Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

Ha Long Bay is a major tourist destination in Vietnam, with its gorgeous views and opportunities for people to relax on the hundreds of boats that operate within the area. Most people book tours in advance that include transportation to and from Hanoi. We decided to book the tour through our hostel, the Republik Backpacker’s Hostel, and joined 70 other people from various other hostels for the 2 day, 1 night Oasis Bay Cruise (there is also the 3 day, 2 night option, which we opted not to take).

We were picked up at our hostel at 8:30am and made our way to Ha Long Bay on an air conditioned bus. Once we arrived, we were transported to the ship we were to stay on by a small boat.

To be honest, after seeing Ninh Binh, the views that Ha Long Bay offers were not as impressive. However, we really enjoyed the gorgeous views at sunset, and this is a UNESCO World Heritage Site so it is totally worth the visit on your trip to Vietnam.

Our boat cruise also included 1-2 hours of kayaking. We were given no instructions or recommendations on which route to travel, and in the over 90 degree weather, we were too hot and tired to do more than follow the others. There wasn’t really anything too interesting on our kayak trip, except for huge jellyfish that were floating in the water beside us and a small cave that we were able to paddle through.

Our boat also allowed us to go swimming by the boat, but we opted not to after watching someone get stung by a jellyfish.

After a fun night, we were treated to a cooking class in the morning, where we learned how to make spring rolls from scratch.

Ha Long Bay is a gorgeous place, but keep it mind that it has been heavily commercialized by tour operators and tourists. We didn’t get the chance to visit Cat Ba Island, but I’m sure the views from there are even more impressive and the island would have offered a more authentic experience. The constant heat and humidity made it hard for everyone to enjoy stepping outside on the boat, and while nothing can be changed about the weather, I felt that it did damper the experience for everyone.

If we did this again, we would opt for a less commercialized, more adventurous tour that would allow us to explore more of the islands.

Overall, Ha Long Bay won’t provide you with an authentic Vietnamese experience, so to say, due to how much the area has been commercialized. However, it is worth a visit for a relaxing day or two and for the breathtaking views as you sail across the bay.