Haiphong

We really enjoyed our tour with SST travel. Elise was very helpful and professional, and an excellent communicator. We loved our day in Ninh Binh, bike riding and the amazing boat ride were the highlights. Our tour guide Lee was informative and entertaining. The cruise on Ha Long bay with Sea Star Cruises was incredible- we loved the kayaking activity and everyone on board were attentive and helpful.

This was my second visit to Ha Long Bay, and this time I chose a two-day, one-night itinerary. Watching the sunset from the boat and then the sunrise the next morning was beautiful. The meals on the boat were excellent; I'm worried I gained weight! The afternoon itinerary included a trip to Yen Tu Mountain, and I must say this was a very challenging journey, full of stairs that will definitely make your legs ache. However, the effort was worth it; the view from the mountaintop was stunning, and the weather was perfect, giving me a chance to take photos with a blue sky and white clouds. I think this trip was excellent.

As expected from Hotel Nikko, both the rooms and service were excellent. I particularly appreciated the variety of Japanese breakfast options. Even when staying at Japanese-affiliated hotels overseas, the breakfast can sometimes be disappointing, but here, despite the small venue, the selection was satisfying. The fact that guests can use the large public bath at the adjacent Roygent Parks also significantly enhanced my satisfaction. Although it takes about 20 minutes by car from Hai Phong Station, Grab taxis are readily available, and there are small supermarkets and cafes around the hotel, which was very convenient.

My favorite hotel in Hai Phong.

It's incredibly efficient and fast. I highly recommend it! You take a tour bus from the office in Hanoi's Old Quarter, and it's about a 2-hour ride. There's a rest stop in the middle, and the restrooms are clean. However, there's no toilet paper, so you'll need to bring your own. It took a long time on the highway, so we couldn't take the cable car and went by speedboat instead. As soon as we got off the bus, we immediately boarded a boat with no waiting time, and it was about a 5-minute ride. After arriving at Cat Ba Island, we immediately boarded another bus without delay to go to our respective accommodations. There was absolutely no waiting time in between, which was quite good.

Great experience! the driver Sir KhaVan was early and very considerate on the places we wanted to go to. Highly recommended! Perfect for gorups with seniors. Tip: Google Translate would help very much

really love it. we stayed in old quarter and also got pickup service from our hostel to the bus office. the trip was so smooth for us and also got dropoff service to our hotel. If u are in hanoi, Cat ba island is the first one that should go.The views are really worth to go and see.

the process was smooth. we only had to show our tickets to the officer, and we were immediately guided to where we needed to go. inside the train, there’s an outlet beside the seats where you can charge your devices, and the ac was good. the only downside was the bathroom, which was unclean and untidy. overall, not much to expect from an economy seat, but it was a decent experience.

Since my hotel didn't offer pickup, I decided to go to the Hanoi Opera House. It wasn't far from the hotel, so that was fine. The pickup vehicle arrived about 10 minutes later than the scheduled time. The bus wasn't a luxury one, but it was acceptable. Before reaching Ha Long Bay, we first stopped at a shop selling goods. There was no pressure to buy anything. I just bought a drink. The boat we boarded wasn't large, but it was quite impressive. The boat departed around 10:30 AM. A buffet lunch was served on board starting at 11:00 AM. The meal wasn't bad. Ha Long Bay is a beautiful marine park, and you can enjoy the stunning scenery from the boat. Many tour boats dotted the sea, which was also a spectacular sight. There's a basic option to visit a short sea cave by rowing boat, and also time to enjoy kayaking. Taking a speedboat is an optional extra for an additional fee. On the way back, there was a cooking class on board, but only locals participated. Overall, if you're not focused on enjoying the scenery, it could be a bit boring. However, it was a wonderful opportunity to fully appreciate the beautiful scenery of Ha Long Bay. The sea was calm, so there was no seasickness. On the bus ride back to Hanoi, we stopped at another shop selling goods. Again, there was no pressure to buy. The shops were selling items that could also be bought in Hanoi, but at higher prices. These shops need to change. They should offer products that can entice tourists to open their wallets, at prices that are appropriate. That way, sales would likely increase. I bought another drink this time too. Our guide never pressured us. The guide was friendly and dedicated to their job. The price of a Ha Long Bay tour seems to vary depending on the luxury level of the transportation and the boat. The tour I experienced today felt like a mid-range option. However, I was satisfied with the tour because of the guide's kindness. I'd like to thank Allen, our guide, who was with us all day!^^