Last updated on February 4th, 2021

Halong Bay Overnight Cruises

Overnight Cruises, © Nikolny – Fotolia.com

Visit Halong Bay – Overnight Cruises

Halong Bay has many cruise options through the islands on boats that are called “junks”.  One of the most popular options is a two day one night cruise.  This option allows you to see the famous caves and floating villages when you visit Halong Bay.  Most cruises depart from the near Tua Quan Terminal.

Floating Convenience Store, Visit Halong Bay

Floating Convenience Store

Visit Halong Bay – Hotels

Top quality hotels are very inexpensive in Halong Bay.  Competition with the large number of Halong Bay overnight “junk” cruises keeps prices down.  Consider staying in a hotel and taking day cruises from the Tuan Chau terminal.

  • Vinpearl Resort & Spa Ha Long
  • Wyndham Legend Halong
  • Moon Bay Ha Long Hotel
Floating Fishing Villages, Visit Halong Bay

Floating Fishing Villages, © Can Stock / stevenjfrancis

Get to Halong Bay

You can get to Halong Bay in several different ways.  If you combine your visit with a tour of Vietnam, it’s about a 3 hour drive from Hanoi to Halong Bay.  You can also fly to Cat Bi International Airport in Hai Phong.  The ride from Cat Bi International Airport to Halong Bay takes about an hour.  Plan on using a cab if you haven’t made other travel arrangements with a hotel or cruise company.

Halong Bay Junks

Halong Bay Junks, © dominique DIEU – Fotolia.com

Visit Halong Bay – See the Sights

  • Dau Go Cave (Cave of Wonders) and Dong Thien Cung (Disco Cave) are on the same small island close to the Tuan Chau Cruising Terminal.
  • Sung Sot Cave of Surprises
  • Cat Ba Island – largest island in the Cat Ba Archipelago and the most popular destination in the area.  See Castaway Island in Cat Ba National Park.
  • Halong Market
Sung Sot Cave of Surprises, Visit Halong Bay

Sung Sot Cave of Surprises

Ocean Cruising to Halong Bay

Another option for visiting Halong Bay is to book a cruise with a major cruise line.  Be careful to check how many days your cruise will be in Halong Bay.  If it’s only for one day, you will need to decide if your shore excursion will be a day cruise among the limestone islands in a junk or a day trip by bus to Hanoi.  You won’t be able to do both.

Halong Bay Limestone Islands

Visit Halong Bay, © Marina Ignatova – Fotolia.com

Halong Bay Weather

Halong Bay weather is very hot in the summer.  Summer highs from June – August average 88 F (31 C) and average lows are 81 F (27 C).  In January and February average highs are 68 F (20 C) and lows are 61 F (16 C).  Rainfall is highest in the summer months.  Winter months can be cool and overcast.  So spring and fall get our vote for the best time of year to visit Halong Bay.  If you are touring the rest of Vietnam, consider March or October, because the rest of your Vietnam vacation will be too hot by April or September.

Visit Halong Bay – Background

Halong Bay or Ha Long is a popular place to spend time on a “junk”.  A junk usually takes passengers on a two day one night cruise through the  thousands of small limestone islands south of Halong Bay.   The limestone islands are a UNESCO World Heritage site in the South China Sea.  Among the islands you will find permanent floating fishing villages, limestone caves and beaches.  You may even have a floating convenience store approach your cruise to selling you snacks and souvenirs.  Halong Bay is popular for its beauty and also for the lost costs of cruises and hotels.  You will find lots of hotel construction under way to take advantage of the popularity of Halong Bay.

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