Travel Blog
Where to stay in Sapa
Sapa is a beautiful, mountainous town in northern Vietnam along the border with China.
Located at 1650 m above sea level in Vietnam’s remote northwest mountains, Sapa is famous for both its fine, rugged scenery and also its rich cultural diversity. Sapa is an incredibly picturesque town that lies in the Hoang Lien Son mountain range near the Chinese border in northwestern Vietnam, known as “the Tonkinese Alps”. Sapa and its surrounding region is host to many hill tribes, as well as rice terraces, lush vegetation, and Fansipan, the highest peak in Vietnam. However, as a result of a recent surge in popularity Sapa has rapidly become a tourist hotspot where money is the new drug of choice. Don’t be put off by the rush, your explorations of the surrounding countryside will be worth the trouble.
You can book sapa tours with Sapa Travel office in the town
Ethnic Minorities
Many ethnic minorities live in and around Sapa. Excluding the Kinh people or ethnic Vietnamese, eight different ethnic minority groups are found in Sapa; H’mong (pronounced Mong), Dao (pronounced Yao), Tay, Giay (pronounced Zai), Muong, Thai, Hoa (ethnic Chinese) and Xa Pho (a denomination of the Phu La minority group). However, the last four groups comprise less than 500 people in total. The population of the district is estimated at 31,652 (1993) of which 52% are H’mong, 25% are Dao, 15% are Kinh, 5% are Tay and 2% are Giay. Around 3,300 people live in Sapa town, the remainder are peasant farmers distributed unevenly throughout the district.
Many older women in particular make items such as ethnic-style clothes and blankets, to sell to tourists. Striking up a conversation with them can be very rewarding and their spoken English is impressive. Sadly, however, doing this in Sapa town itself will sometimes lead to a scrum as a multitude of vendors taste a potential sale.
Children from these ethnic minorities often begin to support their families financially through selling trinkets to tourists. Do not encourage this by buying from children – Buy from adults. They peddle small metal or silver trinkets, embroidered pillow cases and friendship bands in the main town, and often walk for several hours from their surrounding villages to reach the town. At the end of the day, some take a motorbike ride back to their village, some walk home and some sleep in the market.
Girls and boys get married young (around 15-18) and often have two children by the time they are 20 years old. Poverty has led to a great number of girls leaving their villages each day to go selling in Sapa town, and depending on their luck, may only have one meal per day.
Weather
Two Red Dzao women. Sapa, Vietnam
In winter (the 4 months November to February), the weather in Sapa is invariably cold, wet and foggy (temperatures can drop to freezing and there was snow in 2011). Travellers have rolled into town on a glorious clear day and proceed to spend a week trapped in impenetrable fog. When it is like this there really isn’t very much to do. Also the rice paddys are brown & empty (they are planted in spring), the paths very muddy & slippery & the glorious vistas of summer are completely hidden in the mist. If you chose to visit in winter, bring along warm clothes or prepare to be cold and miserable, as many hotels do not have efficient heating in their rooms. During that time, more upmarket hotels that do have heating fill up quickly, so make advance reservations if you can afford not to freeze. (Or don’t go there in winter time). It rains very often during the month of August, especially in the mornings.
Travel Tips
Bear in mind that some of the minorities do not wish to have photos taken of them. Ask permission beforehand.
Bring along a poncho. You can also buy a cheap one in the many shops around.
Rubber boots and trekking shoes can be rented from some shops or perhaps at the hotel you are staying in. However, do bear in mind that they have limited sizes.
Do buy some hand made items direct from the ethnic minorities, especially if you have enjoyed a good conversation or received help from them. Though they do charge slightly more than the shops, bear in mind that the majority of them are very poor and depend on tourist money to survive.
Get in
By train
From Hanoi it is a 9-hour train journey to Sapa.
Vietnam Rail operates some of the cars, but other cars in the train are operated by private companies (Tulico, Ratraco, Fansipan, Friendly, Orient Express and Victoria Hotels, and many others). Some of these cars are significantly nicer than the standard cars. You may need to arrange with a travel agency to get tickets on these tourist cars, but any traveller can purchase tickets for the VNR cars at the Hanoi train station. Warning: several of these cars are not significantly better than standard Vietnamese sleeping cars though, and still substantially more expensive. Pumpkin second class is actually a VNR car booked via this company. Even Pumpkin first class only has a squat toilet (although a sign above the toilet door says: “western style toilet”!).
Cheaper tickets, especially in hard sleeper class, can be hard to come by at times, as tour companies and travel agents will snap up these to first on their own customers (too frequently a promised soft sleeper berth will turn into a hard sleeper when it comes time to board). To avoid rip offs better go to the train station by yourself and get the ticket from the ticket office. This is the only way to make sure that you will get what you have paid for. Travel Agencies in Vietnam are known for their bad business practice. Although one cannot be assured of finding a place, it is often possible to arrive at the station a short while before boarding time, as there are usually young men hanging around trying to hawk unfilled berths at the last minute. The price of these tickets will fall dramatically as departure time draws near.
Prices vary according to both the type of seat purchased and the season during which you are travelling. The times around Vietnamese holidays are particularly expensive and tickets cannot be assumed available for same day travel, so book ahead if possible. Travellers are highly recommended to purchase a berth in a soft or hard sleeper car, though the trip in soft seat class is not intolerable. For a bed, expect to pay in the area of 530,000-625,000 dong (one-way). For a soft seat, expect to pay 320,000 dong for one-way (Mar 2013). There is usually a dining car serving good, surprisingly affordable noodles (20,000 dong) and rice porridge (15,000 dong), but it’s always wise to bring your own snacks and drinks as well.
The train ends at Lao Cai. From there, dozens of shuttle buses will be waiting outside the station to take you the remaining distance to Sapa, usually at a ‘fixed’ rate of 60,000 dong (February 2013). It’s often possible to bargain down to 50,000 dong (March 2013) or lower, depending on demand. The ride is about an hour of beautiful views (if the weather is good, it may be an hour of fog at other times) more than 1000 meters up into the mountains.
You may want to book a return ticket when you buy your outward journey, as picking up tickets in Lao Cai is harder than in Hanoi. Ticket counter at the train station is open 8 to 10 am and from 2 pm The staff do not speak as much English, and they possibly only sell tickets for travel on the same day so sleepers may already be sold out unless you go first thing in the morning. Pay attention to the time of your return train Trains leaving Lao Cai around 20h00 will arrive in Hanoi at around 5h00 early in the morning. If you don’t make prior arrangements to return at an early hour, you may find yourself sitting outside of your hotel, waiting for the desk to open.
French church, Sapa. Sapa, Vietnam
By bus
Bus station in Sapa is in the center, near the lake. Sleeping buses to Hanoi cost 300000 dong (Mar 2013). Most buses you can book through travel agents for almost the same price. Minibuses to Lao Cai drive around looking for passengers, if you get on empty minibus it could take up to one hour. They drive very slowly, so it could take one hour for 30 km journey. Price for locals seems to be around 40 or 50 thousands. Bargaining with them is not recommended. I agreed for lower price with them, but in the half way they started to collect money and asked for higher rate. I payed just agreed amount and they forced me out of the bus in a half-way. Good option to get between Lao Cai and Sapa is to go near the beginning of the road and hitchhike for private car. Many vietnamese tourist travelling by their car in this route, and will take you for free or 30-40 thousands dong, it is faster even including time needed to walk to the road. Road to Dien Bien Phu is in bad condition, bus costs around 230000 dong (Mar 2013) It is small and crowded. Journey takes more than 10 hours. If you take night bus to Dien Bien Phu, there is connecting bus to OudomXay in Laos, which seems to wait for arrival of Sapa bus even if it is late.By motorcycle
Sapa can also be reached by motorcycle from Hanoi by a variety of routes. The most direct route takes at least ten hours for first time riders, though local expats often brag about making it in less. Bikes can be rented in Hanoi for unguided passage, or local guides can lead the way. Along the way be sure to top up with fuel regularly, as petrol stations sometimes prove few and far between. It’s also useful to note that fuel vendors in small towns often mix the petrol with other liquids such as alcohol or bio-fuels, and such fuel should be bought and used only when there are no alternatives.
Get around
Anywhere in the main village of Sapa can be reached on foot, and the town is small enough that you’re not likely to get lost. A basic map will be good enough for most travellers.
The way to CatCat is taxed 40,000 dong,while the way to Ban Ho & Lao Chai villages are taxed 40,000 dong in one ticket. The way to Ta Phin village is taxed 20,000 dong as well.
Tourists intending to trek to the various villages through the paddy fields should be prepared with good trekking shoes or rubber boots, a walking stick and extra clothing kept in a waterproof bag. Depending on the season, the rice fields, which are build in terraces, can be very muddy and slippery. If one does not wear shoes which enables a good grip in mud, one is likely to keep slipping and falling or even sliding down the slopes! As the paths are also taken by water buffalos, excrement can be found everywhere. Walking sticks can be bought from children from the ethnic minority groups at about 5,000 dong. These enterprising children cut sturdy bamboo and sharpen one end to turn them into sturdy sticks.
For the less adventurous, some of the villages, such as Lao Chai Village, is accessible via jeep, motorcycle and van.
