Halong Bay regulation

Hello,
I wanted to spend two nights in Halong Bay on a junk end of July (when there are apparently more typhoons). I heard that the 2 night cruises were enjoyable because you can go further away (where there are less boats) and visit a bit more and relax and bathe (in cleaner water) on the second day. But I also heard today that new regulation prohibit junks to "sail" further out because of boats that sank. Consequently, many junks return and pick up new clients and do the same route everyday (for 1 night) which makes it less interesting to stay 2 nights... Does anyone have information about this? Thank you!

Never heard of that one ! I do not believe the stupidities that some people tell (I am not talking aout you, of course, but of those you "heard" )!!!! One junk sunk years ago ; it was completely rotten and dirt cheap, "cheap" being what you avoid in all cases. All operators propose one, 2 and 3-day cruises ; most people take 2 days. The only question is : which one to select ?

The less "busy" bays are Lan Ha (too shallow for larger boats) and Bai Tu Long (further North, thus less frequented and to be done better in 3 days)

I think my agent's option is a one night cruise, and that is probably why they suggested only one night. I then insisted on 2 nights because with 3 kids we prefer staying at least 2 nights everywhere (4 to 6 nights at certain locations). Then they said that junks do the same route twice (with a change of tourists in the morning) which I know is untrue (in the past at least) because I know people who did this and went further out and enjoyed this extra time. Then I was told that new regulations prohibit going out further for security, plus Summer having more storms. I wasn't sure this was accurate... And I would prefer having 2 nights and not do the same route twice! Thank you for your input, it helps!

That agency is lying to you, so dump it ! Your big choice is private junk (the best but expensive) versus small collective one (6 to 10 cabins). To see all the possible choices, check the website of reputable agencies such as Jasmine Travel, Oriental Bridge Travel or Parfum d'Automne (the latter for deluxe private junks)

I booked Halong Silversea Cruise via vietnamamazingtours.com and really did not expect to write such a positive review. This is a 4 star cruise with about 37 people aboard, except staff. It takes about 4 hours to transfer from Hanoi to the habor, a little longer. Then, get the boat, checked in the room and had lunch. Wow! We could not believe it and did not expect it. Nice presentation and very tasty. Same for dinner. Breakfast is a big buffet and lunch of the last day is also a brunch, a buffet. Tour guides are very thoughtful when asked if I have any diet. The cabins are very clean and the bathroom is very nice. The staff is wonderful and friendly and seem to have so many talents - waiters can become magicians later or wait staff become carers! There are many activities for everyone involved such as hiking, visiting cave, swimming, kayaking, learn how to cook spring rolls! In 24 hours that is pretty much but they are very organized and good at what they do and manage to keep the speed nicely. You can opt out of events if you want anyway. I would highly recommend this yacht and great staff on board make it a great trip.

I'm actually questioning going though an agent at all... It feels a bit like a prison - getting too organized, no options or not many. But there are things that would help, like a few private transfers, drivers, etc. Pick-ups and drop-offs. We are ready to pay for this but the agency price is so much higher than what we are used to pay when we travel all 5 of us.

Finally, the company they suggest does have different activities on both days, but the second day is pretty much relaxing on the junk. That's fine, but from 1pm to 6pm is long for kids. They do get new tourists for day 2. They mix up 2-nighters and 1-nighters. I find this a bit annoying. Thank you for your recommendations, I will check them out.

I see that you know Vietnam well as you have answered to me and others in many threads. Do you know what is the best way to get from Hoi An to Hue and see the beautiful pass on the way? Do you recommend a guide in Hue if we only have 2 days there? Thank you so much.

Believe me, take an agency for Halong. The cruises are very strictly regulated by the police, so, even if you take a junk once there, you will have to follow the route imposed by the police, and you are going to encounter all kinds of scams, especially for the transfers.

Hue-Hoi An is done in one full superb day by car Hue-Lang Co Laguna-Pass of the Clouds-Danang Cham Museum- Marble Mountain-Hoi An. Count about 65$. Contact I recommend :
alain@huevietnamtourist.com

For the agency, I meant for the whole trip. We usually travel on our own and plan on our own. I wanted some help with putting the whole thing together (traveling between destinations) but it has become more and more complicated and expensive. Complicated to change things like the junk that returns to pick up new clients, etc. So we have decided to do it on our own.

That's exactly what I would like: by car from Hoi An to Hue, and driving by the Pass of the Clouds, stopping at Marble Mountain. (Other way around as we doing South to North.)

