Small Group Halong Bay Islands, Caves, Kayak Tour from Hanoi

We were met at the Tuan Chau International Marina terminal at Halong Bay as arranged. Everything went smoothly. Boarded the boat, seafood lunch as really good. We went Bamboo rafting and then through the big cave that was really spectacular. Boat crew were great and looked after us well. Would recommend this cruise. David & Shirley, Australia.

Our guide, Tinh or Mr. T if it's easier, was great. He spoke good, clear English, was fun and had good energy but wasn't overwhelming at all. He was well organized, shared helpful information at appropriate times and otherwise allowed us to go at our own pace and meet back within specific time frames. At the start of the bus ride we were each given a free bottle of water. On the way to and on the way back we stopped for a break which allowed time for restroom and souvenir shopping without pressure to buy. There were some women working on hand woven art and there was plenty of quality work to choose from besides other products. He handled the purchase of our tickets upon arrival at Halong Bay. For young children, they charge based on age and or max height. So if you have a young child (I had my 6yr old), don't be surprised if they ask you for your child's birthdate and height measurement. The lunch provided and served family style on the boat was delicious and they filled groups at tables quickly so we didn't have to think about where we should sit. Just a reminder that you should bring cash because the drinks are not free. At the cave, he gave us the option to follow him for a guided tour or to go through it on our own and meet at the end. At the fishing village we had the option to kayak or to ride in the rowboat in which case it would be customary to tip the rower. Halong Bay is a beautiful sight. It was relaxing to go up on top of the small boat with plenty of space to take in the sights. On the drive as you approach closer to the entrance, we noticed new hotel development in the works including a big waterpark in the area. I'm glad I was able to visit Halong Bay before that development is completed. I can only imagine how crowded the place will be in the years ahead. There were a lot of boats out in the bay but not so much yet to ruin the splendor of the place. On our return ride back to the hotel he was clear about the route and drop off spots so that we would be prepared when it was our turn to hop off. I would definitely recommend this tour.

Early pick around 8.0am very long day arriving back at around 8.30pm The down side to this tour is the travel time over 8hrs including 2 stops. The tour its self was good seeing the wondrous sites of Halong bay. We particularly enjoyed the caves we took the option to be taken by a local man rowing the boat. The main larger cave system was a walk through around 20 minutes I found very interesting. All in all a good tour except the travel time the better option would be a 2 day tour to break up the time traveling.