Halong Bay Travel Blogs

Differences among Budget, Mid-Range and Luxury Cruises in Halong Bay

As Halong Bay grows and grows in popularity, potential passengers find themselves with a frankly ridiculous number of options with which to access it. The hundreds of companies that ply the waters of the Gulf of Tonkin in the northeast of Vietnam offer three classes, but the differences between budget, mid-range and luxury cruises in Halong Bay is far from clear for the millions of tourists who visit the bay each year. Endless hours of sifting through brochures, staring at computer screens and speaking with travel agents are not unusual for tourists to Hanoi, who understandably want to be perfectly clear on the service they are receiving. For those people, the Incredible Asia Journeys blog is here to help clarify the key differences between Halong Bay’s budget, mid-range and luxury cruises.What is a Halong Bay Budget Cruise?Tourism in Halong Bay has done very well in offering every type of traveller a chance to see the world wonder. For those on a tight budget, the dream of cruising around one of the most magical seascapes on earth might seem unrealistic, but several companies cater specifically to showing such tourists the wonders of Halong Bay from as little as $40 USD. Budget cruises offer the most basic service, but crucially give passengers a chance to cruise around the twice-recognised UNESCO World Heritage Site for a price that is next to nothing.V'Spirit CruiseHalong Bay Budget Cruise ItineraryOne of the main differences between cruises in Halong Bay is the route in which they sail. Budget cruises tend to have a bit of a cut-and-paste itinerary, showing their passengers the main sites of the bay in a pretty regimented fashion. This is especially the case with day tours, which have about 4 hours of cruising time and therefore have to hit each spot with military precision.Usually, budget cruises in Halong Bay will visit Titop Island, Sung Sot Cave, Vung Vieng fishing village and offer a kayaking excursion around a small area. The beauty of these places is the same, regardless of the cruise that you are sailing on, but the strict time allowances and touristic nature of the stops means that budget cruises can feel a little forced, with not much time for relaxing.Halong Bay Budget Cruise ShipYou can extend your beauty of the bay by opting for an overnight trip, be it a 1-night or 2-night tour, where much more of the bay’s beauty will open up to you. While stops will likely be ones with high volumes of tourists, you will have much more time to relax on the sundeck or in the bedroom of your budget ship. Usually, these are comprised of small but functional cabins with en suites, with a few of the fancier ships offering private balconies; all along with a practical dining room, sparsely decorated but useful sundeck and a bar with local beer, wine and a few spirits. The price difference among budget, mid-range and luxury cruises in Halong Bay is largely down to facilities on board the boat, so if the budget option sounds a little too much on the basic side, then you may want to look at the next option…Please click on the links to see our Budget Cruises in Halong Bay: V'Spirit Cruises, Lavender Cruises, Majestic Cruise, Flamingo Cruise, Oriental Cruise, Aclass Legend Cruise, and Swan Cruise.What is a Halong Bay Deluxe (Mid-Range) Cruise?One of the many frustrations for tourists looking to book Halong Bay cruises is the vague terminology used by travel companies in categorising their cruises and cabins. ‘Deluxe’ in the Vietnamese tourism industry means ‘mid-range’, while inexplicably, cabins listed as ‘superior’ can actually be the most basic offerings on a ship. Amid all the confusion, mid-range cruises offer a decent 4-star service, aimed at tourists with a bit more cash to splash, but not so much that they want the most pristine service available.Halong Bay Mid-Range Cruise ItineraryThe route that mid-range cruises use is possibly the biggest difference between budget and deluxe cruises in Halong Bay. As Halong Bay becomes increasingly congested with more and more identical cruise companies wanting a slice of the action, more tourists are finding a quieter and equally breathtaking alternative in Lan Ha Bay, located just to the south. There are currently no budget cruises in Lan Ha bay unless leaving from Cat Ba Island, located about 140km from where most people book their cruises, Hanoi.Like budget cruises, mid-range cruises in Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay can still visit Titop Island, Sung Sot Cave and the fishing village of Vung Vieng, but have a world of other attractions available as well. The Dark and Bright Caves, Ba Trai Dao beach, Trong Cave and Dong Tien Lake are all popular stops for such tours who, if sailing through Lan Ha Bay, can also benefit from having the entire of Cat Ba Island available for exploration on the second day of a 3-day cruise.Sung Sot CaveHalong Bay Mid-Range Cruise ShipYou will generally have more space to roam and better facilities when making a comparison between mid-range and budget Halong Bay cruises. These ships are well-equipped to carry their passengers through Halong or Lan Ha bays, starting with a more spacious cabin, more modern en-suite and a potential balcony. You’ll find a more elegant restaurant and bar area, with a wider sundeck on the top facilitating amazing views of the passage of limestone mountains outside. Crucially, mid-range cruises