1. New regulation of Halong bay cruise routes and sightseeing fees:
From April 1st 2017, Halong Bay Management Board will apply the fee to visit the new Halong bay cruise routes and Bai Tu Long bay, taking the routes to replace the method of charging per visit spot as before.
Specifically, from April 1st, the fee to visit Halong bay cruise routes and Bai Tu Long Bay was made according to the Decision No. 4278/2016 / QD-UBND on the regulation of fees and charges in the field of literature, Sports and tourism in the province was issued by Quang Ninh People’s Committee on 21/12/2016. The new rates apply on day cruise tours and overnight stays on the Bays.
In particular, it is also very clear that the case is free to visit the bay is children under 1.2 m tall or under 7 years of age; People with severe disabilities are particularly heavy, with severe disabilities.
Below is the fee for visiting HaLong bay scenic route applied from April 1st 2017:
(Halong bay cruise routes)
| Routes | All new fixed Cruising routes for Halong & Bai tu long Bays | Price / per person | ||
| Day Cruise | 1 Night cruise | 2 Nights cruise | ||
| Route no 1 Halong bay |
Thien Cung (Haven palace) cave – Dau Go cave – The dog islet, Ba Hang floating village, Dinh Huong islet, Male-female chickens islet | 250,000 VND (12 USD) |
N/A | N/A |
| Route no 2 Halong bay |
Soi sim beach, Titop beach, Sung sot (Surprising cave), Me Cung (The maze) cave, Bo Nau cave, Luon tunnel, Trong (drum cave), Trinh Nu (Virgin) cave, Dong Tien (Angel spot) lake | 250,000 VND (12 USD) |
550,000 VND (25 USD) |
750,000 VND (34 USD) |
| Route no 3 Halong bay |
Cua Van floating culture centre, Tien Ong (Old budda) cave, Ba Ham lake, Ba Men temple, Ang du islet. | 200,000đ (9 USD) |
500,000 VND (23 USD) |
650,000 VND (30 USD) |
| Route no 4 Bai tu long bay |
Co (Grass) cave, Thay (Master) cave, Cong do area, Cap La cave, Vung Vieng floating village, | 200,000đ (9 USD) |
500,000 VND (23 USD) |
650,000 VND (30 USD) |
| Route no 5 Transfer to Cat ba island |
Thiên Cung (Haven palace) cave – Dau Go cave – The dog islet, Ba Hang floating village, Dinh Huong islet, Male-female chickens islet => Cat Ba Island |
200,000đ (9 USD) |
N/A | N/A |
- added note: Beside the entrance and sightseeing fees, the Management of Tuan Chau Marina also charge 40,000đ/person when they come to Tuan chau island for Cruising depart.
So if you go route 02 for day Cruise, total fee is 290,000đ/person. and for overnight Cruise is 590,000đ/person. -> It is too high as what they charge few years before. - => it is reason why Vietnam is called the Country of tax and fees.
2. Comparing the Halong bay map of Genesis to other luxury Cruises:
| Item | Genesis Cruise | Other luxury cruises |
| Itinerary | – Route number 2: pass by the most beautiful area, islets such as: Đỉnh hương, Con Vịt (the duck), male-female chicken, Hoa cuong floating village, Frog lake… | – Route number 1: only 30 minutes far away from pier, always see Halong bridge behind |
| – Visit Sung sot cave area, the core of Halong heritage | – Visit Thien cung (haven palace) cave only | |
| – Visit spots at low time, go earlier than any other cruises
– kayaking in Luon tunnel, best tunnel of Halong bay |
– Kayaking in Ba hang floating village, near pier… | |
| -> Go as far as overnight cruises | -> Visit destination that almost for domestic tourist |
Written by Tracy Nguyen.