Halong Bay Overview
What Halong Bay Is Famous For?
Ha Long Bay as known as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is famous because its stunning limestone mountains raising up from emerald waters that formed from thousand years ago.
You also can have a chance to explore amazing caves as well as the culture of Ha Long.
Where is Halong Bay, Vietnam?
The Bay is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site twice and a very popular tourist destination in the northeast part of Vietnam, under the management of both Quang Ninh and Hai Phong provinces.
The whole bay has an area of around 1,500km2, which contains approximately 1,969 islands and islets made from karst and limestone towers.
A long history and tremendous values lie within these magnificent limestone mountains.
Normal limestone mountains are usually found on the ground, however, the the Bay’s limestones are raised from above the water.
It’s taken 500 million years to form Halong Bay to 2000 limestone islands as today.
Human beings have inhabited the area for centuries but made no damage to the heritage. The appearance, indeed, added unique cultural values to Ha Long Bay.
Who has been to Halong Bay?
From world leaders, celebrities, fashion icons, to Hollywood film directors, this destination has probably welcomed the world’s most influential leaders. The list includes
- Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie,
- The late celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain,
- Numerous presidents and prime ministers,
- Facebook’s Founder/CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan,
- Hollywood film directors and actors, and many others.
Things To Do In Halong Bay
Covering such a wide area for tourism and economic purposes, Ha Long Bay is the place where you’ll never run out of things to do.
From outdoor and active activities to a more relaxed and food-focused itinerary, there’s always something to do for all kinds of travelers.
Here are some bonus activities besides visiting famous attractions you can expect when join a Ha Long Bay Tour.
How Is The Weather?
Ha Long is in the North of Vietnam and with a tropical monsoon climate.
Four seasons deliver four distinct weather features, which make it an amazing destination to enjoy during your holiday.
The best time to visit Halong Bay
October to December
The most popular period of the year for foreign tourists and visitors, October to December for some people can be the best time as the weather is not sweaty, the waters are still calm as during summers, and the sky can still be blue and clear.
The cons during this period is the large number of tourists from all over the globe, especially during Christmas to New Year’s seasons, makes it extra crowded. Another disappointing factor is that the weather can be mostly dull, grey, and quite freezing because of humidity.
Again, the best way to avoid disappointment is to double check all necessary information with your tour operator or cruise company before booking anything. It’s always best to be well prepared before flying to your final destination.
Accommodation in Halong Bay
If you are looking accommodation in Halong City, many hotel options are offered to you, ranging from low-priced to high-end.
While going farther to the Bay, choosing a reputable cruise operator will add up to your trip.
Hotel
Being one of the most visited tourist destinations in the country and in all of Southeast Asia, the city has a lot to offer, from hostels, hotels, to home stays.
Cruise
With hundreds of scattering islets and grottos around the Bay, cruising will give you a closer look and also the most convenient way to visit the attractions in Ha Long Bay.
Besides, saving time to move in between hotels and attractions, you won’t have to worry about transportation, food, and attraction fees because everything will be included in your cruise package.
Ranging from day cruises to over 5-day cruises, and 3-stars to a 5-star level of services, there are more than enough options for you to see Ha Long Bay for a more intimate and personalized experience.
How To Choose The Right Halong Bay Cruise?
This might be one of the most important parts of your plan in order to have an unforgettable Halong Bay trip.
You and your family will spend the majority of time staying on your cruise for couple of days.
We will list out the Best Cruise Operator in Halong Bay that have good reputation, service, facilities, and of course with license to cruise in Halong legally.
Transportation To Halong Bay
From outdoor and active activities to a more relaxed and food-focused itinerary, there’s always something to do.
By Land
The most common and the most time-consuming out of all the options. This option is also the most cost-efficient.
Most visitors get to Halong Bay (some from Lan Ha Bay) by land, whether by shuttles service booked through a travel agent or a cruise company, a private car, or a limousine service for those who need utmost comfort and privacy.
Prices range from US$15 to US$200 depending on which service you want to use for yourself and for your family/friends.
By Flight
The next best option to reach Halong Bay is through air transfer. This could be anything from seaplane service to and from Halong Bay Cruise Company or by booking a private helicopter to Halong Bay (mostly booked by VVIPs).
With this option, you’ll be able to get a scenic bird’s eye view of the bay that only a few select have done.
By Water
The least common option for reaching world-renowned Halong Bay, arriving by water can only be done if you’re doing a trans-pacific cruise stopping in major areas such as Halong Bay, Da Nang/Hoi An, Nha Trang, Saigon, and other parts of Southeast Asia.
These are rare occasions and are mostly done by Chinese tourists coming from mainland China.
Do You Need A Visa To Vietnam?
After doing all your research about Halong Bay: picking cruise, checking weather/attractions you want to visit, don’t forget to get your Vietnam Visa ready.
Check if your country is on the waiver list that request a visa to visit Vietnam or not and the process to obtain a Vietnam Visa here.
You can also check if your citizenship is applicable on e-visa.
Currency
The official currency used in Vietnam is Vietnam Dong (VND) come mainly in polymerized notes, only a few small changes are in cotton notes. Cash in VND is preferably accepted everywhere in Vietnam, although credit card system is widely applied to tourism destinations and valuable services.
Today, lots of cruises can happily do transaction online or via credit card offline. Sometimes, US$ dollars can be replacement (1 USD ~ 23, 233 VND).
When coming to Vietnam, you are allowed to bring maximum US$5,000/person for the whole trip.
If joining on a cruise, you don’t really have to pay for anything else, other than souvenirs or tipping. The tipping culture is not very popular in Vietnam, especially in the Northern region. However, it is more commonly accepted in Southern region, especially in Ho Chi Minh City. So, feel free to spend your change as you prefer.
When traveling to cities in Vietnam, a daily spend is around 300,000 VND/person. To prepare the best for your trip, make sure to prepare some cash ahead of time, bring along your credit card, and check carefully with your chosen cruise operator.
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