Ha Long Bay Travel Guide A-Z: Transportation, Activities, Sightseeing, Local Cuisine
🗺️ Ha Long Bay Travel Guide A-Z: Transportation, Activities, Sightseeing, Local Cuisine
📍 Location: Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh Province 🏔️ Area: Over 1,500 km² 🏝️ Number of islands: Over 2,000 large and small islands 🏛️ World Heritage: Recognized by UNESCO twice (1994 and 2000)
Ha Long Bay covers more than 1,500 km2, with over 2,000 large and small islands of various shapes scattered around, creating a magnificent landscape. Day boat trips, overnight stays on the bay, seaplane flights for an aerial view… are experiences that visitors should try at least once.
Ha Long Bay. Photo: Jakarta Post
🌤️ Weather
❄️ Winter (November - March):
- Average temperature: 15-20°C
- Lowest can be below 10°C
- Less rain, dry weather
- Suitable for resort tourism
🔥 Summer (May - September):
- Average temperature: 25-29°C
- Hottest can reach 37-38°C
- Heavy rain, high humidity
- Suitable for water activities
🌸 Spring (April) and Autumn (October):
- Pleasant transitional weather
- Moderate temperature, less rain
- Ideal time to travel
Ha Long Bay has a tropical climate, hot and humid, divided into two main seasons according to northern Vietnam. Winter from November to March of the following year, with average temperatures from 15 to 20 degrees C, lowest below 10 degrees C. Summer from May to September, with average temperatures of 25-29 degrees C, the hottest time can reach 37-38 degrees C. In addition, there are two transitional seasons: spring (April) and autumn (October).
🚗 Transportation
Book tours or cruise ships in advance to secure spots and receive detailed guidance. If traveling independently, consult information at the two major ports in Ha Long.
Transportation options
You can use various means of transportation to reach Ha Long Bay:
- 🚗 Personal car/Car rental: Flexible, suitable for family groups
- 🚌 Bus: Many companies operate the Hanoi - Ha Long route (4-5 hours)
- 🚄 Train: Hanoi - Hai Phong route, then bus to Ha Long
- 🛫 Airplane: Van Don Airport (Quang Ninh), about 1 hour to Ha Long
Directions
🚗 From Hanoi: Approximately 4-5 hours travel time
From Hanoi (170km):
- 🚗 Towards Hai Phong - Follow National Road 18
- 🌉 Bach Dang Bridge - Continue on NR18
- 🏞️ Ha Long City - Pass through the city center
- 🎯 International Passenger Port Ha Long or Tuan Chau
Important notes:
- 🛣️ Route: National Road 18 has been upgraded, convenient for travel
- ⛽ Gas stations: Many gas stations along the route
- 📱 Phone signal: Good along the route
- 🌦️ Weather: Summer may have traffic jams due to rain, better to travel early or late
See more: Ha Long travel guide
⛵ Sightseeing options
Choose a sightseeing option that suits your budget and preferences. Overnight cruise is a must-do experience to enjoy sunrise and sunset on the bay.
Day cruise
This is a service that transports passengers from ports and piers of Ha Long City to island beaches and scenic spots along designated routes. There are many types of ships from basic to premium. Ships can be rented by sharing or privately, depending on the routes. Ticket prices may increase on peak weekend or holiday days, but not more than 30%.
Overnight cruise
Overnight cruise on Ha Long Bay. Photo: Paradise Cruise
🛥️ Standard cruise (2-3 stars)
- Price: 1,500,000 - 2,500,000 VND/night/person
- Amenities: Basic rooms, restaurant, common area
- Suitable for: Budget travelers, young groups
🛥️ Premium cruise (4-5 stars)
- Price: 3,000,000 - 6,000,000 VND/night/person
- Amenities: Luxury rooms, spa, bar, private kayaks
- Suitable for: Couples, families, premium travelers
🛥️ Private charter
- Price: 15,000,000 - 50,000,000 VND/ship/night
- Amenities: Entire ship for private group
- Suitable for: Special events, large groups
This is a service provided by private companies. The ships must meet tourist service standards, be beautiful and safe, with 1 to 40 bedrooms. Passengers can share or rent the entire ship. Each ship has bedrooms, bar, restaurant, spa… Depending on the type and company, passengers will be provided with corresponding services and can participate in experiences such as: swimming, kayaking, boat trips to fishing villages, squid fishing, karaoke, morning yoga.
Overnight stay on the bay for 1 or 2 nights. The cost per night ranges from about 2 million to 4 million VND per person.
Aerial sightseeing
Besides taking cruises or boats, visitors can also view the bay from above by helicopter or seaplane. However, helicopter services have been suspended since April and there is no reopening date yet. Seaplane services provide a new perspective on the beauty of the entire bay.
