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Wondering what's exciting about a 2-day 1-night trip to Ha Long? Let's dive into a detailed review of the 2-day 1-night Ha Long Bay cruise itinerary below for a super chill experience!
With just a short 2-day 1-night timeframe, it's challenging to explore all the majestic landscapes of Ha Long Bay. However, with proper time management and a well-planned itinerary, you'll surely have incredibly enjoyable experiences on a weekend getaway with family and loved ones. Check out this detailed review of the 2-day 1-night Ha Long Bay tour for the perfect Ha Long travel itinerary.
Transportation in Ha Long Bay
In this 2-day 1-night Ha Long Bay itinerary, due to limited time, we opted for a memorable journey aboard the Phoenix Cruise, which not only saves time but also allows us to eat, sleep, and relax right on the Ha Long Bay cruise ship. Floating amidst the beautiful Ha Long Bay, admiring the lush green mountains, the azure waters, and the gentle drifting clouds is truly delightful. The cruise will take you to various attractions included in the itinerary. From the cruise to these scenic spots, everyone will transfer via a small boat, which only takes a few minutes each time.
Based on our recent experience of a 2-day 1-night trip to Ha Long Bay, the Phoenix Cruise within the bay is shielded by numerous rocky islands, minimizing strong winds. The movement of the Phoenix Ha Long Bay cruise is quite slow, so it won't cause seasickness for anyone, allowing those prone to motion sickness to relax and enjoy the journey comfortably.
Kickass Tips for a Brand New 2-Day 1-Night Ha Long Bay Adventure
Many folks reserve their entire weekend to head to Ha Long for a stress-relieving getaway. Though time is short, just a mere 2 days and 1 night, everyone needs the most suitable itinerary for fun and relaxation. Check out the meaningful 2-day 1-night Ha Long travel itinerary right away!
Day 1: Kayaking Adventure - Luon Cave - Titop Island Exploration
- 7:00 - 7:30: Pick-up from Old Quarter hotels and transfer to the departure point for Ha Long. A 20-minute rest stop in Hai Duong province.
- 11:00 - 11:30: Drive through the Red River Delta for approximately 3.5 hours to Tuần Châu Port. The guide will assist with boarding the cruise to explore the World Natural Heritage Site recognized by UNESCO twice for its outstanding natural and aesthetic values.
- 11:30 - 12:30: Enjoy a sumptuous lunch with local delicacies onboard the cruise while gliding over the limestone islands with peculiar shapes: Dog Stone, Incense Burner, Fighting Cock, Yen Ngua, etc.
- 13:00 - 14:30: Experience the thrill of kayaking through Luon Cave, an arch-shaped cave and the emerald green waters of Ha Long Bay.
- 14:30 - 15:30: Land on Titop Island, a beautiful spot, where you can swim or hike to the top of the mountain for a panoramic view of Ha Long Bay.
- 16:00 - 18:00: Cruise leisurely on the bay, relax, enjoy afternoon tea onboard, and admire the romantic sunset over Ha Long Bay.
- 19:00: End the first day with onboard entertainment activities like squid fishing and overnight stay on the cruise.
Day 2: Marvel at the Spectacular Surprise Cave - Cooking Class - Return to Hanoi
- 7:00: Wake up early to catch the breathtaking sunrise over Ha Long Bay, indulge in some morning exercises to energize your body. Then enjoy a hearty breakfast with complimentary tea and coffee.
- 8:00 - 9:30: Continue the Ha Long Bay exploration, the boat will take you to visit Surprise Cave, marveling at the unique and mysterious beauty of countless stalactites and stalagmites in the largest and most beautiful cave in Ha Long Bay.
- 9:30 - 11:00: Return to the cruise and participate in a cooking class. Learn how to make Vietnamese spring rolls, a very interesting activity conducted by the ship's chefs.
- 11:30 - 13:00: Have lunch on board while the boat is cruising back to Tuần Châu Port. Enjoy the fantastic scenery while having lunch. On the way back, you have the opportunity to admire the poetic beauty of Ha Long Bay once again...
- 13:30 - 13:45: Transfer back to Hanoi, with a 30-minute rest stop along the way.
- 17:00 - 17:30: Tour guide drops guests off at their hotels, bidding farewell to the group and concluding the impressive 2-day 1-night Ha Long Bay trip filled with remarkable memories.
Wrapping up 2 days of adventure on Ha Long Bay full of emotions, although time is limited, with proper arrangement, the fun will surely become endless. Hopefully, you won't feel any regrets when visiting Ha Long. Nowadays, many travelers choose to visit Ha Long Bay combined with exploring Cat Ba Island because these two wonders are conveniently located close to each other, allowing tourists to visit both famous destinations at the same time. Typically, tourists travel to Cat Ba first and then head to Ha Long Bay afterward.
