Ha Long Bay reviews: Our 3D3N Ha Long Bay itinerary

Our 3D3N Ha Long Bay itinerary included Yoko Onsen Quang Hanh, a full-day Diamond Cruises tour, local seafood food tours, Bai Chay night walks, Tuan Chau island vibes, and hidden local spots around Hon Gai. If you love traveling independently, Ha Long is perfect for a flexible and relaxing Vietnam getaway.

Honestly, I had been planning this trip for months — from hunting for those crazy cheap 0 VND VIETJET tickets to creating a fully detailed itinerary. This post is basically my complete Ha Long travel experience, from planning, booking, transportation, food spots, to all those random “wait… why is this place so beautiful?” moments in the middle of the bay. Everything here is genuine — no PR, no ads — just me sharing my trip like a friend talking to another friend.

Why I Chose To Travel Ha Long Independently

I’m the kind of person who loves both relaxing and exploring at the same time. Like soaking in a luxurious Onsen in the morning, then hopping on a motorbike and riding around the island in the afternoon. And Ha Long — especially Bai Chay, Tuan Chau, and Hon Gai — gave me exactly that feeling. Traveling independently in Ha Long allowed us to control everything: schedules, restaurants, check-in spots, and even those spontaneous moments like stopping in the middle of the road just to watch the ocean at sunset.

Another reason? Flying directly from Ho Chi Minh City to Van Don Airport only took a little over 2 hours. No layovers, no wasting an entire day traveling. Perfect.

If you’re looking for a genuine Ha Long travel review that doesn’t feel overly commercial or “booking-review style,” then this article is exactly our real experience after a 3-day, 3-night trip.

Ha Long Bay reviews

Ha Long Bay is one of those places that honestly feels unreal in person. From cruising through emerald water surrounded by limestone islands to soaking in a quiet onsen after a long travel day, every moment felt soft, peaceful, and strangely healing. This trip was a mix of freedom, food adventures, beach sunsets, and spontaneous scooter rides with friends — exactly the kind of slow travel experience I love.

Our 3D3N Ha Long Bay itinerary included Yoko Onsen Quang Hanh, a full-day Diamond Cruises tour, local seafood food tours, Bai Chay night walks, Tuan Chau island vibes, and hidden local spots around Hon Gai. If you love traveling independently, Ha Long is perfect for a flexible and relaxing Vietnam getaway.

The best part? Ha Long Bay is more than just a tourist destination. It’s a place where you can genuinely slow down, eat well, breathe deeply, and reconnect with yourself and the people you travel with.

Overview Of Our 3 Days 3 Nights Ha Long Itinerary From Ho Chi Minh City

Here’s a quick summary of our independent Ha Long itinerary:

Day	Main Experiences
Day 1	Flight from HCMC → Van Don → Yoko Onsen Quang Hanh → Bai Chay Night Market
Day 2	Diamond Cruises Ha Long Bay Tour → Bai Chay Walking Street
Day 3	Quang Ninh Museum → Tuan Chau motorbike trip → Tuan Chau beach → Seafood dinner → Valley Beach Club
Day 4	Breakfast → Flight back to Ho Chi Minh City

In total, this was a 3 days 3 nights trip, but you can easily shorten it into a 3D2N itinerary if you’re short on time, or extend it into 4D3N for a slower, more relaxing experience.

>VIEW FULL ITINERARY HERE<

Part 1: Transportation & Accommodation – The Foundation Of Every Trip

Flights

We booked an early morning flight from Tan Son Nhat Airport around 6:30 AM. We arrived at the airport about an hour early and landed at Van Don Airport around 9:05 AM. It sounds tiring, but honestly, the advantage is that you still have almost the entire day ahead once you arrive in Ha Long.

Small tip: book flights as early as possible and watch for airline sales 3–6 months in advance if you want super cheap tickets. I booked our March flight around September–October of the previous year, and our VIETJET round-trip tickets only cost around 1.3–1.4 million VND/person including shared checked baggage. However, from 2025, direct flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Van Don are temporarily suspended, so you can consider flying to Cat Bi Airport in Hai Phong instead and combine Cat Ba + Ha Long in one trip.

Hotel – Moonlight Hotel Ha Long

I chose Moonlight Hotel in Bai Chay near Sun Plaza through booking.com, and honestly, I was really happy with this decision because:

• Great location: only about 200m from the beach, close to restaurants and cafés
• The room had a mini fridge (important if you love bringing snacks back to the room like me)
• The hotel offered motorbike rentals — absolutely a must-have if you want the freedom to explore

Part 2: Day 1 – Arriving In Ha Long & Relaxing At The Onsen

Lunch: Bun Cu Ky – A Must Try!

As soon as we dropped our luggage at the hotel around 1 PM, we were starving. First thing on the list: Bun Cu Ky. Cu Ky is a special type of crab from Quang Ninh, and the broth tastes naturally sweet and super unique. We chose Bun Cu Ky Huong Beo — only around 60K per bowl but absolutely massive with tons of toppings. One bowl kept us full until evening.

