Are you desperate to tick Halong Bay off your bucket list and want to know what to expect? Or have you heard Halong Bay is a bit overrated and don’t know if it’s worth skipping? This guide will cover absolutely everything you need to know to make a decision on doing a Halong Bay Tour. I’ll compare multi-day tours versus single-day tours and talk you through differences and prices between popular tour companies and the difference between Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay. I’ve also included a complete review of the Hideaway Halong Bay Tour, including what to expect, exactly what is included and included and what you should pack. To conclude, I’ll answer the pretty hotly debated question: is Halong Bay even worth it?
Visiting Halong Bay as a day trip vs a multi-day boat
When considering the iconic Ha Long Bay in Vietnam, the choice between a day boat trip and a multi-day boat excursion becomes an important decision for any traveller. The majority of companies offer single-day trips, two-day-one-night packages and three-day-two-night packages. Which option you decide on depends greatly on your budget, how much time you have in Vietnam and a bit of personal preference.
The pros and cons of single-day trips
A single-day trip to Halong Bay is perfect for those on a tight schedule or backpackers who are keen on getting a look at the famous bay without committing too much time or budget. Day trips usually cover the highlights, whisking you between famous limestone karsts, kayaking, and perhaps even to a few of the bay’s famed islands like Titov or Surprise Cave. The pro here is efficiency; you get to experience a few of the best bits of Halong Bay packed into a single, hectic day. Day tours pick you up in Hanoi early in the morning and drop you back late in the evening, so it’s a super long day with the travel time included. One negative is the day trips can also feel crowded, as many boats follow similar routes, and there’s little deviation from the well-trodden path of attractions.
The pros and cons of multi-day trips
On the flip side, a multi-day boat trip allows you to experience much more of Halong Bay at a much more leisurely pace. Multi-day trips often include stops at less accessible sites like Cat Ba National Park, sunset parties, activities like kayaking, swimming, cycling and visiting local villages. As they have more flexibility when they visit certain sights, they can travel at off-peak times and miss the day tour boats; meaning stops are often less crowded.
You also have the added experience of being on a boat with the same group of people over multiple dates. A lot of boats hold events or parties in the evening, which gets everyone on the boat together and socialising. This is a major benefit for solo travellers as you bond more with your cruise mates! The obvious downside to a multi-day cruise is the costs and time needed are higher. It’s also not everyone’s cup of tea living onboard a boat for days, and it may not be the best experience if you don’t get on with other travellers on board and then you’re stuck with them for days.
My recommendation on single vs. multi-day trips
Having done both a multi-day and day trip to Halong Bay in different trips to Vietnam, I can honestly say there is nothing like waking up on a boat to view Halong Bay from your bed. For me, as a solo traveller, the social vibe and the ease of making friends on a multi-day boat was a major plus. Single-day boat cruises tend to be more popular with families and couples on holiday who only have two weeks to see as much of Vietnam as possible (hence, opting for a single-day tour).
Multi-day tours (while they can have some holidayers on board) tend to be more popular with backpackers who have more time to experience Halong Bay. However, it goes without saying that Halong Bay multi-day cruises may not be in everyone’s budget or may not align with the kind of sightseeing you prefer. All tours are pretty organised, and some stops can feel pretty crowded and commercial. If you prefer to get a more off-the-beaten-track, then a Cat Ba Island cruise of Lan Ha Bay (a quieter Halong Bay) may be more your vibe.
Different Halong Bay tour companies
There are so many different tour companies offering Halong Bay Tours that it can feel overwhelming trying to choose. Each option caters to a distinct type of traveller, offering different vibes, amenities, and opportunities to connect with fellow passengers. I’ve cruised Halong Bay twice, in 2016 and 2023, and have seen a massive difference in the number of companies offering cruises and which companies are more popular with backpackers. Based on my experience in 2023, the most popular companies for Halong Bay Cruises are Sunlight, Hideaway, Oasis and Fantasea.
Sunlight Tours- best option for a budget single-day tour
Sunlight Tours are a great budget option for a Halong Bay day tour. The tour includes pickup and dropoff in Hanoi, all guides and entrance fees, visits to some caves, kayaking and lunch. You can expect to pay 1.5 mil VND Vietnamese Dong ($63 USD) for a single-day trip (no overnight stay).
