Where is Ha Long Bay?

Ha Long Bay is located around 144km  east of Hanoi. There are 1600 islands and islets- mostly inhabited – it is one of the most popular travel hots-post in Asia

Today, Ha long Bay also is one of the main tourist hotspots in Vietnam, receiving more than 6 million travelers each year, mostly on Cruise Boats

Ha Long Bay Cruise Tips: 6 key Steps

#1 Decide How long you want to go:

There are three types of cruise tours operating in Ha Long Bay:

• 1 day tour on cruise 
• 2 days 1 night (2D1N) on cruise
• 3 days 2 nights (3D2N) on cruise 

Day trip cruise are short journeys created to give you a little taste of the feeling of navigating between forest of islands. You can book a day cruises with no overnight stay departing from Hanoi , Ha Long City or Cat Ba island Town.

In the limit, you can do a long day trip from Hanoi with half day cruise in the bay.

Overnight Cruises are more classic choices and allow some more time to relax and truly enjoy the scenery out in the water. Plus , you get to sleep on board and wake up with a sea view. 2D1N cruises last exactly 24 hours and with suit most traveler. Longer itineraries are recommended for people looking to unwind and explore more remote areas of the bay.

In 3D2N cruise, you are transferred from the main boat to a smaller one for the daily activities, returning to the main ship in the evening.

In a nutshell, how long you stay depends on how badly you need/want to relax and what your budget is. The longer you stay, the more chances you will have to navigate through areas far from crowds and to do more outdoor activities.

#2 Decide where exactly  you want to go.

Although the whole area is mostly known as Ha Long Bay, there are in fact 3 different bays: Ha Long, Bai Tu Long and Lan Ha Bay.

#3 Always double check what is included.

A common rule amongst cruise operators is that everything is included food, activities, etc – except for the drinks. Double check that. Read carefully the itinerary proposed by each company and check the daily activities they have. Also, some companies do not include in the price the transportation from Hanoi. Make sure you ask all the questions.

#4 Research the cruise boats.

This is key. You will notice there is a huge range of boats styles, sizes and quality standard to cater to all types of travelers. make sure you ask which boat you are going and do some research online before you pull your wallet. Does it look decent? How old is the boat? what are the reviews like?

The number of passengers it can hold is important. Remember you won’t be alone aboard. You will be eating and doing all the daily activities all together, so the number of people doing all that affects tremendously your experience. it is not more than 36 member should be good.

#5 Prepare your budget

A cruise in Ha Long Bay is not the time to suddenly go on a shoestring budget but you dont need to hurt your wallet either.

A quick search on the web will reveal stories of low quality food, poor accommodation and unwanted animals as your roommates. While you can endure a bad accommodation option for one night in land, while you’re out there in the sea things are different. Because you know, YOU’re In The Middle OF THE SEA. A “simple” food poisoning can turn into a nightmare aboard! Be Smart.

If you want to book with a Tour Agency in Vietnam, Rubicon Tours Vietnam is committed to providing the best service and reasonable  price.

#6 Book Through the Right Place

There are so many tourist scams in Vietnam and people looking for cruise in Ha Long Bay are one of the best targets. Do not go walk in into any hole in the wall travel agency. It is better if you book the cruise from your Hotel or Rubicon Tours Vietnam (rubicontours.com)

Rubicon Tours Vietnam Official: 7th floor at No.27 Nguyen Trương To Street, Nikko Building, Ba Dinh District, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi capital, Vietnam.

6 easy steps – How to choose the best Cruise for exploring Ha Long Bay?
Nguyen Thanh Van

If you only have one day in Ho Chi Minh City, spend the day eating. Vietnam’s most dynamic city is filled to the brim with good food. People from all over Vietnam come to Ho Chi Minh City to work, bringing with them recipes from their hometowns that over time make up the metropolis’ exciting culinary scene. Here’s our insider guide to three dishes you don’t want to miss.

Broken rice equals a wholesome breakfast

Ask anyone in Ho Chi Minh City and they will tell you the go-to breakfast here is Cơm Tam (broken rice). Cơm tấm is one of the few dishes that originated in Ho Chi Minh City. In the old days, these special broken rice grains were not fit for sale, so farmers would save and eat them. In fact, the tấm rice grains are so symbolic of humble beauty and grace that in the Vietnamese version of Cinderella, she was named Tấm whereas the evil stepsister was called Cám, after a different kind of rice byproduct.

