Our Honest Halong Bay Cruise Review (+ How To Book The Best One For Your Trip)

Published:

Updated:

Where Are Those Morgans Halong Bay Cruise

Halong Bay is Vietnam’s world renowned dreamy bucket list UNESCO destination. Sipping on a delicious cocktail while on the top deck of a junk boat gliding through turquoise water surrounded by limestone rocks is every traveler’s dream. But with dozens of junk boat operators in Halong Bay, how do you choose the best one for your cruise? For many visitors, budget is the key ingredient to this recipe.

In this guide we give you an honest review of our Halong Bay cruise including what we liked and didn’t like. We’ll also show you the activities you can expect to do onboard.

Our Experience

People on board a Halong Bay cruise
Our amazing group from our Rosa Cruise

We booked a Halong Bay cruise in October 2018 as part of our 18 month honeymoon around the world which included a month in Vietnam. But before booking, we did a lot of research because we wanted to find the best value for money option. And since this was a long term trip, we were on a budget and couldn’t splurge for a luxury option.

After comparing prices, we ended up reserving with Rosa Cruise on Booking.com and had an amazing time because we had a really great group onboard (pictured above). We chose Rosa because the previous reviews were good and all of the activities we wanted to do were already included. Our goal is to help you understand exactly what happens during a Halong Bay cruise including which platforms you should book with. Read more about us.

How To Get To Halong Bay

Before booking a cruise, you’ll have to consider how you want to get to Halong Bay. Some cruise operators offer transport from Hanoi, Sapa or Ninh Binh so you might not have to worry about that leg of transportation. If transport is not included to Halong Bay, you can easily take a bus. Check times and prices using 12Go Asia. Most visitors head to Halong Bay from Hanoi.

Another option is to ask your hotel owner to book transport for you. In Sapa, our hotel owner booked our overnight sleeper bus to Halong Bay for us, which turned out to be an interesting night. In hindsight, we wished we had booked the bus ourselves because we were dropped off in the middle of the street at 3:00 am once arriving in Halong Bay.

If you book a cruise with a tour agent, transport to and from Halong Bay will most likely be included but be sure to confirm this detail with the agent before paying. Typically buses leave Hanoi’s Old Quarter around 8:00am. This is a convenient option but it might not be the best value, so you’ll need to do your research.

The closest airport airport to Halong Bay is Cat Bi International (HPH) located in the southeast city of Hai Phong. For anyone traveling up from Ho Chi Minh or anywhere else in southern Vietnam, it may be easier to fly into Hai Phong and jump on a bus or take a Grab to Halong Bay. If you’re arriving from further afield internationally, fly into Hanoi and taxi into town. You can then book a bus transfer from Hanoi Qld Quarter directly to Halong Bay via 12Go Asia.

Travel Tip: Download the Grab App (iPhone or Android) before you get to SE Asia. You can choose to add your credit card details or pay cash for each ride.

For the more adventurous backpackers, you could hire a motorbike and drive yourself. Check out the route on our interactive map above showing directions between Hanoi and Halong Bay. Please only choose this route if you have experience driving a motorbike and are comfortable weaving through the reckless traffic of Vietnam.

READ: How to travel from Hanoi to Halong Bay

Onboard Activities

No matter what cruise you book, the onboard activities will be very similar because they all follow a similar pattern. Personally the activities did not blow us away, but it was a fun way to stay busy with the group we met on board. If you book a luxury cruise, it might go to another part of the bay where fewer boats will be sharing the same waters. Here’s what you can expect to do:

Halong Bay Pearl Museum

Halong Bay persal farm factory exterior
The famous floating Halong Bay pearl farm

We thought one of the most interesting stops was the Halong Bay Pearl Farm. Overall, it’s incredibly touristy and many people are pushed through here on a daily basis. But the staff are incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. They offer live demos where you can learn about the entire pearl cultivation process and we stopped here for about an hour.

Sea Kayaking And Fishing Village

Kayak sitting outside a floating fishing village
A sea kayak sitting outside a fishing village

One of our favorite activities was kayaking around the beautiful bay. There are numerous areas where you can go with a kayak and we had about an hour before we had to be back on the boat. We loved gliding against the emerald green waters through hidden islets, secret caves, colorful lagoons and unspoiled beaches. However, there are a few areas you should avoid, but you tour guide will give you a safety briefing before heading out.

From our sea kayak, we also visited a floating fishing village. It’s similar to the pearl farm visit and it felt a bit touristy because you’ll encounter many other people. But it’s cool to see the long narrow floating wooden structures with fishing lines dropping down into the bay. The local fisherman were extremely friendly and it was interesting to see how they lived with their families on the water.

Sung Sot Cave

Stalactites inside Halong Bay cruise
Unique stalactites and stalagmites inside the cave

Sung Sot Cave is one of the most popular tour activities you’ll experience during your cruise. The French found Sung Sot Cave in 1901 and called it “Grotte des Surprises” or the Surprise Grotto as we know in English. It’s one of the biggest and most beautiful caves in all of Halong Bay.

