6 Tips on How to Choose the Best Halong Bay Cruise
From how long to go, to which Halong Cruise route to take and how to avoid the crowds!
Halong Bay is a complicated place for us. We don't love mass market attractions, but Halong Bay is a gorgeous natural wonder, and despite the crowds it is still worth seeing - on the right cruise boat! If you go on a good cruise, your Halong Bay experience would feel like a relaxing getaway in a gorgeous natural setting, instead of simply something you have to do when you're in Vietnam.
Here are some tips on choosing the best cruise for you!
Choose a 3D2N cruise to see all the highlights
Halong Bay cruises range from 1 to 3 days. If you are short on time, day trips are a good enough option for you to catch the key highlights of the bay. But the best part about going on a Halong cruise isn’t just to squeeze all the highlights into a few hours. The biggest draw is having the luxury of time to kayak, sit on sundecks and watch the blazing sunset on emerald waters, and wake up to that amaaaaazing sunrise view.
So if you have time, definitely do the 3D2N cruises so you don't feel too rushed and you can enjoy both the sightseeing and the seriously nice boats.
Choose a Smaller Cruise Ship
If you're like us and you don't love huge impersonal tours, definitely go for a smaller cruise ship.
Usually the day cruises are larger (up to 100 persons) and more impersonal, whereas the overnight ones tend to be on smaller cruise ships (from 20 to 60 persons). We much prefer the smaller cruises as you don't need to wait for ages to disembark for activities, and the whole experience feels a little more personal.
Take the Less-Touristed Routes in Halong Bay
Not many people know this but although the whole area is known as Halong Bay, there are in fact 3 different bays: Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay. If you want to have fewer boats around you, choose a cruise that takes you to Bai Tu Long or Lan Ha Bay - which are more secluded and less-crowded bays. All three bays have basically the same views and the same activities, so you won't be missing out!
Read more here on the differences between them and decide on which bay to visit.
For a Less Cookie-cutter Experience, Look at the Itinerary
Most people when choosing a Halong Bay cruise will only look at the pictures of the boat, because the activities all start looking quite similar after a while. Most cruise boats will offer kayaking, tai chi, sunset parties, cooking demonstrations, hike to Titop and cave visits.
But there are cruises that do offer more interesting stops on their itineraries, like cycling on Cat Ba island and hiking in Cat Ba National Park, and more varied on-board activities like jet-skiing and yoga. There are even party cruises with live DJs on board!
So if you want a less cookie cutter experience, choose a cruise that has a differentiated itinerary.
If You're Going on a Day Cruise, Take the Expressway
If you only have time for a day cruise from Hanoi, choose the cruise that takes you on the expressway route from Hanoi. Most cruise boats that offer transport from Hanoi will take you on the 4-hour non-expressway route as it's cheaper. But this means you spend a total of 8 hours travelling and only 3-4 hours on the water, which is super rushed for a day trip!
Instead, choose a cruise that takes the 2-hour expressway route. This cuts your transfer time by half, and allows you to spend 5/5+ hours on water for a more relaxing time. You’ll also skip the tourist trap shops on this faster route!
Bonus: To Really Avoid the Crowds, Go to Cat Ba
Cat Ba sees a third of the tourists that Halong Bay sees every year, even though it has pretty much the same karst landscape and same type of activities. If you want a more off-grid cruise with the same views, head to Cat Ba instead!
A lot of the boats from Cat Ba may still head to the Halong Bay area, but they'll spend more time around Cat Ba and have more outdoorsy activities like rock-climbing, hiking and cycling around Cat Ba Island.
The vibe at Cat Ba is more rugged and adventurous, and the boats are more basic. So if you want luxury, you won't find it at Cat Ba.
Top Halong Bay Cruises FAQs
Halong Bay can feel touristy and crowded, especially with many boats following the same route. However, it is still one of the most beautiful places in Vietnam and on most travellers’ bucket lists. So come expecting crowds, and try not to let them get you down because it is still a gorgeous natural wonder!
The key to avoiding a tourist-trap experience is choosing the right cruise and route—opt for smaller boats, fewer crowds, and alternative routes like Lan Ha Bay or Bai Tu Long Bay.
Halong Bay will always have crowds, but there’s a big difference between a packed tourist trap that ruins the experience and a lively atmosphere that’s still enjoyable.
To avoid the worst of the crowds while still making the most of the bay, here are some tips:
- Choose Lan Ha Bay or Bai Tu Long Bay instead of Halong Bay. They offer the same landscapes with fewer tourists.
- Pick a small cruise (20-30 pax) instead of a large one (50-60 pax).
- Go during the off-peak season (March-May or September-October).
- Book a longer itinerary (3D2N) to visit the quieter, less-touristed areas.
The best time to visit Halong Bay is from March to May, when the weather is pleasant, off-peak, and ideal for activities like kayaking and swimming.
November to February is peak season, offering cool weather and misty views. But it is super crowded then! Book your cruise early.
Avoid June to August, as these are the rainiest months. Most of Halong cruises have a lot of outdoor activities so it won’t be very much fun to visit when it rains.
The majority of one day and overnight cruises continue to operate during Tet Holidays however they do increase their rates as staff that work during those days are required to be paid extra. There may be some cruises that may close for two or three days during the Tet holidays.
However note that if you’re in Hanoi over Tet, your food choices will be very much reduced as many shops and restaurants will be closed for the week of Tet.
We recommend the 3D2N cruise, as many guests find 1-2 days too rushed. Since Halong Bay is best enjoyed at a slow pace—soaking in the scenery and relaxing on the boat rather than rushing through activities—3D2N gives you the time to truly experience it.
- Day trip – A quick option if you're short on time, but it only gives you around 5 hours on the water, meaning limited sights and little time to relax.
- 2D1N cruise – The most popular choice, though the itinerary is often packed with activities. You effectively only get less than 24 hours on the boat because you need to check out in the morning on the 2nd day.
- 3D2N cruise – The best option for a more relaxed experience, with time to explore quieter bays and fully enjoy the cruise amenities.
If you have the time, 3D2N is the way to go!