See
Sapa is a charming mountain town, surrounded by picturesque mountains and rice terraces. Great views of the area can be had (weather permitting) from the nearby hills. One of these has been built up into a tourist attraction (“Ham Rong Resort”) with various gardens (orchid, European), ethnic minority dance performance areas, viewpoints, and restaurants. It’s a short walk south from the central square and then up some stairs. Entrance is 70,000 dong.
If you got time then it’s worth going to the “Sa Pa Culture Museum” (Open daily 7:30AM-11:30AM,1:30PM-5:00PM.~Admission free,but donations accepted~) where you can learn about the history of Sa Pa and the custumes & traditions of the Etnic groups of Sa Pa.The museum is located behind the Tourist Office.
It’s also worth to check some of the colonial buildings left by the French colonialists such as the church,the square and townhall building. While walking in the mountains you will encounter many hill tribes such as the Red Zao tribe.
Do
The ethnic village of Cat Cat is a few kilometers’ walk from Sapa. You’re not likely to get lost – just walk down the road out of
Morning fog on terraced rice fields. Sapa, Vietnam
Sapa, which should be marked on maps, and after a while you’ll find a path which descends the hill to your left. This path runs through the village before climbing another hill back to the road. This walk provides a good chance to observe Vietnamese farming and farm animals, and there are excellent views. The walk back up can be difficult (it is steep in parts) but once you get back onto the road there are plenty of enterprising locals ready to take you back to Sapa on motorbikes (40,000d per person per bike). Entrance to the village is currently 40,000 VND. Elderly persons should skip this Cat Cat trek. Nothing much actually. Walking down you see a few home cottage industries like fabrics, carving , art shops. In the middle of the trek, you come to a restplace, with a so-so waterfall, and a supposedly minority village which is a block of dwelling, like compartmentalised units in one building, and no sign of any activity. Nice stroll if you have a morning or afternoon free.
Sign-up for a trekking trip that enables you to stay overnight at one of the villages. The homestay experience is not uncomfortable (some homestays have hot water showers, while some don’t. Ask in advance if this is important to you) and an enriching one. Bring a sweater, as the villages can be very chilly at night and there are no heat sources of any kind except for the cooking fire in the kitchen. Thick blankets will be provided when you sleep. These treks can be purchased in Hanoi as part of a package, or you can ask for private treks for your party, at USD40 per day(as of 2012. See Sapa Sisters below). Be aware, however, that most trekkings organized by Vietnam people do not really respect the guides (who will mostly be members of the ethnic minorities). Some local organizations (like Sapa Sisters, see below) guarantee a good income for the local people, not only for the Hanoi-based tour organizations.
Heaven’s Gate. The mountains will take your breath away. Join a tour or go by rented motorbike. Get directions and a map from the very friendly girls at the tourist centre right in the middle of the town’s square. If you go on tour it will be a half day thing with a waterfall nearby thrown in. This waterfall has its own charm. Viewing the mountains is free, though there is a small charge to enter the waterfall. Make sure you bring along wide-angled cameras for the mountains.
A 5-minute walk from the church will bring you to Sa Pa lake where you can rent a pedal boat for 40,000 dond/30 min or 80,000 dond/hour. Note that the pedal boats are available only on weekends& good weather days.
Sapa Sisters Trekking Adventures (Sapa Sisters), Sapa Sisters is a highly recommended trekking company owned by local Hmong women. The guides work with travelers to decide treks in and around the Sapa Valley including multiple night stays and trips to local markets. You can only book treks via their website or at Family Guest House.
First Choice Sapa Tour
“The Unforgettable Lao Cai – Sapa Experience” In July 2012, 3 of us had this wonderful trip in Lao Cai & Sapa, arranged by Alex of Pearl Suites Hanoi Hotel in the Old Quarters as part of our Hanoi Tour itinerary. The considerably comfortable over night train ride (9pm to 5.30am the next day) was a unique experience whether one enjoys it or not. That morning we visited the very interesting Bac Ha wet market – a chance for us to expose ourselves to the H’mong people’s colourful culture, intricate handicraft and not forgetting their unique traditional food. Bac Ha market was our favourite destination, and for those who want to grab some souvenirs; this is a great place. The rest of the day was spent in Sapa itself- 1 hour’s car ride from Lao Cai. Thanks to Alex – he put us up in a beautiful hotel in rooms with balconies which oversee the beautiful valleys. After dinner, we visited the sweet family of our tour guide, Quang, our new friend. A night tour of Sapa town & dropping in at the night market was an added bonus.
The next day from 8.30am till 3.30pm,we went on a long trek through the valleys, visiting flower H’mong, black H’mong & Dzay houses, where we sampled corn wine, tea & tobacco. It was a total of over 18,000 steps on foot but we totally enjoyed it. Besides the much needed exercise, we feasted our eyes on the astounding beauty of the scenery en-route. Tourists must bring the right shoes, a good camera & some drinking water. The H’mong people tend to escort tourists all the way, offering their service such as carrying your bags, but you have to return their favour later by buying from them. Sapa town itself is a beautiful high altitude small town, basically in French architecture, where it’s alleged to have four seasons in a single day.The many restaurants, bars & bistros offer different European dining experiences. But it’s its cool weather, the serenity, the tranquillity & the beauty of its surroundings which made us regret we did not spend an extra day in Sapa.. Email to First Choice at sales@firstchoice.vn
Buy
It is possible to change money, traveler cheques and get cash advance on credit cards at the bigger Hotels in Sapa. Furthermore, there are ATMs on the main street that now accept all major cards such as Visa, Mastercard or the Maestro network.
Make sure that the foreign currency notes you bring along to Sapa are as new and crisp as possible. It is very hard to obtain the local currency with tatty notes. Some hotels will reject the money exchange request. There have been reports of shops taking customer’s new crisp notes, switching them with taped up cut ones, and insisting that were the ones the customers gave them.
The usual endless supply of nearly identical tourist trinkets is available at every turn. Although Sapa is famous for its embroidery. There are two types: handmade and machine made. It is easy to tell the difference. Buying direct from the maker is preferable, although prices are highly elastic. When bargaining, try to find out how long it took to make the piece. If you want machine made products, you are better off buying them in the shops – It pays to shop around for the right pair of reproduction Montagnard earrings or fake handicrafts.
The various markets sell clothes, blankets, etc. with colorful designs traditional to the various ethnic minorities in Sapa. Take note that the dye used to give a blue color stains the fingers (and not only the fingers) – which is why many of the women who make them have darkened fingertips. When you wash these clothes the colour will run. (To avoid this, soak them in cold salty water, and make sure you pack them carefully in your bag to take home.)
Be careful buying batteries as some people will sell them with no juice.
Eat
There are more restaurants than one could stomach along the main strip, Pho Cau May; they all have nearly the same menu, with many of them offering, oddly enough, Italian as well as Vietnamese fare. Tread with caution.
Delta restaurant – a top-end restaurant. The food is a sad attempt at Italian food. The pizzas were terrible (and sweet?) but the pasta was a bit better. Too expensive: from US$5 for a pizza. Same for pastas. Wine is very very expensive.
Rose Garden Sapa – a middle-ranged restaurant. The restaurant is located on phanxipang street, on the way to Cat Cat Village. They have freshly baked baguettes and hamburgers right off their own bakery. The desserts – ice cream, cakes and cookies are sweet delicacies yet at an affordable price.
Le Gecko Sapa
Managed by the little Nam Dinh boy, it offers Pizza, Sandwiches and Pasta. The restaurant regular and popular “special of the day” 5$ menu wich consist of Sapa Soup, spring rolls, principal plate, bowl of rice + dessert. Breakfast, Snack, Burgers, Steaks, Soups, Salads, French & Vietnamese, Pork, Vegetarian, Chicken, Beef, Sea Food, Hot Pot and many others Sapa Specialities. Find it at 4 Ham Rong street.
Little Sapa – a popular, low-priced restaurant on the hill leading out of the main tourist hotel area. Serves outstanding local and decent western dishes to a mixed local/foreign clientele. Features some unique dishes in addition to the fixtures available at any other Sapa restaurant. Try the H’Mong King Style chicken. 18 cau may st.
Baguettes & Chocolate – a café specializing in delicious French pastries. They serve both European and Asian meals as well. Run as a vocational school for disadvantaged youths. Up the stairs northwest of the central plaza. Expect patchy service from the disadvantaged youth.
On the corner facing out onto the lake in the central part of town (up the hill from the tourist hotel area) is a pleasant shop selling local fare, they offer a partly-translated menu with fair prices (10,000-30,000 dong).
At the market – Foodstalls selling good noodlesoup for VND 10.000, fried rice for VND 15.000 and the other usual Vietnamese fare for around VND 30.000. Further more it’s a great experience to dine with the locals!
Bombay Indian, 36 pho cau may. Very good North Indian food, with many options for vegetarians. Mains are 4-8USD.
The Hill Station, 07 Muong Hoa,. Fine wine, cheese and cold cuts. Home made hams and pâté. Punto Italia coffee.
Drink
Hmong Sisters Bar – Close to the Sapa Bamboo Hotel. Has a pool table, darts and a computer with free Internet.
Sapa O’Chau Cafe, 08 Thac Bac Street (Up the steps northwest of the central plaza and turn right), ☎ 0915351479, [5]. Boutique school themed cafe serving guest teas & coffees, hemp milk, smoothies and pancakes. Free wifi. Student run. Great place for like minded people and volunteers.
