Travel to Ha Long – Halong Bay is one of the famous tourist destinations in Vietnam with thousands of islands and beautiful caves resembling a picturesque painting on the cool blue sea. If you’re looking for an ideal destination to relax and explore nature, then Halong Bay is definitely a great choice with stunning landscapes and exciting experiences.
1.Introduction to Halong Bay
Halong Bay is located in Quang Ninh province, in the northeast of Vietnam. It covers an area of approximately 1,553km2 with 1,969 scattered islets and islands, creating stunning landscapes. Halong Bay is situated 165km from the capital city of Hanoi and falls within the boundaries of Quang Ninh province. The area is defined by coordinates ranging from 106°56′ to 107°37′ east longitude and 20°43′ to 21°09′ north latitude, encompassing an area of 1,553km² including 1,969 islets and islands (980 of which have been named), of which 90% are limestone islands.
With its values in terms of landscapes, geology, rich ecology, history, and culture, Halong Bay has favorable conditions for developing tourism.
2. Means of transportation for visiting Ha Long Bay
- Transportation to Ha Long Bay
By Airplane
Currently, many domestic airlines operate direct flights to Van Don Airport, Quang Ninh, which is a convenient option for passengers departing from Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang. From Van Don Airport, you can choose various means of transportation to reach Ha Long Bay. The round-trip airfare to Van Don Airport costs around 1,500,000 VND to 2,000,000 VND.
By Coach
From Hanoi, you can go to Ha Long Bay by yourself via bus, shuttle bus, or Limousine coach. The ticket price ranges from 150,000 VND to 250,000 VND per trip.
3. When is the best time to visit Ha Long Bay?
The weather in Ha Long Bay varies significantly from month to month, so be sure to check the weather forecast before your trip. The tourist season in Ha Long Bay can be divided into the following time periods:
April to June is the ideal time to visit Ha Long Bay. The weather is usually sunny, warm, and pleasant, making it perfect for sightseeing and relaxing with family and friends.
June to August is the peak season for Ha Long Bay tourism, as many families combine their vacations with their children. As a result, there are more visitors during this time, and prices for accommodations and services tend to rise. This is also the summer season, with the possibility of tropical depressions and storms, which can affect the travel itinerary of visitors.
From late November to the Lunar New Year (Tet) is the time when foreign visitors come to Ha Long Bay, as Vietnamese tourists often choose to visit during the summer. Therefore, Ha Long Bay is also quieter and provides more privacy during this time, allowing visitors to fully enjoy their trip.
4. What are the beautiful attractions to visit in Halong Bay?
There are several beautiful and famous tourist destinations and beaches to visit in Halong Bay, including:
-
Halong Bay Cruise: You can admire the scenic view by taking a cruise and pass by famous islets such as Fighting Cock Islet (the symbol of Halong Bay) and Dinh Huong Islet (featured on the 200,000 VND bill).
-
The most beautiful caves outside Halong Bay: Sung Sot Cave (on the route 2), Thien Cung Cave, Dau Go Cave (on the route 1) will all make you marvel at the amazing natural wonders that Halong Bay has to offer.
-
Ti Top Island: It is known as the most beautiful island in Halong Bay, with a crescent-shaped sandy beach, a swimming area, and an observation deck to enjoy a panoramic view of the entire bay from above. To get there, you need to take the route 2 Halong Bay Cruise.
-
Bai Chay Beach: It is a famous artificial beach located behind Sun World Park, ideal for swimming or relaxing. Although the water is not very clear, it stands out with its pristine white sandy beach and romantic coconut trees, making it a perfect spot for taking photos.
-
Tuan Chau Island: It is the place where the cruise port departs to visit Halong Bay. On this island, there are also many beautiful hotels, resorts, beaches, and the Tuan Chau Entertainment Center, which is also an attractive destination.
Entertainment area in Halong Bay:
- Sun World Halong Park: It is a 214-hectare amusement park that is an internationally renowned amusement park. This entertainment area includes two main areas:
-
Seaside entertainment complex
-
Ba Deo Hill entertainment complex
The most beautiful check-in places in Halong Bay:
-
Quang Ninh Museum and Library: It is located on Tran Quoc Nghien street and has a black background with white text, making it the most famous check-in destination in Halong Bay.
-
Bai Tho Mountain: After conquering the mountain, you can gaze out to enjoy the panoramic view of Halong Bay.
-
Bai Chay Old Town: It is modeled after Hoi An and Hanoi’s old towns, and standing here taking photos, you will have unforgettable beautiful shots.
-
Bai Chay Bridge: It is also a symbol of Halong Bay tourism, especially at night when it becomes sparkling and eye-catching.
Exciting experiences to try when visiting Halong Bay:
-
Taking a seaplane to admire the panoramic view of Halong Bay from above.
-
Kayaking to explore the beauty of Halong Bay up close and personal.
-
Trying seafood at the Halong Bay night market.
-
Participating in the Halong Bay International Heritage Marathon.
5. What are some delicious foods to eat in Ha Long Bay and where can you find them?
In terms of cuisine, there are many restaurants, from high-end to budget-friendly, to choose from when visiting Ha Long Bay.
-
Bai Chay Area: This is the central food area of Ha Long, so it offers a wide variety of food options, from street food to high-end restaurants. However, be aware that tourists can be overcharged here.
-
Hon Gai Area: This area is known for its delicious seafood and many affordable seafood restaurants. If you want to enjoy authentic Ha Long seafood, this is the place to go. There is also the Cai Dam market, which is famous for its drinking places.
-
Tuan Chau Area: This area has many upscale restaurants with beautiful views, but the prices are quite high.
Some delicious local foods in Ha Long Bay include: steamed rice with squid, rice rolls with squid, snails, sea cucumbers, jellyfish salad, “gat gu” cake, fermented pork roll, Quang Yen sour sausage and pork rolls, Tiên Yên clams, and Hoanh Bo glutinous rice wine.
6. Hotels in Ha Long
There are various options for accommodation in Halong Bay, including budget hotels, resorts, homestays, guesthouses, and cruises, ranging from a few hundred thousand to several million dong.
Halong City is divided into two areas by the Bai Chay Bridge: Bai Chay and Hon Gai. Bai Chay is where most of the tourist attractions, hotels, and restaurants are located, while Hon Gai is mainly residential.
For comfortable and affordable homestays, visitors can consider The Bay, Halong Ginger, Orestay, Deja Vu House, among others. For more luxurious options, there are high-end hotels such as FLC Grand Hotel on Van Nghe Hill, Wyndham Legend Halong, Novotel, Sai Gon Halong, Mường Thanh hotel chain, Royal Lotus, and 5-star resorts like Vinpearl Resort and Spa, Premier Village Halong Bay Resort.
Booking can be made through various channels such as hotel booking websites (Agoda, Booking, iVivu), directly with the hotel, or through travel agencies.
- Tips for Traveling to Halong Bay
When buying souvenirs, make sure to check the weight accurately because most scales are not accurate (it is best to bring a 550ml bottle of filtered water to test the weight of the item).
When visiting Halong Bay, be sure to keep your admission ticket because at each attraction, an employee will stamp your ticket. If you lose your ticket, you will not be able to visit the next attraction.
Do not bring food or drinks, especially plastic waste, on board the boat to visit the bay. If you are thirsty, you can buy water on the boat, but the price is generally quite expensive (20k VND/bottle for filtered water, 30k VND/can for Coca Cola).
Do not litter at the tourist sites to maintain the image of Halong Bay as a clean and beautiful destination.