usually contain a more vivid character than budget cruises through Vietnamese decoration, better quality food and various types of boats that offer different services for different people. If you want a private cruise, that’s totally possible, as is a cruise that caters to families or honeymoon couples, all offering a mid-range price tag for an individualised service.Please click on the links to see our Deluxe Cruises in Halong Bay: Huong Hai Sealife Cruise, Starlight Cruise, Stellar Cruise, Alisa Cruise, Amira Cruise, and Silversea Cruise.Huong Hai Sealife CruiseWhat is a Halong Bay Luxury Cruise?Luckily, there is no ambiguity in the name for Halong Bay luxury cruises. Luxury means luxury, and that is exactly what you will get on these 5-star cruises, differing from mid-range and budget cruises not really by the places to which they sail, but by the services that they provide on board the ship. Obviously, such cruises are catered to people with a higher budget, or without a budget at all, providing a stylised and opulent trip for passengers to see the bay in a sophisticated setting.Halong Bay Luxury Cruise ItineraryThere isn’t much of a difference between Halong Bay’s mid-range and luxury cruise itineraries; both visit the same areas and see much of the same wonders of Lan Ha Bay and Halong Bay. However, some luxury cruises do in fact have special access to some parts of the bay.Though luxury cruises mostly go to the same attractions, many of their passengers are more in the market for relaxation than activity, meaning cruises usually feature some fantastic alternatives if staying on the ship. Afternoon tea, fruit-carving demonstrations and cooking classes are some of these, while the 6-star ultra-luxury cruises may contain a gym, swimming pool, spa and even a mini-golf course in order to keep their top dollar-paying passengers happy.Perla Dawn SailsHalong Bay Luxury Cruise ShipLuxury cruises mostly present their opulence in the form of the ship with which you cruise. Aside from some of those features mentioned above, luxury cruises in Halong Bay, compared to mid-range and budget cruises, contain high-end amenities and a character born of classy, stylish and traditional design. Cabins are very spacious, usually containing a balcony and a very modern and well-equipped en-suite. Luxury cruises are where you’ll find the floating suites of Halong Bay, complete with sofas, bookcases, hot tubs and many other features that breed an air of exclusivity. The service is also in a world of its own on these cruises. Staff will do more than facilitate your sailing, they will actively try to enhance it by offering companionship or extra, personalised services. Crew are trained to the highest levels and have a consistently friendly demeanour along with fluent English abilities; higher-end luxury cruises even have personal butlers who will tend personally to your every whim.Please click on the links to see our Luxury Cruises in Halong Bay: Perla Dawn Sails, Paradise Luxury Cruise, Dragon Legend Cruise, Aphrodite Cruise, Hera Cruise, Signature Cruise, and Signature Royal Cruise.

Sun World Halong Bay – Modern Cable Car over an Ancient Sea

What is the Sun World Halong Cable Car?Not content with merely being one of the 7 New Wonders of the World and twice-designated special status by UNESCO, Halong Bay is looking to stretch its influence even further. To this end, the Vietnamese mega-company Sun Group offers the Sun World Halong cable car, providing a beautiful aerial view of the magnificent karst seascape next to which it sits. Until its construction in 2016, the only ways to get a view of Halong Bay from above were from a private helicopter or seaplane; now at a fraction of their price, the Halong bay cable car takes visitors high above the ocean and the city below it.The cable crosses the two halves of Halong city, separated by the mouth of water that joins Cua Luc Bay to the Gulf of Tonkin. The cable runs roughly parallel to Bai Chay Bridge, which connects the two halves by land, comprising one of the best things to do in Halong City if waiting to embark on the next day’s cruise around Halong Bay. The cable system is a great way to enjoy any Vietnam family tour that stops off in Halong prior to a cruise around the bay.The ‘Queen Cable’, as it is named, is part of the Sun World Halong Complex, a rather bizarre amusement park that opens for just four hours per day. As of late 2018, the park is still in construction, but its iconic Ferris wheel stands completed at 215m above the sea level and acts as the terminal point for the Sun World Halong Bay cable car. Sun World Halong OverviewInformation for Halong Bay’s Cable Car• The cable car system features just two actual cars, but the ambitious capacity of each (230 people max) has seen it granted with a Guinness World Record for highest cable car capacity in the world.• The system’s other claim to fame is the height of its two towers that support the cable, the biggest of which stands at a world record height of 189m.• The total length of the system is 2,165 metres, running from the ground of the western half of the city to the top of Ba Deo Mountain in the eastern half.• The system is capable of carrying 2000 people every hour, but currently carries far fewer than this due to the park being unfinished and attraction limited to the cable car’s views.