Sleep
Keep in mind that in Sapa, as in many other provinces of Vietnam, it is the law that you must turn over your passport to your hotel/guesthouse/hostel. However, a photocopy of the main page and your visa should suffice, and if they refuse, simply tell them your real copy is in Hanoi getting a visa extension.
A near-endless supply of cheap rooms are available in the touristy area down the hill from the town centre, and generally a flock of young men and women will leap on you the moment you arrive with offers from US$3 on up (price quoted for a double).
Ly Tam May Quang’s Homestay, Doi 1 – Ta Phin village, ☎ 01666924727,. Although not located in Sapa but rather 15 km from the town itself, in Ta Phin village. A nice and friendly little homestay run by english, french and vietnamese speaking owners. They can cook any food you like and propose REAL herbal baths at a decent price. US$3.5.
Fansipan View Hotel, Xuan Vien St, ☎ (+84-203) 873 579, A nice and relaxing hotel with boutique interiors.
Hoang Ha Sapa Hotel, Thac Bac St, ☎ + 84 203 872 535, Conveniently located in the center of Sapa Town in Lao Cai, Vietnam, overlooking the beautiful Muong Hoa Valley. All rooms are equipped with Large balcony with landscape view, Fireplace, Cable TV and Free Wi-Fi Internet access. Some of its facilities and services are Meeting room, Restaurant, Room service and Free high-speed Internet access.They offer a bus to the hotel but you have to pay and if you arrive on the early train you sit in the station car park until later trains arrive. The scare stories about overcharging by minibus drivers seemed wrong- it is 50,000 dong everywhere. They also don’t want to check you in until 1-2pm. Western breakfast poor.
Green Bamboo Sapa – a hotel with an old wing located near the entrance of the town. It serves a cheap and good breakfast at US$2.50. A night’s stay at the main hotel will cost US$25. A room in the old wing will cost about US$10. Rooms in the main and old wing of the hotel, as long as not on the ground floors, will offer a breathtaking view of the Fan Xi Pan mountains.
Little Sapa – basically a restaurant located near the market, it also serves as a hotel for long-stay travellers, costing US$60/month. Big rooms with balconies, TV, hot water.
Lotus Hotel – located only a few meters from the Royal Hotel. Nice rooms, tea, tv, hot water, restaurant and for some rooms, a fireplace and a nice view. US$4-7. Week-ends are naturally more expensive. The staff is a little bit cold. Hotel closes at 11pm.
Pumpkin Hotel, 42 Cau May str, ☎ 020.872.350. Very friendly and helpful staff. Good sized rooms with desks and computers. Beware the hotel may attempt to charge extra for a space heater at a rate of 150.000vnd. (For the electricity, of course.) If you are staying here as a part of an ET Pumpkin tour make sure to get assurances that your space heater will be included in the price. Get it in writing if you can. $18.
Red Dragon Pub, Muong Hoa street (Close to the Holiday Hotel).
The Royal Hotel – located at the bottom of the main street. The rooms provide a nice view over the valley and many open onto a small balcony. It has an attached café offering standard traveller fare (banana or chocolate pancakes, as always in Vietnam, feature) and can help you out with travel arrangements. Rooms with a view over the valley start at $15US (double) while rooms looking back over the town are $12US.
Sapa Global Hotel, No. 18 Pham Xuan Huan St., Sapa Town (across from church, near Central Park), ☎ 020 350 2242. checkin: any time; checkout: 12pm. Located smack in the center of Sapa, this cozy hotel full of rustic, old world charm has 20 newly renovated rooms all with heating, hot water, satellite TV and wifi. Free internet access is available in the lobby. Breakfast included. Trekking and other tours can be arranged at reception. $15-40USD.
Thai Binh Sapa Hotel, Ham Rong Street, Sapa Town, Lao Cai Province, Vietnam (From market, walk straight up from the left of the church. Turn left at the end of the street.), ☎ +84 (020) 3871212, . checkout: 1200. Located at quiet part of Sapa and within 5mins walk from market and restaurant street. Free internet in lobby and Wi-Fi in rooms. Electric heater, electric mattress available in the room. The hotel boss (a local teacher / education officer), and a lady receptionist is very friendly and speak good english. They are able to provide local tour, buy train tickets (Lao Cai train station), and transport to and from Lao Cai train station. US$22 – US$25.
Topas Eco Lodge, (30 min drive south of Sapa), Perched on beautiful grounds on a hill with stunning views of the surrounding valley. Spacious, detached bungalows, each with their own balcony, making a comfortable double, or can probably even accommodate a small family. The eco part of the title comes partly through the lodge hiring local staff and using solar power and hot water in all of their bungalows. About US$99 per night for a detached bungalow.
Mountain Bar & Pub, 02 Muong Hoa, Sapa, Lao Cai (Near Royal Hotel), ☎ 0983889798. Good Bar in Sapa with many flavour Shisha. Good place to drink
Family Guesthouse, 028 Muong Hoa, Sapa, Lao Cai (Near edge of Sapa town), ☎ (+84 203) 872310, (+84)01662624308. Clean but very spartan rooms at the very edge of town. Rooms have no heat, so gets very chilly at night. There are 2 great things about this hotel: a very helpful, honest receptionist who speaks good English, and the rooms have great views of the Fansipan mountains.
Sapa Rooms, 18 Phan Xi Pang Street, Sapa, Lao Cai, ☎ +84 (020) 650 5228, [13]. Great little boutique hotel with a ground floor restaurant that serves a wide range of good dishes and has free WiFi. They can arrange tours with local guides and optional home stays, with a percentage of the profits going directly to support local community projects and schools. Also rent motorbikes, offer cooking classes, opportunities to volunteer in local communities, accepts clothing donations, etc.
Sapa cozy hotel. Never stay in this hotel. The guy quoted me 8 dollar for a room and when i checked out, demanded 10 dollars claiming it is a bigger room. I refused and said it is their mistake in giving me the room and they have a whole day to inform me. After that, he charged me vnd20,000 for 2 packets of instant coffee. He just tried to get as much money from me as possible. Totally dishonest guy.
Homely Villa in Sapa (Villa for Best Experience in Sa Pa), . checkin: 2:00pm; checkout: 12:00pm. Located on a 6000sqm native plant garden, this villa has got an indoor fireplace to keep you warm and also Wi-Fi Internet. It also offers free transfer to and from their BnB to town which makes travelling convenient. More importantly, within walking distance to the villages of H’mong and Red Dao ethnic people, it is an excellent starting point to explore the charm of Sa Pa. USD$45.
Victoria Sapa Hotel: top-end luxury accommodation in Sapa
Get out
If you are looking to take the train to Hanoi from Lao Cai, your hotel can probably organise to get you onto a minibus. If you’re looking to pay less than the usual rate (50,000 dong, February 2012), you’ll have to walk to the central park area where minibuses and vans cruise for passengers and are willing to bargain to the rigth price of 40,000 dong(March 2012). Be reminded that getting on an empty (or half-empty) bus will mean waiting for more passengers, regardless of whatever departure time is promised by the driver and his ever-present crew of buddies who’re hanging around.
The local tourist office also sells sleeper buses (350,000d.) from SaPa to Hanoi. The bus is new and luxurious, however the bus driver will drop you out in the western outskirts of Hanoi, despite the assurances that they will drop you at the airport or at the train station in Hanoi. If you should find yourself in this situation, there is a bus station around the block called Xe Ben Khach My Dien, where you can get on bus #34 towards Hanoi centre for 3,000 dong. Alternatively, taxis will quote you 200,000 dong to take you to the Old Town. The representative at tourist office may tell you that all train tickets at Lao Cai are sold out. Be sure to check at Lao Cai, or even better in Hanoi before arriving in SaPa.
Small step-through Honda motorcycles can be rented in the touristy parts of town, as well as near the gas station on the road leading to Lao Cai, for US$3-6 depending on the amount of time rented and your bargaining skills (i.e. determination). Day trips into the surrounding countryside can be very rewarding, although a good up-to-date map and a healthy dose of caution is required as roads are winding and populated with all manner of conveyance, and markings can be misleading as the North undergoes some odd town-relocation schemes.
You may be able to hire a guide, or join a group, to visit the various ethnic villages in the area by jeep and/or boat. The various travel agencies in town, or the people at your hotel, should be able to give details.
For those looking to go farther afield, the road to Dien Bien Phu is simply stunning and makes for a fantastic 4-5 day return trip. Always give yourself plenty of daylight hours to return home, however, as highly changeable weather could strand you in dense fog without notice, especially during the winter months. There is also a bus to DBP which runs from the tourist office at 7.30am each day, and costs $11.
Try to arrive at the Lao Cai with a couple of hours to spare and you can zip to the border (5 minutes away) on taxis (cheaply). The locals do it regularly because it’s like one big bazaar with carnival atmosphere overflowing with merchandise of everything under the sun.
To avoid the crowd on Halong Bay, you can go to Bai Tu Long Bay
Bai Tu Long is lying within the area of the gulf of Tonkin, on the northeast of Vietnam. This tourism site is located 60 km from Bai Chay tourist centre and situated in Halong commune, Van Don District, Quang Ninh Province. It comprises a part of Halong’s sea, Cam Pha town and Van Don Island District. It’s next to Halong Bay on the southwest, bordering with the sea on the east, with Cam Pha town on the west and with Co To island district on the northeast. The bay is a long string of islands which was created when the entire limestone plateau sank below sea level. There are a rich biodiversity with 2 main ecosystems: a tropical, moist, evergreen rainforest ecosystem; and a marine and coastal ecosystem. It is estimated that there are 391 species of marine creatures, most of which bring about high economic and scientific value.
