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Ha Long Bay, one of 7 wonders of the world is honorably chosen as a destination for travelers to come when they want to escape from life for a while to reenergize your body because of its magnificent and spectacular landscape created by nature. Normally, you have to spend a decent budget to travel to Ha Long bay. However we would like to share with you some tips to save your money and still have nice time there. There are a lot of activities that you can do such as: taking boat ride in Ha Long, climbing Bai Tho mountain, going shopping at Hon Gai market, wandering around Ha Long night market, enjoying the scenery of Ha Long bay from Bai Chay bridge and entertain yourself at Tuan Chau island. The following are recommended halong bay budget tours
Tips on travelling to Ha Long bay
Ha Long is located about 177km in the northward of Hanoi city, the capital of Vietnam. You can take a local bus at Luong Yen or My Dinh bus station. There are many bus companies with different time that you can take. It often takes 4 hours to go to Ha Long Bay. Here are some trusted bus companies: Phúc Xuyên, Kumho Việt Thanh, Hoàng Long.
2 days is proper period of time for your Hanoi Halong bay tour package. In the first day, you take the earliest bus to go to Ha Long Bay at 7 am. You arrive to the intersection of Tuan Chau around 11h30, get off from there and then take a motorbike to Tuan Chau international port. (From 1/1/2016, the international port was moved from Bai Chay to Tuan Chau). Arriving there, you can choose a local restaurant for lunch with reasonable price, often they have menu for choose. In the early afternoon, you buy ticket to visit Ha Long, you also have to pay for renting a boat. The price is often from 5- 7$/per person for a group boat. You can find there some “brokers” to ask for sharing the boat with others. And don’t worry about the price because it is normally fixed. If you go with friends or family, you should hire a private boat, price is from 7- 8$/per trip from 4-6 hours (in peak season from May to August, the price can be higher).
Note: If you arrive to Ha Long early, you should go to Bai Chay to book a hotel first before going Tuan Chau. The distance between Bai Chay and Tuan Chau is about 15km. There are some hotels in Tuan Chau island but not many and the price is often more expensive.
There are two types of cruise tickets: 4 hours and 6 hours for day trip in Ha Long. With 4 hour ticket, you are able to visit Thien Cung and Dau Go grotto, Fighting Cock island, and make a short cruise in the bay. With 6 hour ticket, you are able to visit Thien Cung and Dau Go grotto, Fighting Cock island, Titop beach and spend more time in a further distance cruising in the bay.
If you are not tired after the bus drive from Ha Noi, you should go to climb Bai Tho mountain first in the afternoon and in the second day take a 6 hour ticket boat ride (you can see more). In the afternoon of second day, take a bus back to Ha Noi. Bai Tho mountain is located in Hon Gai area, closed to Bai Chay bridge. From the top of mountain, you can have overview of Ha Long City and part of Ha Long Bay. This place is not popular in the tour yet.
If you are student and want to have Halong bay budget tour from Hanoi, you should stay overnight at a guesthouse near Long Tien pagoda (there are some cheap guesthouses there with price about 7$/ 2 persons, the quality is like a dorm). On the bus to Ha Long bay, ask the bus driver to drop you off at Long Toong intersection, from here about 15km to Long Tien pagoda. There are two very good local restaurants opposite the cinema. And if you stay here, you should visit Bai Tho mountain in the afternoon because it is quite closed. However, from this area, you have to take a local bus to reach Tuan Chau island that can take you from 15- 20 minutes.
Besides, when you stay at Long Tien area, it is very convenient to travel to Quan Lan island because of the short distance from Long Tien to Hon Gai harbor (about 400m) where you can find a ferry to Quan Lan. You can stay one night at guesthouse and take a ferry to Quan Lan in the early morning next day.
Ha Long Bay 2 days 1 night tour (spending 1 night on the boat)
With Halong bay 2 day cruise for backpackers, you can do more activities, especially spend the night in the bay. Most of tours spending night on the boat are chosen by foreigners, domestic tourists often stay overnight at hotel because they worry about the service and safety on boats. But in my opinion, the main reason why domestic tourists don’t choose stay overnight on boat is because of high price.
