hi,

I will make my trip for a 2D1N at Ha Long Bay around 3rd week of Jan 09, jz myself.
I did surf the net and there are plenty of offers.

Is there any price different between pre-book online and book thru local travel agent?

Any more website for me to reference besides these 2 website
http://www.halongluxurytravel.com/
http://www.southpacifictravel.com.vn

Cheers,
Marcus

It seems that for every agent recommended to me I can find 4or 5 people who had a terrible experience with them. Like I posted before this is making me very nervous about the whole Halong Bay cruise thing.
I have read terrible reviews of Kangaroo, ODC and Tonkin, and even someone on LP Thorn tree whose ODC boat sank, and the crew did not help him and his wife!
Can anyone recommend a company that is trustworthy?I know there are fake ones but how can I tell which are which?
thank you .If I don't get reliable answers I will give up the quest pretty soon.

I have read lots of bad experiences of the Halong bay cruise.Can anyone recommend a really good company? Should I book before I get to Vietnam? Also is it essential to do an overnight tour on a junk or can I get a good idea of the place just with a day trip and return to Hanoi to sleep on dry Land (I prefer that) Thanks in advance.

Has anyone been to Ha Long Bay 2D 1N with Sinh Cafe? How was the overnight stay on the boat like? Are the rooms clean and with bathroom?

I am planning to book a flight to Hanoi in the first week of December. Based on initial plans, I'll have 4 full days and one of my objectives is to visit Ha Long Bay. I've been browsing through VT and with the wealth of info available, I'm having info overload :) To simplify, I have few clarifications:

1. I'm thinking of spending day 1 and day 4 in Hanoi, and days 2&3 in Ha Long. Will an overnight be enough to see Ha Long including travel time from/to Hanoi?

2. As I understood it, Ha Long bay can be toured in either a junk boat or a paddle-wheel boat. Based on pix, the latter seems to be more luxurius and thus more pricey, am I correct? Any idea on the price difference between a junk and a paddle-wheel boat? Do they have the same itinerary such that it won't matter which one I book (except the boat's amenities)?

3. I read too that Vietnam has distinct dry-wet weather months. Generally, what is the weather like in December? Rainy, windy, cold? Is it wise to go to Ha Long during this time of the year?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Hi everyone,
I have two questions:
1) will it be too cold to swim in the bay waters during the first week of november?
2) Has anyone heard any bad/good reviews about Annam Junk or TUN travel agency? I'm hoping to use them but I've noticed some of the information on their site is inconsistent at times.

Hi,
My wife and I are planning a visit to Vietnam end February/March 2008. With all the junks plying their trade on Halong Bay, I was wondering if members could post their personal experiences of the following options:
Emeraude, Huong Hai, Bai Tho, Halong Dream, Lagoon Explorer, Bien Ngoc, Halong Ginger, Jewel of the Bay, Bhaya, Annam, Santa Maria and Dragon Pearl (which may still be unavailable at that time).
I have done research (including these forums) and have already compiled a list of features and recommendations. However, I would appreciate any first-hand comments (both good and bad) on the above selection.
Thanks so much.

Halo VTs,

I am planning on 3D2N at Halong Bay.
Can anyone give me some comment on Hai Long Junk by APT?

Previously book santa maria junk
but now they longer do low cost tour?

Need your guys advice.

Btw, is 3D2N too long in Halong Bay?
If we take 2D1N can anyone recommend where should be spent our 1 day time besides Hanoi City (we reserved 2 n half day for that)

Thanks

Hi guys! I'm planning my next trip to Asia. I'm trying to combine the Andaman Coast island from Thailand and the North of Thailand, including Ha Long Bay. I was pretty sure to go in mid April to Vietnam and then, begining of May, to Thailand. But I just read that Feb to April can be cold and the fog can let you enjoy so much of the scenery. Can anybody confirm me this information? How's is the weather during mid Aprin, begining of May in Ha Long Bay?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Hi, I've heard quite a few good things about the Lagoon Explorer run by Tropical sails, and will probably book a 2D/1N trip for me and my girlfriend in November. What would be the cheapest way to book it- straight from tropical sails/handspan or from one of the other tour agencies?

Thanks in advance

Hi!

Can anyone recommend a nice cruise for Ha Long? We were looking at Emeraude and it seems amazing but we're really open to options!

Thanks in advance!!

how much is the price for 3D2N (include kayaking) halong bay trip? i'm going 2 Vietnam tis 15/6/07 and can't figure out d budget 4 this trip...can some1 out there plz help me??10z in advance...

Hi, I'm going to Hanoi this weekend. I'm planning to book a 2D/1N trip to Halong Bay. But looking at all the itineraries from different agencies, it seems like I have to make a choice between going to Thien Cung and Dau Go caves OR Sung Sot cave, since none of the agencies go to all 3. So, can anyone advise me whether I should go for Thien Cung and Dau Go caves OR Sung Sot cave? Which one is better/more beautiful?

