How to Avoid Getting Ripped Off at Halong Bay: Tips and Tricks

I had been scouring through a myriad of Vietnam travel guides, bracing myself for the potential scams that often come with such adventures. After a week in the country, I hadn’t encountered any major issues—just a few minor hiccups like struggling with the local currency and finding the Vietnamese cuisine not quite to my taste. These were small annoyances until I reached Halong Bay!!!

Before setting foot in Halong Bay, I meticulously researched online to find the best cruise options and their approximate prices. Initially, I planned to book through the Agoda app, but it required a hotel address in Hanoi for pick-up and drop-off, which I didn’t have since I was already in Halong Bay. After wrestling with the app, I couldn’t complete the booking and decided to buy tickets on-site.

In hindsight, this was a mistake. Upon arriving at the cruise center, I couldn’t find a ticket office, so I approached the counter for assistance. The staff member directed me to a nearby booth (as shown in picture 4) to purchase the tickets. I had already noticed this booth earlier but felt it lacked credibility, so I hesitated.

However, the staff insisted, and we eventually found a Chinese-speaking person to help us. I showed him the picture of the cruise ship I wanted and repeatedly confirmed my choice. He assured me it was the right one. The adult ticket cost around 350 RMB, and children were half-price. This struck me as odd because on Agoda, children under 4 were free, and the adult ticket was 50 RMB more expensive.

Despite the discrepancy, seeing him in a uniform, I assumed it was legitimate and decided to go ahead. He informed us the boat would depart at 12:00, which seemed unusual compared to the times I had seen online 😬

When the time came, a guide led us and a group of other tourists to board the ship. As we saw the vessel we were about to board, we were utterly shocked 🤦‍♀️. The sight of other cruises passing by only deepened our disappointment, and my heart sank.

After the trip, we disembarked, and the staff had already clocked out for the day 😮‍💨

Whether the experience was worth it or not, I’ll leave that judgment to you. But since we were already in Vietnam, we decided to make the most of it. This experience is a must-share, hoping to caution others who plan to visit Halong Bay in the future 🚨🚨🚨