travel42 Port Guide: Halong Bay

travel42 Professional Cruise Port of Call Review

Halong Bay is a slice of the South China Sea about 75 mi/120 km southeast of Hanoi that is speckled with more than 2,000 isolated limestone peaks (known as karsts) rising straight up out of the water. A group of 1,900 of these islets has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Nevertheless, gone are the days when you could enjoy a peaceful cruise across the bay. Halong Bay is now one of Vietnam's biggest attractions, and tour groups flock to the area. It can get crowded with vendors and th...