Bai Tu Long and Halong has the same legendary story. According to legend, an immense dragon descended to Ha Long Bay (meaning “Descending Dragon”) millions years ago, dropping numerous eggs. These eggs hatched forming thousands of rocks and islands. The tail of the dragon extended far to the sea, forming Bach Long Vi (meaning “The Tail of the White Dragon”). As she returned to heaven, she said good bye to her offspring at the Bai Tu Long Bay (means “The dragon parts the offspring”).
Bai Tu Long Bay has great potential for developing tourism. Along with Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay is one among the wonderful natural wonders, with beautiful islands and long-white-sandy beaches. Bai Tu Long is well-known not only for its natural beauty, but also for notable attractions as Quan Lan beach, Co To Island, Van Don Island and the fishing village of Vung Vieng. Van Don Island is one of the main highlights of Bai Tu Long Bay as it’s the first island you come to, the most developed, and is connected to the mainland by bridge. Quan Lan Island offers 3 white sandy beaches Quan Lan, Minh Chau and Son Hao. You can rent a tuk tuk to drive around 15km from North to South of this island. The bay is also home to the large must-seen Bai Tu Long National Park, one of seven Vietnamese amphibian national parks which has both terrestrial zone and aquatic zone. It represents Vietnam’s sea preservation site, which has attracted a larger number of both domestic and foreign tourists. Visitors can get there by speedboat or by road from Bai Chay Beach.
A trip to Bai Tu Long can be done with minimum 2 nights stay required. The best way to take advantage of Bai Tu Long Bay is to get on a boat tour/ high speed hydrofoil from Hon Gai tourist wharf in Halong city, or go from Cai Rong pier on Van Don Island to the more remote islands, or by bus from Hanoi to Cua Ong pier, from where ferries leave for the archipelago. Some buses also run across the bridge and onto Van Don Island. The trip from Hanoi is straightforward via Highway 18 and takes about four hours. If you’re from Saigon, just take a flight with Vietnam Airlines to Hai Phong airport, then bus transfer from Hai Phong city to Cai Rong pier (120km).
Bai Tu Long is still an uncharted bay in Ha Long and promises to be a popular tourist attraction in coming time. By taking trip to this stunning bay, visitors will not only have a chance to get “off the beaten track” but also make the trip unforgettable.
Tips: you can connect trips to Sapa and Halong Bay with Sapa Travel
Enjoy dinner in the cave of Bai Tu Long Bay
Dining in a cave is a special activity offered by cruise operators when you visit Bai Tu Long Bay. Instead of having dinner on board, you will enjoy the special dinner in a cave. It can be arranged for a big group who held a conference, wedding anniversary or birthday party (20 – 60 people), a small group of friends or family who find for their own space, and it is also ideal for a couple spending their honeymoon.
After a full day with kayaking, swimming, visit floating village, you will go back to the boat and relax on the sundeck, or just enjoy some drinks. When it gets dark, the staffs will transfer you to the cave. Arriving in front of the cave, the candle light will lead you to the place where the tables are set- up, the food is well- decorated and ready to be served, the staffs welcome you. You are like to be in a different world with warm welcome, being private and romantic to enjoy.
In Bai Tu Long Bay; it is arranged in Thien Canh Son Cave. In Halong Bay, it is organized mainly in Trong Cave (Hang Trống), Amazing cave…
Most of the cruise operators can offer you this service. In fact, it is mainly held by the luxury cruises. The additional price is high as it includes: cave-hiring, set- up fee, food, personnel. The additional price depends on how big your group and related requests.
This dinner in cave is an extra and special service so how can you make reservation for this?
If you book a charter cruise, you should advise tour operator about this dining in cave request. They will shortly check service and offer you the additional charge.
Please note that this option is only available for a private group, hiring private boat. There is no sharing option.
If you book a sharing boat option but you really want to experience this service, what should you do?
Bai Tu Long Bay 3 day 2 night trip on Dragon’s Pearl Junk can be your choice. Dinner in cave is an inclusive service for 3 day 2 night trip on Dragon’s Pearl Junk. This dinner in cave will be arranged on the second night of 3 day 2 night package, at Thien Canh Son cave in Bai Tu Long Bay.
It is quite potential to become your life time experience.
Tips: After your trip, extend to Sapa with Sapa Travel
Detailed program for kayaking and trekking tour in Halong Bay
You will find this tour a great combination of kayaking and trekking. Kayaking in the wonderland of karst topography with 3,000 limestone islets and trekking through the national park with great view of Halong Bay from mountains’ summits. We will paddle amongst islets, visit hidden caves, lagoons, unspoiled beaches, floating fishing village and talk with local fish-man. On Cat Ba Island we will trek through jungle and have a chance to see the panorama of Halong Bay from one of the mountain summits we would conquer during the trek. Before heading back to Hanoi via Hai Phong we would have a half day to relax on the beach of Cat Ba.
Highlights
Amazing limestone formations
Inclusive junk for overnight
Great trek in jungle
Day 1: Cruise Halong Bay
Leave Hanoi for Halong Bay at 8.00am. On the way we will have a short break for refreshment at a handicraft centre. Upon arrival in Halong City we board a junk for a fine seafood lunch and an amazing cruise on the bay. We will visit to a cave before cruising through an amazing area of limestone islets. We will pass a floating village to reach a beautiful cove where we anchor for the night. Dinner and overnight on the junk.
Summary:
Transfer Hanoi – Halong: 3.5 hrs
Transportation: AC vehicle, Boat
Activities: Cruising
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Twin shared cabin
Day 2: Kayaking Halong Bay
After breakfast we kayak to Luon Cave and Trong Cave, the exploration of these cave takes us the morning. After lunch on the support boat we paddle to Van Chai Floating village, the biggest comunity of fishmen in Halong Bay. Wre will visit to the village school and local family before we continue paddling to Dark Cave. Tide permitting, we explore this amazing cave by kayak. The cave is a 200m long, dark tunnel thrusting through a limestone mountain. The tunnel is the only entry to a secluded and beautiful lagoon. Lunch on support boat in front of the cave. Cruise back to mother boat for dinner and overnight.
Summary:
Kayaking: 5 hr – moderate grade
Transportation: Boat, Kayak
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Twin shared cabin
Day 3: Kayaking and transfer to Cat Ba Island
Breakfast on boat. Transferred by support boat to Ho Ba Ham, a deep grotto with three inland “lakes”. The grotto is accessible only at low tide by kayak. There are beautiful beaches around, where we could stop for swimming. Lunch in Ho Ba Ham area. In the afternoon if time and weather permits we can paddle in Lan Ha Bay and paddle to Cat Ba Island. Bus transfer from Cat Ba Dock to hotel. Check in hotel and free at leisure. Overnight on Cat Ba Island.
Summary:
Kayaking: 5 – 6 hrs – moderate grade
Transportation: Boat, Kayak, Bus
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel on Cat Ba Island (harbour view)
Day 4: Trek Cat Ba National Park
Breakfast in the hotel before taking a beautiful drive to Cat Ba National Park. Trek thru the park (4 hrs) to Viet Hai Village where you have lunch in a local house. After lunch you walk to the dock and transferred by boat back to Cat Ba town around 5 pm. Overnight on Cat Ba Island.
Summary:
Transfer Hotel – National Park: 30 mins
Trek: 4 hrs – moderate grade
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel on Cat Ba Island (harbour view)
Day 5: Cat Ba Island – Hai Phong City – Hanoi
Breakfast in the morning and free at leisure. In the afternoon, we take hydrofoil to Hai Phong City. We meet our bus in Hai Phong and transfer back to Hanoi. Trip completes.
Summary:
Hydrofoil to Hai Phong: 45 mins
Transfer Hai Phong – Hanoi: 2 hrs
Meals: Breakfast
Special Notes
Please be kindly advised that the prices per pax applied for private tours differ from each pax meanwhile those applied for group tours are the same through paxes. With the group tours, therefore, you will get travel with other gathered companions. Please refer to “Dates, Availability & Prices” menu for more price details.
Note: we use private support boat when paddling to explore hidden and untouristy corners of Halong Bay. That makes our itinerary different from those organized by other tour operators who just use the kayaking packages offered by the overnight junks. Our trips are for true and different kayaking experience in Halong Bay.
Note on client safety
We reserve the right to deviate from this itinerary for any reasons, including road and weather conditions, frequency of visits to a village, or for any other factor which may influence client safety.
What to bring
– Original passport
– Water, favorite snacks
– Sunglasses, swimming suite and towel for a quick swim warm clothes in winter
– Money for drinks on boat
Diverse tropical ecosystems of Halong Bay
Halong Bay’s Aesthetic Value
The permanent beauty of Ha Long is created by three factors: stone, water and sky. Ha Long’s island system is multicolored with a variety of shapes and can be regarded as a water-color, a work of art. The islands, scattered all round, have different shapes which provoke the imagination: Dinh Huong (Incense Burner) implies spiritual significance, Ga Choi (Fighting Cocks) the symbol of Viet Nam tourism, Con Coc (Toad) recalls the passage of time, waiting thousands of years to seek justice in Heaven. There are islands that resemble a resplendent throne, a Vietnamese mother’s curved back carrying her child, a roof, an old man, a human head and so on.