Hideaway Tours- best option for a party vibe on a budget
Hideaway Tours is a budget backpacker boat with very much a party atmosphere that visits both Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay. They have two options: the two-day-one-night package and the three-day-one-night package. The tour includes accommodations on the Hideaway 5* cruise (shared rooms) with three large Jacuzzis and a dance floor, all meals, tour guides, transport, Halong Bay entrance fees, sunset parties, kayaking and activities. The longer 3-day option also includes a trip to Cat Ba National Park for trekking, cycling, a visit to a local village and visiting a viewpoint. Expect to pay 4.6 mil VND Vietnamese Dong ($186 USD) for the 3-day tour and 2.8 mil VND Vietnamese Dong ($113 USD) for the 2-day tour.
Oasis Tours- best option for a party vibe with a bit more luxury
Oasis Tours is a flashpacker boat with much more luxurious amenities but with a party atmosphere. They have two options: the two-day-one-night package and the three-day-one-night package. The tour includes accommodations on the luxury cruise (shared rooms) with outdoor jacuzzis, all meals, tour guides, transport, entrance fees, a sunset party, a cooking class, kayaking and activities. The longer 3-day option also includes a one-night stay on Paradise Island, Beach BBQ, paddleboarding and a visit to a local village on Cat Ba Island. Expect to pay 5.1 mil VND Vietnamese Dong ($209 USD) for the 3-day tour and 3.4 mil VND Vietnamese Dong ($139 USD) for the 2-day tour.
Fantasea Tours- best option for a luxury non-party boat
Fantasea Tours is very much a luxury boat, popular with couples, families or those who don’t want to party. They have two options: the two-day-one-night package and the three-day-one-night package. The tour includes accommodations on a luxury boat (twin-share rooms), all meals, tour guides, transport, entrance fees, a cooking class, squid fishing, kayaking and activities. The longer 3-day option also includes a trip to Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba Island and a visit to a pearl farm. Expect to pay 4.8 mil VND Vietnamese Dong ($195 USD) for the 3-day tour and 3.1 mil VND Vietnamese Dong ($129 USD) for the 2-day tour.
Halong Bay vs Lan Ha Bay
The choice between Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay has recently become a hot topic among backpackers. Ha, Long Bay is the UNESCO-listed bay just east of Hanoi that is on many travellers’ bucket lists. Lan Ha Bay is a bay that looks practically identical to Halong Bay (but isn’t UNESCO listed) is lesser known and easily accessible from Cat Ba Island. Regardless of which bay you visit, you are guaranteed stunning views that look like something out of a postcard and activities like kayaking, swimming, visiting caves and islands. But they are different experiences that cater to different types of travellers and what they value.
Pros and Cons of Halong Bay
Ha Long Bay, famous enough to be UNESCO lifted, is often featured on postcards and travel guides for its iconic beauty. Given how famous it is, it can be incredibly busy and crowded, and some spots aren’t suitable for swimming due to all the litter. Visiting Halong Bay can feel very commercialised and touristy to some, particularly as some of the tours run on a strict schedule. It is also much more expensive to join a tour of Halong Bay. Popular tour companies for backpackers wanting to visit Halong Bay include Fantasea, Hideaway, Oasis and Sunlight.
However, I think it really depends on whether you do a single-day tour or a multi-day tour to how “crowded” it feels. Day tour boats are popular with holidayers; they all leave and return to land around the same time, meaning they often follow the same itinerary in Halong Bay. This can result in 100s of people stopping at sites at the same time, making it feel much more crowded and less authentic of an experience. Multi-day boats have more time on the bay (as they don’t have a deadline to take passengers back to land) and will often avoid day boats and visit sites at off-peak times to avoid crowds.
Pros and Cons of Lan Ha Bay
On the flip side, Lan Ha Bay, accessible from Cat Ba Island, has been gaining favour among backpackers for its quieter feel and more affordable price bracket. While it shares the same stunning karst geography as Ha Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay’s lesser-known status means fewer boats, and it feels a lot less crowded. The smaller scale of tours here often translates to more personalized experiences, whether it’s kayaking through secluded coves, swimming in less crowded areas, or even docking at untouched beaches. Lan Ha Bay also offers easier access to Cat Ba Island’s other attractions, including its national park and local villages. It is a more versatile base for explorers looking to combine sea and land adventures.
