Things to do in Halong Bay
Halong Bay Tourism Overview
Halong Bay is among the top travel destinations in Vietnam with a fantastic blend of pristine natural beauty and a vibrant city vibe, and it has twice been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. For this reason, both domestic and foreign tourists are unable to skip Halong Bay on their Vietnam tours.
Halong Bay Overview
Halong Bay is a complex of limestone islands in the Gulf of Tonkin, in Halong City, Quang Ninh Province, about 170 kilometers from Hanoi. Halong Bay is surrounded by Bai Tu Long Bay in the northeast, the Cat Ba Archipelago, and Lan Ha Bay in the south and east.
Water game in Halong
Halong Bay attracts adventurers and nature lovers because of its diverse flora and fauna as well as its captivating landscape. The bay offers a variety of activities for visitors to enjoy in addition to the natural world, including water sports, cave exploration, workshops, and master classes on board the ship. You can visit Asia Private Travels to find out more helpful information for the upcoming trip to "the land of the descending dragon" and to plan your Vietnam trip wisely and magnificently.
Halong Bay Climate
Halong Bay has a tropical hot climate with two very different weather patterns wet in the summer and dry and cool in the winter. Month by month, it changes, and each season has its own unique characteristics. It is generally mild throughout the year, with temperature ranges of 10°C to 38°C. You should thoroughly check the weather forecast before setting out on your trip.
Sunbathe and Relax on Halong Bay
You can choose the best time to travel and enjoy the Halong Bay cruise trip at any time, but the following times are optional:
From April to June
This is the best time for you to take Halong Bay tours to escape the stress of everyday life. Right now, it's warm and mainly sunny outside. As a result, it is perfect for sightseeing or spending time in the sun at some gorgeous beaches with your family and friends.
From June to August
This is the busiest time of year, so many families bring their children here for Vietnam family tours. As a result, both the demand for travel and the cost of accommodation and services rise. So, if you want to travel cheaply, you should make a specific plan in advance.
Spa and Massage in Halong Bay on Cruises
From late November to the Tet holiday, Halong Bay in Vietnam usually attracts a large number of foreign tourists. You can have more privacy to fully enjoy Halong tourism because it is relatively less crowded than during the peak season.
How To Get To Halong Bay
As transportation infrastructure continues to develop simultaneously, it is very simple for you to travel to Halong from Hanoi using the following transport:
By motorbike
From Hanoi to Halong Bay or some northern provinces, you can travel to Bac Ninh on a motorbike through Highway 18, then proceed to Pha Lai Ward in Hai Duong Province's Chi Linh District. You will reach Halong City after passing through Uong Bi City and Dong Trieu Town, the western entrance to the province of Quang Ninh.
You can expect to travel this route in 4-5 hours. This will be a fantastic experience for backpackers. However, you should be cautious of danger by driving at a reasonable speed, donning a helmet and glasses, and donning long sleeves while traveling.
By car
Traveling by car is a time-saving way to do your Halong Bay tour in Vietnam. To get to Halong City quickly and safely from the center of Hanoi, you must adhere to the instructions on the Hanoi-Halong Highway.
It offers a faster travel time of about 2-2.5 hours when compared to riding a motorbike.
By public transport
You can travel to Halong City using public transportation, including taxis, coaches, trains, and buses. You can also board a plane that lands at Cat Bi Airport in Hai Phong or Van Don Airport in Quang Ninh if you're traveling from one of the southern provinces. You can visit Halong Bay from these locations with convenience and take in its glory.
Hanoi to Hai Phong by train
The best way to explore Halong Bay
The best way to experience Halong Bay is by cruise. Nowadays, many travel companies offer Halong Bay Cruise tours to tourists for a much better way to experience Halong Bay. All the Halong Bay cruises in the fleet are modern, regularly maintained, and aesthetically beautiful.
