It's been a long way since Halong Bay was opened to tourists in mid 1990s, before this time Halong Bay, known by local people as Bai Chay or Burning town, had few tourists, as the bay is located in the Gulf of Tonkin, during the 80s of the last century only foreigners form former Eastern Europeans could visit Halong Bay due to the sensitive relations between Vietnam and China
Halong Bay was officially opened for tourism in 1992, since then there have been a big development of Halong Bay travel, as there are more and more visitors go on Halong Bay tours on their vacations to Vietnam, smaller boats were no longer used by travel companies, the cruisers built in recent years can accommodate up to 50 travellers at one time, some boats offering Halong Bay cruises have facilities of a luxury 5 star hotel.

It costs about more or less than 100 usd/person for a 2 day cruise in Halong Bay, including all meals on board, transfers round trip from and to Hanoi, entrance fees and guide, travellers going 2 day tours will visit the most worth seeing part of the bay such as Amazing cave, Stone dog islet, fighting cocks.
Halong Bay tours start from Hanoi, after about 4 hours road travel visitors will arrive in Halong city, after check in the cruiser visitors will visit Thien Cung and Dau Go grottoes, enjoying fresh seafood lunch served on board, the boat will keep cruising taking tourists to beautiful areas such as a fishing village where local fishermen raise fish in big cages under their houses and sell to tourists, after a few minutes at the fishing village the cruise will keep sailing towads Titov island through Incense burner islet. Titov beach is an ideal location for travellers love Halong bay kayaking, there are hidden lagoons under mountain for kayak rowers to explore. Those active travellers who love kayaking in Halong Bay usually take 3 day tour and they will have a full 2nd day for kayaking, swimming and more relaxation on the bay. Towards the end of the bay all boats will go to one place designated by the authorities, for the night actitities travellers can join singing karaoke, and a fishing trip at night is something not to be missed
Early in the morning of day 2 passengers will take a Tai Chi excercise on the sun deck, it's quite a sight beholding the Sunrise from the sea while doing the Tai Chi. After some coffee passengers will have a light breakfast before continuing to Luon cave, in the morning when the tide is low visitors use small boats to get through a tunnel inside the lake inside, after that the cruiser will sail towards Bai Tu Long bay in the other side of the bay, after lunch on board the boat will go back to wharf at the end of the cruise.

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