The preference for Lan Ha Bay among backpackers isn’t just about avoiding the crowds; it’s also about the vibe. The sense of visiting a hidden gem and doing activities that are a bit more off-the-beaten-track creates a feeling of being in on a secret that the wider tourist masses haven’t caught onto yet. Lan Ha Bay cruises are often way more budget-friendly. They are popular with backpackers over holidayers, so you will most likely be on a cruise of people of a similar demographic. The most popular company running Lan Ha Bay Tours is Cat Ba Adventures.
My recommendation on Halong Bay vs Lan Ha Bay
That said, choosing between Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay doesn’t have to be an either/or proposition. Often, multi-day backpacker cruises of Halong Bay (such as the Hideaway Tour) visit both Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay, so you don’t have to choose between the bays. This is ideal as it means you get the best of both worlds. Ha Long Bay’s grandeur and scale are undeniably impressive, and it means you can tick off the bucket list that you visited the famous Ha Long Bay. Meanwhile, Lan Ha Bay provides a quieter, perhaps more authentic experience while still experiencing stunning views and doing fun activities.
However, Halong Bay Tours that include Lan Ha Bay are still much more expensive than tours that exclusively visit Lan Ha Bay. It just really depends on what you value and what you are willing to compromise on. Is it important to you to have visited the iconic Halong Bay? Would you prefer to save money and visit a bay that looks identical? Do busy tourist sights give you the ick, or are you okay with a few crowds?
What to expect on a Halong Bay Cruise
In 2023, I went on the three-day-two-night Hideaway Halong Bay tour, and this is exactly what to expect if you’re planning on doing the same. Even if you’re planning on going with a different tour company, this will give you an idea of what life is like onboard and what you can expect.
What is the boat like
The boat is actually massive, with so many people on board! After three days, I was still getting lost, trying to get back to my room. Despite how many people were on board, there were always so many places to chill, and it never felt over-crowded. They had a main floor where the meals were served, a dance floor, DJ’s decks, couches and tables for chilling, and a large bar. Above the main floor is the sundeck, where they have a smaller bar open for sunset and, at night, more couches and tables for chilling and loungers. Public bathrooms and jacuzzis in various sizes are scattered along the other floors, which are always available.
One important thing to note is that while there is power on board for charging devices, there is no Wi-fi and practically no phone service. Honestly, though, you’re meeting people and doing activities every day that most people don’t really miss their phones.
How paying for things works on board
The Hideaway Halong Bay cruise is cashless and works on a pre-paid coupon system. While activities and food are included, drinks and optional activities like banana boats and jetski-ing are not. To keep service fast, the bartenders do not accept cash or cards; they only accept coupons. When you first arrive on the boat, you tell the guide how many coupons you wish to purchase. Every day at meal times, you’ll have the option to purchase more coupons as you need to; however, it is better to purchase more than you need so you don’t run out at 1 am.
Any remaining coupons will be refunded for cash when you depart the boat on the last day. You can either pay cash or card for these coupons. When you head to the small beach in Halong Bay for drinks, water activities and swimming, Hideaway has a small bar set up. They don’t accept coupons or cash, but instead, keep a tab under your name of what you purchase. At the end of the cruise, you’ll have to pay for any outstanding purchases, such as drinks, banana boating, or jet-skiing.
What are the activities like
There are a number of different activities that are included in the cruise, such as kayaking, a local village tour, a hike to a viewpoint, cycling around Cat Ba National Park, jumping off a smaller boat, and swim stops. There are also optional activities, such as going on a banana boat and jet skiing, but these cost extra if you choose to do them. You don’t have to participate in all or even any of the activities; you can choose to stay on the boat if you wish. The activities are spaced out across the 2-3 days, so even if you do all the activities, you still have plenty of time to enjoy the boat and relax.
On day one, a big portion of the day is taken up by arriving, going through safety instructions and meeting everyone. You also get free time to chill when you first arrive on the boat. The only activities are going to a beach to swim, jumping off the boat and the optional activities of jetskiing and banana boating. Every night, there is a sunset party with a happy hour before dinner.