Within the bigger islands are great attractions. Dau Go Cave (Wooden Stakes) dazzles the senses with many huge stalactites hanging poised in mid air and stalagmites growing majestically upwards. Then there is Thien Cung Grotto (Heavenly Palace) with its small, narrow entrance, but inside looking like a marvelous palace, and many other caves each has its own attractions and beauty.
Ha Long’s sea is always the same, blue, smooth and still. Ha Long has its own beauty by seasons. In Spring, buds of trees burst on limestone islands. In Summer, it is cool and clean with many sparkling sun rays reflecting from the sea’s surface. In Autumn, especially at night, moonlight illuminates the mountains so they appear like gold, inlaid into the earth. In Winter, with pervasive frost, Ha Long is glamorous as “a floating flower basket on smooth wave”.
Geological value
Halong Bay’s geological value has been evaluated in two ways: by the history of its formation and by its karst geomorphology.
Formation history: The Halong Bay area has a long geological history, commencing nearly 500 million years ago, stretching through various ancient geological periods involving the processes of orogeny earth movements, marine regression, tectonic down-warping and marine transgression. Between the Ordovician and Silurian periods (500 to 410 million years ago) the area was a deep sea. Later, between the Carboniferous and Permian periods (340 to 250 million years ago) the sea had become shallow. By the end of the Paleogenic and the beginning of the Neogenic periods (26 and 20 million years ago) the area had become part of a great coastal plain. This was inundated again by the sea about 2 million years ago. During the Triassic period, (240 and 195 million years ago) when most of the rest of the world was experiencing hot, dry climatic conditions, the Ha Long region had a hot and wet climate. The decayed remains of enormous forests of tree ferns were the basis of the coal deposits in the area.
– Karst geomorphologic value: Ha Long Bay is a mature karst landscape developed during a warm, wet, tropical climate. The sequence of stages in the evolution of a karst landscape over a period of 20 million years requires a combination of several distinct elements including massive thickness of limestone, a hot wet climate and slow overall tectonic uplift. There are various stages of karst formation and remnants of old phreatic, old karstic foot and marine notch caves can be observed. The characteristics of mature karst terrain are Fengling and Fengcong. The conical shapes of fengcong karst form clusters of limestone, having pyramid shapes lying close together with an average height of around 100m, though the highest may reach up to 200m. The conical shapes of fenglin karst are like individual towers having abrupt slopes and reaching heights of between 50 – 100m. The ratio between height and width is 6:1. Conical shapes of fengcong karst can be seen in the groups of hills on Bo Hon and Dau Be islands. The karst fields were formed in different ways, such as: landslide, ceiling collapse of underground river valleys and underground caves ,and by the existence of undissolved stone layers. These karst fields were regularly flooded by the sea.
The underground karst topography is divided into 3 main types of caves:
+ Remnants of old phreatic caves such as Sung Sot, Tam Cung, Lau Dai, Thien Cung, Dau Go and Thien Long.
+ Old karstic foot caves such as Trinh Nu, Bo Nau, Tien Ong and Trong;
+ Marine notch caves such as Luon Cave, Ba Hang and Ba Ham Lakes.
The karst landscape of Ha Long Bay is of international significance and of fundamental importance to the science of geomorphology. The geology of Ha Long Bay is associated with the value of its bio-diversity, archaeological culture, history and other significant values.
The Cultural − Historical value
The physical beauty of Ha Long Bay consists of its mountains, water, clouds, caves and grottoes. Many, however, do not realise that Hạ Long was also the cradle of an ancient people who helped create the present Hạ Long culture.
At the end of 1937, a Swedish archaeologist named Anderson, together with two French archaeologist sisters named Conani, journeyed for months through Ha Long sea. They climbed mountains, visited caves and explored the coastline, finding many stone artifacts including axes, grinding tables, sewing needles and jewelry. The archaeologists named the culture that formed these remnants “Ngoc Vung”. In the years following this initial exploration, Vietnamese archaeologists continued the research and made many new excavations, discovering more archaeological sites, such as Dong Mang, Xich Tho and Soi Nhụ. Through an area of some hundreds of square kilometers, they discovered many stone artifacts and pieces of broken pottery.
Throughout its development, Ha Long has had a particularly significant position because of its location on the important communication and trade routes between China, Japan and Thailand. Gradually, it became the center of cultural and commercial exchanges between these countries and ancient Vietnam. The book Comprehensive History of Dai Viet reads: “In the second month of the spring of the year of Ky Ty, the 10th year of the reign of Ly Anh Tong (1149), the commercial port of Van Don was established.” In the long period overlapping the Ly, Tran and Le dynasties, Van Don was a place of busy commercial and cultural exchanges between Vietnam and its Southeast Asian neighbours. A remaining vestige of the ancient commercial port is Cai Lang Wharf (Quan Lan).
Van Don is also a site that witnessed glorious feats of war against the invasion of Yuan-Mongol warriors . It was here that the enemy leader, General Truong Ho, had an entire fleet of food supply boats set ablaze by Tran Khanh Du. This contributed greatly to the victory of Bach Dang.
Closely linked to this animated commercial centre were many religious architectural constructions built to meet the requirements of both traders and the population that practised Catholicism and Buddhism.
In particular, in the central zone of the present UNESCO World Heritage Site area, there have recently been fascinating archaeological discoveries at Me Cung, Thien Long and Tien ong grottoes. The quantity of ancient shellfish in the Melina Spring, which form 1.5 m-thick heaps of shells, amounts to hundreds of cubic metres of human activity.
The archaeological sites of the Ha Long culture are distributed everywhere, but are mostly found on the sandy beaches of the coastline, and in these caves and grottoes: Ngoc Vung, Tuan Chau, Xich Tho and Dong Mang. There are also sites far from the coast, such as Thoi Gieng and Tien ong. Wherever the remnants of the first peoples of Hạ Long are found, they seem to bear a common characteristic: the use of the same materials, techniques, forms and designs. Scientists have called it the “Ha Long culture of the late period of the new Stone Age.”
At Cai Lang Wharf, along its 200m-long coastline, scientists have found broken pieces of pottery and china forming a 0.6 m-thick layer. Ages of the artifacts date from between the Ly and Tran dynasties. Also found in the area are the foundations of ancient houses once built along the wharf. In other areas, such as Cong Dong, Cong Yen, Ngoc Vung, Quan Lan and Cai bau, more ancient wharves have been found, along with many similar artifacts.
On Cong Dong Island, four pagodas were built. Among them, the Lam Pagoda is one of the most ancient in the area. It was built under the Tran Dynasty with three gates, a shrine to Buddha, an anterior cult room and a house of ancestors. On the northeast side of the pagoda was a tower, the remnants of which indicate it was a large construction with religious importance.
The biodiversity value
Research results show that Ha Long Bay is filled with diverse tropical ecosystems including coastal mangrove habitat, coral reefs, sea grass habitat and tropical tree forests.
The topography of Ha Long Bay has a very complex structure because the coast includes many large estuaries which provide an important and abundant nursery and food source for many species of marine creatures and the thousands of islands create additional coastline and many bays. Relatively stable water levels (the tidal change is not large), small waves, and the stable climate of Ha Long. (Average temperatures from 19 – 25 ° C) provide conditions very favorable for these naturally stable ecosystems.
Scattered throughout Ha Long Bay are lovely coral reefs often found at a depth of 4 – 6 meters, with a particular concentration near the eastern and southern shores. According to marine scientists, there are 163 species of corals in the bay which form disks, tree-shapes, and underwater gardens of many colors. The coral reefs create a vibrant habitat for as many as 107 species of fish, as well as seaweed, crustaceans, and microscopic marine creatures.
In addition to the coral reefs, one can find mangrove forests in many of the coastal areas of Halong Bay, particularly near Tuan Chau, Cua Luc, and Ba Che. The Quang Ninh area is home to many varieties of mangrove trees most abundant in northern Vietnam. Mangrove forests create a unique landscape of fascinating intertidal life including fish, crustaceans, and shellfish and also support a variety of migrating birds.
Besides the two ecosystems mentioned above, Ha Long Bay has abundant tropical forests with many species of trees and plants. The forest ecosystems house rare wild animals such as deer, mink, squirrels, and monkeys.
Ha Long Bay also supports a number of fish-farms which supply seafood to the rest of Vietnam and other countries. Marine biologists and their students study the ecology of the area and help develop markets for the farmed sea grass, seaweed, algae, fish and shrimp. Farther offshore, where populations of shrimp, fish, squid, abalone, and other sea life exist, thousands of tons of food are caught annually.
How to make your children enjoy Halong Bay
The legend of Halong Bay is fascinating for children as well. It is said that when Vietnam was fighting foreign invaders, the gods sent a family of dragons to protect the Vietnamese. The dragons spit jewels and jades which upon hitting the bay were turned into the islands. These islands joined together to create a wall which stopped the invaders. This land became Vietnam and the dragons loved it so much they decided to stay on Earth and live here. Halong means descending dragon.
A cruise on board one of the junks is a wonderful experience with kids. Most junks offer 2 or 3 day itineraries with lots of activities. Meals are generally included with lots of fresh seafood. Let the tour operator know if your family is not big on seafood and they will cook up some chicken dishes too. Some tours do not include drinks and must be purchased separately. Many tours will include transportation from Hanoi (approximately 3.5 hours).
