Interviews with Travel Bloggers: Is Halong Bay Overrated?

Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Halong Bay with its stunningly picturesque scenery is an excellent choice for a getaway you will never forget.

However, after all those years welcoming endless hordes of tourists, you may wonder: does Halong Bay still hold its charm and stand out?

To find the answer, we have interviewed popular travel bloggers by asking them the following questions:

How was your trip to Halong Bay and what impressed you the most when visiting this place? How is Halong Bay different from the other bays that you’ve visited?

Robb & Marie-Carmen – a travel-blogger couple from TheOrientExcess

“Some places in the world offer a good view, some offer luxury accommodation, some offer exciting adventure, and others, cultural delights. But we reckon that if you book yourself on the right Halong Bay cruise, you’ll get all of it in one place” – Robb & Marie-Carmen

It took Robb & Marie-Carmen a long time before they decided to give Halong a try. After their trip, they came to terms with the fact that Halong Bay deserves to be recognized as one of the most stunning examples of natural beauty in the world. Here’s how they put it themselves:

“Halong Bay was actually the place I’d chosen many months in advance to propose to my partner. I’d never been there before, but I’d seen enough photographs of the spectacular scenery to judge that it would be something a little beyond the ordinary and worthy of such a momentous occasion. I’d chosen well. Despite several years of constant travelling, Halong Bay remains one of the most stunning examples of natural beauty I’ve ever encountered.

The fact that this amazing place is only accessible by boat means that no towering hotels or resort complexes are able to blight the landscape. In fact, once you’re out on the water and the coastline has vanished from the horizon, there are very few signs of civilization of any kind, beyond the odd fishing boat or floating pearl farm. Just the clear water, the blue sky, and the deep emerald green of the forested islands.”

Halong Bay weather in July feature image
No towering hotels or resort complexes are able to blight the landscape

Halong Bay is indeed a special masterpiece created by Nature:

“What really makes Halong so different is the islands. Hundreds upon hundreds of jungle-covered limestone karst hills that burst from the sea and create a natural maze. Almost all of them are uninhabited, and there is so much opportunity for exploring as well as sightseeing. You can sit aboard your boat, marveling at the strange rock formations that the seas erosion has created. Or you can hop in a kayak and paddle out for an up-close look.”

halong bay weather in june feature image
What really makes Halong so different is the islands – hundreds upon hundreds!

When it comes to cave exploring, Robb and Marie-Carmen suggest two ways to enjoy it:

“Many of the karsts hide breathtaking caves within, some of the more impressive caves are included as a part of regular tour packages, so often your boat will drop you at a small wooden pier and you can make your way inside without getting your feet wet. But for the more adventurous, there are hidden wonders to be found by equipping yourself with a kayak and a waterproof flashlight. Though, if you’re planning this kind of endeavor, make sure you have a good guide and don’t lose your proverbial trail of breadcrumbs, some of these caves quickly become labyrinths once you’re inside.”

Sung Sot Cave
Sung Sot Cave – an absolute labyrinth once you get inside

They say that they also immensely enjoyed interacting with local people in Halong Bay floating villages:

“We also really enjoyed meeting people from the various floating communities that inhabit the bay, such as fishermen and pearl divers, some of whom have lived their entire lives out on the water without ever setting foot on dry land.”

halong bay floating villages
Floating villagers – Mom and son smile while rowing their boat

And this is their final verdict:

“Some places in the world offer a good view, some offer luxury accommodation, some offer exciting adventure, and others, cultural delights. But we reckon that if you book yourself on the right Halong Bay cruise, you’ll get all of it in one place.”

Lucy, a lovely travel blogger from AbsolutelyLucy

“My main feeling when I visited was just being overwhelmed by the sheer enormity and beauty of the location, it was a truly breathtaking first glance at Vietnam.” – Lucy

Lucy is also impressed by the grandeur of Halong Bay. She did enjoy her trip there and now shares with us some best ways to make the most of the trip:

“When planning my trip to Vietnam, Halong Bay was high on my list of things to do and as soon as I arrived in Hanoi I was keen to book on to one of the best Halong cruises. I loved every second of the three day/two night cruise I booked on one of the old junk boats, I sadly don’t remember the name of the company but we had three days of cruising across the bay, kayaking, a cooking class, exploring caves and much more.

halong bay cruise 3 days
Lucy loved every second of her three day/two night cruise. Source: AbsolutelyLucy

It was a great way to experience the Bay and a personal highlight was kayaking early in the morning and visiting a nearby floating village. I was really impressed that despite how incredibly touristy the area is – the sheer number of cruises is astonishing – but when you were out on the water you still retained that sense of solitude and peace, that beautiful silence as the sun slips under the horizon at sunset.

