Halong Boat Tour: A perfect tour if you only have 1 day!

Halong Bay is a spectacular landscape in Quang Ninh province. The bay is also a popular travel destination in Northern Vietnam. In 1994, this wonderful area was recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage with 1,600 limestone islands and covers an area of over 1,500 sqm. The surrealistic natural wonder has indeed featured in endless movies, especially in Kong: Skull Island( 2017). For many visitors, this place is like right out of a movie with rocky islands soaring out of the ocean, thick jungles and magnificent oceans,...  

There is an ancient story about the name of the bay. “Ha Long” means “where the dragon descended into the sea”. According to the legend, when Vietnam was being attacked by Northern enemies, the Jade Emperor called forth a family of dragons from the heavens to fight against the invasion. The dragons rained down thousands of emerald gemstones onto the bay, giving birth to over 1,600 majestic limestone outcrops rising spectacularly from the tranquil calm of the Gulf of Tonkin.  

Ha Long- the Best time to travel 

There’s nothing you can say what is the best time to visit Ha Long. With each season, you will give the equivalent experience which is worth enough to try. So choosing the best time depends on what you expect. Here's some information to help you a bit more. 

Spring time:

February to April 

When spring comes, the weather starts warming up. You can enjoy Ha Long with a peaceful atmosphere, blue sky, and bright sunshine. Sometimes you can see drizzling rain, too. But you should notice that this time contains Lunar New year, so you can see a lot of domestic visitors here. The wonderful island will be full of people! 

Summer time: 

May to August 

This is not only the hottest time but also the rainiest time in Vietnam in general and Ha Long in particular. You can organize a bunch of outdoor activities on a sunny day such as kayaking, swimming, camping,... 

Autumn time:

September to November

During the time, the weather, which is very unpredictable, features frequent rainfalls, and even typhoons. So many people hesitate to book a trip to Halong Bay due to weather conditions. Halong Bay is still very beautiful all year around with its magnificent scenery, breathtaking views,... and there are plenty of good deals and promotions at this time to be considered! 

Winter time:

December to January 

This is considered to be the coldest time and there are fewer visitors to visit. You can enjoy the beautiful landscape with some fog, in literature and real life, it is a force of mystery and magic. It obscures some things to reveal others, and it can transform an already beautiful landscape into something out of a fairy tale. Sometimes, it’s raining but not much. 

How to get to Halong Bay from Hanoi 

It takes around 4 hours from HaNoi to Halong bay shuttle bus/ car. You might think of taking a motorbike and feel free to explore the roads but you should be careful and search for the direction. Another way is the most expensive by using seaplane flight over Halong Bay. Hai Au aviation has recently started a seaplane service inside Noi Bai Airport. This will cost you at least VND 6 millions! 

What to do if we have only one day in Halong? 

Taking a cruise is the best thing to do if you want to see all the beauty of Halong Bay. All you need to do is take to the water and sign up for a boat cruise. Choosing a luxurious cruiser or wooden boat depends on your budget and your style. There are various companies and different options to choose from. You need to know where you want to go and what you want to see to have the best choice for you. Please check the tour information carefully. Some tours may have English-speaking guides or not, hotel transfer, meals, entrance fees,... You also need to be aware that during your journey on a boat, you may see some crowded, dirty areas that you easily forget the scenery around you. 

Spending half of a day taking a cruise to visit beautiful islands and grottoes of Ha Long bay such as Tuan Chau island, Ti Top island, Fighting Cocks Island (Hon Ga Choi), Sung Sot grotto, Thien Cung cave, Trinh Nu cave (Virgin cave),... You may also discover the cave with Kayaking, bamboo boats or Relaxing on a boat. The special thing you can do on Ti Top island is swimming on the beach and trekking Titop peak for taking beautiful photos.   

At noon, you can enjoy the stunning panorama - Halong sunset on the cruise. This is the top of things you must do in Halong Bay. Imagine that you are sipping champagne on a boat and encountering incredible views. How romantic dinner is! You may just sit on the deck watching jaw-droppingly spectacular moments of Halong Bay sunset. 

There are so many ways for you to capture the best moments of Halong within 1 day!