and 10,000 tourists a day visit over weekends and holidays. You will not be cruising in solitude, peace and quiet. The boats are either arranged as a private boat for one person or a tour group, while others carry individuals who have booked through the office to complete a sailing;

just a few of the 600 boats lined up in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
- The junks are categorized and starred. …View image… Deluxe, ranging in cost from $120-$260 U.S. per person and Budget, $69-85 U.S. per person;

the deluxe Bhaya cruises Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
- Accommodation is on a twin-share basis with anywhere from three to 16 cabins, most with en suite bathrooms. The budget junks have common showers with iffy hot water. Bedding and towels are provided on all;

- Set menus are served. Unless you are on a private boat, no choices. And even on a private tour group boat, the menus are preset; and

- Many boats carry kayaks for kayaking only in one area on Halong Bay

kayaking in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
Join me on our Halong Bay 2 day/1 night cruise…