Children can join the activities on board like: cave visiting, kayaking, swimming or fishing village but they need their parents’ attention. Before each activity, children need to be told in advance about the safety so that they are more careful to follow the instructions.
Kayaking is offered by several junks however this is better suited for older children. A sunrise tai chi lesson is also an interesting activity for the kids. Evening fishing for squid is another of the fun things to do in Halong Bay with kids. You may also get to visit a fishing village or see the monkeys playing on the rocks.
Children also need to be well- equipped with life vests during all the activities.
Halong Bay should be high on your list of places to travel to in Vietnam with kids. It was definitely my family’s favorite part of visiting Vietnam. The beauty of this place is truly amazing-it is one of the most beautiful landscapes that I have seen. It is also a nice escape from the chaos of Hanoi.
The Best Junks For Kids When You Travel To Halong Bay
Bhaya Cruises is one of the best family friendly luxury junk operators. They have 7 vessels to choose from with daily departures from Hanoi. You can choose from 1 or 2 night tours with stops at the beautiful Cat ba islands. They also offer private boat Bhaya Legend rents for families. They offer a kid’s menu as well as child size life jackets. Children under 6 are free and there is a discount for kids ages 6-12 (sharing room with parent).
Paloma Cruise offers family suites that can sleep a family of 3 (2 adults and 1 child). Children’s discounts available for children under 12.
Emotion Cruise offers a family suite cabin with connecting door. One room has a double bed and the other has 2 single beds. This Halong Bay boat can sleep a family of 4. It also has a private balcony.
Victory Star Cruise is a luxury Halong junk with family connecting cabins that can sleep a family of 4. It also has triple cabins available with 1 double and 1 single bed.
Classic Sail is another option for families that travel to Halong Bay. It offers interconnecting double family rooms that can sleep a family of 4.
If you are looking for a private charter then check out Prince I Cruise as it has 2 deluxe cabins (one double, one triple) and can sleep a family of 5. Or the Bhaya Legend II has 2 suites that can sleep a family of 4.
More Family charter cruises on Halong Bay are available here
If you are traveling in a large group you will easily find junks available for a private tour.
Interesting activities in Halong
Halong bay is proud to the one of the World’s New Wonders of Nature. With the geological and geomorphologic value as well as aesthetic value, Halong Bay is certainly one of must-see destinations in the world. It is known as a paradise of sites and entertainment. There, tourists can enjoy various kinds of fun activities at this World Natural Heritage such as cruising, caving, swimming, kayaking, fishing, visiting floating villages, cycling + trekking, scuba-diving,rock-climbing, etc.
Cruising
Tourists will have many choices with Halong bay cruises which have different about level and price. However you should choose level cruise from 3 stars to 5 stars to receive the best service and safe. General, all cruises are checked about safe and standard equipment on the cruise. Moreover, there are several relaxing services provided on the cruises including restaurant & bar, massage, cooking class, tai chi class, etc… Some famous cruises are appreciated by tourist such as: Au Co cruise, Bhaya cruise, Paradise cruise, Violet cruise, Jasmine cruise, Red Dragon Cruise… Au Co cruise is the most modern cruise in Halong bay. It was built in 2012 and it has 32 cabins with 5 star levels. This cruise was honored as luxury hotel on the sea. Paradise cruise has perennial brand with luxury cruises in Halong bay such as: Paradise cruise, Paradise Peak cruise… Tourist will surprise about luxury and professional service of these cruise. The architecture of these vessels draws its inspiration from the traditional Halong Bay junks. They have been furnished and designed to offer the utmost comfort worthy of a world-class luxury hotel and the enchanting charm of a boutique hotel.
This is relaxing paradise to enjoy peaceful time, quite. Choosing Halong bay cruises is the new travel experiences and the new way of discovery for tourists. Let‘s choose suitable cruise itinerary and explore mysterious limestone caves on Halong Bay.
Caving
Halong bay has many caves and islands. These caves are attractive destinations in route visiting Halong bay. Some famous caves are known extensively by tourist such as “Dau Go” cave, “Thien Cung” cave, “Sung Sot” cave… Magnificent masterpieces of the Creator will definitely dazzle all visitors by the magical world of stalactites and stalagmites in various sizes and shapes. Tourists are also have chance to dine in a cave and experience an exotic feeling of dining in spacious and romantic ambiance inside.
The most famous cave is “Dau Go” cave, located in Dau Go Island. “Dau Go” cave is divided into three parts. Outside part has roll in dome with ceiling look like huge oil paint picture. Beauty of this cave is praised in many poems and songs. It was honored as “caves of wonders” in World Wonder book by French. Next to “Sung sot” cave which located in Bo Hon Island and belong to centre Halong bay. This cave included two parts with stalactites with unique shape such as rock elephant, rock flower, rock water seal… Name of cave explain wonderful beauty to surprise everyone. You could easily visit “Sung Sot” cave when take part in cruise journey: Titop beach – Bo Nau cave – Me Cung cave – Luon cave – Sung Sot cave. Nearly, you could visit “Trinh Nu” cave whose name means female cave. You also see “Trong” cave which located opposite “Trinh Nu” cave. Name of this cave means male cave. The longest cave is Hanh cave which located in Cam Pha. Length of cave is 1,3 kilometer along Hanh moutain and cross out sea. If tourist want visit Hanh cave, you need to use small boat and lamp because of dark of cave. Besides, tourists explore many beautiful caves such as: Fairy cave, Thien cung cave…
Caving is always main activity of tourists when visit Halong bay. Many tourists took photograph unique caves to make remembered memories in Halong bay.
Swimming
Halong Bay is a ideal travel destination – a World Heritage Site, with thousands of limestone islands and caves. There are countless places to stop for swimming, fishing, snorkeling and kayaking when cursing around islands. There are many charming and attractive beaches; it is suitable for swimming activities such as Tra Gioi Beach, Ba Cua Beach, Tuan Chau Beach, Titov Beach, Minh Chau Beach. The stunning scenery of sheer mountain cliffs rising out of the bay makes an ideal backdrop to water-based activities.The water of beach is emerald green and turquoise color so you cannot see the bottom. Halong Bay is the safe place for swimming. Because beach is calm waters and tourists will be provided useful equipment such as: life jackets. Moreover the sailors and staff of the ship watched while you were swimming to alert you for dangers in case. Swimming in Halong bay is really nice and refreshing.
Kayaking
Kayaking is one of the most attractive actions in Halong bay. Over the last decade or so, kayaking has become a popular activity in Halong Bay, which covers an area of 1,500 square kilometers, offering many options for both the less and the more adventurous. With modern kayaking equipment, visitors can maximize on speed and maneuverability as they explore the open sea and many hidden lagoons, unspoiled beaches and floating fishing villages, they unwind on the boat and enjoy a sumptuous dinner. Travelers can paddle into peaceful lakes surrounded by Limestone Mountains and through amazing caves. Kayaking inside limestone karst is one of specialties in Halong bay. Aside from the comforts, escort boats allow your efficient experience of the remote geology and untouched culture harbored within Ha Long’s scattered limestone islands. With tranquil on-the-water sunsets and sunrises, you chances of wildlife sightings are good, and the eerie romance of the islands is unforgettable.
Kayaking is generally assumed to be very safe . Because beach is calm waters and tourists will be provided useful equipment such as: paddles, life jackets and spray kits. Kayaks of Halong are equipped with two sealed compartments for gear and ‘dry bags’ to help keep your gear safe from the elements.
Cycling and trekking
Halong Bay and Cat Ba Island is ideal trekking and cycling destinations to explore wild nature of the area around. There are lots of rare animals to sea, including green and hawksbill turtles and golden-headed languor monkeys. Visitors can choose from various trek routes, either way it is an impressive experience. When trekking on the beach, tourists will be free to enjoy cozy white sandy ground and gaze stunning seascape of Halong. We suggest the trekking in Ban Sen Island, Quan lan Island, Cat Ba Island and Titov Island (short). You can cycle in some fishing village such as Viet Hai village, Cat Ba island, Tuan Chau island.
One of the popular and cool things to do is a guided jungle trek in the Cat Ba National Park. It sounds quite an innocent and safe activity, but it is NOT and in fact can be quite dangerous. The guides usually offer two treks, an easier one lasting a few hours and a second more difficult one lasting at least 6 hours and far more demanding than the former. If you are not experienced, go for the first. If you do not have a reasonable level of fitness, don’t go at all. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes with a good grip on the ground and clothing that does not leave any skin exposed. If possible, have a first aid box with you.
Cycling in untouched regions is one of the great options for a real fishing village experience. In Halong bay, tourists will chance to visit some fishing village to explore life of fishermen and sightseeing beauty of fishing village. For travelers who love to seek real experiences deep among peaceful villages or try catching fishes. There is no better way to experience the sights smells and sounds of daily life in than by peddling slowly between lush rice paddies. Tourists could enjoy seafood to be cooked by local people and taste the perfume of the sea. It is great fun and a naturally sociable way to meet villagers and fishermen.
Scuba- diving
Travelers coming to Halong Bay will enjoy not only the boat trip, sea kayaking but also the very scuba diving experience. Scuba diving has been recently opened in Halong Bay making this place a must-sea for underwater lovers. The time from April to December is the most wonderful period for Travellers to join “Halong Bay Scuba Diving”. The temperature of water at this time is from 26-29 celsius degrees.