During our visit, we explored the two large chambers found inside. The first chamber is known as the waiting room and the second chamber is known as the serene castle. We had to climb up to get into the cave and the views surrounding the bay from the outside were just as stunning so don’t miss it.

Onboard Cooking Class

Man making vegetable spring rolls during a cooking class
Mark and the rest of our group making spring rolls

Another activity we really enjoyed was the onboard cooking class led by the chef on Rosa Cruise. We learned how to cook traditional Vietnamese spring rolls and the best part was we got to eat our spring rolls with dinner that evening. Let’s just say some spring rolls turned out better than others, but we had a blast with our group.

Swimming and Night Squid Fishing

Two junk boats with red sails in Halong Bay
Numerous junk boats floating in Halong Bay

At some point during your cruise, you’ll be allowed to swim in the beautiful waters of Halong Bay. We were able to swim about an hour before sunset and the water was a bit chilly. There were many crew members stationed around our boat on a jellyfish watch. At first we thought they were joking, but we realized they weren’t when a very large jellyfish swam right by Mark as he climbed out of the water. Let’s just say after the jellyfish sighting, we stayed on board the ship.

At night, you might also get the chance to try squid fishing. We were all provided a fishing rod and racket with a piece of fishing line tied to a huge lure and no bait. The best time to fish is after 8:00pm because the squid are easily attracted to the light from the boat. Unfortunately, we didn’t catch any squid during our cruise, but the crew told us some nights they can expect to catch 20-30 squid.

Early Morning Tai Chi

Sun setting behind limestone karsts in Halong Bay
The sun gently setting behind limestone karsts in Halong Bay

If you’re an early bird, you’re in luck because most cruises will offer an early morning Tai Chi class during sunrise on the sundeck. Our class was taught by the captain of our ship and if you’ve never tried it, we highly recommend you do. Tai Chi is a traditional Chinese form of martial arts meant to improve health and self-defense skills as well as concentration and longevity. The beautiful views of the bay in the early morning light also made it really worthwhile.

 

Cruise Duration

Several junk boats floating on the waters of halong bay
Junk boats floating near the entrance to Sung Sot cave

Another decision you should think about before booking is how many nights you want to be onboard. We spent 2 days and 1 night cruising Halong Bay and found this to be the perfect amount of time. But you can also opt for the 3 day and 2 night option.

A 2 day and 1 night Halong Bay cruise will be best for:

  • Solo travelers
  • Couples looking to mingle
  • A group of friends
  • Travelers on a budget
  • Those who are short on time

While the 3 day and 2 night Halong Bay cruise will be best for:

  • Couples looking for a romantic retreat
  • Visitors who want to see more of Halong Bay
  • Families with kids
  • Travelers with a healthy budget
  • Those who have have more time in Vietnam

Most overnight Halong Bay cruises are priced around US$100-250 per person while more luxurious options can be as much as US$600 per night. You can easily search by price if this is your deciding factor.

READ: Best places to visit in Vietnam

How To Book A Halong Bay Cruise

Two ice cold Ha Long beers on a table
Two Ha Long beers on a cruise boat

There are a two different ways you can book a cruise. The first is arranging it with a tour agency in person (most likely Hanoi), but this only works if you don’t mind a serious amount of haggling and you’re extremely flexible. Start with one agency to get a base price and then move on to other agencies in the area to see if you can beat it. If you go this route, be prepared to negotiate the price you want because they will often start with a very high price.

The benefits to booking a cruise with a tour agency is that prices aren’t set in stone so you can get a great deal. They can also add in transfers from Hanoi or anywhere else you need and you’ll be able to ask questions when booking. The cons to booking with a tour agency is that cruises may be completely sold out if you’re traveling in high season and you’ll be limited to the cruises only working with tour companies. You’ll also have to negotiate to get a good price which can be both intimidating and time consuming.

Another option is to book online. You can do this prior to your trip or the day before if there is still room aboard. It’s best to do a little bit of research beforehand and we recommend any of the platforms below:

We booked online because we wanted to guarantee our spot onboard and didn’t want to waste time in Hanoi negotiating price or shopping around. Benefits to booking online meant we could pick any cruise operator we wanted, we could book early in advance for busy season and we used previous guest reviews to help us make a decision. The cons to booking online means prices are already set and you’ll have to rely on pictures as well as descriptions for the cruise.

A room aboard Rosa Boutique Cruise
Our room on board Rosa Boutique Cruise

If you want to book the same exact cruise we did, look for Rosa Cruise on Booking. It’s a budget friendly option and we may be a bit biased, but we thought this cruise offered many activities, provided good food and comfortable rooms.

Best Halong Bay Cruises

Choosing a cruise operator to sail with can be a little overwhelming because there are so many choices available. But don’t despair, we’ll help you find the perfect one. Below we’ve include some of the most popular and top rated cruise options broken down by duration and budget. We want you to have the very best time in Halong Bay so we hand selected these choices just for you.

Day Cruises

This is a great option if you only have one day in Halong Bay. Make sure you read the descriptions, but they typically include lunch and a few activities.

Budget Friendly Cruises

These 2 day and 1 night cruise options will help to keep your travel budget intact while letting you experience the best of Halong Bay.

