Overnight Halong Bay Tour

Halong Bay (Ha Long means Descending Dragon)

Day O: Travel Tips | Arrival in Hanoi

Day I: Do-it-Yourself Hanoi City Tour

Day II and III: Halong Bay Tour

Halong Bay Tour (Day Tour,Overnight,3 Days/2Nights)

Day Tour- (recommended if you have limited time)It will be a tiring trip, travel time  4 Hours to Halong,Lunch on Board,4Hours Activities,4Hours Back to Hanoi 

Overnight- (the tour we availed) – Same Travel Time Back and Forth, Same Activities, With Accommodation (Cabin),4 Meals (Lunch,Dinner,Breakfast, Lunch),Night Party,FreeTime(the ff morning,optional tour).

3Days/2Nights-Same with Overnight Tour plus 3 Meals (Dinner,Breakfast,Lunch),2 Nights Partying,1 Day at Cat Ba Island (Beach)

We’re interested for the Overnight Halong Bay Tour, Original price is $80 per pax for all the travel agencies, But for us  we only got it for $58 per pax (a good deal, that’s the power of haggling).Booked our Halong Bay Tour (Pick Up Time=8:30AM Following Morning)through Green Street Hotel (location Ma May Street,2 Lodge away from Hanoi Backpackers Hostel, besides Shop and Go Convenience Store)

Day II: After 3 Hours of Sleep. Woke up by 7am.Breakfast.Checked out and Left  other stuffs in our Hotel since we will return the following Day.

By 8:30 AM, Picked up by Halong Dugong Sail Tours.4 Hours Travel to Halong Bay at Quang Ninh Province

Stopover after 2 Hours (Marble Made Souvenirs by Disabled Vietnamese)

Around 12:30 to 1PM,Reached the Halong Bay Wharf. Exact Time for Lunch

Checked in first, Cabin good for 2 (with WC, AC (8pm to 6am),Life Jackets,Flashlight,Towels)

 

Lunch- 5 Classes of Viands(So-So)(Warning: Rice will be served last),Fruits, Drinks (Own Expenses)

Free Time for 45 mins, Preparing for the Activities/Itineraries. Transferred to a small boat

Our Water Shuttle

Water Transfer

*First Activity – Kayaking

Reminders: Penalties 30 USD (Lost Paddle),500USD (Broken Kayak),Wear Life Vest and Good Balancing and Coordination with your partner is a requirement.

My 1^st time Ever. Mixed Emotions and a lot of What Ifs. You will cross and race with other kayakers.

During our Kayaking We saw a lot of floating vendors,  floating residences/communities. I Loved the Experience 

*2^nd Activity- Caving (Sung Sot Cave)

Huge Cave with Artificial Lights…Define and Spell  H U G E

Nice Trail and Trash Bins inside. 5 Chambers. Rock Formations and Has Natural Light

View from Sung Sot Cave

Am i inside a cave?

Spot the Index Finger pointing the Hole

*3^rd Activity- Beaching (Dao Ti Top)

Last stop/ Finale Activity of Every Group from different Travel agencies. The only white sand within the area. Not met my expectations .Didn’t try to swim and it’s almost Sunset.

Overnight Tour Cruise

Our Group

Then back to our Vessel, Freshen up.Dinner( Mostly Veggies, Seafoods etc…So-so(Warning: Rice will be served last)). Free Time. Videoke (they call it Karaoke). Bought Beers (cheap)from a Floating Vendor, Just  be quick and Hide it. Mind the Corkage Fee.

Dinner Time

Party all-night with 2 Germans, 2 Australians and a French Guy. Sleep (No Data Available- Tired)

Cruise For Overnight Tour

Spot the Big Turtle

 Day III: Breakfast (Toasted Bread, Jam and Butter and Coffee). Free Time.Optional Tour (  for $3). No Itinerary for that Day,Just stayed at the Cruise,Laidback ,Waiting for our Lunch to be served and Back to the Harbor. Boredom?!.. No Way, We reciprocate it with Photo- Op (Shutter, shutter, shutter)!

3D/2N Cruise

Fishing? or Shelling?

Cruise for 3D/2N Tours

 

Coron or El Nido Philippines?

Souvenirs Vendor

They called it Junk - Vessels for Day Tours (Indeed Junk)

Our Group (United Nations)

 

After 4 Hours from Halong, Hello Hanoi by 4 pm. Bought Souvenirs at the Dong Xuan Area.Back to our Hotel , Packed our things, Arranged airport Transfer ($13- 4 Seaters). Dinner. Walked and Tried street Foods along Hang Buom at  Ma May. Bye Old Quarter by 915pm. Hello Noi Bai Airport by 10pm. Bye Hanoi Vietnam by 1am (VN Time)

On my next visit, I'll make sure that i can cross Laos and go to Luang Prabang Province (Roughly 20- 24 Hours Travel) and also go to SaPa (Lao Cai Province,Northwest Vietnam)

Tips and Information

Halong Bay ( Combination of Sagada, Coron, El Nido Philippines all in one Area)

You have to listen attentively what are the instructions of your tour guide. Mind his accent!( Read his Lips)

Kayaking Activity

-Don’t bring any valuables,Just Bring your Waterproof Camera (ONLY). There are No  Lockers within the area or you can leave your valuables with your Tour Guide

-Wear your Swim Wear already before you left the Big Vessel. Haven’t seen any Water Closet (WC) w/n the area

Caving Activity

-Bring your Water. Senior Citizens (mind the steep steps). No worries there is a Good trail and Signage Inside

Beaching Activity

-Very Low Expectations. Tours in Coron, Philippines is still number 1 for me. Beaches in the Philippines are more astonishing ,pristine and I’m sure you’ll LOVE it.

- The Advantages of the Halong Bay Tour

                - Cruises

                -Kayaking Activity

                -Accessibility from Hanoi
                -Dept of Tourism in Vietnam is very systematic and organized

-Now we experienced the Overnight Halong Bay Tour, I suggest that go for  a Day Tour  Period(Range $20-30). Less Expenses, less boredom…

Acknowledgment: This trip wouldn't be possible without their tips,guides and help from their blogs
                          -http://goriolakwatsero.com/
                          -http://ihcahieh.com/