If you’re doing the three-day tour, on day two, this is when you have a land activity and visit Cat Ba National Park. The day includes jungle trekking to a viewpoint, cycling around the island and visiting a local village. The activity is the same in the late afternoon as the day before, and then there’s another sunset party. If you’re only doing a two-day tour, on day two in the morning, you have a kayaking activity, and then you have lunch and depart the boat. For those doing the three-day tour, you go kayaking on the third morning before having lunch and departing.
How rooming works
At the safety briefing on day one, they organise everyone’s rooms; if you’re travelling with people, they’ll put you in the same room, otherwise solo travellers will be roomed with others. There are a couple of different rooming options, including private rooms (you pay extra for these), shared rooms (either twin-share, three single beds or four single beds in a room) and family rooms for groups of 5+ people travelling together. The rooms all have comfortable linen and no bunk beds in sight, plenty of powerpoints, ensuite bathrooms, big windows for views of the bay, a small balcony and cupboards for storage. If you have five or more people travelling together, you can request a family room (no extra payment required), which includes a massive balcony and a private jacuzzi. They usually allocate it to the biggest group of people travelling together depending on boat numbers.
What are meals like
After doing many multi-day tours around Southeast Asia that included food, I really didn’t expect too much from the food on board a boat. The quality and options on the Hideaway Halong Bay tour really impressed me! Meals were either served family-style, where everyone shared a number of dishes at a table, or were a buffet, where you grabbed a plate and served themselves. They had lots of different meat, vegetarian and seafood options, and we even got oysters one day! Everything was cooked to a high quality, and there was always plenty of food to go around. There was so much food that every meal, everyone was stuffed. Meals were served three times a day, with timings based on the activities.
How crazy is the party
The party can be as tame or as crazy as you make it! Every night, there will be people in bed by 11 am and people still playing games in the jacuzzi at 3 am. The majority of people will start drinking at the swimming spot from around 3 pm, carry on drinking at the onboard sunset party, have a quick break for dinner and then start drinking again for the after-dinner happy hour. How much or how little you drink is up to you. There are different groups of people either dancing on the dancefloor inside, playing drinking games on the upper deck or chilling in the jacuzzis. It was a really fun and social environment, but there were no social reps (like you find at big party hostel chains) that were forcing people to drink.
If you’re a non-drinker and non-partier, this probably won’t be the right vibe for you, to be honest. Similarly, if you’re a couple who don’t want to socialise with others or you want to enjoy a peaceful cruise where you read a book and wake up early for sunrise yoga, there are other tour companies like Fantasea, which will suit you more. In terms of demographics, the majority of people on the Hideaway Halong Bay Tour are backpackers, with a couple of off-young holidayers in the mix. The average age was around 25, but there were lots of people in their 30s on board, so it really didn’t feel too young of a vibe. The majority of people were solo travellers or people travelling together who had met in another part of Vietnam, with a few social couples thrown in the mix.
Inclusions on the Halong Bay Hideaway Tour
- Accommodation: provided on board the boat. You’ll be placed in a room with 2-4 other people with an ensuite bathroom, or you can pay extra for a private room.
- Meals: Three meals are provided and will either be served as a family-style dinner or a buffet. I guarantee you will not go hungry (unless you’re too hungover and sleep through meal times).
- Activities: These include visiting beaches, jumping off the boat, swimming, visiting a local village, cycling on Cat Ba Island and trekking through the jungle to a viewpoint.
- Tour Guides: For every activity you do, guides will accompany you for safety, provide information, and pour beverages (when at the swim spots). On board, there’s also plenty of staff around that you can speak to if you need anything.
- Transport: Round-trip transport from Hanoi Old Quarter to Ha Long Bay. You can also choose to get dropped off or picked up at other locations, such as Cat Ba Island or Ninh Binh; just let the tour operator know at the time of booking.
- Sunset Parties and nightly events. Every day, you’re taken to a swim spot where everyone’s drinking, followed by jumping from the boat and then a sunset party in the jacuzzi. At night, they have DJ Decks and a dancefloor running, and they run an event like a gender bender party or a dress-up party.
- Entrance Fees and Environmental Conservation Fee: All entrance fees to Ha Long Bay and any specific attractions visited during the tour are covered.
- Water. Free water refills are available on board throughout the day/ night.
