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• Came for the Scenery, Stayed in the Queue

  JamieandMooz,Jun 6, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  2.00

  The day started positively with a comfortable transfer coach, a great guide in Nam, and air conditioning that provided welcome relief from the humid morning air. We stopped halfway to Ha Long Bay for a toilet break at a roadside jewellery store. It all felt a little staged, as if the toilets were merely the supporting act for the jewellery sales pitch. After around three hours, we arrived at the bay and boarded the vessel Apollo, where we were served a buffet lunch almost immediately. This is where things started to go downhill. The food was very generic, fries, fried chicken, rice and noodles, although the noodles resembled spaghetti in tomato sauce more than anything distinctly Vietnamese. Given the cost of the trip, we expected something a little more memorable. The buffet itself became a bit of a contact sport, with plenty of pushing and shoving as people competed for food. The first stop offered a choice between a bamboo boat ride for around 20 minutes or a kayak for 30 minutes. The scenery was beautiful, but the area was incredibly crowded. For anyone choosing a kayak, it felt surprisingly chaotic and, at times, unsafe. With little shade available, the 20-minute boat ride somehow felt considerably longer. Credit must go to the local rowers, who work incredibly hard in challenging conditions. The caves and lake were stunning, but the sheer number of visitors made it difficult to fully appreciate them. One of the kayaks was struck by a boat hard enough to knock one of the occupants out, she was frantically swimming to find her kayak but only one boat threw a life preserver to her as she dodged the boats. The lifejackets provided here as well were questionable to say the least, flimsy and many didn’t even do up as the clips were busted. Upon returning to the boat, the buffet area had been transformed into a jewellery shop. We admired the efficiency, breakfast area, lunch area, gift shop, all from the same square metres of deck space. The next stop was Hang Luon Cave and the climb to the viewpoint. We had been looking forward to this, but when we saw the queue stretching up the mountain, we decided against it. The lack of crowd management, combined with the pushing and shoving, created an uncomfortable atmosphere. Instead, we remained on board with a cold drink. Looking around the harbour, dozens of boats appeared to be competing for the same limited space, frequently bumping into one another. These weren’t gentle taps either; each impact was enough to make passengers sit up and take notice. The final stop was Ti Top Island, which unfortunately proved to be another disappointment. The beach was extremely overcrowded, leaving little room to relax or swim comfortably. We counted around 45 vessels all attempting to dock, board and disembark passengers in a remarkably small area. The lack of coordination was concerning, with boats manoeuvring in every direction at once. It felt less like an organised excursion and more like rush hour, except everyone was driving a boat. We had hoped the return journey would offer a peaceful sail through the bay while watching the sunset over the islands. Instead, extremely loud dance music shattered any chance of tranquillity. We were served Vietnamese wine, warm watermelon, and biscuits intended for cheese, although the cheese itself appeared to have missed the boat. To be fair, we appreciated the crew’s effort in providing a surprise celebration, but had we known in advance, it is not something we would have chosen. Overall, Ha Long Bay itself is undeniably beautiful and deserves its reputation. The islands, caves and scenery are spectacular. Unfortunately, the overwhelming crowds and apparent lack of regulation made it difficult to fully enjoy the experience. Our guide, Nam, was excellent throughout and provided interesting information at each stop, but that is where most of our positives end. We left feeling disappointed that such a beautiful destination is being diminished by overcrowding. Ha Long Bay remains a must-see destination when visiting Vietnam, but if we were to return, we would seek out a much smaller and more family-run tour away from the busiest routes. Based on our experience, the larger tours felt far more like tourist-processing operations than genuine sightseeing experiences.

  

  

  

  

  

  

• OK, reduce your expectations

  H9444SPalexh,May 18, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  4.00

  Cave and Titov island are super crowded

• Tourist horror!

  638berlinf,Apr 24, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  2.00

  Our guide was super friendly! It wasn't him at all. The crowds of tourists were horrific. Such a beautiful nature simply desecrated by so many people. It smells like exhaust gases throughout. The caves are super dangerous. If an emergency happens here, there is no chance of solving it as it is too narrow for the amount of people.

• A well-organized trip to Halong Bay

  Scenic57212185011,Oct 13, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  The organization was excellent – everything went smoothly from pickup to return, and our tour guide Duy took very good care of all fellow travelers and the course of the trip. During the cruise we were able to discover many beautiful corners of the bay. Thanks to the team and especially to Duy for this unforgettable trip!

  

  

  

  

• Recommended

  pjs687,Jul 31, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  4.00

  Very good cruise and good guide. The bay is beautiful and really worth the trip. Only downside: the food was very average. Attention: all drinks are charged including water.

• Fantastic cruise with phenomenal scenery

  Vic B,Jun 28, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  4.00

  This beautiful vessel is probably one of the best-organised and most enjoyable cruises in Halong Bay. The crew were so friendly, helpful and informative. We thoroughly enjoyed our day and would recommend it to those interested in a great day out.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

• Wonderful day at Halong Bay with Duy!

  nikitaq2025,Apr 28, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  So many good things to say about this excursion! Halong Bay was a highlight of our trip to Vietnam. The bay is beautiful bay and Sung Sot cave is spectacular. Go for.the speedboat add-on, a fun way to see a bit more of the bay. We opted for the bamboo boat over kayaks, because we didn't want to get wet. Just a 2+ hour bus ride from Hanoi, Halong Bay was a wonderful contrast to the hustle and bustle of the city. The luxury bus was very comfortable and the hotel pick-up made this trip so easy. Last but not least, Duy (our tour guide) was fantastic. Great energy, humor, insights, and care. He engaged us throughout a long day of sightseeing and travel with a good balance of interaction vs. privacy, allowing all of us to enjoy the experience in our own way. Duy played a big part in this 5-star rating and the lasting memories we have made.on this trip. Thank you, Duy, for taking such good care of us and for showing us your Vietnam!

• Had Long Bay

  Loretta B,Apr 6, 2025

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  Had this tour book for quite awhile and was looking forward to it. Tommy our guide was very funny and very easy to get along with. His knowledge was immense and could answer questions easily without hesitation. He even gave us a lesson in the Vietnamese language. The pearl farm was interesting but the background noise of other pearl farm guides trying to compete with all the noise made it a little hard to hear. Once on board the Apollo, and headed our on Ha Long Bay, with numerous other tour groups, we sat down to a delicious buffet lunch. There were 3 activities set to which would could choose 2. The speed boats, at your cost but well worth it, bamboo boat or Kayaks. We chose the speed boat and bamboo boat. Next we went to Sung Sot Cave. We didn't do the climb as there were hundreds of people going up and down. It is a shame they don't limit or maybe timetable the amount of boats which go there. Next we were off to Titop Island. Nice place to stretch your legs or have a quick swim. After leaving there we returned back to the dock and back on the bus to return to the hotel. It's a very long day, 13 hours, but the mini bus we were in was comfortable and roomy. Cám ơn Tommy and our wonderful driver.

• Amazing Halong Bay!!!

  PrashanthChanda,Nov 27, 2024

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  We have good time with our tour guide Duy. Halong Bay’s one-day tour offers stunning views, delicious food, and exciting activities like kayaking and cave exploration. The fresh seafood lunch is a highlight. Though brief, it’s a great way to enjoy the beauty of this UNESCO site.

  

  

• Best Ha long Bay experience

  Guide26630710912,Nov 25, 2024

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  Duy is one of the best guides we have ever met. He was patiently answering all our questions. His English is really good. Highly recommend to everyone

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