Full-Day Halong Bay Islands and Cave Tour Transfer 2 Ways by Newest Expressway

Superbe croisière d’une journée avec un staff aux petits soins, d’une très grande gentillesse et une visite de cave super intéressante !

I had such a great experience on this tour. Great staff, beautiful place, and awesome activities. Highly recommend!

Let's start... NEGATIVES: 1) you are not allowed to bring your own drinks (even water) or food (even snacks) during the tour, so you have to buy them onboard where you are overcharged if compared to mainland prices. To this inconvenience, only highlited AFTER you have already booked and paid the tour, add the total lack of kindness and politeness of the crew members that pass silently and distractedly by the tables with their trays. 2) You get into the minibus and once is full the Guide starts a 40 minutes talk about how life is expensive in Vietnam (come on mate! Seriously?!). Seems like he is trying to move you to piety more than giving real tourist informations (nearly nothing i am honest). 3) Once in Tuan Chau you are boarded into a ship that clearly needs a good clean and a renovation. It smells muldly, the lower deck is just a dining room with tables lined up along the windows (shutted so you can't even consider the idea of opening one to breath a bit or to escape...) and a bar. The only comfty sitting are in the upper deck and they are not enough for the ammount of pax loaded (only 4 soft chairs!!!). So pepare for discomfort. 4) The food served was a real nightmare. Fish served with the bones and not an empty dish where store them, quality very Poor. 5) they serve you the food as soon as the ship leaves the harbour without any announcement of welcome by the crew or the captain (they did not even introduce themselfes!!)... Like a bus! The worst is that once the torture of lunch is over they clear the tables and a lady position on EACH of them a selection of goods to sell you: consider that your table is the only area where you can leave your bag and your belongings or have a rest sitted without getting a cold outside, so it is VERY DISAPPOINTING. These ladies don't smile, they don't talk to you. They approach you only to sell you their goods and with rocket high prices. 6) i booked this tour specifically because it was one of the few that was giving you the chance to SWIM. well forget it... The Guide infact, forgets to tell you that the first stop, at ti top island, is your ONLY chance to SWIM. They focus on telling you you have 30 minutes to go up to the hill top and back before being left behind... Without mentioning that the beach is the only places where you would be ever allowed to swim in all the trip!! 6) Kayaking is a quick paddle in and out of a cave (20 minutes total) with such a traffic in the cave that you risk to crush against the other kayaks!) 7) all is done without any info during the cruise and while on the Islands. The Guide looks like is there for decoratives uses. The positives: 1) The stop during the trip to Halong bay is at a very nice place where you can eat and drink with a variety of choice and reasonable prices. 2) the punctuality. So my suggestion is: take a good look around, invest a bit more money and choose a luxury mini cruise or if you have a bit more time consider a cruise with overnight stay (some are simply super!!)