Dragon’s Pearl 3 days / 2 nights

What an adventure! Our guide Chang from APT travel has been amazing.
Hotel pick up, with crazy Hanoi traffic was pretty smooth. Great information along the way. The views on Halong were so spectacular. Watching the eagles swooping and soaring around the summit of beautiful rock formations is something I will never forget. The itinerary was packed full and we enjoyed every minute. Our highlight was cycling on Cat Ba.

We chose not to go to Halong Bay major because of the quantity of tourist traffic. Rather we went to Bai Tu Long Bay, next door, which has all of the fascinating geological features and scenery but is far far less congested. This was much more peaceful and attractive. A wise move. We went for the 3 day/ 2 night cruise which I think is the best arrangement. The Dragon Pearl junk was well organised. Accommodation was fine. Bathroom had all the necessary and worked. Food was good. Service was friendly and efficient. The enjoyment of the cruise is dependant on the weather – when the sun shone, the vista was beautiful, and you could sit on the deck and enjoy it. When it was overcast it was disappointing. When it rained there were few places to go. The trips to the Wild beach and the Fishing village were both interesting and enjoyable and it was nice to move off the boat for short trips. There was quite a lot of kayaking available but you didn’t have to participate, but for those interested in kayaking, it was enjoyable.

What an adventure! Our guide Chang from APT travel has been amazing.
Hotel pick up, with crazy Hanoi traffic was pretty smooth. Great information along the way. The views on Halong were so spectacular. Watching the eagles swooping and soaring around the summit of beautiful rock formations is something I will never forget. The itinerary was packed full and we enjoyed every minute. Our highlight was cycling on Cat Ba.

We took the 3 day/2 night Halong and Bai Tu Long Bays on the Dragon’s Pearl. Great way to experience this unique geological and beautiful area especially if you are still adjusting to the time change, as I was at the time of this trip. Touring Bai Tu Long Bay takes you away from the very busy Halong Bay.

The staff were all very helpful. Our tour guide was informative and entertaining. And best of all, the food was just fabulous! Each meal contained many courses all deliciously prepared. It was a great way to sample many flavours without feeling overly stuffed.

We enjoyed the kayaking, exploring the caves and the beach bbq was another excellent experience.

So glad we chose to spend the extra on this cruise. I think you get what you pay for in regards to Halong Bay and this tour was well worth it.

The boat was just perfect and the staff fantastic. Two nights was just right , I think the one night cruise would have felt rushed. Cool ship , not to big and not to small.