Explore Halong Bay Solo: Best Self-Guided Tour Tips and Hidden Gems

Many posts on Little Red Book claim that buying tickets directly at the dock is the cheapest option, costing 51 million dong. While this isn’t entirely false, it can be misleading! When I tried to buy a ticket at the window, the staff member actually sold my money to a middleman. In the end, someone in uniform at the entrance arranged a small boat for me.

Although there’s nothing inherently wrong with these boats, their actual price is just 31 million dong! This means they made a 20 million dong profit off me! So, be cautious: if you’re directed to a middleman after purchasing at the window, make sure to haggle. Local Vietnamese people typically pay around 35 million dong for the same service!