Is Halong Bay still beautiful when its foggy?

Type ‘Halong Bay’ into google images and you will be bombarded with otherworldly images of bright blue skies, emerald green waters, and jungle-topped rock formations that emerge dramatically from the water. You may also see a few sunsets of brilliant orange, baby pink and deep purple, adding to the remarkable plethora of color that a Halong Bay cruise can offer.

It is now mid-winter in Northern Vietnam and the frosty chills have well and truly arrived. Some days are utterly cloudless and offer all the colors that so many look forward to seeing during their Halong Bay tour. Other days, however, are less vibrant, as this time of year sees its fair share of fog.

So what if you miss all those colors? Should you still pay to see a grey Halong Bay?

Try as we might, we simply cannot accurately predict the weather at Best Cruises Halong (oh how we wish we could!). And most of those who are booking a Halong cruise will be booking far enough in advance that they will only have a rough idea of what the weather will be like. It is important to go with an open mind (as always when traveling) and to be prepared for anything. Because although you may not get the kind of postcard pictures that you can see above, a misty Halong Bay still makes for a wholly satisfying experience… if you allow it.

When visibility is poor, Halong Bay takes on an entirely different personality. With little to no wind it is extremely quiet, and the waters are even calmer than usual. There are fewer boats due to a dip in domestic tourist numbers (except for around Tet) and many of the Halong Bay junks that are still sailing are obscured by the fog. There is a peace not found during the busy summer months that many find alluring and romantic.

The thousands of islands that exist in Halong Bay may not be all that visible all at the same time, but observing your surroundings as the rock formations gently appear, disappear, and reappear is a hauntingly beautiful experience. So the short answer to the titled question is YES- Halong Bay is definitely still beautiful in the fog. And no visitor to Northern Vietnam should let poor visibility get in the way of what will still be a fabulous Halong Bay cruise.

Picture courtesy of Paradise Vietnam