Halong Bay, a natural wonder, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, attracts millions of tourists to Vietnam. Numerous Vietnamese agencies that offer travelers a low-quality service want to capitalize on the uniqueness of this place. Finding inexpensive excursions around the bay with a good guide on a clean, comfortable ship is difficult, but possible.
“Where the dragon descended into the sea” - such a poetic name has one of the most beautiful natural phenomena - Halong Bay in Vietnam. According to legend, the Halong Islands, which number more than 3000, were created by a huge dragon. He split all the valleys and hollows with his tail, and when he plunged into the sea, they were filled with water and only rocks and islets remained on the surface. The main flow of tourists comes to Halong from the capital of Vietnam, Hanoi. This is not the best way, since the tiresome bus journey takes at least 4 hours, and if with stops, then all six. It is much closer and more convenient to get from Haiphong to the most famous inhabited island of the bay - Cat Ba.
Haiphong is called the fiery city because in the summer it turns fiery red due to the flamboyant flower blooming everywhere here. This is an industrial city, there are practically no attractions here, but it is calmer here than in the capital. If you want to take a breath, enjoy inexpensive massages, or a tasty meal before heading to Cat Ba Island or on a cruise in Halong Bay, then Haiphong is a great place to be. In addition, the city has one of the largest international airports in Vietnam - Catbi, where you can fly in or then, after an excursion, fly to the coast to Da Nang or other resorts in the country.
Haiphong is booming and developing by leaps and bounds, both in its economy and in investments and infrastructure. Perhaps, by your trip here they will have time to complete the bridge connecting the city with the Cat Ba island, then the road will take no more than half an hour.
One of the best places to base in Haiphong is the Avani Harbor View Hotel, located in the city center and just a 10-15 minute walk (or 5 minutes and a few dollars by taxi) from the port where boats leave for Cat Ba. Even if you are not staying at the hotel, visit the Cheers restaurant, famous for not only an excellent selection of Vietnamese and European dishes, but also the best pizza in the city, baked in the oven on the outdoor terrace.
Those who are looking for a more budgetary option of accommodation, take a look at the inexpensive, cozy Punt Hotel, located in the modern part of the city, twenty minutes from the center and 5 kilometers from the airport. It's worth noting that Haiphong is famous for its delicious coffee, so you will surely notice a lot of coffee shops around every corner, some of them in beautiful Asian mansions or stylish modern lofts. Stop by the N1986 Cafe, where you will not only cheer up with a cup of strong coffee, but also get aesthetic pleasure while looking at the interiors and design of this amazing modern loft, as well as a terrace and coffee in the Secret Garden and Twinnie Coffee Lounge.
One night in Haiphong is enough to take a breath and the next morning set off on a journey through a natural paradise - Halong Bay. On the internet you will find many agencies offering tours of the bay, but not all of them are equally good. Do not buy package tours in Hanoi, their quality is questionable and prices are also completely random. This is mass tourism with all its consequences: large groups, old and unclean cruiser ships with small, stuffy cabins, bad food, and you will constantly encounter large groups of tourists.
Trust Cat Ba Ventures, one of the first on Tripadvisor to organize your Halong Bay excursion. Many professional travelers recommend this company for their conscientiousness, good organization, new, clean ships with spacious cabins, friendly staff and excellent English speaking guides. The most common and popular tour is called Lan Ha Bay - Ha Long Bay for two days and one night. The cost of such a tour is from 128 to 178 dollars, depending on the type of boat. During a cruise in Halong, travelers will visit a small floating fishing village, can kayak to various coves, sunbathe on wild beaches, and explore caves and caves. There is an opportunity to buy a tour for just one day, but such an excursion will be devoid of the delights of admiring the sunrise and sunset among the islands, and the price difference is quite insignificant. Visits to the most famous places of the bay are planned by the organizers so as not to collide with other tourist groups there. Lunches and dinners are delicious, including literally just caught fish and seafood, lots of rice, vegetables and fruits.
The only thing that can be disappointing during a tour of Halong is the significant amount of rubbish. Unfortunately, plastic bottles and bags float in many bays, the Vietnamese are not very worried about the cleanliness of their country, and not all tourists take this issue responsibly. Those who are going to these marvelous lands are strongly advised not to throw away plastic, and take the garbage with them to the shore and throw it away there. Each of the travelers is also free to do a good deed: collect at least a little floating debris and throw it away in the right place.
