Travel Guide to Halong Bay Cruise
Halong Bay is present on the North Coast in the Gulf of Tonkin. It is one hundred and eighty kms away from Hanoi. To reduce the travel time from Hanoi to Halong Bay, travellers are recommended to get on a thirty-minute flight to explore the beauty of the Bay in Vietnam.
Travel and tourism is one of the most growing sectors in the entire world as more and more travel enthusiasts are setting out and exploring the beauty of the world. Among the most popular tourist destinations, Vietnam is a Southeast Asian country that never misses the list.
With an abundance of beauty and natural treasures, Vietnam surely has a lot to offer to travellers who enter the country each year with the Tourist E-Visa Vietnam.
A Vietnam Tourist E-Visa can be obtained to travel to Vietnam which will then enable the travellers to travel to the Halong Bay and spend some of the best moments of their life in the Bay.
Vietnam Visa Online is an electronic travel authorization or travel permit to visit Vietnam for a period of time upto 30 days for travel or business purposes. International visitors must have a Vietnam Visa Online to be able to visit Vietnam . Foreign citizens can apply for an Vietnam Visa Application in a matter of minutes. Vietnam Visa Application process is automated, simple, and completely online.
The Significance And History Of The Halong Bay
Halong Bay has a long history which is well known by the local Vietnamese people. The Bay rivers are known to support a massive marine lifeline. Over two hundred species of fish and four hundred and fifty species of mollusks are found in the waters of the Halong Bay.
More than one thousand and six hundred karsts and islets provide homes to a massive number of species of animals and birds. A huge number of fishing boats have been found on the waters of Halong Bay for many decades. Human residence in the caves of the karsts of the Bay have been found by researchers that date back to more than 25,000 years ago.
Protection By The Dragons
Halong Bay in the Vietnamese language means: Bay Of The Descending Dragons.
There are legends of the people who were the initial settlers in the Bay who were worried by thoughts of invaders in their area and the harassment caused by them as well. Seeing this, a group of Dragons got together to destroy the ships of the invaders who were trying to invade Halong Bay. After this intervention of the dragons to save the Bay, the Dragons took a human form. And did not return to heaven again. The Dragons remained in the Halong Bay and served people with affection for thousands of years.
A World Heritage Site Declared By The UNESCO
Halong Bay was declared as a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1994. In 2012, it was added to the new list of the top seven wonders of nature. Since then, thousands of travellers and tourists with the Tourist E-Visa Vietnam have entered Vietnam to visit the Halong Bay.
Popular Spots in The Halong Bay To Visit
When taking a cruise through the waters of the Halong Bay, these are the popular spots that every traveller should explore without fail:
- Sung Sot Cave
The Sung Sot Cave is one of the most visited spots in Halong Bay. This cave is approximately one thousand square metres large. The walls of the cave are rocky and the cave is often lit by artificial lighting. The lightning from the sky performs the role of the cave’s exit.
The first set of stairs in the cave will lead the traveller to the mouth of the cave. And the second set of stairs will take the traveller to the cave floor. It is surely worth it getting a Vietnam online travel Visa just to see this beautiful cave in the Halong Bay.
- Cat Ba Island
The Cat Ba Islands is one of the most prominent Islands in the Halong Bay. It is also one of the most important Islands in the Bay. This Island is a homeland to around 06 communities. And the number of residents in this Island is thirteen thousand. This Island has many hotels and resorts built each year to accommodate more and more visitors with increasing travel and tourism enthusiasts in Vietnam.
This Island offers beautiful national parks and the Hospital Cave. The travellers will get to enjoy free wifi as well in the Island. The Hospital Cave played an important role as a bomb-proof hospital during the days of the Vietnam War. The Cannon Fort will enable the travellers to take a clear look at the mind-blowing scenery of the Island and neighbouring Islands as well.
- Floating Fishing Villages
Fishing has been one of the most popular activities in Halong Bay. This is simply because there is a huge diversity of marine life in the Bay waters. In today’s time, fishing groups have created floating fishing villages in the Bay. Travellers can find a series of boats and wooden walkways.
Travellers who are visiting Vietnam with the Tourist E-Visa Vietnam can find cruise boats that comprise a stop at the fishing village as a part of the travel plan to Halong Bay. The travellers will also be able to buy fresh seafood from the nearby shops in the village. And get it cooked on their boats.
How To Cruise on Halong Bay?
Locals believe that the best way in which the travellers with the Vietnam Tourist eVisa can enjoy visiting Halong Bay is through a cruise. Since there is an abundance of cruise ships at Halong Bay, travellers will have plenty of options to choose from. It is essential that travellers research about the cruise options and then only go for one!