You can ararnge things on your own BUT not Halong Bay, with all its transfers and/or junk scams ! Even me, who lives in Hnaoi and speak enough Vietnamese got scammed twice, ; once with the driver of the bus Haiphong-Hanoi, clearly marked "Hanoi" + the driver told me "yes yes" when I asked him if he was going to Hanoi, and the bus stops 17 km from the town, and once where I bought a combined ticket bus-boat Haiphong Cat Ba and, on the return, the bus driver refused my ticket and asked me to pay again (and, if you take the bus Hanoi-Halong City, guess how much taxi drivers will charge you to go from the bus station to the pier (3 km), knowing that you have no choice

We will definitely go through the company for the transfer. It's often part of the total price, and they pick you up in Hanoi or even Tam Com in certain cases. Which I'm wondering if that's what we'll do so we don't have to return to Hanoi, then to Halong. In Ninh Binh, would you sleep two night in Tam Coc?

Thank you for the tips!

Tam Coc is fantastic and 2 nights are a minimum... Take a bungalow (big room with 2 king size bed + mattress on the floor if you want) or ask for the less expensive Xtra-large room above the restaurant (same bed arrangement)at the very famous Chez Loan Hotel, in the middle of the limestone peaks and rice-fields (have a marvelous "fondue vietnamienne" fo dinner)

Fondue vietnamienne... Can't wait! Simply can't wait to eat in Vietnam.

Thank you, I now have two good suggestions for a hotel in Tam Coc. If we have two days, what would you suggest we do (with 3 children) besides a sampan tour? So much to do...

The less "busy" bays are Lan Ha (too shallow for larger boats) and Bai Tu Long (further North, thus less frequented and to be done better in 3 days)

I have been surfing the Oriental Bridge Travel agency you mentioned in another post. They offer many options. I'm looking into the private junks. Some leave from Cat Ba Island, visit Lan Ha Bay, and seem to go through Halong up to Bai Tu Long. Do you think this is a lot (too much) in 3 days (2 night cruise) and we should just do Halong/Bai Tu Long? Both are possible. For Cat Ba, we need to take a fast boat. I think this makes the transfer a bit longer. Not sure. However some that leave from Cat Ba only go around Lan Ha. Would we be missing out in your opinion? I find that choosing a company for Halong is the hardest part of our trip. There's just too much choice, different itineraries, junks, quality, etc.

What I find interesting with this agency is that they offer a trip to Ninh Binh, directly from Halong. Chez Loan. And the next day, we visit. Back to Hanoi. 2 nights is also an option. I think you visit Phat Diem on day 2.

3 days are perfect for the 3 bays Lan Ha-Halong-Bai Tu Long but, if you prefer, you can just do Lan Ha (the best bay because big boats cannot access it) and Halong

According to the agency's website, they go indeed to Ninh Binh after if you want and they go to Phat Diem Day 2

3 days are perfect for the 3 bays Lan Ha-Halong-Bai Tu Long but, if you prefer, you can just do Lan Ha (the best bay because big boats cannot access it) and Halong

So you would recommend Lan Ha more than Bai Tu Long? Does Lan Ha have caves too? The kids saw pictures and wanted to go in the grottoes/caves. I have a feeling that Lan Ha has more beaches?

Thank you so much for your inputs, it's helping a lot on our side of the world. I'm in contact with Oriental + Indochina Junks (I had also asked Indochina Sails (bigger) for a price). Some just do Lan Ha and others do Halong + Bai Tu Long and I think one does all three bays.

Some just do Lan Ha and others do Halong + Bai Tu Long and I think one does all three bays.

Finally, I don't think it does all three bays. Only Lan Ha. Or Halong + Bai Tu Long with no stops in Halong.

There are grottoes and beaches in Lan Ha, but the best beaches are on larger islands (Quan Lan, Coto, etc;) in Bai Tu Long. The junk progremmes include swimming (and kayaking)

I sent a message to Parfum d'automne also but these junks (with Oriental) only cruise in Lan Ha... But they seem amazing and isolated in the pictures. But if we choose this option I think we have to forget "Halong" and Bai Tu Long. However I did not notice Quan Lan and Coto in those that I contacted which are Indochina Junk (Bai Tu Long) and indonhina Sails (Halong). Those 4 are our choices for now.

Hanoi is full of beautiful geographical spots. Halong Bay is one such destination. There are a wide range of cruises depending on how long you wish to travel. Shuttle buses from Hanoi to Halong Bay are very convenient. The beauty of the bay comes of course by riding on the waves.

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