Welcome to Halong Bay, Quang Ninh province

Located in the north of Vietnam East Sea, 170 km east of Hanoi, Halong Bay is one of the country's most famous tourist attractions. Halong Bay was listed on December 17, 1994 by Unesco ''Worl Natural Heritage Area'' at 18th meeting of World Heritage Committee of Unesco in Thailand, an outstanding natural beauty known as both in Vietnam and around the world. On December 12, 2000 Halong Bay was recognized as world natural heritage for the second time based on its geological value.

Halong Bay became famous since the movie ''Indochine'' was realized with French star Catherine Deneuve in 1991. Halong Bay covers an area of 1,500 square kilometers with more than 2,000 islands and limestone islets rising from emerald water. Among many pleasant beaches, along its winding coastline is Bai Chay in Halong City and the peaceful coves of Cat Ba Island. Halong Bay is home to 232 species of coral as well as a wealth of fish, shrimps, shellfish and other sea creatures. The area's salt water-flooded forests have the most diversified collection of species of salt water-flooded plants in northern Vietnam. There also are 14 endemic species of plants in Halong Bay. Many animals live in this area, including 200 species of migrating birds, 10 species of reptiles, deer, weasels, squirrel and white-rumped leaf and white-head leaf monkeys.

The bay is filled with thousands of islets of all shapes and sizes. A wide variety of birds and animals including bantams, monkeys and iguanas live on the islands. Pearls and corals are also exploited in some areas. With its spectacular beauty, Halong Bay is a wonderful destination. Tourists who visit Halong Bay at any time of the year are always enthralled. The marine reserve in Halong Bay is very flourishing and offers a great potential for kayaking.

WHEN TO GO ?
Visitors can discover Halong Bay all year-round, except moonsoons, natural disasters, typhoons or bad weather like strong winds, turbulent tides and waves.

HOW TO GET THERE ?
Travelers will take a private car or shuttle bus from Hanoi to Halong Bay for 4 hours approximately. Many cruises and junks in Halong bay offer shuttle bus service Hanoi - Halong Bay - Hanoi if you book 2 days/1 night cruise on their boat. You also book your transfers and cruises with our company at any time.

Hanoi - Halong Bay – Hanoi by shuttle bus or private cars. You leave behind the noisy capital of Hanoi for Halong Bay. You take the National Highway No1B to Bac Ninh city, then you turn on the right following the road 18 through Pho Moi - Bac Ninh province, Pha Lai, Sao Do - Hai Duong province, Dong Trieu, Uong Bi, and finally reaching Quang Ninh province. It takes around 4 hours by car including 30 minutes break on the way for coffee or WC. This roadmap is less stunning because of manufactories of all kinds, instead of extensive green rice fields 10 years ago. However, you can see some paddy fields.
If you travel from Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh province, you must leave hotel at 07:30 AM, then you take the road No10 via Nam Dinh, Thai Binh, Hai Phong which belong to Red River Delta. This route is more beautiful with rice fields and villages along the way. To get Halong Bay, you must use a private vehicle with driver or/ and local tour guide.
A few travelers do the program Cat Ba Island – Halong Bay. Firstly, you leave the hotel from Hanoi and travel to Hai Phong city – the most important river port in North Vietnam. Then, you take a speed boat like hydrofoil from Hai Phong to Cat Ba Island for 01 hour. You can stay at hotel on Cat Ba Island for one or more nights to discover Cat Ba National Park or cycle to Viet Hai fishing village. From Ben Beo – Beo pier in Cat Ba Island, you cruise to Halong Bay for day cruise – 6 hours or more by crossing Lan Ha Bay, Tree peaches bay etc… This cruise is more spectacular and less touristy than Halong Bay.

WHERE TO STAY ?
Halong Bay offers 2 options for your choice:

Enjoy an amazing cruise for 2 days or more in Halong Bay, you can overnight onboard from standard junks to luxury cruises to explore Halong Bay. Many travelers spend a night aboard a junk. After dinner, you relax and rest on the sundeck to watch stars lights or the moon whilst listing to the waves far away. Early morning waking up surrounded by magical islands and calm sea will give you unforgettable cruise experiences. You also can explore Halong Bay by kayking. Some islands feature sea caves and inner lagoons which are accessible by kayak only. You can check Halong Cruises to select a cruise suitable to your preferences.
Or you stay at hotel by booking a room from budget hotels to 4 star hotels in Halong city and Tuan Chau Island.

Whatever you want to choose, we are happy to assist you for your precious time in Halong Bay.

WHAT TO DO ?

Enjoy day cruise aboard wooden boats for 4, 5, 6 or 7 hours cruise to be lost between limestones islets and islands. Or you experience an incredible cruise 2 days/1 night on junks to discover Halong Bay. See more cruises available in Halong Bay.
The delighted caves, islets, Bai Tu Long Bay, small beaches, floating fishing villages make Halong Bay remarkable such Incense Burner, Dog Stone Islet, Suprises Cave, Thien Cung (Heaven) Cave, Dau Go cave, Luon cave, Ga Choi (Fighting Cock), Titov island, Me Cung cave, Soi Sim island, Ba Ham Lake, Cua Van floating village, Three peaches, Pelican grottoes etc... to name a few. When you cruise in Halong Bay, you can not visit all these places, but you have some spotlights included into the cruise program operated by differents cruises and junks among Halong Bay.

