Does anybody have any tips for a good way to see Ha Long Bay?

I'm in Ha Noi at the moment and want to see some of the beautiful landscape around the bay but i would prefer not to have to sign up for a stupid tourist trip. I was thinking about heading to Cat Ba island for a few days and seeing what the situation was down there. Or are the tours actually pretty good?

Any tips would be great :) TIA

Just posting closure here.

I ended up booking a tour from Hanoi at a fairly reasonable price. The tour was great apart from the rude and pushy tour guide (Poseidon run by Halong Marguerite i believe).

I think i would have preferred to make my own way down to Cat Ba island and arrange the tour from here though although the quality of the tour was guaranteed by my Hanoi hotel (Royal Hotel. Recommended!).

Hi All,
Would appreciate some advice on my literary:
1) I’ve planned the flight from HCM City to Hanoi initially because I would like to go to Ha Long Bay. However, after reading all the feedback on the bad experiences of the tours people have joined and how polluted the bay has become (litter everywhere), I am not sure anymore if it’s worth flight to go to Hanoi or I should just concentrate travelling the south and middle part of Vietnam.

Skip Cat Ba this time, it is too cold.

Go to Ha Long Bay - its worth seeing it but the water is pretty poluted due to the LARGE amout of boats constantly out there. I did an over night boat and it was good fun. The food we were served was just amazing - for the price we paid anyway.
Bottom line - its something that i think everyone should see or visit....... its got its good and its bad points but i look back at my time there last year with very fond memories. its worth it :)

The simplest way, is to join a tour, two or three days...
Halong Bay is a great place to relax and enjoy. They will take care of everything, trip, room on the island or on the boat, and meal.
I joined a two day tour, cost 45 dollar last summer, including everything. It was hassle free and great.

It may be too late now for the questions, but it may be helpful for others.
If you do not want to buy a "stupid" tour to travel Halong bay, you can visit by yourself, of course. From Hanoi, take the bus (or train) to Hai phong city. From Hai Phong, take the bus + boat from a transportation company named Hoang Long head to Cat Ba islands. It takes around 1.5h to get there from Hai Phong. You can enjoy the island (where you can swim and enjoy sea food) as well as you can enjoy Halong bay by a ticket to visit Halong bay from Cat Ba island. 2 days would be enough but you have still many thing to see if you stay longer.

Yes, north VietNam is cold. Temperature is about 10-12 degree C.

What was wrong with the tour guide, specifically? The guides are generally quite respectful in viet nam.

Unless you're getting your own boat, you are going to be on some type of "tour" with "tourists". Just sayin...

'sheeed

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Banlung. Go there. Now.