Halong Bay Travel Tips & Experiences

The Best Time to Visit Halong Bay

At this point in time, everything that could be said about Halong Bay has probably been said. The expansive stretch of limestone karsts jutting from placid waters reaches for 1,553km² from North-Eastern Vietnam into the Gulf of Tonkin, consisting of around 2,000 tree-topped islands that create a scene and atmosphere unlike anywhere else on earth. It is not the mere numbers that turned Halong Bay into a UNESCO World Heritage Site 1994, it is also for the feeling of stepping back in time, of sailing through pre-historic waters, of treading through ancient caves and of visiting islands that have remained steadfast through millions of years of activity.Cruise in Halong Bay with V'Spirit Cruise When is the Best Time to Visit Halong Bay? Many people say the south and north of Vietnam are like two completely separate countries, not least for the different food, people, dialects and approach to life, but also for the weather. Halong Bay’s weather patterns differ greatly from those in the south and middle of the country; perfectly sunny days in Halong Bay can happen at the same time as flash flooding in Ho Chi Minh City, while a clear and cool day in Da Nang could occur simultaneously with a tropical monsoon in Halong Bay.  There is much greater fluctuation in the northern weather of Vietnam than the south, which is in a constant yearly battle between wet and dry. Halong Bay gets wet, absolutely, but has many other weather systems that add diversity and a completely different climate to the region. The best time to visit Halong Bay varies on factors like weather, activities, peak season versus off-season, prices, availability etc. Taking all of these factors into account, Incredible Asia Journeys is proud to present to you our conclusive look into the best time to visit Halong Bay. Halong Bay Overview Spring  When? (Early March to Mid-May) Is it the Best Time to Visit Halong Bay?              Certainly one of them, yes. Spring in Halong Bay heralds the start of the tourist season in the region. April 2018 saw a staggering increase of 25% for international arrivals to Vietnam from the same period last year, while May saw a 20% increase, and most of these tourists make room for Halong Bay in their Vietnam itineraries. There’s no denying that Halong Bay is a premier tourist destination, and spring, being one of the best times to visit Halong Bay, is certainly one of the most profitable times for tour companies operating in the region. Why?  Near perfect weather in Halong Bay, with great visibility and relatively cool days. Why Not? Tourist high season – more expensive tours and more crowded attractions. The Sky Though the mist of winter still hangs over Halong Bay on those March mornings, it doesn’t stick around for too long into spring, usually dissipating by April and bestowing unto visitors the perfect Halong Bay scene. 8 hours of sunshine per day is the average during the spring months, meaning that photos will be largely unblemished by any dark clouds and time out on the sundeck should be maximised.  Sunset in Halong Bay in Spring The Heat Average temperatures soar from 20°C (68°F) in March to 28°C (83°F) in May, with lows of 18°C (64°F) and highs of 30°C (86°F) in between. May averages just one degree below the hottest month of June, and the Mother Dragon’s preparation for the oppressive heat of summer can be felt towards the final weeks of May. A swim is a good alternative to sitting in the baking sun, as water temperatures are a cool 27°C (80°F). The Rain The placid clouds around Halong Bay in March and April pose very little threat to tourists’ good times. Both months hover around the 55mm level of precipitation, with at least some rain making an appearance on 26 days out of 61. However, the wrath of the wet season begins towards the middle of May, when 55mm shoots up to 170mm in the blink of an eye. Only 14 of the days in May feature rain, but they feature it with much more ferocity than the previous two months. The Tourists While tourist numbers are high during the start of spring, they dip dramatically towards the end, precisely because of the monsoon-related reason mentioned above. Overall international tourism to Vietnam dives towards the latter days of May as clouds congregate and sporadic deluges become more and more common. Arguably, this is the best time to visit Halong Bay for two reasons: off-peak cruises starting in May are much cheaper and you will have a lot more space to yourself on the boat and on excursions; and photo opportunities of dark, rolling clouds make perfect snapshots of South-East Asia’s temperamental weather system. What to Bring As far as clothing is concerned, you shouldn’t need anything other than light, airy clothes. Nights only dip as low as 18°C in spring, so save the woolly pyjamas for winter. Lots of sun cream for all of those days spent out on the sundeck and on various beaches soaking up the 8 hours of sun per day. An umbrella, both for the Western purpose of rain deflection and the Asian purpose of sun ray deflection; an umbrella could be your best friend in Halong Bay. Halong Bay from Cruise's Sundeck Summer When? (Late May to Late September) Is it the Best Time to Visit Halong Bay?           