Getting there and around

Getting there

Halong Bay is located in the northern part of Vietnam near the Gulf of Tonkin. It is one of the most popular tourist locations in Vietnam, and has many beautiful sights to see. If you want to come visit the area, you need to think about the best way to get there. Many tourists choose to fly into Hanoi, and from there they make their way to Halong Bay. There aren't too many trains that go in the direction of Halong Bay, so you would probably have to take a bus. This is a very popular method for getting around the country, and it shouldn't be too hard to get a bus ticket when you get to Hanoi. You could also rent your own car, though this is an option that is used much less than anything else. It can be hard to drive around in Vietnam, especially if you don't speak the language. Many times, travelers will have guides take them around. This is probably the best option for you. It assures that you will be going in the right direction, and you don't have to worry about the language barrier with the locals.

Getting around

Getting around in Halong Bay can be quite tricky. If you are on the mainland, you can obivouly get around on the roads. The roads aren't in excellent condition, and some are actually still just dirt roads. Still, you shouldn't have a very hard time finding where you need to go. If you rent a car, you should ask directions and try to know some Vietnamese, otherwise you will have a very hard time understanding where to go. In many cases, tourists have guides to help them around, especially if they don't speak Vietnamese. If you are trying to get around in the bay, you will have to get around on a junk, also known as a boat. The junks, which are small fishermen boats, can hold a good amount of people. If you are just touring the bay, you can pay a guide to take you around. It is a rare thing to be able to take your own junk out by yourself. The person in control of the boat will know where they are going, so you don't have to worry about getting lost. You should check to make sure there are life jackets in the junk before you leave, however.