Best Way to Experience Halong Bay

The best season for Halong Bay cruises roughly coincides with the rest of Vietnam – with the high season typically seen as falling between October and April. However, June to September is the hottest and wettest time of year, with a chance of monsoonal rains and – occasionally – typhoons lasting until September and October. 

As with the rest of Vietnam, the Bay is surprisingly cool (and often foggy) in the winter months of December and January – it’s still well worth visiting, but make sure to pack a sweater! If we had to pick an absolute best time for your Halong Bay cruise we’d suggest November or between February and April.

With the above in mind, we’d always recommend an overnight cruise as the very best way to discover Halong Bay. 

All cruises operate out of a purpose-built port near Halong City. Itineraries vary depending on operator, but will typically take in the Cat Ba island, secluded sandy beaches, short hikes into the karst peaks to Sung Sot cave or similar, and activities such as kayaking, squid fishing, and tai chi lessons on deck. 

Several luxury cruise operators – such as Heritage Line, Paradise Cruises, and Indochina Sails – offer spacious and impeccably finished ensuite cabins, some with private balconies, ensuring your overall experience is of the highest quality.

If you’re concerned about the relative busyness of Halong Bay, and are keen to see the staggering limestone karst scenery with fewer boats around, why not consider a cruise in one of the neighboring bays? 

Next door to Halong, Lan Ha Bay cruises also operate out of Halong City but head away from the bulk of the tourist traffic, with all equivalent experiences included, and run by the same high standard of boat operator. 

Slightly further away is Bai Tu Long Bay; tourism here is yet to really get going, with just a couple of operators in the area. Although standards of service are patchier, you’ll largely have the Bay to yourself.