Cơm tấm has all the right stuff to kickstart your day: honey-glazed barbecued pork chops, sunny-side-up eggs, spring onions, and pickled papaya on a bed of rice. Of course, these days you can have cơm tấm for any meal. Everyone in Ho Chi Minh City has his or her favourite cơm tấm spot, but don’t be afraid to try out the one closest to you. It will likely be just as good. Pour a generous amount of sweet fish sauce on top of everything on your plate, and dig in.

Snails, skewers, and seafood

The area of District 4 is known for its many sidewalk BBQ seafood and snail joints. The small street of Vĩnh Khánh (District 4, Ho Chi Minh City) comes to life just after dark. Around 6pm, it transforms into a bustling neighbourhood, filled with diners gathering for a beer over some snails and seafood skewers, weekdays and weekends alike. For foodies who want to immerse in the lively atmosphere of Ho Chi Minh City, head to the restaurants along Nhiêu Lộc – Thị Nghè Canal (bờ kè area), a branch of the Saigon River that runs through the city.

While snails may sound foreign to some, they are one of the city’s most famous specialties. Snail restaurants lay out fresh catches of the day in baskets or trays for you to choose from. They can go up to twenty different kinds. From stir-fried with butter and garlic, grilled with sea salt and chilli, to stewed in coconut milk, each way of cooking snails pairs perfectly with each type of snail. Sweet snails, cockles, and razor clams are some local favourites. Overwhelmed by these selections? Simply ask what the other diners are eating and they will be happy to help you.

The many faces of hủ tiếu

Because of its culturally diverse population, countless versions of a single dish are a common theme in the local food scene. Few dishes are as representative of this city as Hu Tieu . It has multiple origins (Chinese, Cambodian, and Vietnamese), and has seen many changes and adaptations, yet it’s embraced by Vietnamese everywhere. You can easily find a hearty bowl of hủ tiếu Nam Vang (Phnom Penh rice noodles) with thin strings of rice noodles submerged in boiling hot bone broth, topped with shrimp, pork, quail eggs, and fried garlic on small carts all over the city.

An alternative you don’t want to miss is hủ tiếu Sa Đéc, originated from the former Sa Đéc province in the Mekong Delta. This flavourful noodle dish comes with a special sweet sauce, a taste signature to the Delta region. As you bite into the rice noodle strings, you will notice the difference in their chewy texture. A plate of mung bean sprout and lettuce adds a cheerful crunch to every bite.

A bánh mì like no other 

You can find bánh mì anywhere in Vietnam, but each region puts its own twist on the classic sandwich. In Ho Chi Minh City, a typical bánh mì comes with char siu pork, homemade paté, soft butter, pickled papaya, and hot chili peppers. Some cooks make their own special sauce that magically ties everything together.

Bánh mì Huỳnh Hoa is a firm favourite among locals. Known for their generous fillings and spectacular flavours, the small shop always has a line of dedicated diners waiting in front, no matter what time of day. Each one sets you back 42,000 VNĐ, and is almost twice as big as your average bánh mì. But size is not the only thing that sets Huỳnh Hoa apart. Every wonderful bite contains equal measures of all the fantastic tastes and textures. In the words of the Huỳnh Hoa’s owner: “This is no ordinary bánh mì!”

Summertime spring rolls

For Vietnamese who grew up in Ho Chi Minh City, gỏi cuốn (fresh spring rolls) are the food of childhood. Many of us would have these spring rolls on the sidewalks as an after-school snack. You can easily get a taste of this wrap at street food vendors around the city. Pull up a plastic stool, order a plate of gỏi cuốn, and see for yourself what makes this simple dish so special.

Freshness is at the heart of gỏi cuốn. Green lettuce and herbs are wrapped around rice noodles, steamed pork, and a single prawn. The simplicity highlights each ingredient’s pure flavours. However, the difference between a great gỏi cuốn and a mediocre one lies in its dipping sauce. The thick fermented sauce can be an acquired taste, but give it a try and you will see where gỏi cuốn gets its boldness. After hours of exploring the city, some gỏi cuốn and iced tea is perfect for a break. Not to mention, these beautiful rolls will definitely spice up your Instagram feed.

Eating like a local in Ho Chi Minh City
Nguyen Thanh Van