Halong Bay sunset
Watching sunset on Halong Bay, you will sense the true peace and solitude. Source: AbsolutelyLucy
halong bay at night
When night falls, those green-jungled islets become soundly sleeping monsters. Source: AbsolutelyLucy

I think mainly because I have never before visited a bay that doubles as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, nor one that is quite as huge as Halong Bay. The size of it is incredible and the pure and untouched natural beauty really does make it a bay to remember. My main feeling when I visited was just being overwhelmed by the sheer enormity and beauty of the location, it was a truly breathtaking first glance at Vietnam”

Besides, as an experienced traveler, Lucy gives some advice on how to save time and enjoy the best part of cruising Halong Bay:

“My best advice for visiting, pick your cruise and your boat wisely – look at the options available before booking. Choose a smaller junk for a more personal and heartfelt experience, and for goodness sake avoid the booze cruise or you’ll have an experience to remember for all the wrong reasons. Plus look at the activities available, I wanted to explore the caves and do a cooking class but you may prefer a different option.”

Halong Bay natural beauty from deck
Relaxing on the deck is an amazing way to enjoy the pure and untouched natural beauty of Halong Bay. Source: @AbsolutelyLucy

Abbie – the owner of SpeckOnTheGlobe

“There is something magical about Halong Bay. It’s the other worldly feeling that you can sense in photographs, but really need to experience in person.” – Abbie

With her insatiable need for new exploration opportunities and adventures, Abbie says she couldn’t help visiting Halong Bay:

“We spent several days on a boat, marveling at the beautiful surroundings, swimming, kayaking and hiking to see and learn as much about Halong Bay as possible. The beginning of the Bay is crowded with boats and tourists, but as you move further and further you realize how small you are in comparison to the thousands of green covered rocks. It’s a must see stop on your Vietnamese vacation.

halong-bay-compared-with-boat
As you move further, you realize how small you are in comparison to the thousands of green covered rocks. Source: @Abbie

And just like Marie and Lucy, Abbie agrees that the magnitude of Halong Bay is what makes Halong stand out from the crowd:

“The first thing is the massive, towering limestone rocks that emerges from the murky jade green waters, it’s a rare landscape best appreciated by navigating through the bay in a classic Junk ship. As you spend more time slowly weaving through the large rock formations, you start to take in the magnitude of the topography while learning more about the history of the region, the economy & culture. There are many famous bays throughout the world but the geography here is what makes it truly unique.”

Yoshke Dimen, from ThePoorTraveler

“I was most impressed by the magnificence of the seascapes. The view of countless limestone karst cliffs scattered around the sea took my breath away each time.” – Yoshke

Here’s Yoshke on what sets Halong Bay apart from other famous bays he has traveled to:

“It’s the sheer number and grandeur. I’ve never seen any other bay that is peppered with almost 2000 limestone islets, many of which can be visited. Other bays I’ve seen also have limestone cliffs rising from their waters but not this many. The experience of spending the night on a junk boat to see some of these islands is also something I will never forget.”

Paul Marshman, from TravellingBloomer

“I would spend a bit more money and book a longer visit. With the drive from Hanoi and back, two days doesn’t give you much time to see everything there is to see.” – Paul

Below is our short interview with Paul after he returned from his trip:

Q: What made you choose Halong Bay? How did you prepare for it?

A: I always research my destinations, and my research made it clear that Halong Bay was one of the most beautiful places in Vietnam — possibly in Southeast Asia. I visited a travel agency in Hanoi and viewed a number of offers before deciding on a two-day cruise.

Q: What were you most impressed with when visiting this place?

A: I was captivated by the romantic, misty scenery that surrounded us on all sides. These are the pictures you see in travel brochures, and now I was seeing them in real life. The caves on Hang Sung Sot were amazing, as well, with strange and beautiful rock formations. And it was a great experience cruising through the bay on a small ship.

Halong Bay
Misty Halong Bay. Source: Paul Marshman
Halong Bay cave exploring
Amazing Sung Sot Cave. Source: Paul Marshman

Q: If there’s one thing you could to do better your trip, what would you improve?

A: I would spend a bit more money and book a longer visit. With the drive from Hanoi and back, two days doesn’t give you much time to see everything there is to see. I would have liked to have explored Cat Ba Island and some of the other wonderful sights of Halong Bay.

Phoebe Lee – the pretty travel writer of LittleGreyBox

“I don’t think there’s anywhere else quite like Halong, the jagged limestone islands and bright emerald water, the brilliant orange sunsets and the amazing hospitality – it’s magical.”

Q: How did you do research and plan for your trip to Halong? Could you share some difficulties about choosing the right cruise?

A: We began researching our first visit to Halong as part of our honeymoon and turned to search engines, reviews and the advice of friends for help. The amount of information out there was overwhelming and, the more we looked, the more confused we got. We didn’t have a big budget, so couldn’t book something luxurious and totally reliable. It felt like a big risk when we booked something budget-friendly and quite a few of the websites just didn’t seem reliable. In the end, we went with a company one of our friends had used and they were good. When we went back again a few years later and did a Halong Bay luxury cruise, it was amazing! So, I definitely think it’s worth going with the best you can afford – it just takes the worry out of it.

