Our complete guide to Halong Bay
Halong Bay is an incredible destination for tourists. However, if you are planning your first trip here, there are many things you need to know to create a perfect travel plan and have a wonderful vacation. Here is all the essential information for every tourist starting out in Halong Bay.
When to visit Halong Bay?
Located in the north of Vietnam, the best time to visit Halong Bay is in March, April, September and October, when it is cool and there are no more storms.
However, that doesn’t mean you can’t come here other months of the year. December and January are considered the second best time to go to Halong Bay, so you can come here during your Christmas and New Year holidays. But please note that it is quite cold in this time and you You may need to pay a holiday surcharge for cruises and hotels here if you plan to stay there on December 24-25 or January 1.
On the other hand, you may want to spend summer in Halong, and in fact, it is the best time to enjoy water activities and get tanned skin. However, you should be careful of the outside heat, which can reach 40 o C or higher during tropical storms during the northern summer, from May to late August.
Most Recommended Tourist Attractions in Halong Bay
Of course, you can’t explore Halong in reverse for the first time here; However, there are some must-see destinations in the bay that you can choose from and add to your travel plan.
Cat Ba Island
Don’t miss a short trip on theCat Ba Island – the largest island in Halong Bay. It is the #1 search destination in Vietnam in 2020 and, as expected, Cat Ba will top the list of domestic and international tourists in 2023.
You can obviously find everything you need for a vacation in Cat Ba Island, such as luxury resorts or cruises, beautiful beaches, a gentle adventure exploring ancient forests and wonderful caves in inside the national park, a short cycle tour around the winding coastal line and a visit to a local fishing village.
Lan Ha Bay
As a new trend among Halong Bay tourist attractions in recent years, Lan Ha Bay continues to lead the travel trend in this region as a promising cruise spot.
The bay is not that big but located far enough away that cruising becomes the only way to get there. There is no doubt that you can find the best cruises while visiting Lan Ha Bay; Therefore, if you are coming to Halong Bay for the very first time, do not miss a cruise exploring Lan Ha Bay.
Bai Tu Long Bay
Bai Tu Long is not a trend; it is a hidden gem in Halong Bay. Don’t wait for the next trip to come and visit this spectacular silent space. If you are looking for a perfect first-time vacation in Halong, it is necessary to add Bai Tu Long Bay to your travel plan.
This place is small and even further away than Lan Ha Bay, making it a less touristy area of Halong Bay, which perfectly hides its untouched beauty. Of course, although this bay is quite peaceful, that doesn’t mean getting there is boring. There are beautiful beaches on Cap La Island or Hon Co Island for an unforgettable swimming experience; you can also visit Thien Canh Son – a famous big wonderful cave in Bai Tu Long Bay.
Sung Cave Fool
The name of Sung Sot Cave comes from its tourists’ comment about its beauty, which is “Cave of Surprise”, and the word “surprise” in Vietnamese means “Sung Sot”. With the magnificence that could become its name, Sung Sot Cave is definitely worth being a must-visit place in Halong Bay for every first-time visitor.
Ti Top Island
Ti Top Island is one of the most popular beaches in Halong Bay. As the island is small, its beach is not that big but looks charming.
The beach is calm, extremely clean and airy as the sand is washed by the tide every day and the sea water is emerald all year round. Currently, to visit the island you need to book a cruise tour, which can be a day trip or a 2-day itinerary that allows you to travel to Ti Top and experience it completely.
How to get to Halong Bay
There are many ways to get to Halong Bay. Currently, the closest airport is Van Don Airport. Unfortunately, it is only a domestic airport; therefore, you must arrive at an international airport in Vietnam to continue your journey to explore Halong Bay.
Some of the most popular airports are in Hanoi, Danang, and Ho Chi Minh City, and you can follow the instructions below to continue your journey after arrival.
Halong City – Tuan Chau / Halong International Port
You can easily take a taxi from your hotel to Tuan Chau Port and Halong International Port, which can take around 15 minutes. However, if the cruise departs from Got Port (Hai Phong), you must arrange transportation with the travel agency at least 1-2 days before your trip.
Hanoi – Halong Bay
- Travel time: 2.5 hours driving
The most convenient means of transportation to travel from Hanoi to Halong Bay is by shuttle bus. The best way is to arrange it with the travel agency you previously booked the cruise with. They are the only ones who clearly know your itinerary, who guarantee the quality of the private car and who can accompany you if necessary. The shuttles used for transfer here are usually Dcar limousines which can include 7 to 9 wide and comfortable seats.
If you need to carry a lot of luggage, another option for traveling between Hanoi and Halong Bay is by private car. Although traveling by car seems more expensive than by shuttle, this type of transportation is more suitable for people who are traveling with family/friends, who have a lot of luggage, or who simply prefer to travel alone.
