zorgle

We arrive Hanoi airport very late (10 pm) on a Wednesday in March.
We want to get to a reasonable hotel quickly for a short night's sleep.
Then Thursday we'd like to do a day trip to Halong Bay.
Thursday night we will stay at the Sofitel Metropole prior to a packaged tour beginning Friday.

Is any of this feasible? Does anyone have a hotel suggestion "between" the
airport and Halong Bay that could minimize the travel overhead?
Or a suggestion for a company offering a day tour to Halong Bay?
Or is the best solution just to stay near or in the Sofitel Wednesday night, realizing
we probably won't get there before midnight?

ekscrunchy

I would not advise doing what you propose. The drive from Hanoi to Halong Bay takes several hours--each way-- and is not a pleasant rural idyll, but rather a slog along a fairly narrow highway choked with truck and motorbike traffic.

The RT drive will not leave you much time at all for cruising on the Bay. If you must see Halong Bay, plan to do it as an overnight trip.

I would just use the time to relax and see more of Hanoi.

Craig

I second eks remarks - too much for one day.

sf7307

I know people who have done Halong Bay as a day trip from Hanoi, but it's 6 or 7 hours of driving. I don't know where you're coming from but I'd spend that day shaking off jet lag. Just like I wouldn't fly to San Francisco from half way around the world and take a day trip to Lake Tahoe the first day.

rhkkmk

the trip for the day is not worth it... i would spend the time in and around hanoi...

the airport hotels are horrid... stay in the city.. trip to airport is 45 min to 1 hour...

dilen

We did the one day trip to Halong Bay and it was very nice. It was interesting on the way to HB but tiring on the way back. Approx. 3 hrs. each way. We were in a van type vehicle with about 8 - 12 people. It was a little too crowded. If you could book a day trip with a private car it would be better. You could nap on the way back if the jet lag got to you. If I were you I would stay at the Sofitel both nights prior to your tour so you could leave your luggage if you go ahead with the HB idea. Good luck and enjoy your trip.

zorgle

Well due to some technical difficulties with our airline tickets, we are now planning to arrive in Hanoi 2 days earlier, leading to an adjusted schedule of:

2 nights (Mon, Tue) Hanoi hotel (Sofitel?) resting from flights from East Coast
1 night (Wed) Halong Bay junk
1 nights (Thu) Sofitel before land tour.

Any sugestions now for the overnight Halong Bay tour company?
Are there recommended reasonable hotels near the Sofitel for the first 2 nights from which we could just take an overnight bag to HB?

ekscrunchy

I went with Emeraude and they were excellent; there are other good ones as well:

http://www.emeraude-cruises.com/

lanphuong

I think maybe you can choose hotel in Old Quarter, there are several hotels in Old Quarter that meet your needs,just depends on your budget.
For high end: you can choose Silk path hotel, or consider Elegance hotel group
For middle range: you can choose Indochina Queen II hotel, brand new one
For budget one: you can choose some hotels such as Hanoi rendezvous...
About Halong Bay 1 day, you can book via hotel, it is very easy. It is divided into two options: with kayaking and without kayaking.
I would not recommend you that you stay the place that is on the way to Halong Bay, because it's difficult for travel agent to pick you up.