For fish, perhaps, not for humans. Usually linked to the idea of good times and long days outdoors, summer in the West is just a little different to summer in Northern Vietnam. The only reason that you would spend long days outdoors in Halong Bay during summer is if you felt like learning to swim on the sundeck. In other words, it’s wet. Very wet. While it may not be the best time to visit Halong Bay for the weather, trips to the World Heritage site during this time can offer you a very unique perspective into rural life during the storms. Why? Smaller crowds, better prices, lots of time for contemplation. Why Not? Long periods of torrential rain and sweltering temperatures. Halong Bay in Summer The Sky Here’s the first positive for the start of the off-season: sunshine hours remain fairly constant at an average of 7 per day over the course of summer. While most visitors would expect more cloud coverage during the wet season, clouds tend to roll in, shed their incredible watery hauls and roll out pretty quickly. This still means plenty of time for sunbathing and some amazing photos of blue skies with mischievous storm clouds in the background. August is one of the months year-round with the lowest sunshine hours at 6 per day, but this is not much of a change from the months with the most blue skies, such as June, which features 8. The Heat One of the big kickers during the wet season; the heat brought on by summer is universal, but the heat brought on by a Vietnamese summer can be overbearing. 32°C (89°F) is the regular high reached in August, which can be somewhat stifling, and lows of 24°C (75°F) at the start and the end of the season is the best that you can hope for. However, one of the wonders of the rain is that temperatures do plummet during and after a storm, leading to much cooler weather around Halong Bay as the clouds above it part ways. The Rain In reality, the rain is one of the few things stopping summer from being among the best times to visit Halong Bay. It is a phenomenon that puts a lot of people off visiting Halong Bay and Vietnam in general, but the rain gets a much worse reputation than it deserves. Deluges of rain are, in actual fact, unabashedly fun; there are few feelings more liberating than standing out in a Vietnamese rainstorm and soaking in the sounds and the tranquil atmosphere, amplified many times by the natural splendour of Halong Bay. You will certainly have a wealth of opportunities to try this out, as August reaches about 265mm of rainfall over the course of 16 days. June is the driest month of summer at a relatively barren 172mm, but if you have/decide to visit Halong Bay during summer, you should try your best to be open-minded and embrace the wonder of the Descending Dragon’s rainy nature. The Tourists As you might imagine, most international tourists are put off by the wet season without fully knowing how it works. Domestic tourists are more well-informed and head to Halong Bay during early June once the school year is finished. There are still plenty of beautiful days to be savoured at this time and domestic tourists like to take advantage of the dip in overseas interest. Day tours are very popular with the Vietnamese but there are always quite a few cabins left on the overnight and 3 day, 2 night tours, giving you a chance to claim a fantastic price on an off-season promotion. Tourists in Halong Bay in Summer - Kayaking in Halong Bay What to Bring Depending on how much you want to live like a local, you need to bring either an umbrella or a Vietnamese rain poncho, preferably both considering the power and amount of rain that will be falling. A book, for any extended periods of time that you have to spend in your cabin. A camera. Halong Bay carries an ethereal beauty before, during and after a rainstorm and you’ll want to capture those moments while you can. Cruises that go to Halong Bay: Aphrodite Cruise , Carina Cruise , Flamingo Cruise , Hera Cruise , LaFairy Cruise , Rosa Cruise , Paradise Luxury Cruise , Phoenix Cruiser and V'Spirit Cruise . Autumn When? (Late September to Early December) Is it the Best Time to Visit Halong Bay?           If you can withstand the mass tourism, absolutely. The rainclouds make way for the tourists during autumn in Halong Bay, who again descend on the region in search of picture-perfect weather and comfortable excursions out on the water, on beaches and in the caves. They find it, too, as autumn is absolutely the best time to visit Halong Bay for its perfect weather. It is the shortest period in the year, so it is likely to be full of tourists who are trying to cram in a Halong Bay holiday before the mist of winter rolls in. Why? Amazing weather, great photo opportunities and a good atmosphere. Why Not? Prime season for tourists, queues form for the more popular caves and islands. The Sky Bright and blue for most of the time during autumn, Halong Bay shines during this season with 7 to 8 hours of sunshine per day and very little threat of rain. The sun ducks behind the cloud during the latter stages of November, preparing itself for a more shrouded winter. Excursions to islands with beaches like Titop and Ban Chan become very popular for people looking