Being recognized as one of the world heritages by UNESCO, Halong Bay attracts tourists with its stunning natural landscapes and exciting activities offered. Let’s explore the bay with Handspan Travel Indochina!

Halong Bay

Through this article, you will find these pieces of information below.

General information about Halong Bay

Halong Bay is located in the West of the Tonkin Gulf of Vietnam, about 170 kilometers from Hanoi. The bay has a total area of 1,553-meter squares with about 1,969 large and small islands, bounded by Bai Tu Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay, and Cat Ba Island. The core area of Halong Bay covers an area of 434 kilometer squares, including 775 islands. 

Halong Bay scenery

Thanks to the beautiful landscape, diverse ecosystem, rare genetic resources, and archaeological sites, the bay has full of aesthetic, geological, biodiversity, and cultural and historical values. Among these values, the geological features are the most outstanding. The limestone and karst mountains here were formed 250 to 280 million years ago under many different conditions and environments to form a special and rare landscape. Coming here, you can find various islands and islets with distinct forms and shapes: Dau Nguoi Islet, Dragon Islet, La Vong Islet, Ga Choi Islet, Lu Huong Islet, etc. Hidden in the heart of these rocky islands are beautiful caves associated with many magical legends such as Thien Cung Cave, Dau Go Cave, Sung Sot Cave, Trinh Nu Cave, Tam Cung Cave, and so on. 

Thien Cung Cave

If you would like to know more about each value of the bay, please refer to our article: The outstanding values of Halong Bay - Handspan Travel Indochina.

How to get to Halong Bay

To transfer to Halong Bay, you will have to reach Tuan Chau Marina in Halong City. Following the Hanoi - Hai Phong highway, it takes you 2,5 hours to reach Tuan Chau Marina from Hanoi. Besides private vehicles, you can use a limousine that picks up and drops off on request (Phuc Xuyen, Van Don Xanh, Halong Travel Limousine, etc.), with the price from VND 200,000 to VND 250,000. Otherwise, using a coach is also a choice. The coach from Hanoi to Halong Bay usually gathers at My Dinh Station, departing from early morning till late evening with the price from VND 150,000. For more detailed information about how to transfer from Hanoi to Halong, please refer to our article here. 

Halong Travel Limousine

From Tuan Chau Marina, you can hire a private canoe, book a day tour, or overnight tour to explore the charming Halong Bay. Let’s refer to the next parts of our article for more information about the routes, spots to visit, and things to do in Halong Bay!

Spots to visit in Halong Bay

Sightseeing routes in Halong Bay

Currently, there are five sightseeing routes in Halong Bay with the visiting time from four to eight hours, two days one night, or three days and two nights. Let’s have an overall look at each route.

• First route: Tuan Chau Marina - Van Canh Park Conservation Center

The first route is the most well-known route for tourists, lasting for four hours. Along this route, you will have an opportunity to visit and admire the natural beauty of the spots below. 

Thien Cung Cave

Ba Hang fishing village​​​​​​

Due to the short time visiting, you will not have the chance to swim. Instead, you can focus on cave exploring and boating, kayaking experiences. Joining this route, you will be surprised by Thien Cung Cave, one of the most beautiful caves in Halong Bay with a splendid system of stalagmites and stalactites like a palace. Whereas, Dau Go Cave, one of the earliest discovered caves in Halong Bay, has a natural ancient beauty with many historical sites. 

• Second route: Tuan Chau Marina - Cave Park Conservation Center

The second route is the only route that combines swimming and all kinds of other experiences: visiting caves, boating, sightseeing, playing beach games, and overnight staying. Departing from the Tuan Chau Marina, the boat will take you to Soi Sim Islet, Titop Island, Bo Nau Cave, Trong Cave, and Trinh Nu Cave. Coming to the Bo Hon island range, you will visit Sung Sot cave and Luon cave. The last point of the journey is Me Cung Cave, a place of high biodiversity value with typical ecosystems of Ha Long Bay and a peaceful landscape. 

