Travel Guide

Plan the perfect Halong Bay trip

Everything you need before you sail — when to go, how to get there, what to pack and what happens on board. Start with a guide below, then talk to our local team.

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From the Journal

Best Time to Visit Halong Bay in 2026

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Travel inspiration

Guides & stories from the bay

Travel Guide

Best Time to Visit Halong Bay in 2026

A month-by-month guide to weather, crowds and prices so you can pick the perfect window for your cruise.

Weather

Halong Bay Weather & Climate Guide

Understand temperatures, rainfall and sea conditions across the year to pack smart and cruise comfortably.

Travel Guide

1 Day in Hanoi: Perfect Itinerary for First-Time Visitors

Make the most of a single day in Vietnam's capital — a carefully designed hour-by-hour itinerary covering Hoan Kiem Lake, the Old Quarter, temples, local food, and the night market.

Travel guide

Planning your trip to the bay

Season, timing and transfers — the three decisions that shape everything else.

Halong Bay is a year-round destination, but the experience changes considerably with the season. The colour of the water, the clarity of the sky, the temperature on deck and the number of boats sharing the bay all shift from month to month.

Getting three decisions right — when to go, how long to stay, and how to get there — matters more than which boat you choose.

Clear skies and calm water over Halong Bay

When to go

September to November — clear skies, calm water, 23 to 28°C. Our overall pick.
March to April — mild and green, with beautiful misty mornings for photography
May to August — hot and bright, best for swimming, busiest and most storm-prone
December to February — cool and often overcast, quietest water, lowest prices

Holidays to plan around

Three periods fill the bay with domestic travellers and push up rates: Tet, usually late January or February; the Reunification and Labour Day cluster at the end of April; and National Day around 2 September. Cruising then is possible and often festive, but book well ahead.

How long to stay

One night delivers the essential experience and suits a wider Vietnam itinerary. Two nights reaches the outer bays and gives you a full day on the water. If you have no spare night at all, a day cruise still beats skipping the bay.

Getting there

Hanoi to Halong is about two and a half hours on the expressway. A private car is the most flexible, a limousine van the best value, and a shared shuttle the cheapest but slowest to collect. Confirm which harbour you are driving to, because they are not close together.

Tell us your dates and we will say honestly which season and length suit what you have in mind.