Located about 4 hours by bus from Hanoi, Halong Bay is arguably the most popular tourist destinations in Vietnam. Despite being over crowded with tourists, I’d recommend it as a nice stop on your next trip through Vietnam. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the bay features jaw dropping limestone karsts jutting up from small islands scattered throughout the bay. Made famous in The James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies, the bay has beautiful turquoise water framed with mustard colored beaches and is trolled by hundreds of Vietnamese junk boat fulls of tourists.

Tours from all part of northern Vietnam come for multiple day cruises that putter around the massive bay, occasionally docking to see caves, beaches and seaside restaurants. I stayed on board a ship for two days in a private room that was complete with a private bath and shower. The ships staff cooked fresh Vietnamese meals aboard, which were served in a shared dining room with a bar around low tables and cushy chairs. Activities including eating, drinking, tubing, touring, diving off the boat, swimming, spelunking and most often, just sitting passing the time with the boat’s other passengers and the stillness of the bay. Small row boats selling snacks, drinks and touristy trinkets weave between the ships and an occasional small boat with a begging family float by signaling you by rubbing their thumb and first finger together…the international sign for money.

Drinking an ice cold bottle of Hue Beer at midnight, watching the moon rise over the dark silhouettes of the limestone karsts, has been one of the most relaxing experience of my trip. Total price for a 4 hour shuttle from Hanoi (with return), three meals, and a private room on the ship set me back a cool $37.

The best way to book your trip is to wait until you land in Hanoi–or you’ll pay substantially more. All guest houses and hotels will be more than happy to sign you up for their Halong Bay Tour (even the night before). Keep in mind that its important to shop around and make sure all parties are clear on what the price includes (beer, shuttle, etc). The cheapest doesn’t often equal the best, especially in Vietnam. The competition is so great to get tourists, tour operators have been forced to cut corners because the competition has driven the price for the basic tour so low.

As in most travel, you do get what you pay for.

Also, you must take your passport with you, or they won’t let you on the boat. A group on my boat was sent home with no refund, because they’d left their passports in Hanoi. (Special thanks to Janny Leung for providing some of the photos below.)