Ha Long Bay/ Bai Tu Long Bay
Ha Long Bay means where the dragon descends to the sea. This bay is UNESCO World Heritage Site with hundreds of natural limestone cliffs topped with rainforest jutting out of the sea in the Gulf of Tonkin. It leaves any tourist mesmerized with its beauty. You might have already heard too much about it. Nothing that has been said is compared to what you experience in being amidst the landscape. Take a look here:
Cruise to Ha Long Bay
There are cruise tours of 6-8 hours or overnight stay tours for 1 or 2 nights to fully explore the area. Bai Tu Long (Bowing down to the baby dragon) Bay forms the north east part of the Ha Long bay, similar to Ha Long bay but quieter and less crowded. It is a little more pricey than the Ha Long bay trips. You may book online as well as offline. Day trips may or may not include lunch. Always make sure of your inclusions before booking. Overnight cruises are costly but offer too many activities on board, specially awesome buffet. Some luxury cruises also available in case you want to fully enjoy your vacation in leisure. Day trips may range from ₹2,000-6,000, depending on the type of boat and inclusions. Overnight trips range between ₹6,000-₹12,000 with the luxury ones exceeding this range.
Facilities
It is one experience that you must have in your life. All that money spent will be worth it. We took a overnight stay cruise to Bai Tu Long bay on a luxury cruise that cost us about ₹8000. Our group onboard was very small about 25 people only. Almost anywhere we went, only our group was present, so it was very fun. We could enjoy to our content. There were three meals and two snacks served on board and they were worth all the trip cost. We had an amazing experience. So, if you have time and a little more budget, go for the overnight cruise. You will never forget it in your life.
Places covered in trip
Ha Long Bay trip is not just a cruise trip to the limestone karsts in the sea. It covers sightseeing to several islets named after their shape or significance. You get a boat ride around the hills or get the option to do kayaking on your own. You will be dropped on any island for 1-2 hours to do some exploration on your own or enjoy the beach and waters. There is one trip to a naturally formed stalagmite and stalactite cave. This is an amazing sight with floor to ceiling height pillars of deposits.
You will also visit a fishermen village. This area was once the residence of fishermen community. They now settle in other areas after the declaration as a UNESCO World Heritage site. There is a visit to an oyster farm where you will be guided on the process of making pearls. All the above activities together make up the entire Ha Long Bay trip.