to claim a tan, and the sundeck becomes a number one spot on the cruise as Halong Bay’s weather graces even the whitest skin with a chance of becoming golden brown. Halong Bay in Autumn with bright and blue sky The Heat The rain clouds wash away the last of Halong Bay’s summer heat, clearing the way for a cool and less humid autumn. Temperatures fall from 28°C (82°F) to about 22°C (72°F) over the course of September to November, making kayaking expeditions and climbs to the tops of caves and peaks much less of an energy-sapping experience. Much like spring, the lowest temperature reached in autumn is 18°C (64°F), which is certainly not uncomfortable for Western tourists, but Asian tourists used to higher temperatures might want to consider a thin sweater. The Rain Having shed 80% of its yearly rainfall during the summer months, Halong Bay is in a more placid mood come October, when the 190mm of rainfall becomes 54mm. If this isn’t shocking enough of a comparison from the 265mm that falls just two months prior, then consider that November gets a paltry 12mm and is the second driest month in the year. Again, this spells fantastic opportunities for excursions and time on the sundeck, as barely even the threat of light rain draws guests out of their cabins and out into the clear blue sky. The Tourists Always the biggest drawback of the perfect weather; the tourists come in droves during autumn, creating queues for caves, overcrowding floating villages and taking up places on the cruise’s sundeck. This is usually the time when tour companies advise alternative trips to any of Halong Bay’s satellite bays, Lan Ha Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay, both stunning examples of the same labyrinthine karst scenery, sandy beaches and mysterious caves, but without the tourist hordes. What to Bring Breezy clothes are again the best to bring for the warm-but-not-too-warm months. Flip flops are also a good idea to fully soak up the relaxed atmosphere that enraptures Halong Bay. Days are long and bright, so remember sunglasses, sun cream and a hat. While excursions are likely to be crowded, you can opt to spend that allotted time on the sundeck by yourself, so bring a book and plenty of cocktail cash for your own private party. Check our best tour to Halong Bay: Halong Bay 2 Days 1 Night , and Halong Bay 3 Days 2 Nights. Things to bring when cruising in Halong Bay Winter When? (Early December to Late February) Is it the Best Time to Visit Halong Bay?            Definitely not, but there’s joy to be had.    The topography of Halong Bay during winter bestows a very Jurassic atmosphere on the area. This is because of the famous fog that encircles the bay, seeping through gaps between forested mountains and settling around cruise paths, shrouding all of Halong Bay in a thick haze, limiting vision but maximising the sense of wonder felt by the few passengers who take the opportunity to see it. Why? The ethereal beauty that befalls Halong Bay, and the lack of tourists there to see it. Why Not? It’s colder and mistier than ever before. The Sky Realistically, you’re going to get some fog on any overnight tour of Halong Bay during winter. Some tour companies claim that this is the best time to visit Halong Bay because of the eerie atmosphere that the fog creates, and, while it does have its charms, it gets tiresome before long and generally pales in comparison to the clear skies of spring and autumn. However, 5 hours of sunshine per day during this period is pretty standard, meaning there is still a good chance that you’ll get decent time on the sundeck, even if you can only see the silhouettes of shrouded peaks in front of you. Halong in the Winter The Heat This is an area of some dispute depending on where you’re from. Averages for winter dip below the 20°C mark, with temperatures more regularly reading about 18°C (64°F) with very little variation between December and February. This is quite an acceptable temperature for most westerners, who doggedly arrive in Halong Bay in their flip-flops and shorts, determined to make the most of their holiday even in mildly cold weather. Vietnamese and other Asian tourists like to take a more conservative approach, donning many layers of clothing to keep what they consider a bitter chill at bay. Nights can reach as low as 14°C (57°F), meaning long evenings out on the sundeck might need to withdraw to the bar or cabin sooner than expected. The Rain The fury of the summer rains have long passed Halong Bay and the land of the Descending Dragon is in a much more docile mood come December. If 23mm of rainfall sounds like a dry experience, then wait until January, when monthly rainfall falls to an arid 3mm. It’s safe to say that you won’t need much in the way of wet weather gear, but be aware that January’s minimal rain still falls over the course of 10 days, providing a third of the month with something you would class as speckles of moisture in the cloud rather than rain. The Tourists What tourists? While Halong Bay is far from deserted during the winter, you’ll see notably fewer cruises on the water, and not just because you can’t see your own feet in the fog. You will have a lot more freedom on excursions to islands and around fishing