Squid fishing off the junk deck
Sometime around 8 p.m., after dinner has cleared and the bay has gone dark, the crew strings bright lamps over the junk's stern rail and drops lines into the black water below. Within minutes, squid begin rising toward the light — dozens of them, pale and flickering just beneath the surface. You're handed a rod rigged with a multi-pronged hook shaped like a shrimp, no bait required, and the technique turns out to be less fishing than a slow, rhythmic jigging.
This is squid fishing on an overnight junk cruise through Halong Bay or Bai Tu Long Bay — not a landmark you visit but a thing that happens to you on the water, well after the kayaking and the cave tours have ended for the day.
💛 What travellers fall for
People who've done it more than once tend to agree: go on a moonless night. The darker the sky, the more effectively the boat's lamps pull the squid up from depth. Whatever you catch goes straight to the kitchen, and the crew — tamarind, chili, a hot pot — turns it around fast. Kids take to it easily, and the crew is patient with small hands.
The story behind Squid fishing off the junk deck
The wooden junk boats that carry tourists across Halong Bay today trace their silhouette to a much older seafaring tradition. The word 'junk' itself derives from the Javanese 'djong,' used for large ocean-going vessels across Southeast Asia. Bai Tho Junks began offering Halong Bay cruises in 1991, among the earliest operators to open the bay to leisure tourism after Vietnam's economic reforms.
Squid fishing as a packaged cruise activity has no documented origin date — it appears to have grown organically from the working habits of local fishermen, who have long used bright lights to attract squid at night, and was quietly absorbed into the overnight itinerary as tourism on the bay expanded.
Good to know
Squid fishing is only available on overnight cruises of two nights or more — day trips don't include it. Shuttle transfers from Hanoi take roughly 2.5 to 3 hours. Shared boat prices run from about 250,000 to 550,000 VND per person; private boats start around 2,200,000 VND for groups under ten.
October and November tend to offer the best conditions — squid are larger and feed closer to the surface, and the seas are generally calm. February through April and July through October are also considered good windows. The activity is weather-dependent and will be cancelled if conditions on the bay are rough.
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What travellers say about Squid fishing off the junk deck
Squid fishing was an interesting trip that should be put in your travel box in PhuQuoc island. I and my friends were so satisfied with the sunset view on boat, fishing like a local and good dinner. Thanks
The company is extremely professional, there are staff who catch squid and let customers enjoy live squid, the tour guide is very professional, talented and friendly, I will come back next time, I recommend going with this company!!
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