Travelers can explore hidden beauty underwater with thousands of splendid coral and fish like sergeant major fish, Clark’s anemone fish. Tourists will see colorful their method survive. Underwater world will make you to feel novel, small and peaceful as come back inside your mother. Tourist will perfect relax and excited to discovery underwater world. With internationally-licensed, well-trained scuba divers and assistants, we guarantee the safety, papering amenities with friendly and attentive management which make you unforgettable experience.
Rock-climbing
All professional climbers coming to Halong agree that Halong bay is the paradise of adventurous mountain climbing as it has thousands of islands with high lime-stone mountains. Tourist could see countless beautiful limestone faces. To enjoy this stunning archipelago of karsts you can try climbing Rock Mountain. If you never climb Rock Mountain, guides will guide some base skills and some notice during climbing time. After a brief introduction, guides will outfit you with safe and comfortable certified UIAA harnesses, shoes, and helmets. With the coaching of our experienced guides, climb as high as you like over the emerald waters of Halong Bay. On a clear day your cruise home will include a majestic sunset, over calm waters, speckled with islands.
Tourists will excited to subdue high of mountain and reach true climbing experience. From the high, tourist could obverse overview of Halong bay. There is no better way to enjoy Vietnam than getting high over the emerald waters rock climbing in Ha Long Bay. Rock climbing in Halong bay is the most unique and exciting way to make your trip to Ha Long Bay most memorable.
This activity is usually combined with kayaking to explore natural environment of Halong Bay. You can kayak into hidden lagoons, through limestone archways, grottoes, and floating villages. After that you will climb Rock Mountain to obverse overview clearly. Next, you could take part in activities: soak up the sun, sightseeing, swim, beach hop, and watch the wheeling black kites as they dive for fish.
Visiting floating villages
The floating village is a cultural heritage and tourist attraction in Halong bay, Vietnam. People have been living in these houses for hundred of year with fishing as the main income activity. This beautiful Bay is also famous for many floating fishing villages with about 600 residents who sustain through fishing and fish cultivation activities… it is a magically calm place, an escape from the hustle of Vietnam streets. There are four residential areas of fishermen living on a bay, about 400 households totaling approximately 1000 people. The fishermen live on boats and floating wooden houses in the coze-zone of Halong Bay, which is dozens of kilometers away from the mainland. They have no home or land ownership and their main livelihood is fishing and aquaculture.
The Visitors often travel to enjoy life in some villages such as: Vong Vieng Village, Cua Van Village, Ba Hang Village or Cap De Village in Hung Thang Commune. Cua Van is the largest village with about 130 floating houses and a population of about 600 people. Halong is very rich of marine resource which the fishermen live on. They often start their work in the early morning and sell achievement for large boats carrying fresh fish to markets on land.
The local villagers are the original inhabitants of Halong Bay who have lived on the sea for several generations. They were created a diverse culture of fishing and living. In the peaceful atmosphere of fishing village, tourists will be welcomed with fresh seafood and folksong performance (in Vietnamese: “hat gheo” or “hat cheo duong”).
You could easily transfer to floating village by cruise tour daily. In this cruise tour, you could both visiting floating village and join activities: swimming, kayaking, diving…You should enjoy seafood to be made by local villagers or you can buy drying product and hand-made of local people for friends and family.
Safety by the Red Dragon Cruise
Named and designed after an authentic Chinese junk, the original Red Dragon junk plied the rivers, seas and harbors of the Far East, from Singapore to northern China.
Our Red Dragon is complete with five deluxe cabins and designed to resonate with superior class and grandeur. Larger than The Prince and Princess it is still small enough to get up close to the natural wonders, pocket lagoons and small fishing communities of Halong and Bai Tu Long bays.
As soon as you board the Red Dragon, you will be surrounded by traditional handmade artisan woodwork. Whether you are relaxing in the comfort of your own cabin, lounging on the spacious sun deck, or dinning in the cozy restaurant, you will feel treated like royalty.
This masterpiece is a wonderful option for those who need a little more space for a small group cruise of up to 11 people.
Reviews from customers:
reddragon Photo
Fantastic! I was skeptical going into this Halong Bay cruise based on all the reviews of Halong bay tours in general but boy, was I blown away by how fantastic this cruise was, We booked thru our hotel with the Indochina Junk the Red Dragon II. It is a little more than some of the other cruises but trust me, it is SO worth every penny. First, the trip was mostly thru Bai Tu Long Bay, which is less crowded and cleaner (see travel itinerary). There are only 5 cabins (10 persons total) so you don’t feel crowded out. There are sunning lounge chairs on the deck where you can relax and enjoy the view, as well as option for both indoor and outdoor dining on top of the boat. Think about that, meals with the bay cruising by you. Second, the crew and our guide were very friendly, helpful and just all around great people. Our guide Hoang Nguyen was always there to provide information (very informative which was a plus), guidance and help when you needed it but not around so much that it was annoying, most of the time you just felt comfortable and taken care of and not bothered at all. He had the perfect balance for a 2 day 1 night trip. Third, can we say delicious food! The food was so so so amazing! (that’s three “so”‘s folks). It was the ultimate never-ending delicious meal. Finally, we felt so pampered. The itinerary, crew, guide, the rooms (each room had panoramic windows and the bathroom had a window that opened) the food, the views…everything was so “Zen,” peaceful and great. Look at this review, I clearly cannot say enough about the Red Dragon cruise. I don’t rate things often but this experience was just perfect.
Read the information and consulting before choosing Itinerary
1. Two Day/One Night Itinerary
On the first day, those 3 activities, including Cave Visiting, Kayaking and Swimming, are continuously placed upon itinerary. There is no any alternative activity, the passenger can only choose to stay on boat, or, relaxing on the beach. Others request for visiting around the area by tender can be fulfilled upon request, but extra cost is a must. On the second day, a short visit to Fishing Village is taken placed, there is no alternative activity, the passenger can only choose to stay on boat
2. Three Day/Two Night Itinerary and Longer Stay
reddragon Cruises Photo
Elders or Guest with health problems (eg. Kidney problem), or Guests with no kayaking experience, are not recommended due to the long kayaking excursion (1.5 hour on the first day and 2 hour on the second day). Special Offer, including BBQ Lunch or Dinner in the Cave, is served for the whole group at the same time so individual Guest is not allowed eating on the boat separately during this activity.
Weather in Halong Bay
1. General Climate
Halong Bay belongs to the Northern Patterns of Vietnam so it is generally cooler than the Southern of the country. It experiences two main distinct seasons. In winter months, the weather gets colder and colder from November to March and considerably warmer in April (a leap into summer). This is also time to observe much cloud and frequent drizzle. The average winter temperature is 17.2°C (62.9°F). Particularly, deep inside bay is often colder; temperature may keep below 10°C (50°F) for long period. In the summer (from May to October), the whole region is quite hot. Temperature may rise to 37°C (98.6 °F) in the peaks of June and July. Halong City enjoys equitable weather with high average humidity (80%) all year round though they may occasionally be subjected to typhoons and heavy rain in late summers (September to November). The distinct features: pleasant spring (typically March-April) and autumn (October-December), a chilly winter (December- February) and a hot summer (June – July).
2. Best Time to Travel
It is possible to visit Ha Long Bay year-round, with the best time to visit from October through April, although during the winter months of December, January and February, the weather can be cool and overcast with low visibility. During the summer months from May to September, temperatures rise and storms are more likely during the rainy season.
Halong Bay Four Seasons: Spring: February to April: Temperature ~ 17°C – Misty with drizzle Summer: May to July: Temperature ~ 28°C – Clear blue sky with occasionally pouring rain Autumn: August to October: Temperature ~ 25°C – Partly cloudy, partly windy, high chance of storm Winter: November to February: Temperature ~14°C – Cloudy, cool and rainy
3. How to Wear
It is highly recommended that you check the weather forecast before packing up, some tips are: The hot season is from May to September with the temperature is 25 – 35 degree: Shorts and skirts and short sleeve shirts The cold season in Halong Bay is from October to April and the temperature is 10 – 15 degree: Sweaters, jumper, light jacket, scarf During kayaking/swimming: Swimming suits, sun block, hat, anti-insect repellent, sunglasses During visiting the cave and grottoes, visiting fishing village: Walking shoes, crocs shoes, scandals, comfortable clothes
4. Cancelation Due To Bad Weather
Without prior notice, the cruise trip could be postponed, shortened or canceled due to unexpected bad weather, including Storm/ Typhoon (summer), Foggy days (winter), Monsoon (winter). The cruise operation is out of Indochina Junk’s control so we suggest that Guests should check the Weather Forecast at least 1 day before the cruise for better preparation of backup plan.
There are 3 situations we mentioned below as most popular occurrence
4.1. Cancellation news is confirmed 1 day before the cruise (Refund is made in full by Indochina Junk- Red Dragon)
Indochina Junk will keep contact with Guests to confirm the cancellation news, and then Guests could choose the next availability to cruise or plan for any alternative options such as Hanoi City tour, Hoa Lu- Tam Coc / Trang An ( Ninh Binh), Cooking class, Perfume Pagoda tour, Mai Chau
4.2. Cancellation news is confirmed after Guests arrive at Halong Bay. Indochina Junk- Red Dragon will serve lunch and transfer Guests back to Hanoi. (refund will based on service that has been delivered to you)
Options are: Stay in a hotel in Halong city, and then cruise the very next day cruise upon weather condition and boat availability. Visit Yen Duc village, which is located 70km from Halong Bay, on the way back to Hanoi. There is 2 hour tour, 5.5 hour tour option and even overnight trip in Viet House Homestay. If it is not rainy, Yen Duc village can be an ideal alternative option closed to Halong Bay. Get back to Hanoi and enjoy other alternative tours: Sapa, Hanoi, Ninh Binh…
4.3. Cancellation news is confirmed during your staying on Indochina Junk boat (refund will based on service that has been delivered to you) If the weather is expected to be better on the next day and you are on the first day of the trip, you could stay one night in hotel (Halong city) then continue your cruise on the next day If the weather is too bad, Indochina Junk arrange the transfer you back to your hotel in Hanoi and you choose yourself other alternative options.
