Halong 5star cruise day trip: Buffet lunch & luxury transfers

This was a really special tour. It was so personalized just for us and yet we were with a group of 48 people. Tony was in charge, I think is real name was Que (We). He was super thoughtful and we never had to worry about getting back to the ship on time. He kept us informed every minute of the way. I was a little concerned about getting to do it all because we wanted to do the speed boats, kayaking, touring the cave, climbing to the top of Titop. And we did it all and still have plenty of time to see the city when we got back before The ship left. So here's how it works. We got a text from the tour company from a few days out and they stayed in constant contact with us. The morning of the door we got a text from Tony. We also got a picture of a lady to meet and a place to meet her which was right by the cruise ship. It was a very safe place for easy walk and we had good food while we're waiting. Then we paid about a $14 per person fee which is charged by the government to enter the area that is known as Halong Bay. While our ship cruised away from the port and out into the bay, lovely ladies served us fantastic family style meals. All the while, Tony gave us a very clear understanding of where we were going and what we were going to be doing. He assured us that they need one to get back to the ship and that everything was properly timed out. And he was right. First we arrived at what they call a lagoon. Dozens and dozens of other boats are there. At that point you can either take a private speed boat tour for about $15 a person which was an absolute blast, or you can opt for a larger boat that you share with a group for about $10 a person. This was more casual and laid back. These book trips just weave in and out of the beautiful mountains coming out of the sea. Once your 20-minute boat ride is over, then you go and get it my fest and you can either get on a kayak or you can get onto a larger boat where the locals will paddle you around. These bows all go under a cave type opening and into another little bay where you'll see eagles and monkeys. Then you return to your boat and the boat travels slight ways maybe 10 minutes till you get to the cave called Surprise cave. Hear the boat drops you off and then you climb the stairs to go into the cave you walk through the cave and you exit on the other side and the boat will be there to pick you up. If you don't want to climb in the cave you can stay on the boat. Then the boat will move on to a place called Titop which is a lovely peek of an island that you can climb 400 steps up to a pagoda at the top. Gorgeous views and a great spot to take some pictures. If you choose not to climb up you can either stay on the boat or you can do the beach area which I'll have a lot of people there or you can do some lower scenic overviews. Once that's all done then you back on the boat and you head back for a lovely sunset cruise which will drop you right back where they picked you up at the cruise terminal.

The whole trip was great value for money and everyone on board tried their best to make the trip a wonderful experience.

Although it took about an hour to get from Hanoi to Ha Long bay, the trip was worth it for the beautiful views there. We did make an obligatory stop to a pearl factory but it also provided an opportunity as a rest and refreshment stop for those who did not want to buy anything. Ben our tour guide was very friendly and funny, and he made the experience pleasurable. The cruise was enjoyable. The sit down lunch was tasty. (They did have both meat and vegetarian options.) They also served us a cake and tea in the late afternoon. The cruise gave us some nice views of the bay, and we did have an opportunity to swim in the bay if we wanted to. There was also option to use a 2 person kayak or take a larger boat with a rower. We got back into Hanoi just in time for the night markets. The only change that I would make is that I would eliminate the last rest/bathroom/refreshment stop on the way back to Hanoi. I do not feel it was needed. I would recommend walking shoes for the two places that we went climbing for views and would recommend swimming clothes for those who want to swim and kayak.

The boat and the crew were great. U fortunately we did not see or shown (?) the different spots in the description " Passing beautiful landscapes in Halong bay: Dinh Huong islet, Kissing chicken rock, Ba Hang fishing villages, Titop island, Luon cave, Human faces islet, Yen Ngua islet, Male cave, Virgin cave..." But overall a very positive experience.

When I booked this tour, I received a WhatsApp message from 'Alex' to ask if we had any dietary requirements. I explained I do not eat animal products and Alex assured me that they would do their very best to cater for my needs. The food was absolutely fantastic. My partner had a huge array of seafood and side dishes and enjoyed everything he ate; as did I. We were met by Jerry at the marina harbour, who again, messaged me on WhatsApp to confirm where and when to meet him. He was extremely friendly and spoke very good English. The boat was perfect for the size of the group. We were given plenty of information about what to expect and anything else we needed to know - our first stop was to kayak or bamboo boat (you are given the choice) around. This part of the day will be something I remember forever - we kayaked through a cave and saw wild Rhesus Macaques with their tiny babies. It was absolutely incredible. We had half an hour to kayak around which was plenty of time to take in all of the sights. Next stop was to the surprising cave - again, this was breathtaking and Jerry pointed out all the things to take notice of inside the cave. Lastly, we stopped at TiTop island. The hike to the top is very difficult in the heat, but well worth the view you get at the peak. Overall, the entire day was magical and more than worth the price you pay. I would recommend this tour to anyone.

With so many good reviews, we’re not sure if we ended up on the same tour. The tour we went on was operated by a different company on the day we went. (Apparently this company often resells other tours) The guide although pleasant. He didn’t take time to build good rapport and rushed ahead leaving the group to follow. He would also disappear at rest stops and we found him hanging out with other tour guides. We definitely felt that we were not important to the company and were left out in the heat waiting for the driver and guide to return 10 mins late after we were supposed to meet at each stop. On a hot day the boat is unpleasant as no aircon. The lunch was also very poor quality and some tables received additional food our table missed. Halong bay was nice, but lots of rubbish in the water and smog in the air was off putting. Out boat also seemed to go through the middle of the main harbour so it never felt like we were really amongst the outcrops and watched them pass at a distance. The cave was interesting however very overcrowded. Titop island was also crowded and with only 20 mins or so to get to the top on a 40c day we were suffering from heat stress. The bamboo boat ride into the cave was interesting... they weren’t bamboo boats though... not a deal breaker but just added to the disappointments on the day. A very long day trip. I would instead suggest booking in person rather than online so you can ensure you will get a quality tour.

Couldn't be happier to contemplate " A Paradise on Earth" - Halong bay from the nice Day boat trip. Thank you so much Captain - Tran & his team who gave us unforgettable experience!