Halong Bay or Sapa?

SaPa is the place. Visit some of the surrounding markets. (BacHa) Overnight stay at a H'mong or Tay home. The trekking can be quite tiring and probably quite dificult if it's raining. There are many villages and markets in the area to visit with about 24 different ethnic groups. Halong Bay is not as great as they say. Our guide told me that 3 million tourists visit there each year. There are about 400 boats out there at a time. They avoid each other quite well but you do come across quite a few. My next trip to VN I'll go back to SaPa and spend more time in Hanoi (Old Quarter). Buy some postcards of Halong Bay, they look better. You must do the overnight stay bit.

Have fun.

agree with 1. halong was ok, but got really fedup with the crowds there. they push you through some caves and we ended up in a heavy 'traffic jam' in the cave, being pushed from the back constantly. i mean the cave is beautiful, but could not really enjoy its beauty. sapa defenitely not as crowded.

Both were a wonderful experience for us.
Halong Bay is really beautiful, so is Sapa.
I did not have the same experience in Halong Bay as the above posters. However, we did book a boat that took only 8 people and it was Oct. so that maybe the difference.
Considering that you are short on time, I would choose Halong Bay, because it requires a 3 hour bus trip from Hanoi, 1 day and 1 night on the boat and then return to Hanoi. Sapa will require an overnight train ride from Hanoi to Lao Cai and a 1.5 hour bus trip from there to Sapa. And to really enjoy Sapa you will need at least 3 days in the area.
So you should base your choice on how much time you have to visit each place.
ONE LOVE !!
Mike

I wouldn't choose. Go to both - they are major highlights of Vietnam - and pass on something else on your trip south. If you want to see the best of Vietnam, both places should have a place on your itinerary.

I have never been to Sapa, but I did visit Halong Bay in 2000. If you want to have an absolutely fantastic experience, rent a motorcycle and make your way from Hanoi through the little villages/countryside all the way through Haiphong to Halong Bay. My boyfriend and I rented one in Hanoi (he drove; I rode on the back - both had helmuts of course) and we made our way up to Halong Bay. The actual site itself was quite touristy (moreso than I had anticipated) but the experience was one of the most memorable soley based on the journey.

cheers.

Thanks to all for your helpfull comments. Both places have their pros and cons I guess.
I looked over again our itinerary and decided we have to see both as tumbleweeds said and we will have to find out which of the two we like best. We will skip Vang Vieng in Laos and fly one day earlier from Luang Prabang to Hanoi. Then we will have enough time to see Hanoi and do both trips to Sapa and Halong Bay. Tumbleweeds, you convinced me with your post!

Thanks for your post! We went to Vang Vieng - it's one of those towns that people either love or hate. We hated it! Whatever it is, it isn't representative of the "true Laos" and there are always a majority of farang to locals there. So I think that your idea makes sense.

Besides Halong, Sapa and Hanoi, the other places that were outstanding in Vietnam, if you have the time, would be Tam Coc (easily done as a day trip from Hanoi), Hoi An, Nha Trang and Mui Ne if you want to check out the beaches, and HCMC. Hue is ok if you have the time but not a "must see" in my opinion. But of all the places in VN that we liked the best, Sapa, Halong and Hanoi were by far the best. I'm happy to hear that you'll be able to see all three.

Enjoy your travels!

I agree with seeing Tam Coc.
But to bad you will not have the time to spend a whole day are two there.
Most people to the day tour by bus (3 hrs drive) from Hanoi and only have enough time to do the boats on the river with the caves.
My wife and I spent 2 days there on our way south. Hire a couple moto drivers and spent the two days taking in the rural countryside. The drivers took us to places really off the beaten path. Like I said, most tourists do the day trip are they by pass the Tam Coc area. I am glad we did not !!
ONE LOVE !!
Mike

glad you have managed to squeeze both in but for any other viewers i'll throw my two cwents in re the original post. Like the first two posters I would go for sapa as it was fantastic and getting there was part of the experience too. my partner and i still talk to ourselves and others about our trip to sapa 2 years on but we never mention halong Bay. unlike #1 and #2 my experience of halong Bay wasn't too touristy but rather just a bit of a let down