Halong Bay regulation

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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