Bun Cu Ky Huong Beo – Address: 20 Tan Mai Street, Bai Chay, Quang Ninh

Afternoon & Evening: Yoko Onsen Quang Hanh

This was definitely the highlight of our first day, and honestly, I’m proud that I planned it this way. After traveling all the way from Saigon, nothing felt better than soaking in a hot mineral bath surrounded by nature. Yoko Onsen Quang Hanh uses real natural mineral water — not artificial salty water like some other places. Sitting in an outdoor bath overlooking the forest made me never want to leave.

We chose the combo package including entrance + dinner buffet for 1,070,000 VND/person. Having dinner there afterward saved us time and honestly, the buffet was so filling.

Night: Wandering Around Bai Chay Night Market

No plans for the evening. We just walked around the night market, bought random snacks, and ended the night with Ha Long yogurt and pearl yogurt — sounds weird, but trust me, it’s a local specialty you shouldn’t skip.

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Part 3: Day 2 – Full-Day Ha Long Bay Cruise

This was the day I looked forward to the most during the entire trip.

Diamond Cruises – 6 Hours Exploring Ha Long Bay

We booked Diamond Cruises for around 850,000 VND/person through Facebook booking, which included:

• Round-trip shuttle bus from Bai Chay to the harbor
• Buffet lunch onboard
• Kayaking and bamboo boat activities through caves
• Afternoon tea party on the cruise deck

Six hours felt like the perfect amount of time to fully experience the bay without getting exhausted. I think this is one of the best options if you want an active but still relaxing experience. My favorite moment was kayaking through a small cave into a peaceful hidden lagoon surrounded by limestone cliffs. Honestly, no photo could fully capture that feeling.

Evening: Street Food & Bai Chay Old Quarter

After coming back, we showered and headed straight to Bai Chay Walking Street, Old Quarter, and the Western-style area nearby. At night, this place becomes incredibly lively with restaurants, bars, and photo spots everywhere. We ended the night with banh cuon cha muc — Ha Long’s iconic squid cake rice rolls that you’ll probably remember forever after trying once.

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Part 4: Day 3 – Tuan Chau Adventure & Hon Gai Vibes

I planned the last day more like a “local exploration day.” Honestly, this became my favorite part of the entire trip because it felt less touristy and more authentic.

Morning: Squid Cake Rice Rolls & Quang Ninh Museum

After breakfast, we headed straight to Quang Ninh Museum. Architecturally, the building is stunning — it looks like a giant black crystal reflecting the sky. Inside, there are exhibitions about geology, culture, and the history of Northeast Vietnam. If you love exploring local culture, this place is absolutely worth visiting.

Lunch: Bun Hai San Tu

We had seafood noodle soup at Bun Hai San Tu on Bach Dang Street. Fresh seafood, affordable prices, and super flavorful.

Afternoon: Motorbike Trip Around Tuan Chau – Harmony Chill

We rented motorbikes from the hotel and rode toward Tuan Chau Island. The road was honestly beautiful, with ocean views on both sides. We stopped at Harmony Chill Tuan Chau, a super relaxing café with drinks starting from only 40,000 VND. Nobody rushed us, so we stayed there for hours.

Late Afternoon: Tuan Chau Beach

On the way back, we stopped by Tuan Chau Beach. Sadly it started drizzling, so the beach was pretty empty. But honestly, I loved that quiet atmosphere — it felt almost Korean-drama-like with so many aesthetic photo spots.

Night: Seafood & Late-Night Vibes

For our final dinner, we went all out with seafood at Ngoc Phuong Nam Restaurant. After dinner, we walked around one last time before randomly stopping at Valley Beach Club because the music sounded way too fun. Ended the night with an 80K energy drink while watching the lights and ocean breeze.

Ha Long Food Tour – Places You Shouldn’t Miss

• Bun Cu Ky – Lunch on Day 1
• Co Cuong Yogurt – Yogurt pearls & grilled skewers
• Goc Cay Bang squid cake rice rolls – Breakfast on Day 3
• Bun Hai San Tu – Seafood noodle soup on Bach Dang Street
• Harmony Chill Tuan Chau – Chill café with ocean views
• Seafood & snails – Our final dinner feast

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Estimated Budget

Category	Estimated Cost
Round-trip flights	~1,500,000 – 2,500,000 VND/person
Hotel (shared room)	~400,000 – 700,000 VND/person/night
Yoko Onsen + buffet	1,070,000 VND/person
Diamond Cruises	850,000 VND/person
Food for 3 days	~500,000 – 700,000 VND/person
Motorbike rental	~150,000 VND/day
Total Estimate	~6 – 8 million VND/person

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Final Thoughts – Is Ha Long Worth Visiting?

My answer is: absolutely yes.

I used to think Ha Long was just a destination for international tourists or somewhere you only visit once. But after this trip, I finally understood why people keep coming back. It’s not just because of the scenery — it’s because this place gives you the perfect balance between relaxation, adventure, amazing food, and unforgettable moments with people you love.

If you’re still wondering whether you should take a Ha Long trip — just go. Seriously. Don’t wait any longer.

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Have any questions about the trip? Leave a comment below and I’ll happily answer everything!

— Yu | studywithyu.com