Mid-Range Travel Guide: Halong

Accommodation

$35-80 per night

Private rooms in mid-range hotels, boutique guesthouses, 3-star properties with private bathrooms

Food & Dining

$15-35 per day

Mix of local restaurants, tourist-area dining, hotel breakfasts, seafood restaurants

Transportation

$10-30 per day

Mix of public transport and taxis, private transfers for longer distances, motorbike rentals

Activities

$25-60 per day

Premium cruise packages, guided cave tours, cooking classes, spa treatments

Eat at local markets and street stalls instead of tourist restaurants (typically 60-80% cheaper)

Book overnight cruise packages that include accommodation and meals (usually 20-40% savings vs separate bookings)

Use public buses and shared transport instead of private taxis (typically 70-85% cheaper)

Visit during shoulder seasons for accommodation discounts of 25-50%

Book multi-day packages that bundle activities rather than individual tours (generally 15-30% savings)

Stay in Halong City rather than Cat Ba Island for lower accommodation costs (typically 30-50% cheaper)

Bring water bottles and snacks for day trips to avoid inflated cruise prices (can save $10-20 per day)

Only eating at hotel restaurants and tourist areas instead of exploring local food scenes (typically costs 150-300% more)

Booking last-minute accommodation during peak season without comparing options (can cost 100-200% more than advance booking)

Taking taxis for all transportation instead of using public buses and shared transport (typically 400-600% more expensive)

Booking single-day activities separately rather than multi-day packages (usually 20-40% more expensive)

Not negotiating prices at markets and for services where haggling is expected (can overpay by 50-100%)