Halong Bay in Vietnam contains ~300 karst islands, famous for the emerald color waters, limestone rock formations, caves and rainforests. Cát Bà National Park in the Halong Bay region is popular for scuba diving, rock climbing and hiking. The best time to visit Halong Bay is from October until March. April to September is hot and humid with the highest rainfall of the year.
Halong Bay sits on Vietnam’s coastline ~101 miles east of Hanoi. I recommend visitors to base their trip in Hanoi and take a scenic cruise to explore Halong Bay. Van Don (VDO) & Cat Bi (HPH) international airports are closest to Halong Bay if visitors are interested in exploring the region by driving.
How I Booked the Award Flight to Hanoi, Vietnam
I used Alaska miles to book a Singapore Airlines flight from New Jersey to Hanoi with a free stopover in Singapore. Similar flights can also be booked using Aeroplan miles and pay an extra 5K miles for a stopover in Singapore.
Singapore Accommodation
Hilton (link) hotels can be booked by either transferring Amex MR points to Hilton or Hilton points (earned or purchased) and the 5th night is free with award bookings.
Hyatt has three properties in Singapore (see image below).
Hanoi Accommodation
I was able to find a single Hyatt hotel in Hanoi and it was reasonably priced with very good rooms and customer service.
Halong Bay Cruises
The best way to explore Halong Bay is to cruise on a “junk boat,” which typically has around 15-20 cabins. Transportation to and from the bay (2.5 hours via expressway) is often included in your Halong Bay cruise ship package. I recommend booking one of the all-inclusive 2 day cruises (https://www.viator.com/Hanoi-tours/Cruises-Sailing-and-Water-Tours/d351-g3) for the best experience (pick the option that best suits your budget). The Viator link I posted above is not an affiliate link and is merely there for the reader’s convenience. See the image below for typical cruise prices with various options.
Halong Bay Scenery
Extend your trip from Hanoi to Bali
Halong Bay trip could be extended to visit Bali, with nonstop flights, and there are Hilton and Hyatt hotels that can be booked with points.
Summary
Experiencing Halong Bay from a cruise is the best way to enjoy the scenic beauty of this place. I recommend taking the cruise from Hanoi since it is easy to find award flights. Halong Bay is one of a kind of natural wonders and must be on the bucket list of all the travelers.
need hotel info with amexpoint reward for Singapore, Bali
Hilton is your best hotel booking option with Amex MR points and there are several Hilton hotels in Singapore and Bali ( I updated the post with hotels). You can also get 5th night free when using points to make the booking.