- Flight route: Tuan Chau → Reu → Hang Dinh → Ba Hai → But Moc → Tai Voi → Sung Sot → Ti Top → Dinh Huong → Thien Cung → Return
- Flight time: 25 minutes
- Ticket price: 1,600,000 VND (Vietnamese guests), 2,000,000 VND (international guests)
- Charter flights: From 9,000,000 VND (Hanoi → Tuan Chau)
See more: Seaplane tour over Ha Long Bay
Other sightseeing services
- 🚤 Speed boats: Fast travel between points
- 🎣 Fishing experience: Participate in fishing activities
- 🛶 Rowing boats: Traditional experience, explore fishing villages
- 🚣 Kayaking: Explore caves and hidden corners of the bay
- 🏖️ Beach time: Enjoy private beaches on the bay
🎫 Admission tickets
Due to Ha Long Bay’s vast size, visitors can hardly visit all sites in just a few hours. The bay management arranges sightseeing by routes, each with its own theme and there are 5 routes, corresponding to 5 ticket types, calculated per person per visit.
Day sightseeing (from 6 AM to 6 PM)
🎯 Route 1: Port - Van Canh Park
- Sightseeing spots: Thien Cung, Dau Go, Hon Cho Da, Hang Ba Hang, Hon Dinh Huong, Hon Trong Mai - Ga Choi
- Ticket price: 290,000 VND
🎯 Route 2: Port - Cave Park
- Sightseeing spots: Soi Sim beach, Titov, Sung Sot cave, Me Cung cave, Bo Nau cave, Luon cave, Trong cave, Trinh Nu cave, Dong Tien lake
- Ticket price: 290,000 VND
🎯 Route 3: Port - Marine Culture Conservation Center
- Sightseeing spots: Floating Cua Van Cultural Center, Tien Ong cave, Ba Ham lake, Ba Men Temple, Ang Du
- Ticket price: 240,000 VND
🎯 Route 4: Port - Marine Entertainment Center
- Sightseeing spots: Co cave, Thay cave, Cong Do, Cap La cave, Vong Vien, Tung Ang - Cong Do ecological area, Hon Xep park
- Ticket price: 240,000 VND
🎯 Route 5: Port - Gia Luan pier (Cat Ba - Hai Phong)
- Sightseeing spots: Thien Cung, Dau Go, Hon Cho Da, Hang Ba Hang, Hon Dinh Huong, Hon Trong Mai - Ga Choi
- Ticket price: 290,000 VND
Ha Long Bay admission tickets have been in use since 2022.
Overnight sightseeing on the bay
Maximum stay time is 24 hours for one night; maximum stay time is 48 hours for two nights from departure time. Overnight sightseeing fees may be included in the overnight cruise service costs.
🌙 Route 2 + accommodation
- 1 night: 590,000 VND
- 2 nights: 790,000 VND
🌙 Route 3 + accommodation
- 1 night: 540,000 VND
- 2 nights: 690,000 VND
🌙 Route 4 + accommodation
- 1 night: 540,000 VND
- 2 nights: 690,000 VND
🎯 Sightseeing spots
Visit according to routes to optimize time and experience. Some notable spots not to be missed include Titov, Sung Sot, Luon, and Trong Mai.
🏝️ Titov Island
- Height: 170m above sea level
- Beach: 500m² white fine sand beach
- Activities: Mountain climbing, swimming, kayaking
This island is located on Cat Nang lagoon. Before 1962, the island was called Cat Nang. In 1962, President Ho Chi Minh and Soviet cosmonaut (former) German Titov visited the island. To commemorate this event and express friendship between the two countries, the name Titov was chosen for the island. There is also a Titov statue on the island.
Titov is a must-visit destination on your Ha Long Bay journey. The island has a 170m scenic path to the mountain peak, a 500m² beach, and service facilities for tourists. Activities here include swimming, beach soccer, beach volleyball, kayaking, and speedboats.
🕳️ Sung Sot Cave
- Length: Over 10,000m²
- Feature: Largest cave in the bay
- Best time: Early morning or late afternoon
This is the largest cave discovered in Ha Long Bay and has high geological value. Deep inside the cave is a stalactite formation with many strange shapes. The cave’s name comes from visitors being amazed, going from one surprise to another when entering the cave.
🐍 Luon Cave
- Location: Bo Hon island chain
- Difficulty: Medium (must bend on boat)
- Unique experience: Rowing boat to see golden monkeys
The cave is located on the Bo Hon island chain, with a shape like a tunnel with a partially flooded floor. Deep inside the cave is a small lake. The cave is the passage between the sea and this lake. The lake is surrounded by vertical rock walls in an arc shape. To enter the lake, visitors must go by boat or kayak. When visiting the cave during high tide, visitors will experience having to bend on the boat through the flooded cave floor to enter the lake. This is also the origin of the cave’s name. The area also offers boat rides to see golden monkeys.
