Ha Long Bay is a beautiful natural wonder in northern Vietnam, near the Chinese border. The Bay is dotted with 1,600 limestone islands and islets and covers an area of over 1,500 sq km. This extraordinary area was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. Most of the islands and the karst limestone pillars in the bay are uninhabited and unaffected by human activity. For many travellers, this place is like something right out of a movie. The fact is that Ha Long Bay features a wide range of biodiversity, while the surrealistic scenery has served as the magical backdrop of various scenes in numerous feature films.
Why we should visit Ha Long Bay
More tips
Itinerary
How to get around
How to get there
Food & Drinking
Best hotels & Hostels
15 best things to do
Practical information
Best time to visit
Ha Long Weather
Ha Long Bay’s climate can be cool with clear skies from September to November. Mist drifts in from December to March making the bay look all the more mysterious. April and May offer sunshine and a refreshing breeze, while the monsoon season can make visits unpredictable from June to August.
Top things to do in Ha Long Bay
Cruise the bay
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Nothing beats spending watching the sun set over the calm waters of Ha Long Bay, and waking up to a serene morning surrounded by karsts. Relaxing on a sun deck surrounded by magnificent panoramas is the highlight of many a trip.
Explore a floating village
Ha Long Bay is not just a UNESCO-listed site, it’s also home to a number of fishing communities who have lived on the water for centuries. Take a boat tour around a floating village for a glimpse of this rare and beautiful way of life.
Paddle out in a kayak
Even if you’re not an experienced kayaker, you can’t miss the chance to navigate your way around Ha Long’s gorgeous seascape. Just before sunset is an ideal time to kayak to see quiet lagoons and fishing boats up close.
Clamber into a cave
Beneath their rocks and jungled exteriors, many of Ha Long’s ancient karsts have been carved out by rain and water currents. Take a look inside these geological wonders on foot — some are a squeeze while others are enormous.
Try your hand at rock climbing
There are countless routes in the bay to keep climbing junkies entertained. Deep water soloing is becoming increasingly popular in beautiful Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay, especially on Butterfly Island.
Take the Ferry to Cat Ba from Ha long
For sure one thing you should do is take the ferry from Tuần ChâuMarina over to Cát Bà Island. It’s SUCH a pretty ferry ride through the karst islands. It only goes certain times of day, so check with your hotel for the schedule. You should be fine booking at the marina ahead of time, but if it’s a big holiday, you might have a huge crowd.
Check out the hot Springs in Yoko Onsen
About a 20-30 minute drive from our hotel is Yoko Onsen, a Japanese-style hot springs resort. You can do if you’d like, but I’d do that more as a weekend escape rather than to base yourself since it’s pretty far from everything else in Halong. On the day side, you can use the private hot spring pools, the mix-gendered outdoor public pools, and eat at their buffet lunch. This is what we did, getting there at opening and leaving after lunch.
Visit Yen Tu mountain
About an hour away from Halong City is Yên Tử Mountain (Núi Yên Tử). This mountain played an important part in Vietnamese Buddhism, especially during the Tran Dynasty (1225-1400). The way it goes is that that the Emperor Trần Nhân Tông ceded the throne to his son so he could become a Buddhist Monk. He went to Yen Tu in 1299 where he established a monastery and founded Trúc Lâm, the only Vietnamese Zen Buddhist sect. You can either take cable cars or hike 6km/4miles to the monastery.
Ha Long Transport
Most visitors to Ha Long Bay opt for a packaged cruise, including transport to and from Hanoi. Independent travellers can take a bus to Ha Long City or Hai Phong and a taxi to the port. It’s also possible to charter a seaplane for a 45-minute ride direct from Noi Bai International Airport. Travelling Ha Long Bay is best by boat. Those looking for a bird's-eye view can book a 15-minute seaplane ride over the bay. In Ha Long City you can hire a taxi to get around town.
Cat Bi Airport, Van Don Airport, and Noi Bai Airport are the three main airports that serve Halong Bay. These airports provide passengers with handy ways to get to Halong Bay and begin their cruise excursions.
