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I am looking at a two day cruise and I keep seeing Bai Tu Long Bay described as the quieter alternative to Ha Long Bay. It sounds perfect, fewer boats and calmer water, but I wonder if it is actually that different in practice.
For people who have done Bai Tu Long, did you really see far fewer boats, and did the scenery still feel as dramatic? I do not need a luxury boat, I just want a calm deck, a decent cabin and a kayaking stop that is not crowded.
Also, do most Bai Tu Long cruises leave from the same harbour, and is the transfer time longer? I am trying to work out if the quieter bay is worth a longer drive from Hanoi.
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We did Bai Tu Long last year and it really was quieter. We saw maybe a third of the boats we saw in Ha Long, and the kayaking stop was almost empty. The scenery is just as dramatic, just with fewer people in the photos.
Replying to Savannah24
Thanks, that is exactly what I hoped to hear. How long was the transfer from Hanoi compared to Ha Long?
Replying to Caroline Martin
The transfer took us about three and a half hours from Hanoi, so roughly half an hour longer than Ha Long. The road is good the whole way and our driver stopped once for coffee, so it felt easy.
Replying to Savannah24
Thanks, three and a half hours is fine for us. Did you book the transfer with the cruise company, or arrange a car yourselves?
Replying to Caroline Martin
We booked the transfer with the cruise company and I would do that again. They knew exactly which pier and which boat, and the driver waited while we had coffee. Arranging your own car is possible, but the cruise company takes the guesswork out of it.