# Would I Recommend? # The Infamous Boat Trip [Of Nha Tr](https://www.viravira.co/boat-tour)ang, Vietnam Do the Nha Trang boat t[rip.  Do](https://www.viravira.co/boat-tour) the Nha Trang boat trip!!” There’s something that [I’ve lear](https://www.viravira.co/boat-tour)ned in my months on the Southeast Asia Backpacker Trail — **if several people fervently tell you that you have to do an activity, you do it.  No questions.** So as soon as we rolled [into Nha](https://www.viravira.co/boat-tour) Trang, Vietnam’s most popular beach resort town, I knew that the boat trip would be part of our itinerary.  **But I had no idea how bizarre it would turn out to be!** The boat trip usually c[osts abou](https://www.viravira.co/boat-tour)t $9.  Because it was Tet, [**Boat Trip**](https://www.viravira.co/boat-tour) the peak vacation time for the Vietnamese, the price rose to $9.  But considering that the trip included visits to three islands plus lunch, it was still a good deal. **Are these trips popular**[**?  God, a**](https://www.viravira.co/boat-tour)**re they ever.** There were literally dozens of boats making the same trip as us that day!  There were backpackers, but also Vietnamese families and tourists from other Asian countries. ##### **Snorkeling in the Coral**[**s**](https://www.viravira.co/boat-tour) [I’ve n](https://www.viravira.co/boat-tour)ever seen a coral [reef. Cr](https://www.viravira.co/boat-tour)azy, I know! So, I was more than happy to jump out into the water during a thunderstorm to see the marine life. As soon as we anchor, hundreds of colorful fish surround the boat. Getting up close and personal to them via a snorkel is an unforgettable experience. ##### **Phileh Lagoon** One of m[y favorit](https://www.viravira.co/boat-tour)e part[s of the](https://www.viravira.co/boat-tour) boat trip is this gorgeous lagoon. Swimming in crystal clear waters sheltered by the forested limestone cliffs is an absolute dream. ## My Experience with the [Phi Phi I](https://www.viravira.co/boat-tour)slands Boat Tour This entire boat tour e[xperience](https://www.viravira.co/boat-tour) was a bittersweet one for me. While it was an unforgettable experience seeing the beauty, there were many portions of our day that contributed to my overall negative opinion of the tour. In the months leading u[p to our](https://www.viravira.co/boat-tour) Thailand trip, we made multiple attempts to book a private boat tour in Phi Phi but we never confirmation from any company. Figuring we would try to find something once we arrived we did just that at our accommodation check-in. They offered to book a half or full day tour with U-Rip. We were all for it, paying the 1600 Baht ($50) per person right there and reserving it for our second day on the island. #### My Experience Embarking [on the B](https://www.viravira.co/boat-tour)oat Tour The next morning comes [and it’s](https://www.viravira.co/boat-tour) storming like crazy. I consider trying to reschedule for our third day but I think maybe the storm will clear up. Meeting at our hotel’s reception office, I’m surprised to find multiple other parties of people. We were under the impression that we booked a private tour. *Maybe they’re on a private tour too?*  Walking about 15 minutes with our guide to the south side of the island, we come to our final meeting place. ## Would I Recommend? Bei[ng comple](https://www.viravira.co/boat-tour)tely honest[, I would](https://www.viravira.co/boat-tour) recommend an all day boat tour but I would NOT recommend the U-Rip company. I also wouldn’t recommend doing a group tour. #### Reasons Not to Use the [U-Rip Com](https://www.viravira.co/boat-tour)pany * Communication about whe[re exactl](https://www.viravira.co/boat-tour)y we were going all day was close to nil. Half the day was spent sitting on the boat waiting to see where we were going next and without any clue about when we’d arrive. * The itinerary was chang[ed multip](https://www.viravira.co/boat-tour)le times without our knowledge. * Stopping at different p[laces, we](https://www.viravira.co/boat-tour) could swim for maybe 5 minutes before the guides ushered us back onto the boat.