Some tips for you to choose your  amazing Halong Bay cruise
There are many things you need to prepare for a perfect trip, if you are planning your trip to Ha Long bay and you would like to find answer for some questions such as What is the best time to visit Halong Bay? How long should I visit it for? What about the quality of the cruise?
Goodmorningvietnam will help you to pick out the perfect cruise.
Ha Long Bay is a famous tourist destination of Vietnam, located in the West Bank of the Gulf of Tonkin in the Northeast sea area of ​​ Vietnam. With thousands of wonderful islands and islets, Halong Bay has been recognized by as a natural heritage of the world by UNESCO. Ha Long tourism has the advantage of beautiful scenery, attractive a lot of  tourists all over the world

01. Decide when would you like to go ?
I received many questions like this : When is the perfect time to visit Halong Bay?
Surprisingly, there is no answer to that question. Halong Bay  that has been attracting travelers from all over the world. The cruising experience will be diverse depends on the weather and season you are planning on travel.

 

In spring   time(January to April): usually cloudy and high in humidity. It is less crowded by domestic tourists but the number will rise in April due to weather getting warmer and dryer.
In summer time (May to August): its the warmest but also rainiest season. If you are a water activities fan, this is the time for you to go. However, it could get crowded at some point as the students get school off and families come here to travel.
In autumn time(September to November): clear sky, warm weather, and the leaves change color makes Halong Bay a romantic destination. Furthermore, the water is still warm for water activities. Sometimes, there could be light rain or tropical storm in July and August.
In winter time  (December – January): Weather here is drier than in the summer time. The Bay could get foggy sometimes, which creates a mysterious and majestic scenery. However, the water is cold for any water activities.
02. Decide how long would you like to stay on Ha Long Cruise
Since Halong Bay cruises have three main itineraries operating, which are:

Is it possible to visit Halong in one day?
It is possible to come from Hanoi to Halong Bay for a day trip. There will be three options of day cruise which are 4, 6 or 8 hours. However, it will be a rushed experience which potentially leads to a long tired day and you won’t get much out of it. Besides, the experience of Halong Bay will be limited, the activities are also. Day cruise trip will not give customers time to do many activities such as swimming,  kayaking, visiting fishing village…
Some reasons why should you take an  overnight Halong Bay cruise?
Overnight on the bay will allow you more time to relax and enjoy the beauty of this area. The 2D1N cruise is a very popular choice for international visitors. Most programs will include caving trip, beach trip, kayaking, nighttime squid fishing…

03. Decide where exactly would  you like to go?
How are  the difference between Halong, Bai Tu Long, and Lan Ha bay?
Even though the area is known as Halong Bay, it is separated into three areas which are Halong, Bai Tu Long and Lan Ha Bay. The cruise companies offer different itineraries in the above three main areas. Halong Bay is the most popular route with Ti Top island and Surprising Cave. Lan Ha Bay is the route that give you the option of overnight on beautiful Cat Ba island. And Bai Tu Long Bay is a more remote are but will get you to avoid the crowd.

 

04. You should research the cruise boats
How do you find a Halong Bay cruise?
Based on classes, Halong cruise will be divided into three categories which are luxury, mid-range or low-end.
With luxury cruises, expect a beautiful well-maintained boat with spacious well-equipped and luxuriously furnished cabin with the facilities and amenities of a five-star hotel room. Also, expect a big crews who brings you attentive service, an array of well-organized excursions and on board activities, and for sure tour guide to accompany you on tours.
With mid-range cruises, the decision process takes a bit longer and harder. Comparably, mid-range cruise will equal to hotel from 3 stars to 4 stars. The boat will be a little older than the luxury cruises with fewer facilities and amenities.
Low-end budget cruises: the budget options could be tough since they can be very old and badly maintained with peeling paint and  basic furnishing.
Read more: Ha Long Bay Cruises List
Other things you shoud be interested in Halong Bay cruise:
What are some reviews on this boat?
Do you prefer a small cruise or a larger cruise with a big group?
What is the size of cabins? Are they decent and clean?
05. You should double check on what is included?
How to know what are you paying for your trip on Halong cruise?
It should be common that most itineraries of Halong Bay cruise include accommodations, breakfast, lunch, dinner, activities,… Some cruises could include in the price drinks, the transportation from Hanoi, food class,… Make sure you double check on the Inclusion and Exclusion part to get the most out of it.
What if it only says “Activities”?
On some itinerary, it could only say “Include activities.”You also should check with your provider for details of those activities. The variety of activities on Halong Bay are: kayaking , visiting floating village, swimming in a beach, cave exploring, morning Tai Chi, cooking classes, massages, squid fishing or biking on Cat Ba island.

 

06. You should book through the right place to get more profit
Should I book through my hotel or the cruise operator?
You can. But, it is surprising that if you book through your hotel or even the cruise operator themselves, the price is always higher than through travel agency or tour operator. Additionally, a travel agency or tour operator will help you a lot in picking the right cruise and organize your tour program according to your interest in no time since it is what they do on a daily basis. Furthermore, they will represent you to deal with service providers (hotel, cruise company, restaurant,..) when there is something wrong happens.

The planning process could be overwhelming and confusing. But with a bit of research, organization, and advice from the experts will make your trip is memorable.
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