villages, as even the guests who tour Halong Bay opt for a warmer, contemplative stay in the cabin. Caves remain relatively warm during winter so it’s still possible that visits to Thien Canh Son and Me Cung will be mildly busy, but nothing like the rush to claim their naturally cool air during the hot weather of spring, summer and autumn. Winter is most definitely the off-season, giving you the opportunity to claim great deals on cruises, and splashing out on a luxury cruise might be an idea considering how much time you will spend on board during the winter. Tourists in Halong in Winter What to Bring Personal entertainment like a book, laptop and deck of cards would be a good idea for those long days on the boat. A camera, to capture the majesty of Halong Bay fog and for the hazy sunrise and sunset that happens each day. Some cold weather gear, maybe just a few thin jackets and comfortable closed shoes for when the sun descends behind the limestone karsts. Some History The steep angles and sheer rock faces of Halong Bay’s islands and mountains were created in primordial times, about 500 million years ago. Movement in the tectonic plates pushed limestone spires from the ocean floor high into the sky, and here they still stand, as proud sentries over the lapping waters of Halong Bay. Rain erosion began to take its toll on the islands about 70,000 years ago, contouring them into distinctive shapes and bringing about some of the wonderful legends told by locals living on Halong Bay’s waters for generations. The earliest years of habitation in Halong Bay stretch back about 200 centuries. The initial activities of fishing and fruit collection were supplemented by the creation of pottery, stone tools and the ability to trade with other cultures around Vietnam and China. Vung Vieng Fishing Village Floating villages like Vung Vieng and Cua Van became hubs of fishing trade, quickly growing to the point where colourful residential houses developed connections via bamboo walkways. Small shops, schools and even police stations popped up around the anchored villages and, once tourism started in the region, these communities became very popular for the idyllic, uncomplicated existences in which they operated. Tourism started as far back as the 19th century under French occupation, with exclusively French expeditions to Halong Bay bringing back many wonderful stories of the area to Hanoi. President Ho Chi Minh and his Russian cosmonaut friend Gherman Titov visited the area in 1962, launching it into the national limelight after the president named one of Halong Bay’s now-famous islands after his fellow communist.  Some Legend 20,000 years of human habitation in Halong Bay has given rise to some wonderful, whimsical stories about the formation of its islands and caves. ‘Ha Long’ translates to ‘descending dragon’, named for the Mother Dragon and her children who defended the area against naval invaders by firing clumps of emerald out of their mouths to sink enemy ships. Upon hitting the water, these emeralds became the limestone karsts dotted around Halong Bay, and are today a constant reminder of the Mother Dragon’s power and love for her homeland, something that crops up in a multitude of other ‘Dragon vs China’ tales from around the country. Thien Cung Cave The habitation of caves also brought about several of its own legends, owing to the many different shapes of stalagmites and stalactites formed over tens of thousands of years. Thien Cung Cave is perhaps the most imaginative example of this, featuring the Dragon King and his human wife, May, whose week-long wedding ceremony was attended by one of every animal in the animal kingdom as well as a few gods. The couple raised a staggeringly large family within the cave, eventually splitting the family down the middle when May decided to take 50 of their 100 kids to new lands while the Dragon King remained behind with the other 50 to improve the lives of the mortals in Halong Bay. Along with the stone remains of all of their wedding guests, Thien Cung Cave is littered with stalagmites imaginatively said to resemble the Dragon King and his offspring. Almost half of the 2,000 islands of Halong Bay are named in similar fashion and locals are happy to share with you the stories of the ones that they remember. Bai Tu Long Bay - Child Dragon Some Prestige Halong Bay’s more recent international recognition is due to the largely unchanged nature of the region over its thousands of years of human habitation. Floating villages operate much in the same fashion that they did when they became established 20,000 years ago, and the hardy cliffs speckled around the bay still offer much scope for exploration and scientific discovery. It was inducted into UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 1994 for the outstanding nature of its limestone towers, and again in 2000 for its fascinating and otherworldly cave systems. Halong Bay’s incredible preservation over millions of years earned it its first accolade in 1962 from the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism and its most recent in 2012, when it joined the Amazon Rainforest, Iguazu Falls and Table Mountain as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