• If you’re looking for how to buy Halong Bay cable car tickets, then be prepared to spend a bit of cash. At 300,000 ($13 USD) for adults and 200,000 VND ($9 USD) for kids below 1.3m in height, the cable car remains a little on the expensive side for Vietnam, even though most visitors would not think twice about paying that amount in Europe or North America. Tickets are available from the Sun or Ocean stations that act as the system’s terminals.Sun World Halong Cable CarHow to get to the Sun World Halong Bay Cable CarThere are only two major ways to get to Halong City to utilise its cable cars and harbours offering access to Halong Bay. By bus – Travelling by bus is probably the cheapest way to see the Halong city cable car, but bear in mind that the attraction lies about 6km from the bus station, meaning a taxi will be required for the transfer. Similarly, if coming from Hanoi, buses must be caught from Gia Lam or My Dinh stations, which are about 7km and 10km from the city’s central Old Quarter respectively. If coming from Hai Phong’s Niem Nghia station, you will need a taxi for the 3.3km journey from the city’s center.Price from Hanoi: 140,000 VND ($6 USD)Price from Hai Phong: 70,000 VND ($3 USD)By private car – In a private car, you will have the added luxury of a direct transfer, with drivers able to deliver you from your hotel in Hanoi or Hai Phong straight to the cable’s departure terminal. With a smooth highway connecting Hanoi and Hai Phong to the bay, a private car is certainly the most convenient way to get to Halong’s cable cars, if not the priciest.Price from Hanoi: Around 1,875,000 VND ($80 USD) for a 4-seaterPrice from Hai Phong: 1,400,000 VND ($60 USD) for a 4-seaterOther attractions around the Sun World Halong Cable CarThough Halong city is growing in appeal, it is still more commonly seen as not much more than a jumping-off point for Halong Bay. There are always a growing number of land-based things to do in Halong city, all of which make the location a great stop on a Northern Vietnam tour.Halong BayThe undeniable main attraction of Halong City, and probably of Vietnam overall, Halong Bay draws millions of domestic and foreign tourists every year to its outstandingly beautiful seascape. From a simple day trip from Hanoi to a conclusive 3-day, 2-night cruise around the feet of gorgeous limestone mountains, Halong Bay has something to offer for everyone.Depending on the tour that you select, activities around Halong Bay and its neighbouring Bai Tu Long Bay, also accessible from Halong city, can really get visitors close to the fascinating geological features of the World Heritage Site. Kayaking, swimming, and visits to impressive caves, secluded islands and quaint fishing villages comprise much of the excitement to be felt on a Halong Bay Cruise.You can do a day trip or you can do a Halong overnight trip.For more information for day trip please click on: Halong Bay full day tour from Hanoi.Tuan Chau BeachOne of the other attractions viewable from the 630ft crest of Halong Bay’s cable car ride is the stretching white sand of Tuan Chau beach, a 3km crescent-shaped bay on the island of Tuan Chau, from where Halong Bay tours depart. The sand of the beach has been imported to turn the island into a more attractive waiting area, but that fact takes nothing away from the beauty that its architects have been able to create with palm trees and unfettered views of Halong Bay in front. Alongside Tuan Chau beach, the island features luxury hotels, food courts, a circus, martial arts show and many options for watersports and camping.Buddhist TemplesFor a welcome injection of Vietnamese culture into your trip to Halong, Tran Quoc Nghien Temple and Long Tien Pagoda offer beautiful Buddhist architecture dating as far back as the 13th century. Both were constructed to celebrate the achievements of the Tran Dynasty, the past emperors of which are widely admired for their courage and resolve in resisting the various invaders who attempted to take Vietnam via Halong Bay.Both temples feature their own monthly ‘festivals’ that occur at a certain time in the lunar calendar. These one-day celebrations honour the Tran Dynasty and Buddha through traditional music, feasts and a palanquin procession.Long Tien PagodaBai Tho Mountain (Poem Mountain)For picture-perfect travel photos, Bai Tho Mountain has been an attractive stop-off for anyone staying in Halong city. After King Le Thang Tong carved a poem into the rocks in 1468, the mountain gained legendary status and now offers a wonderful stone-step ascension to its peak. From here, a gorgeous spectacle stretches out for miles below, as Halong’s rolling mountain landscape rises and dips to the horizon. On the way up, hikers will pass glorious forests clinging to the rock, where monkeys and goats have made their homes.Views from Bai Tho MountainThe Sun World Ferris WheelAs the final terminal point of the Halong Bay cable car, the accompanying Ferris wheel offers similar aerial views of Halong Bay’s limestone seascape. The wheel sits atop Ba Deo Mountain and has recently become an iconic landmark within Halong city, as its gigantic frame and elevated position of 215m above sea level give it a very lofty view above the city, as well as a Guinness World Record for being the world’s highest Ferris wheel.The wheel is comprised of 64 cabins with a capacity of six people in each, taking about 20 minutes to complete a full cycle. At night, the wheel lights up in colourful tandem with the Bai Chay Bridge next to it, providing Halong city with yet another beautiful string to its bow.Sun World Halong Ferris Wheel