Bai Tu Long Bay

Bai Tu Long Bay occupies three quarters of Halong Bay World Heritage site, as well as many islands in Van Don, Cam Pha District. Travelling to Bai Tu Long Bay is off the beaten track and promises to deliver many unique experiences, far from the heavily touristic sites.

In this big area, visitors can find pristine natural landscapes. Even now, Bai Tu Long remains an extensive unexplored area. In some ways it is actually more stunning than Halong Bay, since it is only in its initial stages as a destination for travelers. Bai Tu Long has many attractions to visit: Cong Do area, Vung Vieng fishing village, Da Xep Park, Cong Dam area, Thien Canh Son cave and Tra Gioi beach. There are also some populated islands; Quan Lan, Ngoc Vung, Cong Dong, and Cong Tay with many beautiful beaches. In addition, Bai Tu Long Bay National Park is rich in biological diversity, home to many different flora and fauna.

Thien Canh Son cave

The pathway to Thien Canh Son Cave is set below the forest canopy and a stone cliff, so you have the feeling you are climbing toward heaven.
Inside the cave, it is an ethereal wonderland with naturally carved images resembling a lotus, and a baby elephant. The ceiling of the cave is covered with a shiny ‘gem carpet’, and numerous sparkling stalactites appear like ’hanging lamps’. Stone statues of seals and flowers create an imaginary dream world.
Thien Canh Son Cave offers a wild and mysterious beauty. This is the reason why we choose to bring guests here – to discover the geological value of the bay, and to enjoy a cozy dinner with family and friends in sparkling candle light.

Cong Dam area

The magnificent beauty of the mountains and sea in the Cong Dam area can make anyone fall in love. This outdoor geological museum has been preserved for 340 million years and the most outstanding area is a regional park with mountains formed from limestone.

Here a lot of coral reefs are concentrated, with underground lakes inside the limestone mountain and underwater caves. It is also an area of many large beaches, Tra Gioi, Cay Bang and Cat Oan, with smooth, white sand and clear, blue water.

In Cong Dam area is an old, small village, which has retained largely intact its traditional fishing culture with a population of about 120 people. You can talk with local people, hear them tell tales of their memorable lives or sit in bamboo boats paddled by local women who will take you to explore the magnificent mountains and beautiful small houses.

Far from the mainland, the Cong Dam area is isolated from normal tourist routes so the landscape here still retains many primitive features and a very clean environment. Tourists come here to take part in interesting activities such as kayaking and fishing with fisherman, as well as participating in planting mangroves to protect the environment.

Vung Vieng Fishing Village

Vung Vieng fishing village is located in the heart of Bai Tu Long Bay, 24 km from the mainland. You will not only be immersed in the quiet and peaceful location viewing the charming landscape, and discovering the cultural life of the fishermen but also will be instructed in the fine arts of sailing and casting fish nets.

You will be enchanted by the beauty of the boats, the nets slung over posts in front of the house, the simple but hospitable fishermen, and the small children smiling as they go to school. This idyllic scene shows the traditional character of a floating fishing village.

Ba Ham Lake - Ho Ba Ham

Ba Ham Lake is a system of three wide and round pits which are connected by long tide meandering tunnel. Many stalactites with various shape come from the ceiling of the cave. On the island, there are many species of plants such as orchids, benjamin figs, banyans and cycads…Under the deep blue surface of the water are the animated lives of shrimp and fish.

Ba Ham lake has the same impression like Luon cave, Surprise cave but it’s landscape is much more remarkable. The gate isn’t so easy to come inside as Surprise cave but this is the most interesting experience for guests.

Right from the entrance when you enter the first tunnel, a forest of stalactites and stalagmites in different shapes and various colors will be showed up. The roots of banyan or ficus trees fall down the water surface. The deeper we come inside the tunnel, the darker it becomes. You can enjoy a shaft of fish inside the deep river. 100m deeper from the entrance, guests can finds a shaft of light coming from the roof of the tunnel, which reveals different kinds of orchids, cycads growing here. In the southeast cliff of the second tunnel, an old carambola tree grow there which bears fruits during four seasons of year. Beside, groups of monkeys, silver-headed parrots and flying squirrels gathering in branches nearby. Away from the second tunnel, the third tunnel is home of various species of bats and butterflies.

Titov Island

On November 22, 1962, this tiny island had the honor of receiving a visit from cosmonaut Ghermann Titov, a hero of the former Soviet Union, accompanied by President Ho Chi Minh. To mark the significance of their visit, Uncle Ho named it Titov Island. The island is a very popular stopover for visitors cruising Halong Bay.

