30 Apr 2022
I have written a separate review of our cruise (Heritage Binh Chuan - 2d/1n). This is a review of Ha Long itself.
This is a stunning place to go - no doubt. The scenery is just breathtaking! I am so grateful we were able to go just after Vietnam opened to tourists as there was barely another boat around. I honestly couldn't imagine how spoiled this area would be if all the boats we saw sitting empty in the harbour were out sailing.
While the scenery is gorgeous, this is not somewhere you'll want to swim as there is quite a bit of garbage in the water. And given the number of boats as well as all the development around the coast of Ha Long, I can't see this getting any better.
If you're planning on visiting - don't wait much longer. Soon the masses will be back and the serenity and beauty we were so privileged to enjoy won't be here much longer.