2-Day 1-Night Ha Long Bay Tour - Indulge in Irresistible Delicacies
Talking about traveling without indulging in local culinary specialties, your trip will be incomplete. So, do you know what to eat when traveling to Ha Long? When it comes to the Ha Long coastal area, you can't miss out on delicious dishes made from fresh and crunchy seafood.
Due to the 2-day 1-night itinerary to Ha Long, there's not enough time to taste the authentic Ha Long specialties from other regions. However, you'll get to enjoy delicious Ha Long dishes served directly on the cruise. Let's explore some incredibly tempting Ha Long delicacies below:
- Ha Long Squid Cake: This is a specialty not unfamiliar to locals and diners everywhere. This dish has been confirmed by the Vietnam Record as one of the best dishes only found in Vietnam. Many tourists believe that if you haven't tried squid cake, you haven't really been to Ha Long.
- Geoduck Clam: Just hearing the name sounds a bit 'strange,' but it's actually very delicious. Geoduck clams resemble crabs but are three times larger and much more expensive. Once you taste it, you'll want to eat more and more.
- Scallops: Known as tôm tít in the South, it looks like a shrimp but with more legs and softer meat. This is a favorite dish of tourists when visiting Ha Long. In particular, Ha Long scallop noodles are very delicious and loved by tourists.
- Sea Cucumber: Known as a specialty dish in Ha Long, sea cucumbers resemble earthworms, often dried and enjoyed with beer or cooked in sweet and fragrant soup. Although they may look a bit scary, sea cucumbers are quite rare and thus quite expensive.
Additionally, if you have more time in Ha Long, you should explore around to find some delicious eateries to enjoy other famous and delicious dishes such as white rice with squid cake, rolled cake with squid cake, grilled seaweed, nodded cake, sour fermented pork roll, grilled fermented pork roll, or soaked glutinous rice wine in Hoanh Bo...
Detailed Guide on How to Travel to Ha Long Bay
Transportation Options to Ha Long Bay
Currently, there are various transportation options to get to Ha Long Bay, making it easier than ever for you to choose. Most travelers heading to Ha Long Bay start from Hanoi, so you can choose to travel by motorbike, car, bus, or train depending on your preferences and budget. Alternatively, if you're departing from Saigon, you can opt for a flight to Ha Long Bay to save time and costs.
1. Bus to Ha Long Bay
If you're departing from Hanoi, you can go to Luong Yen or My Dinh bus stations to buy tickets for buses to Ha Long Bay. The journey takes about 4 hours. Each bus departure is spaced 5-15 minutes apart from Hanoi to Bai Chay - Ha Long. Let's check out some reputable bus companies below:
1.1. Phuc Xuyen Bus
- Departure time from My Dinh: 5:45 AM - 5:45 PM, each trip 30 minutes apart.
- Departure time from Bai Chay: 5:45 AM - 4:45 PM, every 30 minutes.
- Contact number: 0333663366 – 0978627619
- Ticket price: 100,000 VND/ticket
1.2. Hoang Long Bus
- Departure time from My Dinh: 5:00 AM - 7:00 PM, each trip 30 minutes apart.
- Contact number: (04)3987.5410 - (033)3566268
- Ticket price: 180,000 VND/ticket
If you want to travel flexibly and comfortably, it's best to rent a private car to Ha Long. Check out the address for renting buses to Ha Long and car rental prices at Klook to find the most suitable rental place.
2. Motorcycle to Ha Long
As the distance from Hanoi to Ha Long is only about 155km and takes about 4 hours to drive, this route is not too far, especially interesting for backpackers who love conquering new roads and new lands. You can follow 2 routes from Hanoi to Ha Long as follows:
- Route 1: Depart from Hanoi via Road 5 - Sài Đồng intersection - Bắc Ninh. From Bắc Ninh, continue on Road 18 passing through: Phả Lại, Chí Linh, Đông Triều, Uông Bí, and finally reaching Hạ Long.
- Route 2: From Noi Bai Airport to Bắc Ninh, then from Bắc Ninh, drive along National Highway 18A passing through: Phả Lại, Sao Đỏ, Đông Triều, Uông Bí, and reach Hạ Long.
3. Train to Ha Long
For travelers who want to experience the thrilling feeling of crossing mountains and forests, traveling by HALONG EXPRESS train will bring you the most exciting experiences. The train journey lasts 5 hours, allowing you to freely admire the scenery along the way and experience onboard amenities such as dining and watching movies. This mode of transportation is suitable for those who get motion sickness or prefer not to travel by motorcycle.
