You are traveling to Halong bay for the first time and take a cruise to enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the bay is a must, so where and how can you arrange a cruise in Halong bay and how much it costs?

There are two options for a cruise trip in Halong bay: You can charter a cruise however will be very expensive, a cheaper option is to rent a wooden boat.

If money is not your problem and you just want to have a really enjoyable trip, to be served like a prince then choose a cruise ship, a voyage usually lasts 2 to 3 days with full meals on board. If you don't have much time and just want to have a day cruise we recommend that you rent a wooden boat for a few hour cruise on the bay, visit the caves and some beautiful places in Halong bay.

Price for a privately chartered cruise in Halong bay ranges from 500 - 1000 USD, a private cruise is no doubt an unforgettable experience, some deluxe cruises offer tailor made tours such as White Dolphin cruise, Pearly Sea cruise, Legend cruise or Indochina Junk. You will spend the night on board, meals will be served on board or if you like the meals will be arranged in a mountain cave, in the candle lights or on the beach, this is really a wonderful experience for honeymoon couples or family holiday. Most international visitors to Halong bay want to stay overnight on boat while domestic tourists only take day cruises.

If you are traveling in a group of 8 people or more we recommend that you charter a private boat with all meals included, you can also arrange a music performance, have a coffee on sundeck while sightseeing.

From my experience, when traveling Halong bay the most tiring job is to rent a cruise and price of a boat trip. Although there are up to 500 boats permitted to operate in Halong bay however it is rather messy with unfair competition and the way they do business is untrustworthy. Many visitors were disappointed about their trip in Halong bay.