There is no shortage of tour agencies in Hanoi, and in fact throughout
Vietnam, offering a multitude of trips for a multitude of prices to
Halong Bay.
The options are endess, 1 or 2 nights on the boat, in a hotel, in a
bungalow, cheap, mid range and luxury. How do you choose? After
reading up on other visitors experiences online, and after stopping in
at about 6 agencies and enduring a similar sales pitch, we finally
settled on the best deal we could get. 2 nights/3 days, 1 night on the
boat and the next in a budget hotel on Cat Ba island, for 60 USD each.
We later found people had paid more for just 1 night, or up to 150 USD
for a more luxury option that generally entails the same trip.
A bit nervous about going with the budgetest of budget options, we hoped
that at the very least, we could find comradery with our fellow
travellers if the quality was not up to par. And this we surely did!
On our first day, and just after a slight delay to getting on the boat, we were met with a clear, sunny day for beautiful photos. We enjoyed cruising slowly round the beautiful bays, watching some people kayak or be rowed through tiny caves by local people.
On our first day, and just after a slight delay to getting on the boat, we were met with a clear, sunny day for beautiful photos. We enjoyed cruising slowly round the beautiful bays, watching some people kayak or be rowed through tiny caves by local people.
We preferred to lounge in the sun on the deck as
these optional activities were extortionately overpriced.
A few of the highlights from the budget option include average average food, our sleeping guide forgetting to call the bus for the afternoon's activity, a flat tyre, the odd rat seen near the kitchen, no hot water on the boat and expensive drinks on board!
After a mega hike through the muddy and treacherous Cat Ba National Park in slip on canvas shoes, we spent a nice relaxing afternoon in a cafe devoted to the flightless bird.
A few of the highlights from the budget option include average average food, our sleeping guide forgetting to call the bus for the afternoon's activity, a flat tyre, the odd rat seen near the kitchen, no hot water on the boat and expensive drinks on board!
After a mega hike through the muddy and treacherous Cat Ba National Park in slip on canvas shoes, we spent a nice relaxing afternoon in a cafe devoted to the flightless bird.
Here we entertained and educated our group on
all things kiwi including tikis, silver ferns and why we are not named
after a fruit!
With some great people on our boat, we definitely an awesome trip, and perhaps enjoyed good value for money, if you discount a few delays and extremely average meals.
With some great people on our boat, we definitely an awesome trip, and perhaps enjoyed good value for money, if you discount a few delays and extremely average meals.
Click here for beautiful Halong Bay photos
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