Ha Long Bay in Vietnam was recently named one of the Seven Wonders of Nature and rightfully so in my opinion. I visited back in 2010 on an overnight junk boat tour. It was cool but nothing compared to my latest trip with Azamara Club Cruises. I saw Ha Long Bay from all angles.

Sailing into Ha Long Bay on a cruise ship is amazing. You’re just cruising in the Gulf of Tonkin and all of a sudden you spot a ton of towering limestone islands clustered together spectacularly. It’s pretty exciting!

Cruise ships cannot dock so they moor off of Halong City and you tender into the city to catch a boat out to the islands. There are several options in the 2000 islands that make up Ha Long Bay. I have done kayaks but I think a boat tour is the best way to become acquainted with Ha Long Bay. Plus that way you can get on and off to explore caves and other attractions.

The main cave itself is pretty cool. If you’ve seen caves before you’ll agree it’s a fun to visit but isn’t the main reason you’re in Ha Long Bay. I recommend a sunset cruise on a junk boat or similar style boat. The views are some of the best sunset views in the world.

The stunning skies are a great backdrop to the shapely limestone islands rocketing out of the Gulf. I love it and the sky changes rapidly both in terms of colors and brightness: so be ready with your camera.

In order to see Ha Long Bay from all angles you’ll also need to see it from the sky. There’s actually a long and high cable car (with odd hours of operation) that goes across the coast of Halong City but that doesn’t get you near the islands. For that, you should do a scenic flight over the islands. It’s truly amazing and at only $99 a person, it’s the best deal going!

Hai Au aviation operates a 12-seater seaplane. You have to taxi out to Tuan Chau Island about 30 minutes from the cruise dock. It’s only a $10 cab ride but you need to make a reservation ahead of time for the seaplane. There’s plenty of travel agencies in Halong City or do it online beforehand.

I recommend sitting either in the very front or very back seats because then you don’t have the wing or this random rope hanging down and in your photos. But anywhere you sit is good because you’re seeing Ha Long Bay from all angles!

As you can see from my photos the windows could be cleaner but the views are amazing. When you see Ha Long Bay from the ship or junk it looks amazing but seeing it from above gives you the best perspective possible. You really get to see how vast the area is and the peaks look incredible.

I definitely recommend seeing Ha Long Bay from all angles because then you see it all literally. It’s great even if you don’t go up in the air but it makes you appreciate it more. Ha Long Bay is something that should be on everyone’s list. It’s truly a natural wonder of the world.

Disclaimer: I came to Ha Long Bay with Azamara Club Cruises. Everything written here is by me based on my experience and has not been influenced in any way.

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