Halong Bay

1. Halong Bay Things to do

• Attractions
• Eating
• Shopping
• Nightlife
• Halong Bay Day trips
• Halong Bay Restaurents
• Halong Bay Museum

2. Halong Bay Information

• Transport & getting Around
• Halong Bay Weather
• Halong Bay Map

3. Halong Bay Stay

4. Halong Bay Itinerary

5. Other information for Halong Bay 

• History
• Administrative divisions
• Economy
• Development
• Tourism
• International Tourists

Best time to visit Halong Bay

Halong Bay is located in the Northeastern part of Vietnam, it has different weather in 4 seasons but it can be generally divided into cold dry winter and hot humid summer.

In the Spring (from February to April), it will be warm, dry and the sea will be calm so this is the best time in the year to visit Halong Bay. However, the drawback of spring is that the number of visitors will be huge and it tends to get crowded at this time of the year.

In the Summer (from May to August), it’s hot and humid. The high temperature can make you sweat a lot, but the sunny weather is suitable for swimming, kayaking and other watersports. However, sometimes it gets rainy heavily and even stormy. Cruise trip can be canceled if there is a storm, so make sure you follow on the weather forecast.

In the Autumn (from September to November), the weather will be cool and windy. However, the sea can get rough often as storms approaching the Vietnamese coastal provinces. It will be fewer travelers at this time of the year. You can still consider going in autumn if the weather is good enough.

In the Winter ( from December to January), it gets freezing cold at some point, heavily cloudy and continuously rainy, not the very best time to swimming in Halong Bay.

Halong Bay transportations 

Usually, if you book a tour with an agency, it will include the means of transportation for you. However, if you have to, or want to travel on your own, here are 3 main ways to travel from Hanoi to Halong Bay:

By bus

First, let’s catch the bus.

The bus is a common means of transportation in Vietnam, you can almost go anywhere on a bus. A bus trip from Hanoi to Halong will take from 4 to 5 hours. You can catch a bus at Gia Lam Bus Station or My Dinh Bus Station to get to Bai Chay Bus Station in Halong.

Or better, you can choose a private shuttle bus that will pick you up at your hotel and drop you at your destination. But the best choice will be using the bus in your tour package, whether you have to pay for a little more extra fee or not.

By air

Secondly, you can book a seaplane’s ticket.

A flight from Noi Bai Airport to Halong city will take around 45 minutes and if you wish, you can choose for the 15-minute extension for a scenic tour over the bay. And the seaplane will have a water landing at the Tuan Chau Island Marina. It’s quick and enjoyable, but the only problem is the price.

By private car

Lastly, you can go with a private car.

If you don’t want to squeeze in the little space on the bus, and you happen to go to Halong in a group, hiring a private car is the best choice. It’s convenient, comfortable and safer. You can arrange the pickup time and location easily, so it’s more flexible.

Getting around in Halong Bay

GrabBike & GrabCar

First, you can go around with some touches on your smartphones. Grab is available in Quang Ninh and Halong. You can book GrabBike and GrabCar easily in Halong Bay. However, you might get into trouble sometimes because most of the drivers cannot speak English or other foreign languages.

Motorbike

Or you can rent a motorbike and drive yourself! However, if you are not familiar with the route and the traffic rules, it may be risky.

Public buses

Public buses are quite economical, safe and available at any time. It can be seen as one of the best choices out of here