Safety Notice
1. Particular individuals
For safety reasons, these below Guests are not recommended to cruise overnight in Halong Bay: People with disability, such as blindness, two hand amputee. People who are unable to walk on 2 m high stairwells People who have health problems, including people with sleepwalking syndome, people who have Illusions, people with epilepsy, people who have got anxiety when being in a small place. People who are on medicines that need to be stored at a special temperature and without it their lives are in danger People who is older than 80 People who is more than 100kg weight People who is over 2 meters height
2. Poisonous plants and animals
During summer, especially May, June, July, before going to swim, Guests should ask the guide or captain for advice because it is when the poisonous jellyfish are most active
3. Emergency Storms: when storms come during the tour Guests should be calm and follow instructions of the captain and guide. Guests need to move to the highest open areas of the boats or clear space or dining areas When engines are heard operating at night when the boat is anchored Guests need to rush out of their cabins because a storm is possibly coming or there is a potential boat collision.
4. Safety Facilities Life vest in each cabin, at public area, life buoys, life raft that enough for guests and crew on board. Lighters and hammers for emergency case in each cabin. Fire alarm, fire extinguishers at different areas on board, following the standard guide and ready to use Diagram to exit in emergency case . Marine equipment: VHF radio, GPS plotting, walkie-talkie, Walter licking alarm system, water pump system, fire alarm system and fire extinguishers.
5. Onboard safety Brief introduction about the trip with itinerary, crews, activities and safety, weather information Activity warning: our guide will give short introduction and warning to visitors, depending on weather conditions and seasons features, we recommend you to listen carefully to this information. The speed canoe to transfer guest immediately to harbor in the short time regarding health safety.
Medical aid available on board Marine Search and Rescue team with essential skills and training, equipment to deal with emergency.
Chau Doc Town travel guide in 2013
How to get to Chau Doc
Bus
The buses from HCMC to Chau Doc leave from the Mien Tay bus station; the express bus can make the run in six hours and costs around 84, 000d.
The Chau Doc bus station (Ben Xe Chau Doc) is east of town towards Long Xuyen. Buses from Chau Doc leave here for Rach Gia
(40,000d, four hours), Ca Mau, Can Tho, Ha Tien, Long Xuyen, My Tho, HCMC, Soc Trang and Tra Vinh.
Bus from Can Tho to Chau Doc: get Futa buslines at 85,000 VND from Can Tho to Chau Doc and versus: Start
Car & motorbike
By road, Chau Doc is approximately 117km from Can Tho, 181km from My Tho and 245km from HCMC.
The Chau Doc–Ha Tien road is 100km in length and is in miserable shape, but improvements were underway at research time. As you approach Ha Tien, the land turns into a mangrove forest that is infertile and almost uninhabited.
This area is considered reasonably safe during the day, but it’s not advisable to be out here after dark due to the risk of robbery in this remote, unlit area.
The drive takes about three hours, and it’s possible to visit Ba Chuc and Tup Duc en route. If you don’t plan to drive yourself, xe om drivers typically charge about US$20.
Speedboat from Saigon to Chau Doc: you can charter a Blue Cruiser or Hang Chau Express to travel from Saigon to Chau Doc
What to do in Chau Doc (An Giang, Vietnam)
A highlight of a visit to Chau Doc is a boat trip on one of the small paddle boats that collect near the western end of the park to many floating raft houses and fish farms. A second attraction, just outside Chau Doc, is Sam Mountain – more of a hillock in fact — which has reasonable views over the surrounds. The views are pretty rather than spectacular, though when combined with a visit to the pagodas around the hill’s base, this makes a worthwhile afternoon jaunt. Chau Doc is also the closest large town to the Vietnamese/Cambodian river border crossing. If you’re heading to or from Phnom Penh by boat, you’ll pass through Chau Doc, so try to allow for an overnight stay. Cruise the Mekong River between Chau Doc and Phnom Penh takes 5 hours. Hang Chau express and Blue Cruiser are the 2 best transporters in Chau Doc
Some short waterways to visit Chau Doc and the area:
– 1/2 day: Vinh Te Canal, Sam Mountain, Floating farm, Cham Village
– 2 and 1/2 hours: Floating Farm, Cham Village
– 2 and 1/2 hours: Floating Farm, Cham Village and Con Tien Bridge
– 3 and 1/2 hours: Khanh Hoa Island and Masjid Iman Mosque
– 5 hours: Long Khanh Island and Tra Su forest
Where to stay:
Just stayed in Murray Guesthouse at US$ 30 for the deluxe city view room with nice windows. It is a 3-star, not a guesthouse as its name
I recommend Chau Pho Hotel. Located in the ideal place in the ceter of Chau Doc town, Chau Pho Hotel is a good option for midrange accommodation in Chau Doc town. You will find a number of bars, restaurants, shopping centers in the vicinity of the hotel, which give rise to a bustling zone. Moreover, Chau Doc Market is located just 500 meters away from the hotel and can be visited to spend leisure time. Meanwhile, it takes a distance of just 15 minutes to access the famous pilgrimage place, Lady Chua Xu Temple and other historical monuments like Sam Mountain, Tay An Pagoda etc, from Chau Pho Hotel.
Chau Doc Maps
You can see Chau Doc map on Google, or Click here Chau Doc Map by Thomas. He draws also map to Sam Mountain
Luxury experience on Halong Bay
All of the featured luxury cruises on Halong Bay are carefully planned out, providing the highest level of comfort and enjoyment with ever-changing scenery of ports and tour options covering all continents of the Halong Bay, Vietnam.
Whether you’re looking to sail on a full luxury Halong Bay cruise to discover Halong Bay 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days or 5 days,… we’ll find you the most luxury cruises in Halong Bay, Vietnam at the best price guaranteed, but as important most suitable to your expectations.
We represent top quality brands such as Au Co Cruise, Paradise Luxury Cruises,Violet Cruise, Bhaya Cruises, Jasmine Cruise …. which offer several extended itineraries at various times throughout the year that be of interest you. Spend your time on a well-deserved cruise around Halong Bay or overnight in Halong Bay, Vietnam you want to explore further. These are the world of heritage’s favorite all-inclusive in Halong Bay, Vietnam, everyday is different and as relaxing or exciting as you want to make it.
How to choose the right cabin on board?
Choosing a Halong Bay cruise cabin can be fun and challenging at the same time, and not just a little bit frustrating on occasion. Before booking your cabin on board, ask yourselves these questions:
Do you tend to get seasick?
Do you prefer to nest peaceably on your balcony rather than hangin’ with the crowd around the bar area?
Conversely, is your idea of a stateroom simply a place to flop into bed at 1 a.m. — no fancy notions necessary?
And do you, like me, tend to go just a little bit crazy if your bed faces aft when you know you’re moving forward?
Despite the fact that some cruise lines present as many as 20 or more “categories” per ship, it’s helpful to remember that there are essentially only four types of cabins on any cruise vessel:
Inside: no window, in an inside corridor
Outside: window or porthole with a view to the outside
Balcony: includes a verandah that allows you to step outside without going up to a public deck
Suite: a larger cabin, often with separate living and sleeping areas, and a wide variety of extra amenities and perks.
Here are top luxury cruises on Halong Bay:
AU CO CRUISE 3 Days – 2 Night Detail Itinerary & Program from $ 590.00
PARADISE LUXURY 2 Days – 1 Night Detail Itinerary & Program from $ 239.00
VIOLET CRUISE 2 Days – 1 Night Detail Itinerary & Program from $329.00
JASMINE CRUISE 2 Days – 1 Night Detail Itinerary & Program from $224.00
GINGER CRUISE 2 Days – 1 Night Detail Itinerary & Program from $208.00
INDOCHINA SAILS 2 Days – 1 Night Detail Itinerary & Program from $230.00
VICTORY STAR 2 Days – 1 Night Detail Itinerary & Program from $175.00
VALENTINE CRUISE 2 Days – 1 Night Detail Itinerary & Program from $224.00
BHAYA CRUISE 2 Days – 1 Night Detail Itinerary & Program from $198.00
EMERAUDE CRUISE 2 Days – 1 Night Detail Itinerary & Program from $182.00
EMOTION CRUISE 2 Days – 1 Night Detail Itinerary & Program from $160.00
In the above rates, the price usually includes:
• Transfer Hanoi- Halong- Hanoi by private car/ shuttle bus
• Welcome Cocktail
• Cruise Itinerary and Program
• Entrance and Sightseeing Fees
• In-house English-speaking Tour Guide
• Luxury Cabins and Suites with A/C
• Luxury en-suite Bathroom
• All meals on board
• Kayaking (included & subject to availability)
• Insurance, Taxes
Travel tips: We have some promotions in Summer Season on Paradise Cruise