How To Get To Halong Bay From Hanoi

Halong Bay is the most popular destination nowadays for all the travellers when they come to Vietnam. The outstanding karst outcroppings in Halong Bay are made of 3000 years of chemical reactions between dripping water and limestone. It is truly outclassed and unforgettable experience. Located in the Northeast of Vietnam in Quang Ninh Province, Halong Bay is about 180 kilometres away from the Hanoi City Center. Most of the people’s concern is how to get to Halong Bay from Hanoi ? This article will give you some idea about the means of transports to choose. These are some best tours from Hanoi to Halong you may be interested in: + Halong Bay Day Trip + Halong Bay 2 day 1 night Cruise + Halong Bay 3 day 2 night Cruise 1. Shuttle Bus Local Coach How to get to Halong Bay from Hanoi with a Local Coach? There are many means of transportation such as bus, airplane, train, motorbike, bike, etc. However, the coach is the most popular, helpful, and easy for everyone to move from place to place. All you need to do is just check the time of coach, get a taxi to the Coach station, buy a ticket (or you can buy online) then you can travel by coach easily. Normally, for the trip to Halong Bay, almost of coaches will have the same route and depends on Coach Providers, you will have to go to the My Dinh Station or Gia Lam Station. For example, if you travel with Kumho Viet Thanh and Phuc Xuyen Limousine, you have to go straight to My Dinh Station (takes about 45 minutes by taxi from Old Quarter). Nevertheless, if you travel with Dai Phat Limousine, you could go to Gia Lam Station (about 30 minutes from Old Town). Get to Halong bay from Hanoi by Local Coach What is the duration of the local coach? The journey from Hanoi to Halong Bay by local coach usually takes about 4.5 – 5 hours’ drive (including the short break in a middle way). The price for a one-way ticket can be from USD3.5$ – USD7$ depends on the quality and size of the coach. The earliest coach can start at 06:00 am and the latest one is at 20:00. Some of Coach will leave each 1 or 2 hours depends on Coach Providers. The first coach come back to Hanoi is at 12:00 and the last one is about 21:30. What are the advantages and disadvantages? Everyone knows that local coaches will be cheaper than other transportations. You do not even have to know the way to the place; you just need to choose the correct route for the coach. Along the way, you also could see the beauty of landscapes and take some photos. However, there are several difficulties with a local coach. Firstly, most of the local coaches are for local people so that is the reason why the sale person and drivers only speak Vietnamese. You could have some misunderstanding during all the time travelling with the local coach or when you meet your stop, they could not understand you well. Secondly, the local coach stations are not in the Old Quarter. Normally, you have to take a taxi to get there and it takes about 45 – 60 minutes depends on traffic. It is also an inconvenient thing. Finally, since the local coach has departed time quite early and sometimes you could not know if they cancelled the coach or not. You will not have an enjoyable holiday if you always be in hurry and worry about the time of coach. The local coach may not run as the schedule because they try to get more customers on the ways to full fill their bus for better benefit. Luxury Bus How to catch this to get to Halong Bay from Hanoi? Besides the local coach, there are luxury buses as known as the tourist bus, which provides high-quality and has a smaller size than a local bus. With the luxury bus, you will have a better service; feel more comfortable and convenient than the other one. The luxury bus provides 9 to 16 seats such as Ford Transit, Mercedes Benz, D-car, etc and some have free wifi. This kind of bus serves foreign customer so they mostly pick up the passengers from the Old Quarter. Some luxury buses are available at the local Coach stations; others offer a pick-up service in your hotel. You could find this bus through tourist bus agencies or book direct to the website of the common bus or call them. Get to Halong bay from Hanoi by Luxury Coach What is the duration of the luxury coach? For the luxury bus, it does not pick up the passengers in the middle of the way or along the way. You just only have a short break about 15 -20 minutes on the way. Compare to the local coach, the luxury bus will take less time to travel from Hanoi Center to Halong Bay about 3 – 3.5 hours. The price for this kind of bus is about from USD10$ to USD20$/way/ticket/person depending on the brand name and instant service on the bus. There are several good brand names such as Hoang Long VIP, Minh Anh Limousine or Ha Vy Limousine. They will depart around 07:30 to 08:30 depending on provider’s schedule. What are the advantages? As a luxury bus serves foreign tourists, the salesperson and driver could speak a little bit English (enough to understand the easy sentences and common problems while travelling with them). If you only spend one-day trip, the luxury bus should be a perfect choice for you. Furthermore, you no need to go too far to catch the bus. It is very easy and convenient to book the ticket and you no need to worry about its service. It is definitely better than a local coach. 