Halong Bay is one of those magical, ethereal places you dream of visiting and when you do, it is as spectacular as you imagine. For those who are less familiar, Halong Bay is a stunning bay in Northern Vietnam that is famous for its emerald green waters and the rainforest-covered limestone islands. After an exciting but hectic two days in Hanoi we went off to Halong Bay for the ultimate relaxation. Here are my recommendations for doing it right.
Accommodations
There are dozens of companies you can cruise with on Halong Bay, but we decided to go with Bhaya, due to its stellar reviews. You can choose from a variety of different options, but we went with one cabin private boat, for three days and two nights. We had our own private deck, dining room, cabin and bathroom complete with a bathtub and our own crew. It was pretty magnificent! The food provided by the chef on board was also exceptional. For breakfast, we had a massive spread of noodles, eggs, fruit, yogurt, pastries, cheese, fresh-squeezed juice, and coffee.
The Food
At lunch, we had a three-course meal, complete with soup and dessert. Dinner was another impressive array of items like vegetables in Vietnamese curry, pho, pumpkin soup, papaya salad, fried tofu, spring rolls, fried rice, and noodles. We were never able to finish everything! In addition, our butler Michael (who was the most amazing) served fresh juice or lemonade after every activity. Drinks such as Halong beer are always available for purchase. My favorite time of day was at sunset, when we indulged in happy hour beverages and snacks while enjoying the stunning sunset from the deck after a day of activities in Halong Bay.
Activities
On our cruise of Halong Bay, we were provided with a list of optional activities. Here are my recommendations:
Kayaking: The bay is absolutely stunning, and there is nothing like being so close to the water. With Bhaya, a staff member will come with you so even if you are a novice kayaker there is nothing to worry about. We kayaked twice during our trip and it was a great way to do something active, get up close to the islands, and stop off at random small beaches for swimming and sunbathing.
Cat Ba Island: Cat Ba is famous for its rainforest and small village, so I highly recommend making a stop while you are cruising. We chose to bike through the village which was super fun. As opposed to walking, where you will get really hot, you get a nice breeze by biking. We stopped for a beer at a local shop, visited a local school, and enjoyed the scenery. We hoped to see one of their famous langurs (monkeys) but sadly their numbers have dwindled.
Boat activities: With Bhaya, you can do on-board tai chi at sunrise, a cooking class (ours was making spring rolls!) and spa treatments. We did all three, although my husband skipped out on the tai chi.
Cruising on Halong Bay: The Verdict
Experiencing Halong Bay is a dream come true! Make it your next destination.
