What to see in Halong Bay
Halong Bay is known as one of the most famous tourist destinations in Vietnam and has been repeatedly recognized by UNESCO as a world natural heritage.
It can be said that Ha Long Bay is a paradise of mysterious and majestic beauty that everyone must see at least once in their life.
I made an article about how to get to Halong Bay
Here, tourists can participate in a wide variety of activities not found anywhere in Vietnam. Never get bored in this wonderland because here are these 15 Best Things to Do in Halong Bay !
1. Take a night cruise in Halong Bay
One of the best things to do in Halong Bay is to stay at least one night on the cruise, the most anticipated experience to admire the bay much closer in a more special way.
With a natural complex of some 2,000 islands and islets, the bay is best explored by boat to see well-known or less touristy attractions.
As of today, there are different choices of Halong overnight cruises which are categorized by different tour duration (half day, full day, 1 night or 2 nights), budget (cheap, mid-range or luxury), destinations (Bai Tu Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay or Cat Ba Island), types of boats (modern style, wooden junk or small boat), and goals of your vacation (family outing, honeymoon vacation or private trip).
2. Cat Ba Island
Cat Ba is the largest island in Halong Bay and sits at the top of the must-see attractions here. This island is home to a national park covering a third of the area, a handful of historic tourist attractions, a few rustic local villages, and three main beaches.
All makes it a perfect place to join many things to do on Cat Ba Island. You can explore Cat Ba with a Halong Bay cruise, go swimming and sunbathing on the beach, snorkel around the island, take a kayak to explore the untouched areas, go hiking climbing, hiking off the beaten track, cycling in the picturesque countryside or simply strolling through the greenery.
You can read my article on 10 must-see things to see in Cat Ba
3. Visit the floating villages of Halong
With only a few existing sites remaining, floating villages are among the top attractions in Halong Bay that offer you a fascinating and authentic experience. Take a boat ride to these villages and you will see how isolated the local life becomes day by day.
Local fishermen make a living from the sustainable fishing industry and tourism. Some of them live in small floating houses while others live inland but spend most of their time in floating villages for work.
There were many small and large Halong Bay floating villages in the middle of the bay. However, now you can only come to the only 4 remaining, including:
- Cua Van Fishing Village
- Vung Vieng Floating Village
- Ba Hang Floating Village
Here is my guide to best fishing villages in Halong Bay
4. Admire the pristine Bai Tu Long Bay
Another alternative among Halong Bay attractions worth visiting is Bai Tu Long, located in the east of Halong. Covering a total area of 15,000 ha, the bay has a massive natural complexity of uninhabited islands, a national park and rich biodiversity of ecosystems.
There are some highlights of Halong Bay that you should not miss including Quan Lan Island, Ngoc Vung Island, Ang Du Area, Vung Vieng Village, Thien Canh Cave Son, Ban Chan Beach, etc. Bai Tu Long is worth spending at least 1 night immersing in the tranquility and admiring the hidden charm of this natural heritage.
5. Visit the Halong Bay Caves
Halong Bay is home to many breathtaking caves that are worth visiting. Undergoing millions of years of stalactite and stalagmite formation, Halong Caves possess exquisite beauty and valuable archaeological systems. Considered the best attractions in Halong Bay, the main caves to visit include:
- Thien Cung Cave – one of the most massive of Ha Long’s cave systems with three ponds offering deep-dive adventures.
- Sung Sot Cave – a highlight of the Halong Bay tour with a steep trail to hike for spectacular views.
- Dau Go Cave – a beautiful cave with a maximum height of 25 meters.
- Virgin Cave – a mysterious cave with the legend of a young woman trapped in an unhappy marriage.
- Quang Y Cave – an underground cave once used as a secret hospital during the Vietnam War.
All the caves in Halong Bay are decorated with colorful artificial lights to illuminate the rock formations and certain areas.
6. Cruise to the less touristy Lan Ha Bay
For those who don’t like crowds, Lan Ha Bay is a favorable alternative to enjoy the best things to do in Halong Bay.
Located southwest of Halong, the bay has similar geological and cultural features that offer more tranquil and authentic ways to experience. It is home to 400 limestone cliffs scattered across emerald waters, pristine beaches, lush vegetation, several fishing villages, rocky mountains and peaceful islands.
Here you can enjoy a fantastic seascape with many activities: swimming, kayaking, night camp, barbecue on the private beach, rock climbing, etc. Don’t hesitate to take a 2 or 3 day cruise to Lan Ha Bay because you will regret not visiting this underrated attraction.