Ninh Binh – Halong Bay
- Travel time: 3.5 hours of driving
It is possible to travel by shuttle from Ninh Binh to Halong Bay. However, as all Halong Bay cruises only offer pickup service in Hanoi, it is difficult to guarantee the quality of the shuttle from Ninh Binh to Halong Bay.
Therefore, in this case, a private car ride between Ninh Binh – Halong Bay seems reasonable. On the other hand, as the distance between Halong Bay and Ninh Binh is quite long, you have to get up very early to prepare your luggage, have breakfast and leave at 7:30 a.m.; Therefore, if you want to sleep a little more, you should come back to Hanoi 1 night before the trip and then go to Halong Bay from Hanoi so that you can have more rest, shorten the travel time and reduce the hassle. travel expenses.
Sa Pa – Halong Bay
- Travel time: 7 hours drive
There are 2 ways to travel from Sapa to Halong Bay. Firstly, you can return to Hanoi 1 day before by car, bus or train, then reach Halong Bay the next day by shuttle or private car.
The other way is to travel to Halong 1 day before your road trip. These complicated transfer options are due to the distance between these 2 destinations (around 450 km). It’s almost impossible to drive from Sapa to get to the port in time for a cruise to Halong Bay.
Da Nang–Halong Bay
- Duration of the trip: 1h20 flight
For a beginner, the journey to Halong Bay from Da Nang is not that difficult; it’s simply a combination of air and private car travel.
You can take the flight from Da Nang to Cat Bi Airport (Hai Phong), then book a private car to go to Got Ferry and take a Halong Bay cruise there instead of wanting to travel towards Halong Town and start your discovery of Halong Bay there.
Ho Chi Minh–Halong Bay
- Duration of the trip: 2h10 flight
The number of flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Cat Bi Airport is even more than Da Nang – Hai Phong; Therefore, for first-time travelers, flying directly from Ho Chi Minh to Cat Bi Airport is the easiest and safest way to get from Ho Chi Minh to Halong Bay.
Of course, if you can’t book the flight ticket at your desired time at a reasonable price, you can consider taking the flight from Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi, then transfer by private car to Halong from there. Airport or enjoy a city tour in Hanoi, have a good night there and travel from Hanoi to Halong Bay as shown above.
Accommodations in Halong Bay
Halong Night Cruise
You should not be surprised that spending at least 1 night on a Halong Bay night cruise is one of the top must-do activities when you come to visit Halong Bay. For at least a decade, cruising Halong Bay has been a must for tourists here, and most of them choose to sleep on deck.
Although the word “cruise” sounds quite fancy, sleeping on an overnight cruise in Halong Bay is actually an experience for everyone as it is offered at different price points, ensuring that the Most tourists can afford to enjoy this special activity.
Another highlight of an overnight cruise is that it can take you to explore deep within the bay and provide you with a complete package to tour Halong Bay, visit famous attractions, try interesting water activities and enjoy all meals included in the itinerary. Therefore, if you choose to spend a night on a cruise, you do not have to worry about where to go, what to do and what to eat, the cruise will help you with all these details.
I have a dedicated article on how to choose a Halong Bay cruise.
Private Beach Resorts
There are two islands in Halong Bay that actually belong to luxury resorts, which has made them the best unique accommodations in the bay.
- Monkey Island Beach Resort: This resort is the only accommodation on Monkey Island (also called Cat Dua Island). Although it is only 3 star standard, it still attracts a large number of tourists who come to enjoy their vacations there.
Quietly located on a small island inside Halong Bay and becoming the only accommodation there, Monkey Island Resort is ideal for anyone looking for a peaceful vacation away from noisy life and tired. - Vinpearl Resort on the island of Reu: As Reu Island is close to Halong City Center (only about 5 minutes by speedboat) and the island is a tour and entertainment resort, Vinpearl Resort offers experiences here totally different from those of the Monkey Island resort.
Vinpearl Reu Island offers 5-star services with luxurious rooms, special gastronomy, large swimming pools and private beach, which is absolutely the best accommodation choice in Halong Bay for families with children or groups of friends to enjoy their vacation with laughter and fun.
Hotel in Halong City
If you decide to sleep on the mainland, in Halong City, you also have a wide range of hotels to choose from at different prices and standards. Here is a list of the top 5 recommended accommodations in Halong, from 3-star standard to 5-star standard:
| No | Hotel Name | Standard | Address | Price from |
| 1 | Lapaz Resort | 3 stars | Ngoc Chau Street, Tuan Chau Island, Halong | $35 |
| 2 | Novotel Halong Bay | 4 stars | 160 Halong Road, Bai Chay, Halong | $51 |
| 3 | Halong Square | 4 stars | 08 Halong Road, Bai Chay, Halong | $30 |
| 4 | Wyndham Ha Long | 5 stars | No.12 Halong Rd., Bai Chay, Halong | $46 |
| 5 | Premier Village Halong Bay Resort | 5 stars | No.09 Halong Road, Bai Chay, Halong | $272 |
Must-Do Activities for First-Time Tourists
Explore Halong Bay by cruise
It is a must for every first-time visitor to book a cruise to explore Halong Bay, as it is the best and only way to fully experience the bay. You can choose to travel with a day cruise or book the 2 days 1 night / 3 days 2 nights itinerary, so that the Halong Bay trip fits your travel plan.