The service and safety of the boat have to be qualified so that Ha Long Bay Management Department gives these boats license. The price for these tours is from 90$- 110$/per night with 3 star boat and higher with 4 and 5 star boat (170$-400$/per night). Which boat you choose depends on your budget and expectation.
A popular 2 days 1 night tour itinerary:
Day 1:
From Ha Noi to Ha Long Bay, you spend 4 hours on the bus, and arrive there around 12h30. After that, you get on boat and start your journey around the bay. While the boat is navigating, you have lunch. The boat will stop at Titop beach or Amazing Cave at 2pm for your visit there. At the end of the day, you may do some kayaking at a specific place (or maybe you do it in the morning after)
Have a sleep on Halong bay overnight cruise.
Day 2:
For the second of halong bay 2 day 1 night tour package, going some kayaking, having breakfast, and after that, the boat will take you back to the harbor in a different route. You can have lunch on the boat or at local restaurant at Bai Chay. In the afternoon, come back to Ha Noi.
The place where you go kayaking is different from different tour company. With 3 days 2 nights tour, you can go to Cat Ba island in the second day and come back Ha Long in the third day and back to Ha Noi.
Note: If you need help to book a tour or some advice you can contact us. You can leave your email below or contact directly to balotravel.net
Guesthouses and hotels at Ha Long
Ha Long is divided into 2 parts: Hon Gai and Bay Chay connected by Bai Chay bridge. Bai Chay is the main tourist area with a long beach and port. Hon Gai is administrative center. You should stay in Bay Chay because it is more convenient for transporting and eating. Most of hotels and guesthouses are located at Vuon Dao street. The price is from 12-17$/per night, more expensive in summer. There are some good restaurants in this area with reasonable price. Don’t forget to try Squid cake- a special food here.
Some entertainment spots in Ha Long
Hang Thien Cung, Dau Go: you go by island Dau Goisland, continue walking through the steps, enter the cave, explore caves inside, should go both caves. There are many animal shapes and beautiful stalactites. In the evening you can go to Ha Long night market, buy some souvenirs and do not forget to bargain. In addition you can also walk downtown to the post office, rent a horse car to go around. If you go to Bai Chay Bridge at night, you should go home early for your safety.
Bai Tho Mountain presented above. Also if you are in the area of Hon Gai, though it is far from the tourist center, but close to Halong city, you can enjoy the cuisine and learn about local people's lifestyle of Ha Long. In this area you can visit the Long Tien Pagoda, enjoy rice pancake with grilled Squid, the food here are less expensive than the tourist center. You can take the bus to move between two areas, Hon Gai will be more suitable if you are a student.
Cat Ba and Ha Long combined tour
If you can go both to Ha Long and Cat Ba , it would a perfect trip. In order to get to Cat Ba,you must take a ferry from Tuan Chau. There are specific time for ferry so you should look for it carefully. You can stay in Tuan Chau on the second day and take the last ferry to Cat Ba. When arrive to Gia Luan wharf, Cat Ba you must hire motorbike or taxi to get to the center. You can contact us to book a taxi or car for you because people often overcharge you here. You spend the night in Cat Ba town, and on the last day go swimming and visit the Fish Market. In the afternoon take Hoang Long bus to Hanoi (the ticket is included ferry), last bus is at 3pm.
You want to have more information about tour to Cat Ba, please contact us.
From 2014,Halong bay sightseeing ticket fee has been increased, in particular as following:
From 6:30 to 18:30 during the day is 120,000 VND / ticket(general visiting Halong bay, excluding tickets visitingislands , caves, etc) The fee for some spots invested by the government such as Cua Van Floating Village, Soi Sim island, Titop island is from 30.000- 50.000 VND)
Generally visting and staying 1 night in Ha Long Bay is 320,000 VND (about 15$). Staying 2 nights and general sightseeing on Halong Bay is 470,000 VND and staying 3 nights and general tours on Halong Bay is 520,000 VND. Children from 7 to 15 years old ; senior citizens aged 70 years and over , the poor , people with disabilities will be exempt from 50% entrance fee . For those who have contributed to the revolution, children under 7 years old will be free from entrance ticket.
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