7. Enjoy the sun on the beaches of Halong
Halong Bay is blessed with calm sea and beautiful beaches to sit on the white sand, sunbathe, enjoy the cool sea breeze and indulge in crystal clear water. The highlight is Titop Beach, located on an island shaped like a crescent moon. Just take a day cruise and you’ll have plenty of time to climb to the top for the panoramic view of the bay and go swimming or kayaking.
Another beach attraction is Soi Sim, which is well known for its emerald waters, lush green foliage and the ultimate display of flora and fauna. Additionally, there are many other must-see beaches including Quan Lan, Ngoc Vung, Ba Trai Dao and Tuan Chau Beach.
Most of them provide refreshing air, crystal clear water and idyllic sand; so you can let yourself go and take part in many interesting things to do here.
8. Kayak around limestone karsts
Kayaking in Halong Bay is one of the fun activities that you absolutely must do. This is the best way to explore the grandeur and magical beauty of Ha Long’s nature up close.
Sitting on a small kayak, slowly paddling through islets to discover cliffs beneath the waves, watching birds on the cliff, feeling the calm water, wriggling through water caves, or touching stalactites, what’s more amazing? With the specific instructions on how to paddle and guide on the safety zone, you will find kayaking extremely simple and fun.
So, why not put kayaking on your list of must-do activities in Halong Bay?
9. Go diving/snorkeling
Diving and snorkeling are some of the best water activities in Halong Bay. Thanks to the crystal clear water and picturesque underwater delights, this region offers a range of lesser-known diving and snorkeling sites.
The sea around Cong Do Island and Van Gio Island is ideal for snorkeling/diving and exploring the diverse ecosystem that is home to unique corals, seagrass beds and living spaces for aquatic creatures (turtles seahorses, stone crabs, lizards, hornbills, etc.).
10. Hit the hiking trails in Ha Long
Not only does Halong have spectacular waterscapes, but it also has adventurous landscapes to take on a hiking route. The best suggestion is Cat Ba National Park, a common stop on some Halong Bay cruise itineraries.
The park is home to wild flora and fauna with a collection of distinct species like the world’s most endangered civets, macaques, hawks, hornbills and golden-headed langurs.
You can hike along the incredible trails with an 18 kilometer climb to the top of the mountain, but it requires a lot of time and endurance. So you can go on a gentle adventure to some viewpoints.
11. Explore Ha Long City on land
Unlike the laid-back scenery of the bay, Ha Long Town is much more vibrant and exciting with a large number of must-do activities.
Gaze at Bai Chay Bridge, taste authentic dishes at local restaurants, taste street food, enjoy night activities, visit Halong night markets, shop for local souvenirs, etc.
All of this makes them the best things to do in Halong Bay. Let’s see the differences between rural life in floating villages and urban life in the provincial town.
12. Here are the aerial views of Halong from the seaplane or helicopter
If you want to see Halong Bay differently, a seaplane or helicopter tour is a unique opportunity to discover. This activity has become popular in recent years. During the 25-minute flight, you will have the chance to immerse yourself in the beauty of Halong Bay from above, with thousands of islands and islets. They are scattered along the Gulf of Tonkin. The incredible view also covers beaches, lagoons and towering sea cliffs.
A scenic flight in Halong Bay departs and ends at Tuan Chau Marina. Departure time is 10:30am, 2:00pm and 2:40pm, so you can choose a time that suits you. The price of a scenic seaplane flight is less than €100. The price may be higher than other activities, but flying a seaplane over Halong Bay is something to cross off your bucket list.
14. Cycle off the beaten path
Another of the most recommended activities in Halong Bay is cycling to explore the fascinating cycle paths and enjoy the physical experience. To have the best experience, renting a bike/double bike is the perfect choice for you. The cost of a rental bike/double bike is around 20,000 VND (~€1) per hour. Tourists can hire directly from the hotel or services along the city road.
Additionally, fishing villages offer tourists beautiful cycling routes as well as an in-depth insight into local life in Halong Bay. Many cruise ships will anchor near a fishing village so you can take the opportunity to take a bike tour.
By taking your time to cycle around the village, chat with locals and meet playful children, you can experience the most authentic thing to do in this country.
15. Go on an adventure with rock climbing
Continuing with another adventurous thing to do, rock climbing in Halong Bay must offer the most thrilling experiences. Halong Bay is naturally blessed with some sport climbing routes which offer great potential for further development.
It’s up to you to decide what level of difficulty you want to challenge yourself to. The difficulty level, however, does not affect the safety level. All you need to prepare is a healthy body, an adventurous spirit and plenty of stamina. Let’s engage in the challenging activities to conquer the rock formations here!