2. Private Car/Taxi Private Car If you travel with a group, family or even you just want to have your own private area, private car or taxi would be the second option for you. You will have more space to put your luggage along with you; can chitchat with your companions. Especially for the businessperson, the private car is a good choice if you want to work on the way. You could book the private car on the website of the famous and good company, for example, Viantrans and get the price. You also can call directly to book the car with them. The driver just can understand simple sentences enough to communicate with you. The price range is from USD100$ - USD150$ for 2 ways depending on the brand name of car (sedans, SUV, or Van) one way or round trip. Normally the price includes the parking fee, driver fee, petrol, tolls fee. The duration of the private car would be around 3 – 3.5 hours almost is the same as the luxury bus. You could leave at 08:00 or 08:30 according to your schedule. Taxi Similar to the private car, taxi also considers being the second option for private transfer. Despite choosing a good brand name for private transfer above, you could choose a reliable taxi including Hanoi Taxi Group, Mai Linh Taxi, ABC Taxi, etc. The price is from USD80$ - USD100$ for 1 way depending on taxi size and the taxi driver could not speak English as well. What are the advantages and disadvantages of choosing a private car/ taxi? As mentioned before, if you are the one who does not want to follow something with schedules or if you like the privacy, private car/taxi would be a perfect choice for you. You could have time to take some nice photos, you could work during all the time travelling without any disturb from others. However, besides the advantages, you may have to deal with some hidden danger that we could not predict it. For example, we are not sure if the driver may overcharge you more for some reasons along the way. You are alone and you do not know what to do because you also could not communicate well with them. It seems not a good idea for those who travel for the first time and have no idea or experience with a taxi and the route before. Get to Halong bay from Hanoi by Taxi 3. Motorbike If you are a motorcycle traveller; you love adventure and love to conquer the road, the motorbike is not a bad idea to travel from Hanoi to Halong Bay. You could have a valuable chance to discover every local thing you see along the way. You could manage the time effectively by yourself during 3.5 – 4-hour drive with different routes as well. This is your holiday, your schedule and your time so you can decide to do anything you like. Besides, the price to hire a motorbike is much cheaper than a private car or taxi. How to rent a motorbike? Nowadays, it is not hard to find a motorbike-renting store. You could find many shops in the Old Quarter from the manual motorcycle to the automatic one. Some of the shops provide also the motocross for travelling in a special route. They could speak English quite good and they can give you some advice when you choose a motorcycle. You could see some websites for motorbike renting or James Hanoi motorbike. Otherwise, you could ask the hotel to give you some suggestions. There are several brand name of motorcycle such as Honda, Yamaha is common to rent. The price of renting and deposit this motorcycle for one day is around from USD6$ = USD20$/day depend on different motorcycles type and schedule. They will ask your photocopy of passport beside renting fee and deposit. What are the disadvantages of the motorbike? Easy to see that if you would like to travel by the motorbike, you must always make sure that you have enough health conditions and good driving skill. Just imagine with 180 km distance from Hanoi to Halong Bay, if your motorcycle has any problems, you have to find a place to fix it. Moreover, what if it rains hard along the way? There is a very high possibility to have an accident and get lost because of the weather. In conclusion, the motorcycle is not a smart choice for those who not have experience and maybe not a good idea when travelling to Halong Bay. There is one more thing is the cruises in Halong Bay depart in the schedule so if you are late you cannot catch the cruise and that is not easy to book the cruise on arrival because most of the cruises are needed to book in advance. 