HALONG BAY

The Halong Bay cruise is the definitive Vietnam experience: limestone cliffs towering out of green waters, tales of dragons and a bit of hassle

Worth It? Definitely. Everyone should go on a two-day cruise once.
What to Do Sign up for a good tour from Hanoi, then sit back and marvel at the limestone towers, or explore on your own from Cat Ba Island.
Best Time to Go September to November, after which it gets drizzly, cold and foggy through April; avoid summer weekends (mid June through August), which are crammed with domestic tourists; and beware of summer storms, which can delay trips.
How Long? Two-day cruise, or longer by staying in Cat Ba town on your own.
Gateway Arrange cruises from Hanoi (3.5hr by bus), or bus/boat to Cat Ba town from Hanoi or Haiphong
Fact Legends lurk everywhere around Halong Bay – the name itself means ‘where the dragon descends into the sea.’ Altering versions include that a wild dragon swung his tale here, knocking a one-time valley into its shape; another suggests a heavenly dragon and her children spit pearls into the sea to form forbidding mountains to block an enemy advance.

Named for a dragon because it looks like one, Halong Bay is a wonderworld of jutting jagged limestone rocks rising from the Gulf of Tonkin’s green waters. The World Heritage Site is so famous now – and so touristed – that occasionally visitors leave disappointed after taking a bay cruise around a smattering of the 2000 islands. Try to upgrade away from the often rip-off budget cruises – and just focus less on the herds and more on relaxation and the beauty. Sure it’s touristy, but drifting by floating villages, cannonballing off the sundecks of junk-style boats, and exploring eery limestone caves isn’t a bad way to spend a couple days. Those wanting to go without a group tour should base their visit from Cat Ba Town.

Click on the following for more on seeing Halong Bay:

TOURS vs DIY HALONG Weighs the cons of not going on an inclusive package tour — and which tours offer the best value.

CAT BA ISLAND An easy-to-reach indie hub for Ha Long Bay and lesser-seen Lan Ha Bay.

HAIPHONG Busy port town, with a fading French Quarter and ferry service to Cat Ba.