The legend of Halong Bay is fascinating for children as well. It is said that when Vietnam was fighting foreign invaders, the gods sent a family of dragons to protect the Vietnamese. The dragons spit jewels and jades which upon hitting the bay were turned into the islands. These islands joined together to create a wall which stopped the invaders. This land became Vietnam and the dragons loved it so much they decided to stay on Earth and live here. Halong means descending dragon.

A cruise on board one of the junks is a wonderful experience with kids. Most junks offer 2 or 3 day itineraries with lots of activities. Meals are generally included with lots of fresh seafood. Let the tour operator know if your family is not big on seafood and they will cook up some chicken dishes too. Some tours do not include drinks and must be purchased separately. Many tours will include transportation from Hanoi (approximately 3.5 hours).

There are lots of activities included in the tours. Most itineraries will include a stop at one of the caves and at one of the beaches. If you are visiting Halong Bay with toddlers or small children you will need to be careful as there can be lots of steep steps to enter the caves.

Kayaking is offered by several junks however this is better suited for older children. A sunrise tai chi lesson is also an interesting activity for the kids. Evening fishing for squid is another of the fun things to do in Halong Bay with kids. You may also get to visit a fishing village or see the monkeys playing on the rocks.

Don’t forget to pack sunscreen and water shoes if you plan to do any swimming on your tour. Also remember to pack your mini medical kit. I left mine at the hotel in Hanoi and of course my oldest daughter woke up with a bad stomach. There aren’t any pharmacies in the middle of Ha Long Bay (lol) so we made do with some boiled ginger tea and some tylenol.

Halong Bay should be high on your list of places to travel to in Vietnam with kids. It was definitely my family’s favorite part of visiting Vietnam. The beauty of this place is truly amazing-it is one of the most beautiful landscapes that I have seen. It is also a nice escape from the chaos of Hanoi.

The Best Junks For Kids When You Travel To Halong Bay

***You will need to find a junk that is suitable for children when you travel to Halong Bay.***

Bhaya Cruises is one of the best family friendly luxury junk operators. They have 7 vessels to choose from with daily departures from Hanoi. You can choose from 1 or 2 night tours with stops at the beautiful Cat ba islands. They also offer private boat Bhaya Legend rents for families. They offer a kid’s menu as well as child size life jackets. Children under 6 are free and there is a discount for kids ages 6-12 (sharing room with parent).

Paloma Cruise offers family suites that can sleep a family of 3 (2 adults and 1 child). Children’s discounts available for children under 12.

Emotion Cruise offers a family suite cabin with connecting door. One room has a double bed and the other has 2 single beds. This Halong Bay boat can sleep a family of 4. It also has a private balcony.

Victory Star Cruise is a luxury Halong junk with family connecting cabins that can sleep a family of 4. It also has triple cabins available with 1 double and 1 single bed.

Classic Sail is another option for families that travel to Halong Bay. It offers interconnecting double family rooms that can sleep a family of 4.

If you are looking for a private charter then check out Prince I Cruise as it has 2 deluxe cabins (one double, one triple) and can sleep a family of 5. Or the Bhaya Legend II has 2 suites that can sleep a family of 4.

More Family charter cruises on Halong Bay are available here

If you are traveling in a large group you will easily find junks available for a private tour.