They say that even if it’s just once in a lifetime, you must visit Ha Long Bay—a bay east of Hanoi with over 2,000 breathtaking karst hills. Ha Long Bay’s beauty is so remarkable that UNESCO designated it a World Heritage Site back in 1994.
Many people say that if you haven’t visited Ha Long Bay, it’s as if you haven’t truly been to Vietnam. Haha! Not wanting to miss out on a “complete” Vietnam experience, we included an exploration of this national treasure in our Indochina trip itinerary.
There are various ways to enjoy Ha Long Bay, from one-day trips to two- or three-day cruises. Ideally, exploring Ha Long Bay would take three days, but since my husband was low on vacation days, we chose a one-day trip to save time for exploring Hanoi.
Our tour started in the early morning. Around 7 AM, we were picked up by a 25-seater bus at our hotel. Onboard were three other families from Singapore, India, and Malaysia. We were the fourth group, and the bus continued picking up a few more tourists in the Old Quarter area. In total, there were eight families from eight different countries—quite a lively and diverse crowd! It was delightful to meet people from all over the world, and during rest breaks, we’d hear an array of languages filling the air. Such a vibrant, multicultural experience!
The drive from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay took around three hours. Don’t worry, it wasn’t non-stop; we took a break at a restaurant for restroom breaks, snacks, or souvenir shopping. Afterward, we reached the port and got ready to board the wooden boat arranged by the tour. The boat was sturdy and clean—a pleasant start!
As the harbor gave the green light for our boat toset sail, we were served a seafood lunch. It was a wonderful feeling, enjoying a meal while the boat slowly but surely left the port. In front of us, the bay’s vast scenery unfolded, while delicious food was served at our table—a perfect combination! For a moment, I forgot about all my monthly bills back in Jakarta. Haha!
Ha Long Bay has an abundance of charm. The boat glides leisurely between towering karst hills, inspiring awe at nature’s grandeur. I felt like just a small speck, marveling at this natural beauty while the breeze played with my hair. Of course, I took pictures along the way—gotta have some souvenirs, right? Haha.
After about 30 minutes of cruising, we stopped at a docking spot where we transferred to either a bamboo raft or a small kayak to explore a hidden lake behind a karst cave. We chose the bamboo raft, captained by an elderly woman who, despite her age, paddled with surprising strength.
Once we finished exploring the Karst Cave, the boat took us to see a stalactite cave, formed over millions of years by dripping seawater. Getting in wasn’t easy—you had to climb hundreds of steps—but it was worth it! The view inside was stunning.
The Legend of Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay is named as such because the Vietnamese believe their origins are linked to dragons. “Ha Long” literally means “Descending Dragon,” and the limestone hills rising from the bay resemble the back of a dragon. Dragons are regarded as protectors of the people.
Where to Buy Cruise Tickets to Ha Long Bay
Our trip to Ha Long Bay was a big success—my mom loved it, and my husband and kids were happy too. All this was possible thanks to thorough planning. I’m the type who likes to have the entire itinerary, tickets, car rentals, and everything else ready beforehand, so that I can relax and fully enjoy the vacation without worrying about ticket queues. So before setting off, I researched how to buy cruise tickets to Ha Long Bay.
Some suggest buying tickets at your hotel, others recommend purchasing them directly at the port, and still others advise booking through websites where you can simply transfer the payment.
Hmm, there are quite a few options. But…
Buying tickets at the hotel usually costs more.
Buying tickets at the Ha Long Bay port could be an option, but since I was staying in Hanoi—about 160 km to the east—it would mean arranging a car rental just to get to the bay. That sounded too complicated. No thanks. Haha.
Booking through tour websites seemed promising, offering convenience and affordable packages, with round-trip transportation from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay included. However, I was wary of being scammed, especially since the prices varied widely despite similar services. I didn’t dare to choose the cheapest one (in case it was unreliable), but I also didn’t want to pay for the most expensive option (who would, really?).
Just for fun, I checked Traveloka, and they offered a One-Day Trip ticket to Ha Long Bay! To avoid any hassle, I decided to go with the reliable Traveloka, where the booking process was super easy.