Of course, the more time you spend sailing, the more attractions and areas of the bay you can visit and experience. As mentioned above, the price range for Halong Bay cruises here is vast, and there are options from budget to luxury; therefore, it is so easy to take a chance on sailing the first time you visit Halong Bay.
Try Kayaking in Halong
If cruising gives you a ride in Halong Bay, kayaking gives you the opportunity to access small areas and interesting caving systems here.
Moreover, this activity will save you more time to admire the beautiful bay and look clearer and closer to its unique beautiful natural structure that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. You can book the kayak service only upon arrival in Halong; however, it is recommended to book a cruise to visit the bay, and the kayaking in Halong Bay will be a free activity included in the tour.
Cycle around Cat Ba Island
There is no place in Halong Bay that can give you a perfect cycling experience like its largest island – Cat Ba. The cycling route on Cat Ba Island is quite easy and suitable for everyone. Usually the bike tour starts from the city center, following the beautiful coastal line.
Then you can stop at Cat Ba National Park and visit nearby attractions or go directly to Viet Hai fishing village and enjoy the beautiful natural scenery there. To cycle in Halong Bay, you can go to the island and book there. However, the easiest way for first-time visitors is to book a cruise, which includes cycling tours to Cat Ba Island in the itinerary.
Enjoy the breezy beaches and go swimming
It will be a mistake if you spend a vacation in Halong Bay without swimming. You may have heard of the beaches of Monkey Island, Ti Top Island, Cat Ba Island and Ba Trai Dao Islet. These are all the most beautiful and airy beaches of the bay, and it will be a shortcoming if at least one of them is not added to your travel plan.
Squid fishing at night
Night time in Halong Bay is quite silent and doesn’t have that much going on. Luckily, squid fishing in Halong Bay is worth a try and, in fact, most tourists love it.
It’s fun as an easy and interesting competition between them and a chance to make new friends. Plus, if you manage to catch a squid, after taking a photo of your haul, it will become your supper (grilled or boiled, it’s up to you).
Suggested Halong Itinerary for Beginners
The option of route and travel duration in Halong Bay is varied. You can choose to take a day or overnight tour with 1 or 2 night itineraries.
However, the most popular choice among tourists here is the 2 days 1 night cruise itinerary across the bay. As Halong is extremely vast, no one can explore it in a few days; therefore, different Halong Bay travel itineraries have been created for different tourists. As a beginner, you should consider the 2d1n travel plan below.
Day 1: Hanoi – Halong Bay
- Visit the attractions: Light and Shadow Cave
- Pick-up time: 8:00 – 8:30 (from Hanoi Old Quarter)
After being picked up by a guide and driver, you will board a shuttle bus and spend about 2.5 hours in the car to the port, get ready to board at 12:00 – 12:30. Your lunch will be served and then you can have a few minutes of rest before starting your discovery of Halong Bay.
In the afternoon, before arriving at Dark & Light Cave area, you will pass by many small islets with interesting shapes and some of them even become the symbols of Halong Bay. Meanwhile, Dark & Light Cave is the perfect place to enjoy a must-do activity in the bay: kayaking. But don’t worry if kayaking is too difficult for you, there will be boats driven by local people with professional skills to help you fully discover Dark & Light Cave.
When sunset comes, you will be back on the cruise, enjoy a sunset party with music and cocktails before enjoying your festive dinner on the deck.
Don’t forget to try night squid fishing – it is one of the must-do things to do in Halong Bay. And if you are lucky enough, you can get a grilled squid for your dinner before going to bed.
Day 2: Halong Bay – Hanoi
- Visit the attractions: Cat Ba Island – Trung Trang Cave
- Drop off time: 3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Good morning with a simple Tai Chi lesson before the big breakfast, you will have a busy morning right after that. Around 9:00 – 9:30 you will arrive at Cat Ba Island – the largest island in the Gulf of Tonkin.
A bus will take you from the port to Cat Ba National Park which is home to the magnificent Trung Trang Cave. After over an hour of exploring Cat Ba, you will return to the cruise and have a light brunch as the boat returns to Halong Town. Usually, you will board the car for Hanoi at 12:30 p.m. and finish your trip at 3 p.m.