- Departure time from Gia Lam station - Hạ Long: 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM or 12:00 PM - 8:05 PM.
- Ticket price: from 120,000 VND/one-way/person for domestic tourists, about 350,000 VND/one-way/person for international tourists.
4. Plane to Ha Long Bay
Based on my meaningful 2-day-1-night journey experience to Ha Long Bay, if you are from distant provinces in Central and Southern Vietnam, you can take a flight to Ha Long to save time. Flight tickets to Van Don Airport range from 800,000 VND to 1,500,000 VND and may vary depending on the time. Currently, Vietnamese airlines such as Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, and Bamboo Airways operate many flights from Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang to Ha Long - Quang Ninh, and private car transfers from Van Don Airport to accommodation are very convenient.
To get cheaper tickets, you should book your tickets 1-2 months in advance, hunt for promotional programs offered by airlines, or follow Klook's cheap airfare hunting programs, which offer many conveniences such as flight booking, private car rental to Ha Long, booking budget tours...
Best Time to Visit Ha Long Bay for 2 Days 1 Night
The weather in Ha Long features distinct spring-summer-fall-winter seasons. Besides immersing yourself in the cool blue sea water, you can enjoy the majestic beauty of the bays on a cruise. Therefore, choose a suitable time, with calm waves and calm seas, to fully enjoy your vacation tenfold.
- From February to April: This time is spring season, so Ha Long still has a bit of cool air, gentle sunshine, and fresh weather, perfect for early spring trips. At the beginning of the new year, you can also combine spiritual tourism in Ha Long for peace, luck, and a sense of purity for the upcoming year.
- From May to July: Beginning of summer, so it's hot with occasional storms from the East Sea. You should limit beach tourism during this time for safety.
- From August to October: Fall season, an ideal time to explore all the scenic spots of Ha Long. The weather is mild, sunny, less rainy, allowing you to freely swim and enjoy a romantic autumn vacation here.
- From November to February of the following year: Ha Long is cold in winter, but still retains its world-famous beauty. Because the weather is too cold for swimming, you can participate in entertaining activities on land or relax at luxurious Ha Long Bay resorts after hard working days.
In summary, if you don't like crowds, you should visit Ha Long around February-April or late August-October. Avoid visiting in the summer and late year as these times attract a large number of tourists, resulting in high costs and potential unsafe and incomplete trips due to storms.
Where to Stay When Traveling to Ha Long Bay for 2 Days 1 Night?
Hạ Long has always been renowned as a tourist paradise, boasting some of the finest luxury hotels, upholding 4-5-star standards with superb views, amenities, albeit with hefty price tags. Here are some mid-range hotel suggestions suitable for a 2-day 1-night trip to Hạ Long:
- Saigon Halong Hotel: This hotel offers moderate prices, not overly expensive yet equipped with amenities akin to 4-star hotels. Inside, there's a swimming pool, sauna rooms, a gym, and beauty spa services. Room rates start from 600,000 VND per room.
- BBQ Hotel: Listing another hotel with very affordable prices, room rates start from only 200,000 VND per room. Despite the low price, the rooms here are clean, tidy, and extremely satisfying.
- Orestay Hạ Long: This hotel is super cute, albeit not as luxurious as other budget hotels in Hạ Long, Orestay is definitely worth staying at, with room rates starting from only 160,000 VND per room.
- Tom’s Family Hotel: Located in a beautiful location just a few minutes away from Sunworld, this is also an ideal overnight stay for you, with room rates starting from 250,000 VND per night onwards.
- Van Nam Hotel: Although this hotel may seem simple, it is listed as one of the cheapest hotels in Hạ Long Bay with room rates starting from only 250,000 VND per room. It has received many votes from young travelers, offering cost-effectiveness and proximity to the beach, truly fantastic.
There you have it, a detailed itinerary for a 2-day 1-night trip to Hạ Long Bay along with many useful travel experiences. So why wait any longer to add this hot-spot destination to your weekend getaway list?
Before the 'G' hour of departure, visit Klook's Blog to check out more great articles about traveling to Hạ Long: Hanoi - Hạ Long - Ninh Bình 5-Day 4-Night Itinerary, Quan Lạn, The Surreal Resort Paradise in Quảng Ninh, Tuần Châu Island in Hạ Long Bay, 2-Day 1-Night Itinerary for Hạ Long Bay, What's Fun in Hạ Long Bay? Travel Experiences in Hạ Long Bay,...
Klook Vietnam not only provides you with an overview of traveling to Hạ Long but also serves as the key to unlock a world of vibrant experiences at this amazing destination. Explore Hạ Long travel tips to savor the irresistible delicacies of Hạ Long, or stay in luxurious Hạ Long hotels with superb facilities,...
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