The beach on the island takes the shape of a half-moon crescent encompassing half of the island. A bit small though it might be, it wins kudos for its quiet and airy atmosphere, its clean white sand and clear waters, as well as its alluring landscape. The beach is ideal for swimming nearly year round, as even in winter the water temperature is still a pleasant 65-70 degrees F.

However, perhaps the island’s real attraction is the pagoda-styled lookout point its peak. After climbing the 427 stone steps winding up the mountain one is treated to a most incredible 360 degree view of Halong Bay. For those who tire out before reaching the summit there is a spacious lookout point half way up as well.

Three peaches

Three peaches is one of the most beautiful beach in Halong bay. It is 22 km from south north of Bãi Cháy Tourist Wharf. There are three mountains inside the imposing limestone and beaches area. With the height of over 20m and in the shape of peaches, seen from afar, this three islands have a natural and charming beauty.

The island connects to a legend of a love between a young fairy who was fall in love with a poor fisherman. One day, she stole three peaches from Heaven for him in order to help him to have an eternal life if he ate these peaches. Then, they can be together forever. The King of the Heavens discovered the robbery and turned the peaches into three stone islands and forced the young fairy had to return.

Nowadays, Three Peaches belong to Lan Ha bay, it's still a pristine area and still not many people visiting. You can go swimming, kayaking or sunbathing on the nice beach or have free style to relax on beaches.

Cua Van Fishing Village

Halong bay is also home of fours fishing villages and our boat will take you to Cua Van village. Cua Van the biggest of the four floating villages which lies in a calm bay surrounded by mountains in Halong bay. You will be impressed by the way the people go about their daily activates, fishing boats and floating wooden houses. The fishermen and fishing families of Halong Bay live on small floating houses anchored in sheltered coves at the bases of tall mountainous islands, thus deriving some natural protection from Mother Nature’s wrath in typhoon season.

Cua Van is unique as it is the only village with a primary school. The village is home to generations of fishing families and many of the residents never leave, but grow up and grow old in this tiny unique world they are born into.

The children learn to swim before they can walk and they row little bamboo-basket watercraft on their own, and amazingly deftly, when only about 5 or 6 years old.

Cua Van is at the top of any list of places to see when cruising Halong Bay, those who are lucky enough to visit are captivated by this extraordinary little community and its distinctive way of life.

Other option is that you take a boat trip from Halong Bay to Cat Ba Island if you expect more adventure activities. On Cat ba Island, you paddle to Cat Ba National Park to explore the fauna and wild life or ride a bike to Viet Hai villages to meet fisherman, local people or just inspire the fresh air in the countryside.

ACTIVITIES

Visiting caves and grottoes

Almost travelers experience a cruise in Halong Bay for day cruises or 2 days/1 night etc…They visit some natural grottoes included in the program. Then they unwind and relax on the sun deck to admire wonderful landscapes whilst cruising among thousands of limestone islets and islands.

Fishing

Go fishing with local fishermen will give you memorable experiences like local fishermen
Fishing is one of the daily life activities of local fisherman in Halong Bay, they live in the floating village and go fishing every day. In the fishing trip, you will be transferred to a local fishing boat, designed in traditional style and experience making noise, casting the fish net and get your results as a real locals. Our fishing trips create the genuine feeling of being a fisherman on these waters, and make an exciting and interesting excursion for all tourists.

Kayaking

Kayaking in Halong Bay is the best way to explore the breathtaking beauty of Halong Bay. Paddle through islets; visit hidden caves, lagoons, unspoiled beaches and floating fishing villages…Kayaks go where other big boats cannot. Depending on trip length, visitors have different kayak route and time frame. Cruise with Indochina Junk, paddling around the islands, get closer to limestone karst and enjoy the breathtaking nature in a less visited corner of Bai Tu Long Bay must be a great experience for life.When kayaking, you must follow the tour guide; it is risky to do by yourself without warning or instruction. The tour guide will help you use paddle and guide you to the safe area. Life jacket is a must for this activity when cruising Halong Bay. You can need to prepare suitable clothes: T-shirt and short, swimming suit in summer; warm clothes in the winter; wet shoes, hat, sunglasses… bring water, sun cream, dry bag storing camera, insect repellent…Thanks to the bay’s thousands of islands the conditions for sea kayaking are ideal – the water is calm, the current is fine and the wind is not too strong.

WHERE TO SHOP ?
There are some small shops in Bai Chay along the Halong road. You have all kind of souvenirs or handicraft products to bargain.

WHERE TO EAT ?
When you are in Halong Bay, you mostly have seafood in anywhere from small restaurants on streets for Vietnamese people to luxury cruises such as Paradise, Ginger, Jasmine, Violet, Syrena Cruises, Emeraude, Au Co, Bhaya, Indochinasails, Indochina Junks, Aphrodite Cruises, Gray Line Halong Cruise, Oasis Bay Cruises, Victory Star Cruise, Victory Cruises etc...

If you stay at hotel in Halong city or Tuan Chau Island, you take a taxi to find the restaurants below: