marlac

We have 6 nights in Northern Vietnam. We wanted to go to Sapa, Halong Bay and Hanoi. I wanted to have a day of shopping and seeing Hanoi. As I am doing research on best way to see Halong Bay I notice the 2 day/1 night cruise tours offered seem to be more than just sightseeing the beauty of Halong. It includes cooking demos, spa services, "relax time", etc. To "experiece" Halong Bay do we have to take one of these cruise tours? Are there other options in "experiencing" Halong Bay?? Also, (and I am so grateful for input!!!) would it be recommended to go there on the last leg of our trip? We leave California and land in Hanoi on a Fri (March 11) at 0930. We were thinking:
March 11 Hanoi (old quarter)
March 12 overnight on train to Sapa
March 13 all day and night in Sapa
March 14 in Sapa and train back to Hanoi that night.
March 15 depart for Halong Bay at noon
March 16 return to Hanoi spend nigh
March 17 fly to Bangkok
It feels a bit rushed to me. Please, any thoughts, suggestions, comments??! Thank you
Marla

Kathie

I really think with so little time you need to choose either Sapa or Halong Bay, not both. Hanoi is a fascinating city and you will want some time to enjoy it.

When you arrive in Hanoi, you will have spent many hours in the air, and your bodies will still be on California time. You will likely do a few things that day, but by no means will you be ready/able to enjoy Hanoi fully.

Note that for both Halong Bay and for Sapa you spend many hours in transit to get there and back.

Smeagol

I do think if you are going to go to Halong, part of the point of it IS to do the cruise. I arranged mine seperatley (with Private transfers)thru the Sofitel. We stayed on the Valentine which had just 5 cabins and was fantastic. To get there in time though you will need to leave Hanoi around 08:30am

Clark55

We did the Halong bay cruise with Dragon pearl junk, part of the indosails company and loved it, the food was excellent and the guide was very informative. I think we paid 120$ each and wouldn't hesitate to cruise with them again.

Loki

Well, you have to take some sort of boat to see Halong Bay. I'm not sure if there is an afternoon cruise and if you depart Sapa at noon you will not be in Halong Bay soon enough to catch the overnight boats. The nice thing about it is to take in the beauty, realx, swim, have dinner, and spend the night out there. If you want to look at a rock in the water and then turn around and go home, it's not worth the trip. I don't really mean that sarcastically as I won't go to the Grand Canyon because I kind of see it that way. Like, was it Chevy Chase in Vacation?

I stayed overnight on the Red Dragon and it was great. Food was spectacular. I agree with the above that you should spend a couple days in Hanoi and drop Sapa or Halong Bay.

marlac

I really appreciate the replies! They made sense. I am leaning towards picking either Sapa or Halong Bay and forgo the sense that we are checking off places to visit! I'd love to hear what your thoughts are regarding which YOU would choose: Sapa or Halong Bay?

dgunbug

I would choose Sapa. While I loved Halong Bay, the ride there and back was long. Going to Sapa, you don't lose time as you leave after a day of touring, sleep on the train and return again at night, arriving in Hanoi around 5 am. We were able to sleep on the train, although it is a bit loud and rocky. Halong Bay is beautiful, but the ride to and from it was a bit boring and lengthy. We loved Hanoi and spent 5 days in the city. You won't regret spending time there.

julia1

Bookmarking. Thanks for the info.

merckxxx

I don't understand the Sapa thing unless you are in your 20's. You ride a noisy, rough train all night and most travel people and travl'rs said it is nearly impossible to sleep. Then you get there and immediately hike for the day, and in your case, then get back on the train for another sleepless night. You travel at night, so you see nothing. Remind me - what is the point? It is not such a long drive to Halong unless you are in your 20s and then a few hours is so disrespectful of Mama Nature to put that bay a few hours away - that is why you will see a super highway being cut thru the landscape - to satisfy the unbearables (but it will never be fast enough to satisfy them).

marlac

As always, I love reading the replies! We decided we want to spend unhurried time in Hanoi and some more unhurried time in SaPa instead of cramming in both Halong Bay and SaPa. Boy, this has been no easy decision (for me anyway!) So, now the obsession with planning that "unhurried time" begins. Hey, since we are going to SaPa I think we need malaria shots. I will research but any xperiences out there with that?

althom1122

I'm not aware of a malaria "shot" but you may need malaria medication (pills). There are several different kinds. Check the CDC website for recommendations to be sure the one you take is effective in that area. A travel clinic could give you advice.

Kathie

Karen is quite right. There is no "Malaria shot."

www.cdc.gov/travel

www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/home.aspx

There are vaccines it is wise to have before traveling SE Asia (or anywhere). Read those sections of the websites as well.

marlac

Thanks! I'll be on that. I love this forum!