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I only have one spare day in my Hanoi schedule for Ha Long Bay, so the overnight cruises are out, they are also way more than I want to spend. The day cruises look decent on paper: bus there, 4 to 5 hours on the boat, lunch included, bus back.
But I keep hearing that the day trip is the worst version of Ha Long Bay. Rushed, crowded, and you barely get past the first karsts before turning around. Is that fair or just overnight-cruise snobbery?
For those who did the day trip: did you feel like you actually saw the bay, or did you get home thinking you should have skipped it? And does it matter which route the boat takes, I see route 2 mentioned a lot?
Alternative is I skip the bay and spend the day exploring Hanoi instead. Tell me straight.
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Did the day cruise in September. Honest take: yes it is rushed, but I still do not regret going. You get about 4 hours on the water, lunch on board, one cave stop and a kayaking bit. Route 2 goes through the quieter lagoons and it genuinely felt peaceful out there, not the floating traffic jam people warn about. If you only have one day, do it.
Replying to SunsetChaserUK
Replying to SunsetChaserUK @SunsetChaserUK Route 2 noted, that sounds like the one. Did you book through your hotel or online? Prices seem all over the place for what looks like the same trip.
Replying to Ron BK
Replying to Ron BK @Ron BK Booked online the night before for about 1.1 million dong. My hotel quoted 1.6 for literally the same boat, so definitely shop around. Just check the pickup time, the cheap ones sometimes skip the hotel pickup.