Luxury And Multi-Day Options

If you’re looking to celebrate a special occasion or just want to treat yourself, a luxury cruise in Halong Bay will make your trip all the more magical. Think private balcony, spa services and luxury cabins.

Tips For Booking A Cruise

Man standing on board a halong Bay cruise
Mark onboard our Rosa Boutique Cruise

After taking a cruise ourselves, here are a few tips for your trip:

  • Do your research. We’d recommend reading other traveler reviews before booking and checking multiple platforms to ensure you’re getting information from multiple sources.
  • Verify the activities on each cruise. Each operator will offer similar experiences, but if there is one activity you can’t miss, make sure it’s included in the itinerary you book.
  • Manage your expectations. Remember, if you’re looking at a budget Halong Bay cruise option, it’s probably not going to look like that dreamy junk boat you see plastered all over social media.
  • Book your travel plans thoughtfully. You don’t have to book in Hanoi or even return to Hanoi afterwards. Make Halong Bay fit into your itinerary so you don’t lose precious time in Vietnam.
  • Don’t forget swimwear and bring good footwear. You’ll need both for swimming and exploring caves.
  • Bring some reef safe sunscreen. We like this one here and keep in mind you’ll be exposed for a lot of the time so remember to reapply when needed.
  • Alcohol is not often included in the price. If you want to buy any alcohol during your cruise, you’ll have to purchase it separately because it’s not included the original package price.
  • Stay on Cat Ba Island if you’re on a budget. This cruise is a great option if you still want to see the limestone karsts during a day tour.
  • March to May and September to November are the best times to book. This is the best time of year for weather, but that means peak season with inflated prices and crowded tourists sites.

If you plan to travel independently as we did, you might want to stay a night in Halong Bay before setting out for your cruise. We were wrecked after trekking in Sapa for 2 days followed by a horrific sleeper bus journey. Luckily we gave ourselves a night in Halong Bay before our cruise departure the day after.

We stayed in a lovely place called Moon Halo Hotel not far from the Rosa Cruise pier. It had a huge balcony overlooking the limestone karsts out across the Bay and a gorgeous room. The area was completely dead because most people go to Cat Ba Island or straight onto the cruise. You can check out Halong Bay hotels here.

Halong Bay Cruise Photos

We took many photos from our Rosa Boutique Cruise in Halong Bay and here are some of our favorites:

Junk boats lit up at night on halong bay
Junk boats floating in the bay at night
Woman examining a pearl at a pearl farm in Halong Bay
Close up shot of a pearl being cultivated
View of junk boats from inside Sung Sot cave in Halong Bay
Various boats in Halong Bay, Vietnam
Captain in a window on a Rosa Boutique Cruise
The captain of our Rosa Boutique cruise ship
One small pearl inside an oyster
Small white pearl inside an oyster
View of the Sung Sot cave from the waters of Halong Bay
Exterior view of Sung Sot Cave
Large chamber inside Sung Sot cave
A large chamber inside Sung Sot Cave
Visitors on board a small Rosa cruise boat
Our group getting ready to head to our junk boat
Vegetable pieces inside a spring roll
The inside of a traditional Vietnamese spring roll
Vegetable spring rolls on a plate
Our finished spring rolls from the onboard cooking class

The Morgan Conclusion

What we like: We had an amazing group during our cruise which made it really fun. After spending the day exploring Halong Bay, we sang our hearts out until the early hours butchering the best karaoke songs in the playbook and consuming enough booze to re-sink the Titanic. Rosa was exactly what we expected for the price and we thought the recent traveler comments were pretty accurate.

What we didn’t like: Halong Bay was a lot more touristy than we expected. Sometimes it almost felt like we were being sent along a tourist conveyor belt, especially during some of the activities. We didn’t spent a lot of time enjoying our room because we were socializing on the sundeck. So if you want a more private experience, you may want to consider a luxury option.

Is a Halong Bay cruise worth it? Overall, we think a Halong Bay cruise is worth doing once because sailing through limestone karsts is pretty awesome. Not only is the entire region absolutely stunning, but it was really fun meeting like minded travelers. And even though we booked a budget option, we were still impressed with the clean rooms, excellent food and friendly crew. We think what makes or breaks your cruise comes down to who you share it with. So hello to the Belgian trio Pauline, Manoelle and Aurelie as well as fellow Brits Jay and Holly, and Pooja! If you don’t have a good group, the cruise could be boring and it will be exactly what you chose to make it so manage your expectations before boarding.

More From Vietnam

Want more Vietnam content? Head over to our Vietnam Travel Guides to see example itineraries, tips and popular city guides.


We hope our Halong Bay cruise review helps you decide if this is something you want to do during your trip!

Please let us know if you have any questions about booking a cruise or visiting Vietnam in the comments below.

Happy Travels,

Mark and Kristen

Enjoy this Vietnam guide? Pin it for your visit!

Note: This article contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

All Rights Reserved © Where Are Those Morgans, LLC. Republishing this article and/or any of its contents (text, photography, maps, graphics, etc.) in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.

Leave a Comment