Hi,

If there's anyone of you that has enganged the service of vietnam paradise travel, please do share your experience. Me and my friends is about to book a tour from this tour operator, and we are required to pay deposit of USD500. I was wondering if this tour operator can be trusted. Usually other tour operators do not ask for deposit.

http://www.vietnamparadisetravel.com/Home.asp

Apparently the Emeraude junks are under repair when Im in the area. Is anyone familiar with THE LAGOON EXPLORER or the DRAGON PEARL junks from TROPICAL SAILS? Are they equal with the Emeraude junk?

We're tourists on a budget trip. Is it possible to go to Ha Long by ourselves by taking a bus or cab or is taking a tour operator a better option? Around how much is a 2-day 1-night tour around Ha Long? Do Ha Long tour operators charge less than Hanoi tour operators for the Ha Long tour?

Hi all,

Planning to go for Detian Waterfall from Halong Bay, need advise of mode of transports, do and dont while crossing border of Vietnam and China? Thanks.

i see all ur comments about halong and the prices for the trip. how come i am seeing a much more expensive price on the internet? did u all book the trip while u were in halong? plz give me a hint on how to book the trip. 2d/1n. thank you.

where and when shall i reserve a trip to halong? when i am in vietnam or before i get there? thanks

We are shopping around for a junk to tour Halong Bay and there are so many offers at very different prices, plus a lot of negative info about how unsafe the junks are, how they aren't fit to sail etc. that we don't know what to think. Our travel agent suggests Huong Hai Deluxe Junk as the "best in Halong". Any thoughts?

Also, does anybody have an opinion on whether it's best to take a boat or a junk?

We went to Halong bay in 2002 on a boat and the tour itself was really nice, but the boat was awful. There were rats in the cabins so we all slept on the terrace.

I'm still not sure whether to go for a 2d,1n or a 3d,2n trip dowwn to Ha Long. Can anyone advise me as to what the real difference between the two trips will be? Also I have heard quite a lot about ODc and also Handspan does anyone have recommendations based on their personal experience. I am a single female traveller.

Many thanks

Clare

I looked on Handspan's website and it was about $188/person for a 3 day/2 night. Would it be cheaper to book when I'm in Hanoi rather than the internet? As well, does anyone know if either Handspan or another company would rent boats as both myself and my partner are experienced kayakers and outdoors people and have guided trips in the past.

It seems like all the 2d1n trips to Ha Long Bay are charged at a high price. not less than 100 per head, sometimes even excluding the transportation between hanoi and ha long.

is it not possible to locate one that charges around US70 per head for a comfy night on the junk boat, all inclusive?

appreciate any comments!

Val

is it very foggy and cold?

Do we have to expect rain or cold weather?
will shorts and t-shirt do?

thanks for your responds!

Does anyone know why the Kayaking Trips to Ha Long Bay are so much more expensive than other Ha Long Bay Tours? The prices I got quoted are $249 / person for a private tour (we are two people), and $152 / person for joining a group tour.

Please see my itinerary below:

At 08.30, you will start your 2 day trip to Halong bay by 3 and half hour drive through the rich farm land of the Red River Delta. Upon arrival in Halong, we board on the traditional junk. Enjoy a fresh seafood lunch and feast your eyes on one of Southeast Asia’s premier tourist destinations as we head for the first kayaking point. When we arrive, the guides will teach you basic kayaking techniques and rescue procedures. Take your kayak where few tourists have ever gone before, paddling through fishermen floating village, islands, hidden beaches, giant cave and arrive on small sandy beach. Time for swimming. Dinner and overnight on the boat. If conditions are favorable, slip out under the stars for a moonlight paddle.
(-,L,D)

You will rise up early to wait for the sunrise after a good sleep. After breakfast, you will have 2 hour paddling to explore the hidden lagoons and secret lake before getting on the junk again and may be for the last swim. You will have lunch on board then disembark for the drive back to Hanoi. You will arrive in Hanoi at 16.00. (B,L,-)

I will have less than 72 hours in Hanoi in October. My companions and I want to go to Halong Bay. Any advice on how to organize a trip there? Is it worthwhile to stay overnight and, if so, do we need to book accomodation in advance? Should we book transport and accmodation online in advance, or in Hanoi?


Thanks,
Chris

How is it in the rainy season, is it possible to go out with the boats etc?

hi, we are going to cat ba/halong bay in may. Normally, I like to go to this type of place for about a week, to chill and not have to rush to see everything. I'm wondering whether its worth spending this long in the area? Does cat ba have nice beaches/bars? Is it worth going round Halong Bay a couple of times? Is there snorkelling/kayaking/trips? thanks for any help

Does anyone have any recommendations on hiring a tour of the bay. # days 2 nights, that sort of thing. Is it better to do it out of Hanoi?