Phil and Garth > Destinations > Asia > Vietnam > How To Make The Most Of A Boat Trip To Ha Long Bay

How To Make The Most Of A Boat Trip To Ha Long Bay

by Garth

Last updated: 24th October 2021

Must see sights, Things to do, Top 5 tips, Photography, Inspiration, Advice and information for planning a trip to Ha Long Bay, Vietnam.

Must see sights, Things to do, Top 5 tips, Photography, Inspiration, Advice and information for planning a trip to Ha Long Bay, Vietnam.

 

8th Wonder of the World?

Ha Long Bay lies in the Gulf of Tonkin and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  It’s arguably Asia’s most iconic natural beauty, a really beautiful unspoiled bay where over 2,000 spectacular limestone rocky islands dot the bay. These islands are called ‘karsts’ and reminded us of the karsts we’ve been lucky enough to see in Phang Nga Bay in Thailand and Yangshou in China. Those places looked similar, but Ha Long Bay trumped them due to the sheer number of islands rising out of the sea. The Vietnamese call it the ‘8th Wonder of The World’ which we thought was funny because of the other destinations we’ve been to who also call their attraction the same!

 

 

Dragons & Island Jewels

We read and were told of the local legend – 2 of them! One legend says a family of Dragons were sent to help the people of Vietnam during a Chinese land invasion, the dragons spat out pearls, jade and jewels into the bay which turned into clusters of mountains, creating a fortress to protect the local people.  The other legend says said dragons crash landed in the bay creating the karsts. Whichever is true, Ha Long means ‘Descending Dragon’.

Atmospheric and otherworldly Ha Long Bay

Atmospheric and other-worldly Ha Long Bay

Unesco's logo on the entrance to Ha Long bay

Unesco’s logo on the entrance to Ha Long Bay

To get there we drove east from Hanoi which took us about 4 hours, it’s only 115 miles but the roads are not exactly fast motorways.  After entering the toll booth style entrance we arrived at the Tuan Chau New Marina where we boarded our boat for the next 2 days. Ha Long Bay is not far from the Chinese border.

 

 

Our boat

We took the Jasmine junk boat which was just lovely. It’s the largest wooden boat in the bay, enough for 35 passengers, built in the style of a traditional junk, that were used to transport goods. Inside was beautifully decorated with teak furniture and highly polished wood cladding, we felt like we were on board the Orient Express on sea.  After a welcome drink, and an in depth safety briefing, the cruise began and we were let loose!

Heritage Line's Jasmine boat

Heritage Line’s Jasmine boat

Breathtaking views!

Breathtaking views!

We immediately headed to the upper deck – what a view! It was just stunning floating through the silent and dark emerald green waters and marvelling at the soaring cliff peaks, varying in size some of them super tall, Garth said it was like looking at movie scene straight from Avatar!

A lone boat next to a towering karst island

A lone boat next to a towering karst island

Typical fishing boat scene

Typical fishing boat scene

Shadows from the karsts show off the emerald green waters

Shadows from the karsts show off the emerald green waters

After the madness of Hanoi, it was wonderful contrast – Phil loved the pure relaxation of sailing on the tranquil waters. Garth loved all the photo opportunities and soon filled up one of his cards with shots of different karsts carpeted with thick jungle like vegetation.

Fishermen bringing in their catch of the day

Fishermen bringing in their catch of the day

One of the many cruise boats in the bay

One of the many cruise boats in the bay

If you don’t fancy a cruise a growing number of tourists are now heading straight to Cat Ba Island where they take trips to Lan Ha Bay.

 

 

Our cabin

We had a private 2 berth cabin with an en-suite and views to die for. We would definitely recommend spending at least one night, rather than taking a day cruise as most tourists do because it gave us enough time to relax.

Our private cabin

Our private cabin

Stunning views to wake up to from our bed

Stunning views to wake up to from our bed

They even had spa treatments on board if you really want to chill out.

The buffet style restaurant

The buffet style restaurant

Food on board was served buffet style and was tasty, especially the Pho for breakfast that was cooked in front of you. Phil also took part in a cookery demonstration by the head chef explaining the process of making spring rolls, finished off with eating them.

 

 

We’re millionaires!

We also realised on the boat that we were millionaires! well we had a few notes – 1,000,000 Dong is actually about £40.

Phil is a Vietnamese millionaire!

Phil is a Vietnamese millionaire!

Phil and Garth on the upper deck

Phil and Garth on the upper deck

Sadly the weather was cloudy, but it was warm and didn’t spoil our enjoyment of the bay. We’d also brought lots of mosquito spray but did’t need it.

Relaxing is the name of the game here, especially on the upper sundeck taking in the fabulous views. Our boat anchored for the night in the Luon Bo area where we spent the evening socialising with our fellow guests enjoying far too many glasses of Hanoi Beer.