Vietnamese traditional music performance in Halong Bay
Whether you choose a Halong Bay 2-day 1-night tour or a Halong Bay 3-day 2-night tour, every moment is packed with pleasure and relaxation. Just some of the experiences offered are:
- Having a Halong Bay overnight at a luxury Halong Bay cruise with breathtaking ocean views from your bedroom will make you feel like the captain of a ship.
- Dining in a restaurant with sweeping views of the expansive Halong Bay landscape.
- From restaurants to caves, experience 5-star service at all times.
- Swimming and kayaking in the bay's crystal-clear waters.
- Exploring historic caves with multilingual guides.
- Island-hop in a place that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Must-See Places When Traveling To Halong Bay
Bai Tu Long Bay
There are hundreds of big and small islands in Bai Tu Long Bay, many of which are large and populated. This is one of the more attractive places, comparable to Halong Bay. The diverse and stunning marine ecotourism, which includes beaches and caves, is the main attraction of Bai Tu Long Bay.
Bai Tu Long Bay
It also owns the biologically diverse Bai Tu Long National Park, which is home to a wide variety of plants and animals.
Lan Ha Bay
A region with more than 400 islands in the southern part of Halong Bay. Every island in this area is covered in trees, making for very interesting shapes. This location is referred to as a "sleeping paradise" due to its consistently cool climate. Although Halong Bay is more beautiful, it appears that the tourism industry has only recently begun to pay attention to this development.
Cat Ba Island
The best place to stop in Halong Bay if you want to do something other than explore the incredibly clear waters is Cat Ba Island, which is the largest island in the area. The scenery of the beautiful white sand beach and the limestone cliffs jutting out of the water will make you flutter. It is best known for its adventurous activities as well, for instance, hiking through the national park or climbing unprotected cliffs.
Cat Ba Island
Ti Top Island
Located in a prime location in the middle of the bay, Ti Top Mountain has about 400 steps leading from the beach to the top viewing tower. Visitors can view Halong Bay's beauty from various vantage points here. Ti Top Mountain is still regarded as a destination that is serene, and refreshing, and offers a great view of the bay even though boats are anchored here.
Ti Top Island
Sung Sot Cave
It is considered one of the “legendary'' tourist destinations. This place is the most famous cave in Halong Bay. Not like Phong Nha-Ke Bang, where 100 stone steps open the entrance to different spaces with the splendid color light of geological wonders that overwhelm visitors. The deepest part of the cave is called the “royal garden," where you can find a clear lake with extremely rich flora and fauna.
Sung Sot Cave
Dau Go Cave
According to legend, this cave is Ha Long's biggest limestone cave. With a 12 m width and an entrance that is roughly 17 m high, it is thought to be almost 2 million years old. As soon as you step into the cave, you will see the wonderful detail that the photographic art photos of the photographers still record, which makes many tourists bewildered. In particular, the vivid colors of the light reflected from the stalactites gave the impression that you had entered a paradise realm.
Thien Cung Cave
This cave is located right near Dau Go cave. The mouth of the cave is 25m high. This is a beautiful cave, one of the most beautiful ones in Halong that people know, with a width of nearly 10,000m2 and a very complex structure, including many levels, and many compartments with very high and wide ceilings and walls. Especially when you stand in the cave, you will be overwhelmed by countless blocks of stalactites and stalagmites with strange shapes.
Cua Van Fishing Village
Cua Van fishing village, one of the biggest fishing villages in the area, is situated in a calm sea and is one of the most well-known fishing villages in the area. Small houses that are tied together to withstand storms have built up this area's beauty. In addition to discovering about a fisherman's life, you can enjoy a priceless and unforgettable travel experience by admiring the beauty of the ocean.
Cua Van Fishing village
Bai Tho Mountain
Bai Tho Mountain is a beautiful limestone mountain. It’s more than 200m high and stands towering in the heart of the city. You can get a full view of the stunning Ha Long landscape from the top. You'll pass pictures of free-roaming goats or flying birds as you climb the mountain.
