Top Things to Do in Halong

The Catherine Horizon presents an evening transformation of the bay. As daylight fades to a deep blue and the karsts become silhouettes, you dine on multi-course French-Vietnamese fusion cuisine, perhaps a tender sea bass en papillote, while the boat glides past floating fishing villages, their lights beginning to glitter on the darkening water.

This retreat exchanges the bay's waters for the forested slopes of sacred Yen Tu Mountain. The air feels cooler and carries the scent of pine and incense. Over three days, you practice meditation in ancient pagodas, eat simple vegetarian meals, and wake to the sound of temple bells and birdsong, a world away from the coastal bustle.

Good for those short on time or already based in Halong city, this efficient tour gets you onto the water quickly. You will feel the boat's vibration as it heads from the port, visit two distinct caves, one vast and ornate, another more intimate, and have time for kayaking amid the well-known formations close to the city's edge.

This five-star experience pampers from the moment you step aboard, with welcome drinks and chilled towels. The boat's design is sleek, the deck chairs plush. You sail to a prime swimming area where the water is a clear, inviting green, and later explore a massive cave chamber where you can hear droplets of water falling from high above onto the limestone floor.

Your private guide and vehicle ensure a flexible pace from Hanoi to the bay. On the water, your dedicated boat takes you to a choice kayaking spot, perhaps the quiet corners of Luon Cave, where you might see monkeys in the cliffs, and to a specific cave like Sung Sot, where you can explore at your own rhythm away from tour groups.

This overnight journey slips into the quieter adjacent Lan Ha Bay, where the water is often calmer and the crowds thinner. You sleep in a cabin lulled by gentle waves, wake to mist curling over the karsts, and spend a second day caving and paddling through areas like Dark and Bright Cave, feeling the cool, still air inside the tunnel.

The Aurora cruise has a balanced itinerary with a focus on the photogenic highlights. You will see the well-known formations of the core bay, paddle a kayak into a tranquil inlet, and swim from the boat's platform. The lunch buffet includes local staples like fried spring rolls and caramelized clay pot fish, enjoyed with panoramic windows framing the view.

This option proves that a complete Halong experience need not be costly. The cruise visits a major cave system where you walk on illuminated paths past stalactites, and includes kayaking time to navigate around the base of the limestone pillars, close enough to touch the rough, weathered stone.

Aboard the Stellar Cruise, attention is paid to the journey itself, the feel of the teak deck, the taste of freshly brewed Vietnamese coffee on the sundeck. The route is carefully plotted to show a sequence of the bay's most impressive formations, with ample time for simply sitting back and absorbing the ever-changing vista of islands and channels.