 

 

Early morning Tai Chi

We woke up early to witness the sunrise, but sadly just a few pink spots in the sky as it was still really cloudy. Phil took advantage of the Tai Chi class on the sundeck at 7.00am, which was so magical but pretty exhausting, after about 20 minutes Phil was aching, the tutor then said, now the warm up is finished we will start the Tai Chi!

Phil taking the tai chi class

Phil taking the tai chi class.

 

 

Ti Top Island

Our first excursion was to Ti Top Island, which was easily the best photo spot in the bay. At the bottom it had a small man made beach, a couple of restaurant shacks and Garth’s favourite – tourist tat souvenir shops! The bay was pretty crowded with boats, but apparently this part always is.

Ti Top Island

Ti Top Island

Incredible views from the top of Ti Top Island

Incredible views from the top of Ti Top Island

The views from the top of Ti Top are epic and well worth the hike getting there.  But it was more like a workout especially for us as we’re not fit (there’s a theme running through this post!)  There were 400 steep steps with a large viewing platform half way up where we could rest, it eventually took us about 20 minutes.

Even on the cloudy day we had, the panoramic views were very atmospheric, it must be even more spectacular on a clear day at sunset.

Views that look like a painting

Views that look like a painting

The opposite view at the top

The opposite view at the top

Back on the beach Phil took a refreshing paddle in the water, but decided it was too cold to swim.

 

 

Cua Van floating fishing village

Cua Van was an extraordinary village where about 700 people live simple lives on the water, it’s also the biggest of the 4 floating villages in Ha Long Bay. We took a sampan – a small bamboo boat and drifted past various homes, a school and a temple that make up the village. Families and children live on rickety looking platforms, but they didn’t seem bothered as they waved to us..

These people used to live in caves, but when the bay became a Unesco site, these floating homes were provided for them to live on water instead.

A floating home within the Cua Van fishing village

A floating home within the Cua Van fishing village

No need for a washing machine living on water?

No need for a washing machine living on water?

A mother and son fishing

A mother and son fishing

Fishing net boat with lights

Fishing net boat with lights

Today families earn a living by selling the fish they catch to boats and hotels back at the harbour or rowing tourists in their sampan boats for sightseeing. Fishing is done at night when they drop these giant nets into the water and turn on lights above the net to attract the fish, once the fish are over the nets, they are pulled up catching the fish.

You can't escape those hawker ladies!

You can’t escape those hawker ladies!

Sampan boats made from bamboo

Sampan boats made from bamboo

Fishing farm compartments holding different types of fish

Fishing farm compartments holding different types of fish

We were given the option to explore the village by sampan boat or kayak we chose the boat as Garth wanted to take photos, and also the last time we went kayaking in the Maldives resulted in loads of arguments, so best not!  The kayaks must be good for experiencing the karsts close up from a different perspective.

 

 

Tien Ong Cave

At Cai Tai island was this cave – Tien Ong, which was owned by the operator of our boat.  Split into two chambers they are still being excavated by archeologists after they found human remains dating back to 10,000 BC. Our guide took great delight in describing shapes in the staglities and rock formations that resembled things like frogs or faces.

Tien Ong Cave

Tien Ong Cave

Phil inside Tien Ong Cave

Phil inside Tien Ong Cave

There are hundreds of caves in Ha Long Bay, so make sure you stop and explore one of them. The amount is hardly surprising when you think the karsts took 20 million years to form!

 

 

Pearl Farm

After a couple of days on the boat we left the bay and passed fields of shrimp and pearl farms. We stopped off at one of the few pearl farms called Legend Pearl. It’s packed full of tourist buses but don’t let that put you off, as it was a fascinating education to see how jewellery is made and how pearls are cultivated.

Pearl farm fields on the edge of Ha Long Bay

Pearl farm fields on the edge of Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay's unique black pearls

Ha Long Bay’s unique black pearls

Pearls from Ha Long Bay have a distinct black and green appearance.

Performing surgery on an oyster

Performing surgery on an oyster

The process starts with workers performing surgery on oysters, transplanting them with a small coral bead.  This becomes a nucleus for the oyster to deposit iridescent layers of ‘nacre’ to form the pearl. Ouch, poor things!

End of the road for this oyster, as the pearl is removed

End of the road for this oyster, as the pearl is removed

2 or 3 years later and it’s game over for the oyster, as the shell is forced open to see if a perfect pearl may have formed inside the oyster’s organs…

Mother of pearl shell

Mother of pearl shell

We preferred the look of the shells more than the pearls.

Craftsmen making jewellery

Craftsmen making jewellery

This immaculate pearl set cost nearly £7,000

This immaculate pearl set cost nearly £7,000

Finally exit through the gift shop, of course, well in this case as massive shopping mall sized showroom with plenty of wealthy Chinese tourists snapping up items. The funniest part were the pictures in the showroom of A-List celebrities wearing pearls from Hilary Clinton to Esther Rantzen, um, random!