4. Railway Vietnam has an old history of Rail transport and it is a very interesting experience when travelling by train. If you would like to gain a deeper knowledge of the local people’s life in Vietnam, you should choose to travel by train. You could have a great opportunity to see the landscape both side along the way in the bumpy train. How to get the train? Travelling from Hanoi to Halong Bay, there is just only one train departing per day from Yen Vien Station, Gia Lam. It takes about 30 minutes from Old Quarter to the train station (about 9 km away). They have two kinds of seat: hard seat and soft seat. The price would be depended on which kind of seat you choose. Normally it is from USD4.5$ for local people and for foreigners would be USD15$/one-way ticket and leaving is about 05:00 am. Otherwise, you could choose the Gia Lam Station and travel with Halong Express. The journeys with the train would be around 05-07 hours long and it’s quite safe. Get to Halong bay from Hanoi by Train How to book the train ticket? You just need to access an online website for the information and go straight to the Yen Vien station, call the hotline number +84 19001224 or +84243 995 2588 to book a ticket 24/7. What are the disadvantages of the train? Beside of the local atmosphere you could have, travelling by train is not really a popular way compare with others. You have to wake up early in the morning, take a taxi to the station and spend that long to travel to Halong Bay. In addition, after arriving Halong Station, you have to take a taxi to transfer to hotel or harbour. Moreover, the price is higher than others transportation and you also have to spend more time with this. If you just have a one-day trip, the train is not a good idea for you. 5. Airway Nowadays, air transports are quite common with everyone. If you have a good budget and would like to save your time in spite of waiting 3 or 4 hours on the shuttle bus or coach, travelling by aircraft is not a bad idea. You could receive a luxury service and comfortable journey with much beautiful sightseeing from the sky. Helicopter How to get the helicopter? Airbus Helicopter has the EC 155 B1, which can carry maximum 4800kg and 12 seats ( minimum is 06 people). You will take a taxi to Gia Lam Airport (small airfield which owned by the military) and your flight will depart at 09:00 am. It takes about 45 minutes from Hanoi to Halong Bay. The price for one person from Hanoi to Halong bay is USD 440$/way/person, from Halong to Hanoi is USD 390$/way/person and round trip is USD770$/person. What are the disadvantages of the helicopter? As you may know, travelling with aircraft is not for some people who have heart disease, height fear or fear of small spaces (Claustrophobia). The helicopter is quite small and it is not friendly to the environment and expensive but not always available as well. Seaplane Beside helicopter, you can have the second option for travelling by air: Seaplane. This is not a new transportation in other countries. The seaplane is even more popular and definitely safer than traditional aircraft. Get to Halong bay from Hanoi by Seaplane Why should you travel by seaplane? In Vietnam, seaplane service is provided by Hai Au Aviation with three Cessna Grand Caravan 208B – EX amphibian aircraft. You could have a professional tourism and personalized service when travelling by the seaplane. From the check-in process, you will have a VIP welcome service from the well-trained team; especially International pilots. Along the journey, you will have a valuable chance to see the magnificent view of limestone and mountain ranges in Halong Bay from the sky within 60 minutes. It should be an unforgettable memory that you've ever had before. Furthermore, you could use 3G, 4G and take some nice pictures of all the breathtaking sceneries you like as well as all the other digital devices are allowed when travelling by seaplane. How to book the seaplane? As mentioned above, you could check the website of Seaplane Vietnam to see further information about Hai Au Aviation or call directly to their company +84 962 069 689 to get suggestions and assistance. Normally, they offer 2 flight per day: one is at 10:00 and 14:00 for winter time. Summertime will be 09:00 and 14:00. The price range is from USD175$ - USD385$ for one-way trip depending on the timing and season. Round trip is around USD350$. The passenger could bring 07 kg hand luggage and need at least 03 pax when travelling by the seaplane. The duration of the trip is 60 minutes and including 15 minutes for you to flying around the Bay and glimpse of the beautiful landscape. To summarize, there are 07 different ways to travel from Hanoi to Halong Bay: local coach, shuttle bus, private car/taxi, train, helicopter, and seaplane. Each one has advantages and disadvantages but overall, you should choose the means of transportation depending on your schedule, your size of team, budget, and purpose of travel. You have to decide which transportation would be suitable for you because it will influence a lot for your whole trip and you do not want to ruin anything from the beginning. If you just only have a one-day trip and do not have much time to look around the sightseeing, the shuttle bus would be a perfect choice. On the other hand, if you are a businessperson and you want to work in a private space along the trip, the private car must be your first option. Otherwise, if you are a big youngster group and want to have an interesting experience on road, you could try motorcycle and you can conquer the road together, explore new places, and have nice photos back home to show for your family and your friends. In my opinion, shuttle bus (luxury bus for tourists) would be the perfect choice for the trips to Halong Bay because of the convenience as well as the reasonable price and the service that you will have. Check the different cruises at Halong Bay Cruises , Lan Ha Bay Cruises to choose the best option for your group in Halong Bay.