Halong Bay Cruise - Thien Cung Cave

SATURDAY 3rd FEBRUARY 2018

This is the final stop for our cruise trip. It's an island with a cave where you can walk in it. Called Thien Cung Cave, or Heaven Island by the locals. The time now is somewhere around 3.30pm. The boat will stop you here and later on you will be picked you up at other location. You can leave you bags inside the boat. Just make sure you carry a bottle of water (500ml is enough), and some lite food to eat, because you will be hiking all the way.

As you arrive, you will have to walk around 15 minutes towards the entry gate. Here they will check your ticket. There is a toilet here if you want to use before enter. Once you pass the gate, you will have to climb up the stairs towards the cave.

Once in the cave, you'll be amazed with the view. It is quite big and large. This cave is really been modified to give ease for tourist. In here you will walk around half an hour before climbing up toward the exit.

As you exit the cave, you will arrive at a view point. This place normally crowded with people taking photos. So, be patient a bit and wait for your turn. The is also a small shop selling souvenir, which is worth the look.

Then walk your way down towards the final stop. You need to walk around 15 minutes or so. Walk pass the rocky track until you reach another shop selling souvenir and foods. From here you can see your boat. Then walk a little bit more towards your boat.

Normally they will give you somewhere around one hour in this island. Should be enough time for you to explore the place. We ride our boat and sail back to Halong Bay harbour, which is, around one hour from here. Just enough time for you to selfie on the boat before leaving.

We arrive at the harbour around 5.30pm. Pack our stuff, take the bus, and head back to Hanoi.

Enjoy !

Halong Bay Cruise - Kayaking and Bamboo Boat

SATURDAY 3rd FEBRUARY 2018

You will be given around 30 to 45 minutes stay on this island before moving to the cave. Here you will be given an options, either you can just hang-out at the deck and take photos, ride the kayak ( you need a partner for this ), or take the bamboo boat ride. For us, we take the bamboo boat. Fit nicely the five of us.

The boat will be manoeuvred by a paddler, mostly are women. She will take you tour the island. At one part, there is a small cave where you can enter. This cave will bring you to other side of the island.

Enjoy the breathtaking view here before you go back to your boat. It's worth the stop.

Halong Bay Cruise - From Hanoi to Halong Bay

SATURDAY 3rd FEBRUARY 2018

There are many type of package for this trip. Some may be as low as USD25, others can go up to USD65, or more, depending on the package you choose. For us, we choose a day trip that includes pick-up and return to hotel, lunch in the boat, kayaking or bamboo boat activity, and lastly, visit the cave ( Thien Cung Cave if I'm not mistaken ). They also provide a 2 day 1 night package, in case if you planning to stay there for one night.

Our tour start as early as 8.30am in the morning. Just right after we finish our breakfast ( for your info, all hotels in Hanoi that includes breakfast will start at 7.00am onward ). We ride the bus, and continue picking up other passenger at other area nearby. Once the bus is full, then only it start going to Halong Bay.

 Total length of this trip is 4 hours ( or more, depends on traffic ). Why is it take a long time ? All because there is no highway going to there. You have to follow the old road and pass thru small town before getting there.

Bare in mind that the bus won't simply stop if you ask to go to toilet. It will only stop at one rest area, which is after 2 hours plus driving. This stopping place is a place where you can use the washroom, buy something at the shop, and, site seeing local people doing handicraft ( you can buy it if you're interested ). You only have 30 minutes here before getting back on the road.

Tuan Chau Harbour

After 4 hours driving, then only you arrived at Halong Bay. You will be given a short time to go to toilet, or, browse something in the shop before continue riding the boat. A ticket will be given here before boarding. TAKE NOTE that always keep this ticket ( do not loose it ), because they will check every time you stop ( like for kayaking and caving ).

Once you ride the boat, lunch will be served. Here I will like to remind you that all drinks inside the boat IS NOT FREE. You will have to pay for it ! Yes, they served you drinks, and you think it is already included inside the fee. But actually, it doesn't. Just take note.

One more thing, THE FOOD. What you see inside the menu when they offer you the package will not be the same as what you will get on the boat. Some dish yes, but most of them are not. This is a bit frustrating I might say, especially when you expecting the food to be the same as the menu given earlier. You just have to except it.

After lunch, you can stay up at the deck to see the surrounding view before reaching the island for kayaking / bamboo boat.