 

 

Signs of communism

The Communist Party in Vietnam use the hammer and sickle as their party symbol, and you’ll see plenty of these symbols in different forms on your journey to and from Ha Long Bay. The hammer and sickle is usually shown side by side Vietnam’s national flag.

The Communist Party hammer and sickle alongside the Vietnamese flag

The Communist Party hammer and sickle alongside the Vietnamese flag

Communist signs

Communist signs

Dozens of Communist Party messages on lamp posts

Dozens of Communist Party messages on lamp posts

You can’t not fail to notice the dozens of socialist propaganda messages everywhere, we found them fascinating, no idea what they said but we kept trying to work out what they might say. They vary from multiple signs that line lamp posts to gigantic billboard sized ones as we entered a new town.

Vietnam's Communist Party signs

Vietnam’s Communist Party signs

Garth being a graphic designer was fascinated by them, they have distinctive yellow text on red backgrounds.  A quick Google translate and these signs say “Warmly celebrate Party Congress Tinh Quang Ninh term XIV 2015 – 2020” and “Dang Bo, government and people of all nationalities Uong Bi Town striven to implement Resolution Party Congress and XIVth Provincial Party Congress XIIth National” ok, so there’s probably something lost in translation there!

Our guide told us since 1997 and access to the internet the population understand more now and know what’s going on.

Farming in urban surroundings

Farming in urban surroundings

One thing that was clear to us is just how hard the Vietnamese work. Passing through the urban farmlands we noticed they didn’t have any machinery. It’s all manual labour done by hand with the odd water buffalo for helping ploughing their fields, it must be a very hard life.

Manual labour in the farming fields

Manual labour in the farming fields

Roadside Karaoke venues

Roadside Karaoke venues

Karaoke bars are massively popular with the Vietnamese in their spare time, especially with men who drink a lot!

Roadside shops on our way back to Hanoi

Roadside shops on our way back to Hanoi

Phil loved looking out the window passing the potpourri of shops selling everything you can think of – phones, ornate furniture, marble statues even coffins. We also passed mega sized electronic factories including Canon and Samsung. This is where all our Canon products really come from, including the cameras that we use.

Ha Long Bay was an enchanting place and a life experience we will treasure. It’s a must see sight of the world if you are visiting Vietnam, especially if you stopping at nearby Hanoi.

 

 

Phil and Garth’s Top 5 Ha Long Bay Tips

Phil and Garth at Halong Bay

Phil and Garth at Halong Bay

  • Tip #1: Don’t go for the ultra-cheap boat options, make safety your priority when staying on water.
  • Tip #2: Beware of strong currents close to the bottom of karsts if you are kayaking or swimming.
  • Tip #3: May to September is low season, prices are much cheaper. But expect storms and hurricanes in July and Aug.
  • Tip #4: Things may look nice and clean but still use a hand sanitiser regularly to avoid being ill.
  • Tip #5: Wear trainers, not flip flops if you’re doing the hike to the top of Ti Top Island.

How We Did It

  • We paid for a small group guided tour of Vietnam (Vietnam & Cambodia Uncovered) with Inside Asia Tours

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36 comments

Jackie 26th October 2018 - 8:32 am

Amazing photos! I am so glad I stumbled on this. I am planning a trip to Vietnam which will definitely include Ha long Bay, so will definitely revisit your site. Thanks for all the tips. 🙂

Reply
Jenni 8th June 2017 - 11:37 pm

Wow these photos are amazing. I went to Halong Bay in February this year and this post has just brought back some wonderful memories. Although my photos didn’t turn out as colourful as yours as it was overcast and raining when I was there I think I might have to go back and get some better ones.

Reply
Travel Lexx 28th January 2017 - 8:50 pm

You guys had such an amazing time in Ha Long Bay – it’s by far my favourite place in Vietnam and there is just so much to see and do – we did some kayaking in the area, squid fishing and cycling through a nearby island. Yet you guys did loads of stuff that we didn’t – the area is fantastic! Love this post!

Reply
Helena 27th January 2017 - 5:06 am

I love your 60 second videos! They are always so tempting. I really enjoyed reading about your Thai Chi as well. Fantastic photos as always!

Reply
Sandy N Vyjay 27th January 2017 - 4:26 am

This is a lovely post about such an enchanting place. Having read umpteen posts on the same topic, I found your approach refreshing with a different perspective. Halong Bay has been photographed so lovingly by you and comes alive in your pictures.

Reply
Kreete 27th January 2017 - 12:48 am

You two make a great team! The photos are always fabulous and the story so easy and enjoyable to read. It was great getting to know Ha Long Bay a bit more and I love the cruise you took! The boat looks very authentic and the stop to Ti Top Island seems like something I would love to do! Hiking is very much my thing ha! I never knew this is how pearls are made. For some reason I thought they occur naturally in the nature? Well I am not wearing pearls anyway so at least it doesn’t make me feel guilty for supporting that. Thanks for your tips, I always love to know when the cheapest season is on! 😀

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