Exclusions on the Halong Bay Hideaway Tour
- Drinks: This is the main exclusion on any Halong Bay Tour (not just Hideaway). Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages aren’t included in the tour price. However, Hideaway sweetens the deal with constant happy hour promotions, making it feel like it’s always happy hour on board. Whether it’s deals on beer, cocktails, or shots, there’s always some sort of special or discount running.
- Personal Expenses: Any personal purchases or extra snacks outside of the provided meals are on you. Having some cash handy for those must-have souvenirs or midday munchies is a good idea.
- Optional Activities: The tour includes plenty of activities, but any optional extras not listed in the itinerary may incur additional costs. These activities include jet-ski rides and banana boats, which you have the option to do at the late afternoon swim spot. If you choose not to participate in the optional activities, it just means you have more time to chill on the beach, party or go swimming.
What to pack on a Halong Bay Tour
- Swimwear: Essential for swimming at the swim spots or lounging on deck.
- Sun Protection: Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat are essential.
- Personal Toiletries: Including any medications you may need. They provide mini containers of soap and shampoo in the ensuite bathroom, but you’ll still want to bring the basics.
- Beachwear for during the day: Most people wore a sarong, sundress or even just a pair of denim shorts and a loose shirt during the day when they weren’t swimming.
- Nicer clothing for night-time: You can wear whatever you want on the boat, but most people did tend to get a bit more dressed up for the night boat parties. Things like bodycon dresses (some girls wore makeup) and nice white linen shirts for guys were common.
- Activewear: If you’re doing the three-day tour, you will want to wear activewear for the jungle trekking, where you’ll get super sweaty and dirty.
- A pair of sandals and a pair of sneakers: A pair of sandals for around the boat (if you don’t fancy just going barefoot), and if you’re doing the three-day tour, you need sneakers or hiking boots for the hike.
- Reusable Water Bottle: Stay hydrated and minimize plastic use.
- Camera, Smartphone, Go Pro or Drone: For pictures and videos.
- Cash: Optional but more in case you want to buy personal expenses on land. You can use this to pay for drink coupons (you can also pay by card for this, though).
- Entertainment: Playing cards, drinking games, or UNO is a great idea for days on the boat.
What not to pack on a Halong Bay Tour
There are also a few things I wouldn’t bother taking with me on the boat. The first one is a towel, as they provide towels in your room. The only other time you may need one is for sitting on the beach at the swim spot, but you can either use the one from the room, use a sarong or just sit on the sand directly. Another thing that is not worth bringing is a portable charger as there are plugs in the room, and you won’t really be using your phone much for it to die, given there’s no wifi or no phone coverage. Similarly, I don’t think you need to bring a book or a Kindle to read. The time on board is really social, and it flies past, so you don’t have much solo downtime to read.
You also don’t need heaps of clothing options. A lot of people left their bigger luggage items in Hanoi or Cat Ba if they were going back to the same place they were before (which is much more convenient than lugging a big bag on and off the boat). Most people spend the majority of their time in swimwear and outfit-repeat during the day or at night.
Is Halong Bay worth it?
Visiting the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Halong Bay is on the bucket list of many travellers to Vietnam. For backpackers debating whether Ha Long Bay is worth the trip, I would say yes, but it won’t suit every traveller. The bay’s natural beauty is undeniable. If you like a good social/ party vibe, doing a multi-day Halong Bay Tour is a great atmosphere, particularly for solo travellers wanting to make friends.
However, its popularity is a double-edged sword. The main tourist areas can get crowded, which might detract from the experience. The sheer number of boats and tours operating in the bay can sometimes feel overwhelming. That said, there are ways to mitigate these issues, such as choosing a multi-day tour to avoid the dayboats or opting for a more off-the-beaten-track tour of Lan Ha Bay, which offers similar stunning landscapes with fewer crowds.
My honest opinion on whether Halong Bay is truly worth it
Another consideration is the cost. While there are budget-friendly options, Halong Bay is an experience that does cost more money than the average backpacker activity. In order to avoid disappointment and feeling like you’ve wasted money, do your research and ensure you know what you’re signing up for. Lots of travellers skip Halong Bay as they feel it’s too expensive and over-crowded and that it feels like a commercial, non-authentic travel experience. While I personally do feel that it’s worth it (I’d totally do it a third time!), you need to consider your own preferences, values and travel style to decide whether it’s the right activity for you.
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