Ha Long Bay

I had originally booked the Catherine Horizon cruise, but the air conditioning on the ship had a problem that day, so I switched to the Dolphin Halong cruise. The cruise ship facilities were excellent and the scenery was beautiful, but the overall experience was just average. There were too many locals, and the buffet was chaotic, with everyone pushing and shoving each other to grab food. I recommend paying extra to go to the premium lounge.

This tour includes pick-up and drop-off in Hanoi and Halong Bay for just a few extra dollars, covering a total of 6 hours of transportation to and from the destination – quite a bargain. The Diamond Hotel is luxurious, and while the meals are rather ordinary, it doesn't matter. The three-story yacht offers stunning views of Halong Bay, and we spent most of our time on the top deck enjoying the sea breeze – very relaxing. Every attraction was worth the ticket price, especially the limestone caves. Afternoon tea was served at the end of the tour, and we enjoyed it on the deck with the sea breeze and scenery – truly worthwhile. Our guide, Tom, was also very dedicated and considerate to the group members, deserving of praise.

The most striking feeling of visiting Ha Long Bay is stepping into a flowing "seascape painting." Known as the "Guilin of the Sea," it boasts thousands of limestone peaks rising abruptly from the sea! This isn't a rushed itinerary, but rather a "slow travel" perfect for enjoying the sea breeze and watching the mountains recede from the deck of a cruise ship. At dusk, the sea is bathed in golden light, and at night, the tranquility of the bay, listening to the waves, is something hard to find in the city. Entering Sung Sot Cave, you'll be awestruck by the massive stalactite dome, like stepping into an underwater palace. Climbing to the viewpoints on Paradise Island or Titop Island offers a 360-degree panoramic view of the thousands of islands; the sight at the top is well worth the leg ache. The guides were incredibly dedicated, staying with us throughout the entire trip. We were picked up from our hotel in downtown Hanoi, and the return trip was also in a super comfortable tour bus. The two-and-a-half-hour journey was completely exhausting, and I slept incredibly well – highly recommended!

As stated in the description, but cheaper than other stores.