Halong Bay
Halong Bay is incredible. Source: Phoebe Lee

Q: How was your trip and what made you most impressed at?

A: Both trips were really enjoyable but our luxury trip was very special. The cruise ship was like a floating hotel, the food and service were fantastic and we loved sitting on our private balcony, watching the sunset with a cocktail. At night, we’d join in karaoke and dance all night – it was just so fun! The day trips from the ship were great and the staff know so much about the local area, it’s just a great experience. I don’t think there’s anywhere else quite like Halong, the jagged limestone islands and bright emerald water, the brilliant orange sunsets and the amazing hospitality – it’s magical.

Halong Bay on deck
“We loved sitting on our private balcony, watching the sunset with a cocktail”. Source: Phoebe Lee

Q: If you could change one thing about your trip, what would you want to improve?

A: The hardest part is the transfer from Hanoi out to Halong, it takes quite a few hours to get there. I’ve heard there are small plane air transfers available through some cruise companies, which I would definitely be interested in next time. I’ve heard other people say they didn’t like seeing other tourists or the other cruise ships but that didn’t bother me at all, I liked seeing all the other boats lit up with twinkling lights at night and the visitors are great for the local economy. Halong is one of my favorite places in Vietnam and I can’t wait to go back again one day soon.

Halong Bay cruise ships
All these boats will be lit up with the twinkling lights at night. Source: Phoebe Lee

Kirstie Jeffries, the owner of VengaValeVamos

“Being in Halong Bay felt like I was lightyears away from the rest of civilization, in my own little world…” – Kirstie

Q: Why did you decide to visit Halong? Were you afraid that Halong is just too crowded?

A: I’d heard rave reviews about Halong Bay from friends who had traveled through Vietnam, so when I had a chance to visit the country for myself, I knew I had to go. I wasn’t worried about the crowds in Halong, but, with a variety of tour operators, I did want to make sure I chose one that suited my interests.

Q: What made you most impressed at when visiting this place?

A: Being in Halong Bay felt like I was lightyears away from the rest of civilization, in my own little world, especially because I stayed on a private island. The scenery was stunning, and I loved being able to stay right on the beach, wade in the water observing bioluminescent plankton, and watch a thunderstorm roll in over the bay.

Halong Bay island
Staying on a private island. Source: Kirstie
Halong Bay kayaking
Kayaking on Halong Bay is awesome. Source: Kirstie

Q: Could you share some tips and advice on Halong traveling?

A: It’s difficult to see Halong Bay on your own, without booking a tour, but make sure the tour you choose is right for you. You’ll likely be spending several days with a small group of people, so research the tours’ demographics and find one with people similar in age and travel interest.

Foong PC, from MyVeryFirstBlog

“I still remember that I kayaked through a cave and when I came out on the other side, it was almost as if I had entered another world.”

Q: How was your trip to Halong Bay and what made you most impressed at when visiting this place?

A: My trip to Halong Bay was pleasant, exciting and memorable. Looking at those magnificent karst rising out from the sea was definitely the major highlight for me.

Although the bus ride from Hanoi to Halong Bay was a little too long at 4 hours, once I was on the boat and out at sea, it was all worth it!

Since I went in the month of March, the weather was cold and misty. This may not be very good for photography but I love the ethereal effect it had on me.

Kayaking in Halong Bay
Kayaking through a cave. Source: Foong

However, what impressed me most on this trip was the kayaking activity. It was my first time kayaking so I was both nervous and excited. I still remember that I kayaked through a cave and when I came out on the other side, it was almost as if I had entered another world. The feeling was indescribable, I felt so calm and at peace.

If I were to visit Halong Bay for a second time, I would definitely go kayaking again!

Q: How is Halong Bay different from other bays that you’ve visited?

A: So far, I have only visited two bays in my life. One is Halong Bay and the other is Li River in Guilin, China.

Both feature karst mountains and I have to say both are impressive and worth visiting. The karst mountains look awesome along Li River although they are mainly on land, whereas the karst in Halong Bay are in the sea, so the effect is somewhat grander to me.

I always like some kind of adventure (not the extreme kind) during my travels, and I find in this respect, Halong Bay has the upperhand as it offers activities like kayaking, caving and swimming. The Li River boat cruise only allows you to enjoy the scenery from the boat but if that’s all you want, then it’s great.

You can also stay overnight on the boat in Halong Bay which would be quite a different experience although I did not do that. Well, maybe I will give it a try in the future!

Conclusion

“Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” – Ibn Battuta

So, here is the answer to your concern: Halong Bay is, and forever will be, nothing short of spectacular. Make sure you also take a look at our top 20 tourist attractions in the area as well as our definitive comparison of the 3 bays there: Ha Long, Lan Ha and Bai Tu Long.

The grandeur and beauty of Halong Bay will dwarf you, take your breath away and show you how awesome Mother Nature is!

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