Hi. We're already planning our trip to Vietnam, even though it won't take place until next February. Although Ha Long Bay sounds like something spectacular to experience, it also sounds overrun with tourists. LP mentions Bai Tu Long National Park as an equally beautiful, but less crowded, place to spend a few days. Has anyone been? Is it easy to get to? Are there tour companies that will arrange transportation from Hanoi and overnight accomodations on a boat or at a guest house?

Related question: Will the weather in February absolutely prohibit kayaking on the bay, or is it likely to be warm enough?

Thanks!

hi
Has no public bus to Van Don(Bai Tu Long belong to this district) but you can take a local bus to there, it's easy. You can stay in Bai Tu Long resort.
The weather in North of vietnam on February is cold, you can not swimming.

Probably a dumb question, but what is a good time of year to visit North Vietnam? By good weather, I mean warm temperatures, maybe able to enjoy a beach. I definitely want to visit North Vietnam (I haven't done a lot of research, but it sounds more interesting to me than South Vietnam), but I want to go when there's a reasonable chance of good weather. Thanks! (And apologies for piggybacking on this post

Susan, take a look at www.weatherbase.com for info on weather patterns. Check each city you want to visit, as VN has a number of different weather patterns affecting it.

Thanks, greenvietnam, for the info. Decided we'll go to Ha Long Bay after all. Much easier to reach, and overnight on a fabulous boat might be fun. We'll save the kayaking for warmer times.

So our trip is shaping up to be 5 days based in the South and 4 in the North. We'll spend 1 day in HCMC, then set out for a 4 day Mekong Delta bike tour. After that we'll fly up to Hanoi, and spend time there and on Ha Long Bay for the remainder of the trip.

Already secured our Royal Orchid seats on TG JFK-BKK!!

Thanks Kathie.