Best Things To Do In Halong Bay
Cruise through Halong Bay
The best thing to do in Halong Bay is to experience the day cruise. There are hundreds of cruises, such as deluxe Halong Bay cruises or cheaper cruises. So, no matter what kind of traveler you are, there is always a cruise in Halong that suits you. The water in the bay is very calm, so you don’t have to worry about waves and getting seasick.
Heritage Cruises
You will also not get bored quickly because there are many activities available during the boat trip. You should stay overnight on the cruise to admire the beautiful landscape of uninhabited islands and experience some unique activities.
Kayaking in Halong Bay
From a cruise, you can admire the landscape perfectly, but with a kayak, you can get to places that boats cannot reach. It is also a wonderful activity on the water, with little current and no waves. For that reason, kayaking is one of the best things to do in Halong Bay. You can paddle through caves to reach a completely undiscovered area of the bay. A kayak can also be used to explore a variety of beaches. Almost all cruise ships have this activity on their travel itinerary, whether they are taking day trips or multi-day voyages.
Kayaking in Halong Bay
Floating fishing villages
Vietnamese people love seafood, so there are plenty of fishing boats lining the coast to supply the country's high demand for seafood. Halong Bay is also a location where floating fishing villages have sprung up due to the area's exceptionally still water. On the water here, people live and work. Fish and shellfish farming utilizes many floating platformers. Visiting a floating village, where you can see how the residents work and occasionally live for days, is a unique experience.
Floating fishing villages
Rock climbing
In addition to kayaking, Ha Long Bay has diverse and rugged terrain, including many islands and mountains. It is also a challenge for those who love climbing. For those who love climbing, the spikey cliffs, the majestic corners of the mountains, the cliffs, and the caves in Halong Bay will challenge you.
Seaplane Tours of Halong
Seaplanes were developed to provide an additional service to tourists to increase their excitement as a result of the growing number of visitors to Halong Bay. Sitting in the seaplane, you can observe the entire lovely bay from a height of 150 to 3000 meters above sea level.
Squid fishing
Squid fishing is considered the most engaging activity in the evening for many cruises. However, please note that this activity can only be held when the weather permits. Normally, the ideal time for squid fishing is from April to around January of the next year. In the early season, squid is very small, so if you want to catch the biggest squid, visit Halong Bay in the peak season of squid, from August to December, especially in October and November.
Squid fishing on Halong Bay
Tai Chi exercise
The ideal way to begin a new day in Halong Bay is to participate in a Tai Chi session in the early morning. Tai Chi is a gentle physical activity that combines slow, easy movements with deep breathing. Tai Chi, a martial art, is very good for your health because it improves balance and mobility while lowering stress and preventing falls. It is strongly advised that you attend the session and get up early.
Snorkeling
Halong Bay is the ideal destination for tourists who enjoy snorkeling or scuba diving due to its extraordinarily diverse ecosystem, which includes both oceanic and seashore biosystems as well as tropical evergreen biosystems. One of the most amazing aspects of Halong Bay is the ecosystem of coral reefs.
Have fun at Halong Bay
Coral reefs in the bay cover up to 120 hectares and contain at least 100 species that are considered to be rare. Cong Do Island, Van Gio Island, and Trai Cave are where most of Halong Bay's coral reefs are found. Travelers can observe glistening marine life while snorkeling or scuba diving in these locations, and they can also take in Halong Bay's expansive coral reef, which features a rainbow of colors.
Don't worry if you don't have enough time to travel in Vietnam, you can contact us to design an itinerary just for you!
Useful tips when traveling to Halong Bay
Tourists should carefully check the weather before visiting Halong Bay to have a much better trip.
Travelers should bring the essentials, such as clothing, sunscreen, and hats.
Sport sneakers are a better choice for travelers to wear when climbing and going jogging than high heels.
