Things to do in Lan Ha Bay

Thank you, serenity for providing us with a beautiful cruise and a great way to end our vacation in Vietnam. Our tour guide Tuna was especially helpful and easy to talk to since he spoke English. He is patient with the non English speakers and answered all our questions. We got to learn a little more about the beautiful country. We had a great time and was able to make new friends because of him.

Wonderful day trip. It was a long day due to travel time there and back, but it was worth it. We had a great guide, and the transportation was well-organized and comfortable. The boat was excellent, with lunch, kayaking, swimming, and beautiful surroundings. The golf cart ride across the island to the cave and museum was also a lot of fun. It was nice that it was small-scale and not overly touristy.

I had a great experience joining this trip. The tour guide, Mr. Hao (Happy), really left a great impression on me. Just like his nickname, “Happy,” he truly kept everyone’s spirits up, even though it was raining that day. He was enthusiastic, energetic, helpful, cheerful, attentive, and always made sure everyone was having a good time. At first, I was a little disappointed with the weather. It was raining, and I had hoped to enjoy kayaking under the sunshine. However, it turned out to be one of my best memories—the experience of kayaking in the rain was unforgettable. Mr. Happy was always reminding us, “Have fun, don’t get hurt,” and he constantly looked out for everyone’s safety. He also frequently checked on us throughout the trip to make sure we were doing well. The food on the cruise was great as well. Overall, I would rate this experience 9/10. Thank you, Mr. Happy, for making this trip so enjoyable. I hope to see you again someday!

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!^^

A day trip to Ha Long Bay truly lives up to its reputation as "Guilin on the Sea"! 🌊 We departed from Hanoi in the morning, and the drive was about 2.5 hours. Although it was a bit far, seeing the emerald green water and thousands of limestone islands made it all worthwhile. Cruising among the islands felt like stepping into a traditional Chinese ink painting. For lunch, we enjoyed a seafood meal on the boat; the food was decent, but dining with the sea breeze was incredibly pleasant. The biggest highlights were kayaking and exploring the caves, where the water was so clear you could see the bottom. We climbed over 400 steps on Ti Top Island, and the panoramic view of Ha Long Bay from the summit was truly breathtaking. The day trip was indeed a bit rushed, so if possible, I'd recommend staying overnight. However, for a short experience, it offers great value for money, and I highly recommend it! Our guide, Johnny, was enthusiastic, thoughtful, and meticulous in his service – highly commendable.

While there are day trips available for Ha Long Bay cruises, I highly recommend an overnight stay if you have the time. The sunrise and sunset are truly worth seeing. I was worried about the transportation from Hanoi since it was my first time, but our guide, Lee, made such precise arrangements that I felt completely at ease once I was picked up! After boarding the ship, doing the canoeing activity makes it even more fun. I couldn't do it, so I joined via boat instead, but that was also a wonderful experience! I was worried because I was traveling alone and not very confident in English, but thanks to the wonderful nature of the staff and the other guests, I never felt lonely and laughed a lot. All the meals were delicious, and the room was lovely! The atmosphere was also great for anyone wanting to just relax. It was also an interesting experience to see people from so many different countries participating. We were blessed with great weather, making it a truly wonderful cruise.

today was a great day in the lan ha bay when i chose the serenity cruise tour from my pickup spot in hanoi they made sure to take care of the rest, and the tourguide Ha-ha was thoroughly entertaining.

let me begin with an honest review. Firstly it’s a budget friendly cruise. can’t get such a pleasant and beautiful expert. our guide Victor is best of all. you can’t get a person like victor. good accommodation and activity everything is top notch. best experience of my lyf. guys go for it

Tom & Victor are very good guides, always attentive and kind with all of us, the cruise was amazing, the food top notch & the view so calm and beautiful itinerario: the itinerary time is followed to the bone