You should have askes the Boat name for Halong tour! Hi,
Actually, almost no agent around the old quarter has their own boat or junk but companies in Halong. Most those companies do not have their own offices in Hanoi so tourists might not book directly with them except some big ones with website and online booking form.
Agents or booking offices often cooperate with some really tour operators or boat/junk companies to arrange Halong bay tour (third party as you said).
So what you/travellers should do when booking a Halong bay tour is to ask the Boat/Junk Names. Check reviews of those on the internet and book the best one of rate range. You can book online directly with those Junks/boats. Rates, however, is often much higher than doing via an online/booking agent/office. If booking on arrival at a booking office, do ask them to confirm your boat, not any other as some might suggest similar or better at good rate. The true might be very different.
anonymous
non-member comment
You should have askes the Boat name for Halong tour!
Hi, Actually, almost no agent around the old quarter has their own boat or junk but companies in Halong. Most those companies do not have their own offices in Hanoi so tourists might not book directly with them except some big ones with website and online booking form. Agents or booking offices often cooperate with some really tour operators or boat/junk companies to arrange Halong bay tour (third party as you said). So what you/travellers should do when booking a Halong bay tour is to ask the Boat/Junk Names. Check reviews of those on the internet and book the best one of rate range. You can book online directly with those Junks/boats. Rates, however, is often much higher than doing via an online/booking agent/office. If booking on arrival at a booking office, do ask them to confirm your boat, not any other as some might suggest similar or better at good rate. The true might be very different.