Cat Bi Airport in Hai Phong is the closest airport to Halong Bay, making it a popular alternative for those looking for a shorter journey. Van Don Airport, located on Van Don Island, is another alternative for getting to Halong Bay. Finally, Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport is the largest international airport in Northern Vietnam, with a wide range of domestic and international aircraft connections, making it a convenient choice for passengers from all over the world.
With many airports to choose from, passengers may choose the best option for their needs, travel plans, and flight availability!
Shuttle bus
Time: 2 hours and 30 minutes - 3 hour
Pricing: 350,00 VND to 500,000 VND one way/ pax if your pick--up and drop-off points are in Hanoi Old Quarter. Surcharge may apply if you stay outside of the Old Quarter.
Best for: Shuttle bus is considered one of the most effective means of transport between Hanoi and Halong and vice versa. This is the best option if you are budget-conscious and want to save traveling time.
Public bus
Time: ~2-3 hours
Pricing: 200 VND to 350,000 VND/pax/one-way
Best for: Using local buses is not as comfortable and convenient as shuttle buses, but it is cheaper. When traveling on a budget, a local bus might be a better option.
Private car
Time: 2 hours and 30 minutes - 3 hours.
Pricing: 2,300,000 VND to 4,000,000 VND round trip.
Best for: Business travelers, families, and groups of friends who prefer a private and comfortable transfer.
Door to door private car will take you to the exact location that you want to go (Halong cruise terminal, photo: Shutterstock)
To take a private car from Hanoi to Halong Bay, you can book the service through cruise providers or travel agencies. Alternatively, it is possible to book a private taxi. The private car will pick you up and drop you off at whichever location is agreed upon. This is the easiest way, but also the most expensive, to get to Halong Bay.
From Hanoi to Ha Long Bay, there is one old railway that it is so hard for tourists to access. No more details.
For those not traveling in a tour bus and those daring to venture out far, finding their way around Halong Bay can be intimidating. Fear not since Halong Bay has every way to support moving around town.
Taxi
Taxi is highly recommended for long distance traveling such as to the pier or to airport. Since the taxi driver is a native, he might be able to give the tourists some travel tips or a good story about the bay (if he can speak English!).
The fare is reasonable, usually around 14,000 VND (about $0.7 USD) per milometer. There are many options of taxi suppliers, but tourists should choose well-known companies such as Mai Linh Taxi, Ha Long Taxi, and Mong Cai Taxi. These firms have many different types of cab with a visible taximeter that would please any customer.
You can always ask the hotel receptionist to call one for you.
Rental car/motorbike
For tourists who prefer private transportation for flexibility at low, rental motorbike and car might be an ideal option. These rental vehicles are available at various locations in the city, but tourists are recommended to lease cars or motorbikes at their hotels. The price is various based on distances, time, and kind of vehicles, but generally it is only VND 60,000 – 100,000 ($3 – 5) a day for motorbike, and VND 800,000 – 1,200,000 ($ 40 -60) a day for a car.
8:15 – 08:40: The tourist bus will pick up your hotel or meeting point (around Hanoi Old Quarter) and start the trip with 2.0 hours to the harbor by new highway with 01 short break on half way for about 20 minutes.
11:40 – 12:00: Arrive Halong harbor, get on the boat and enjoy Vietnamese set menu lunch while cruising through the the most beautiful Islets on Halong bay such as Dog Islet, Incense burner Islet, Fighting cock Islet..
13:20 – 12:30: You will visit Sung Sot Cave (Surprising cave) – one of the most beautiful cave of Ha Long bay.
14:45: Keep cruising to Luon cave (water cave) Area with some options:
You can join to play Kayaking or bamboo rowing boat. If you don’t want to play these activities, you can relax on the big boat if you prefer to have more free time by yourself.
15:45: Visit Titop Island. From here, you can trek up to Titop peak for taking photos with panoramic view of Ha Long bay or swimming on the beach.
17:00: Enjoy sunset time on our sundeck
17:30 – 17:40: Back to Ha Long harbor, get on the tourist bus back to Hanoi by new highway.
20:30 – 20:40: Arrival to Ha Noi. Drop you off at your hotel (around Hanoi Old quarter).
End of trip!
Have a great trip with Asian Discovery Travel