🥁 Trong Cave
Trong Cave. Photo: La Hieu
- Area: About 300m²
- Age: 18,000-7,000 years
- Value: Soi Nhu culture archaeological site
Trong Cave has an area of about 300 m2. This is one of the cave archaeological sites belonging to the Soi Nhu culture, dating back 18,000-7,000 years. At the two entrances in the northwest and southeast, traces of brownish-yellow sediment layers and freshwater snail shells remain. In addition, there are a few species of freshwater mollusks: clam, oyster, mussel. In the cave, visitors can admire the beauty of the cave ceiling, stalactite formations, and hear the sound of wind blowing through rock crevices echoing off the cave walls, creating a drum-like sound.
Trong Cave offers dinner service inside, visitors who need it should contact management in advance for detailed information.
🐓 Trong Mai Rocks
Trong Mai Rocks. Photo: Hoang Cop
- Height: About 12m
- Meaning: Symbol of Ha Long tourism
- Photography angle: Different shapes depending on viewing angle
These are two small islands about 12 m high facing each other, shaped like a pair of roosters and hens. The two islands seem to affectionately turn their beaks toward each other. As the boat gently passes by, Trong Mai Rocks become the image of a giant fish struggling in the sea. When the boat just passes by, looking back, the affectionate pair of chickens is no longer there, replaced by the shape of a swimming fish.
Trong Mai Rocks are the symbol of Ha Long Bay tourism. In 2000, this place was chosen as the symbol of Vietnamese tourism. Trong Mai Rocks are an endless source of inspiration for art creators.
🐶 Cho Da Rock
- Location: Routes 1 and 5
- Distance: 2.5km from Tuan Chau port
- Height: About 8m
Cho Da Rock belongs to routes 1 and 5, about 2.5 km from Tuan Chau International Cruise Port and 6.4 km from Ha Long International Passenger Port. Cho Da Rock is located at the foot of a mountain near the water’s edge, about 8 m high, shaped like a giant dog. In the past, when fishing villages still existed on Ha Long Bay, local fishermen considered it a protective symbol for the peace of the village residents on the bay.
🌟 Other sightseeing spots
Besides the notable spots above, the bay has many other attractive destinations:
- 🏛️ Cua Van area: Floating cultural center, Ba Men Temple
- 🕳️ Me Cung cave: Magical cave system
- 🏛️ Thien Cung cave: Magnificent stalactite palace
- 🕳️ Trinh Nu cave: Feminine and gentle cave
- 🌲 Dau Go cave: Cave with archaeological value
- 🌿 Co cave: Small but unique cave
- ✋ Ngón tay rock: Limestone protruding like a finger
- 🏛️ Dinh Huong rock: Spiritual site on the bay
📷 Ha Long Bay Photo Album
Below is a collection of beautiful images of Ha Long Bay for your reference:
⛵ Cruises and Tourist Boats
Cruises and Tourist Boats
🚣 Water Activities
Water Activities
🏖️ Coastal Scenery
Coastal Scenery
🎢 Sun World and Entertainment Areas
Sun World and Entertainment Areas
🍜 Local Specialties
Local Specialties
🏞️ Natural Landscapes and Caves
Natural Landscapes and Caves
🏝️ Famous Islands
Famous Islands
⚠️ Notes
Weather conditions
- 🌤️ Winter: Bring warm clothes, scarves, gloves due to strong winds and cold
- 🌡️ Summer: Prepare sunscreen, hats, protective gear due to strong sun
- 🌧️ Rain and storms: Monitor weather forecasts, avoid traveling during rainy season
Safety and transportation
- 🚢 On board: Follow safety instructions, wear life jackets when kayaking, on speedboats
- 🧴 Swimming: Wear non-slip sandals, don’t swim too far
- ⏰ On time: Arrive at the port on departure time, arrive 15-30 minutes early
- 🧾 Buy tickets from authorized places: Only buy tickets from authorized agents or directly at the port
Costs and booking
- 💵 Average cost: 500,000 - 1,000,000 VND/day/person for day visits
- 💰 Accommodation cost: 1,500,000 - 6,000,000 VND/night depending on ship type
- 📅 Book early: Especially during holidays and weekends
- 🚶 Capacity: The bay has a limit on visitor numbers to protect the environment
📝 Conclusion
Ha Long Bay is one of the world’s natural wonders, offering visitors unforgettable experiences with magnificent scenery, magical caves, and diverse tourism services. With thorough preparation and choosing the right sightseeing option, a trip to Ha Long Bay will surely be a memorable experience.
Prepare thoroughly and plan carefully for a complete trip to this “Ha Long Bay Wonder”.
📍 Important note: Respect the environment, don’t litter, protect the world heritage for future generations.
Author: Tam Anh
According to Ha Long Bay Management Board, Quang Ninh Information and Communications Department
