Getting around in Halong Bay can be quite tricky. If you are on the mainland, you can obivouly get around on the roads. The roads aren't in excellent condition, and some are actually still just dirt roads. Still, you shouldn't have a very hard time finding where you need to go. If you rent a car, you should ask directions and try to know some Vietnamese, otherwise you will have a very hard time understanding where to go. In many cases, tourists have guides to help them around, especially if they don't speak Vietnamese. If you are trying to get around in the bay, you will have to get around on a junk, also known as a boat. The junks, which are small fishermen boats, can hold a good amount of people. If you are just touring the bay, you can pay a guide to take you around. It is a rare thing to be able to take your own junk out by yourself. The person in control of the boat will know where they are going, so you don't have to worry about getting lost. You should check to make sure there are life jackets in the junk before you leave.