Hanoi Halong Bay Excursion Reviews

Halong was interesting but there were about 5000 other people at the caves also. But they were still cool.

Provider: Celebrity Cruises

Again a very well organised private tour and very good guide. You need to pay in US Dollars cash

Provider: Independent Operator

We were on a tourist boat with a small group we booked independently. The experience was overwhelming. Beautiful cruise but horrible food but we had to eat it as it was cooked by the person who lived on the ship.

Provider: Independent Operator

Cruised Halong Bay on a junk for 5-6 hours and made stops to visit caves and a pearl farm.

Provider: Independent Operator

Great cruise among spectacular scenery for about 1/2 the cost of the cruise line's tour.

Provider: Independent Operator

The ship arrived at mid-day but the trip from the river mouth to the dock fascinating with all the tall rock formations and the ship picking its way (with the aid of the pilot) to the dock an experience. The half day tour on boats through the various rock formations incredible and half way through the tour a stop to visit the most spectacular caves with stalagmite and stalactites amazing but quite strenuous with lots of steps.

Provider: Azamara Club Cruises

Truly a wonder of the world

Provider: Independent Operator

Hanoi stay was 2 days at Sofitel Hotel.City tours included.Fantasic sites to visit,but be aware of crazy traffic.Loved the rickshaw ride. Halong Bay junk cruise only mediocre.Poor food and small rooms.But area beautiful.

Provider: AmaWaterways

Great scenery, pity about the cost!!!

Provider: Celebrity Cruises

We did an overnight in Halong Bay on the Halong Violet. The name of the company changes from Cruise Halong and is now known as Heritage Line. (www.heritage-line.com) The was the highlight of the entire cruise for us. We arrive in Halong Bay at 1:00 pm. After a delay 40 minutes to tender to shore, we walked to the Royal Pier where our private tender was waiting to take us to the Violet. Apparently there was someone waiting for us at Bai Chay when we arrived but we did not see them. It would have saved us the walk. It took about 40 minutes to get to the Violet by tender. We saw some beautiful scenery. When we arrived they showed us to our room which was the Cloud Suite. This being a luxury junk, we had a beautiful room with wood floors and floor to ceiling windows. I was traveling with my mother and the bed could be made as a king or pulled apart for two twin beds. We also had a gorgeous bathroom with lovely shower and huge bath tub. The food on the Violet was delicious. They served a dinner with many options and also a yummy breakfast. The events included a visit to the floating museum and village by row boat which was magical. The water was clean and emerald green. We also visited a cave and the next day a beach for swimming. Everything was done very professionally and such a difference than Celebrity. We did not want to leave. The Violet only holds 12 people and it was wonderful to spend the time relaxing on the junk. During the night we anchored and you could see a few boats which were lit up nearby drifting near us. It was one of the best excursions I have ever done! When we came back to the ship the next afternoon we had a ship tour which was called Countryside and Shopping. The tour was awful. There was no shopping, no farm, and we only saw the buildings at the foot of the mountain for the Yen Pagoda. You actually have to take a cable car to the real Yen Tu which was 20 minutes from where we were. We stopped three different times for a bathroom break. It was the worst tour ever.

Provider: Independent Operator

Most enjoyable. Though it was mid winter and weather could have been better for photo opportunities, the excursion was a pleasure. However I worry about the skills of some of the boat captains and how the seem to ram into each other as it if it nothing at all.

Provider: Celebrity Cruises

Most enjoyable. Though it was mid winter and weather could have been better for photo opportunities, the excursion was a pleasure. However I worry about the skills of some of the boat captains and how the seem to ram into each other as it if it nothing at all.

Provider: Celebrity Cruises

The tour guide was just guiding us up and down the boat with no information provided during our tour in the cave. He walked through the cave quickly without stopping for explanation or photo taking, so most people eventually chose to stay behind and take pictures instead of following him. After the boat tour, he took us to a restaurant for "beef noodles" which was not of good quality and the waitress charged us a higher price than stated in the menu. Her explanation was that price in the menu was for a smaller bowl of noddles but we didn't see any difference in sizes with orders from nearby tables.

Provider: Costa Cruises

Seriously? A junk tour? I expected a junk, not a tourist houseboat. Yuk, I would not eat nor drink on this boat where the dishes were washed in the bay. Death on a plate. This is so commercialized it is not really any good. Book a smaller craft and enjoy the beautiful cliffs without all the constant barrage of "gifts" they are selling.

Provider: Seabourn Cruise Line