1 To 5 Star Cruises
The cruise boats that can be used to explore Halong Bay are available in different types ranging from old fashioned hulks to luxurious ships that will ensure that the traveller gets everything they want. The cruise ships for travellers with the Tourist E-Visa Vietnam are categorised under the following categories:
- Trips in the day.
- Two days and one night trips.
- Three days and one night excursions.
Please note that the prices for each of these can vary based on multiple factors. However, these are some important things to keep in mind:
- Halong Bay province does not have the best safety practices in place when it comes to the cruise ships and boats. Many visitors have lost their lives when the old cruise boats went down the Bay.
- When the travellers decide to get a cruise ship from the well-known cruise operators, they can expect high standards and the best service throughout their journey in the Bay.
- Visitors can always go for a budget cruise ship that will ensure that they don’t have to pay a lot of money for cruising in the Bay. However, the visitors need to make sure that they have perfect knowledge about the itinerary of the cruise ship.
This is because many budget cruise ships may alter the itinerary to get more people on-board. That’s why it’s best to be sure about where the ship will be sailing and what spots it will be stopping by so that the travellers don’t miss out on travelling to the best spots.
The budget cruise ships are pretty much 01 star or 02 star ships. They are not very expensive and will provide different services such as food, accommodation, etc based on the cost the traveller is paying for. These cruises are best for solo travellers, couples, small groups and those in general who do not have time constraints and can have a flexible travel schedule.
The mid-range cruise ships are generally for those travellers with the Tourist E-Visa Vietnam who prefer services that are in the range of 03 stars. These ships will offer quality food and accommodation at a considerable and an affordable price. These ships are best for getting comfort while staying on a budget. The travellers who are travelling with their family members or large groups can go for these kinds of cruises.
The deluxe or luxurious cruise ships are generally the 04 to 05 stars one. The experience of travelling across Halong Bay in these ships is truly luxurious. These cruises are elegant, exquisite and full of luxurious services and top-class facilities. These ships are best for large groups of people who are travelling with their family members. Or senior citizens who have little to no mobility.
How To Book A Trip To Halong Bay?
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- Book a trip Online or In-person
There are two main ways through which the travellers can book a trip to Halong Bay. The first one is an online way and the second one is an offline way. There are advantages and disadvantages for both ways.
When the booking for a trip to the Bay is done via the online way, the visitors will be able to have a look at the pictures of the ship, the facilities it provides, the type of food served on the cruise, the accommodation area and much more. It will also enable the traveller to get complete knowledge about the itinerary of the cruise. And they make special requests based on the preferences of the traveller.
However, when booking for a cruise ship online, the travellers won’t be able to negotiate the price of the ship. This will make them pay a good amount of price for a ship. But the best part is that if the traveller prefers safety and security at all times with comfort and quality services, then it is worth the price to go for online booking.
To save cost, the travellers can always book a cruise in-person. The in-person cruises can be booked in Hanoi or in Halong Bay City. The travellers can negotiate the price of the ship according to their preferences. It is advised to the travellers with the Tourist E-Visa Vietnam to not do this when they have children on-board.
Visitors will be given the luxury of booking a cruise ship from their Hanoi hotels. This may make them pay a little more money than booking a ship with travel agents. But this will also ensure that they are able to see their ship and what if offers before they get started with the trip to the Bay. It is also better than going from one travel agent to another and then booking a cruise at the end of the day with all these hassles.
If the visitors want to bargain and negotiate the price of the shop, they can ask the hotel for travel agency recommendations. After that, they can go to those travel agents and book their cruise. Hanoi has numerous travel agencies to book a cruise ship for not only Halong Bay, but for the other popular destinations as well. So the travellers can feel free to go to any travel agency and book their cruise according to their budget and the level of comfort and convenience they wish to get from the trip as well.
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Obtain A Visa
A Vietnam Visa will be required for the passport holders of almost each country. And when travelling to Vietnam, no visitors should miss out on taking a trip to Halong Bay. That’s why each traveller is advised to get a Tourist E-Visa Vietnam to travel to Vietnam to explore the beauty and significance of Halong Bay.
There are many different ways in which a traveller can get a Vietnam Visa to travel to Vietnam. The most common ways are getting a Vietnam Visa from the Vietnamese Embassy or the consulate office located in their home nation. Or getting a Vietnam Visa on Arrival (VOA). These mediums are pocket-friendly. The option of applying for a Vietnam E-Visa will ensure that the traveller gets a Vietnam online travel Visa to travel to Vietnam and Halong Bay as well. But this option is open for the travellers belonging to eighty nationalities only as of now.
- Book a trip Online or In-person
Halong Bay Cruise And Tour Travel Guide Summary
As we can observe, Halong Bay is a popular and a famous tourist spot in Vietnam which should not be missed by any chance when the travellers are travelling to Vietnam with the Tourist E-Visa Vietnam.
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