Titop Island

Sung Sot Cave

Luon Cave

• Third route: Tuan Chau Marina - Marine Culture Conservation Center

The third route focuses on sightseeing activities, discovering the fishing village culture and daily life, suitable for an overnight tour. From the harbor, the boat will take you to the Hang Trai Island range to visit the Cua Van Floating Culture Center, the place to store and display artifacts with the unique cultural values of the locals living on Halong Bay. Then, you will continue your trip to the bamboo forest area, Tien Ong Cave, Ang Du Cave, and Ba Ham Lake, which are spots with unique natural landscapes on Halong Bay. The last point of the route is Ba Men temple, which has spiritual meaning for the fishermen. 

Tien Ong Cave

Ba Ham Lake

• Fourth route: Tuan Chau Marina - Marine entertainment development and conservation center area

The fourth route is the longest route, focusing on resort vacations, suitable for an overnight trip. Along the route, you will have the chance to drop in the spots below.

Thien Canh Son Cave

Vung Vieng Fishing Village

• Fifth route: Tuan Chau Marina - Gia Luan Port (Cat Ba - Hai Phong)

The fifth route has the same itinerary as the first route; however, the boat will take you to Cat Ba Island. This route is extremely suitable for those who would like to combine visiting Halong Bay and Cat Ba Island. 

Spots to visit in Halong Bay

• Titop Island

Titop Island is located in the center of Halong Bay, about 8 kilometers from Bai Chay Harbor to the Southeast. The island is one of the pit stops during your journey to explore Halong Bay, with the unspoiled and romantic landscape. Besides, the crescent-shaped white sandy bank beach is also impressive. 

Titop Island

Coming to the island, you can soak in the sea and climb to the mountain to admire a panoramic view of Halong Bay. Although the total area of the beach is not too large, it is still ideal for swimming thanks to the crystal seawater. Besides, you can join exciting games like parachuting, buoy pulling, and kayaking. If you would like to admire the view of the bay, you may want to spend your time climbing 400 side steps to reach the top of Titop Mountain. Undoubtedly, the scenery will not make you disappointed. Let’s come here and experience it on your own!

Climbing to Titop mountain

• Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Cave)

Sung Sot Cave is located on the Bo Hon Island range, 14 kilometers from Tuan Chau Marina. This is the largest typical Karst cave detected on Halong Bay with high geological value. To reach the cave’s entrance, you will have to climb 50 craggy stone steps surrounded by the forest. Going through a narrow rock crevice, along an 800-meter-long stone road, you will get to the cave’s heart.

Climbing to Sung Sot Cave

The cave has two compartments with different beauty. While the first compartment is glistening with light and various-shaped stalagmites, the second compartment gives you an ancient feeling with the stones associated with the legend of Saint Giong of Vietnam. 

Sung Sot Cave

• Thien Cung Cave

Thien Cung Cave, about 4 kilometers from Tuan Chau Marina, is also one of the attractions in Halong Bay you should not miss. Besides possessing a unique landscape, Thien Cung Cave also stores cultural and historical values.

Thien Cung Cave

The cave is divided into three compartments with a system of bright stalactites in different shapes and forms. The deeper you walk into the cave, the more shimmering and impressive the stalactites are. When you come to the last compartment of the cave, you will find clear ponds with water flowing all year round, reflecting the light and the stalactites. 

• Me Cung Cave

Me Cung Cave is 14 kilometers from Tuan Chau Marina. This is the home of the ancient Viet people, one of the archaeological sites belonging to the Soi Nhu culture, which dates back from about 18,000 - 7,000 years ago. Besides cultural significance, Me Cung Cave also appeals to tourists through its enchanting beauty. Coming into the cave, you can see the large stone pillars formed after thousands of years due to stalagmites and stalactites growing from the ground up and hanging down from the ceiling of the cave. 

Me Cung Cave's stalactites

• Dau Go Cave

Dau Go Cave is one of the limestone caves in Halong Bay, 3 kilometers from Tuan Chau Harbor. Visiting Dau Go Cave, you can feel the pristine ancient charm with many naturally shaped stalagmites. This cave is located at an altitude of 27 meters above sea level, with an area of ​​about 5,000 meter squares. Compared to other caves in Halong Bay, Dau Go Cave is extremely different with the rich diversity of its ecological system. The cave is also unique with three areas full of natural light due to the wide cave door. 

Dau Go Cave

• Trong Mai Islets (Fighting Cocks Islet)

Trong Mai Islets, 5 kilometers from Tuan Chau Marina, includes two small islets with a height of about 12 meters. These two islets have the shape of a roaster and a hen opposite each other. 

Fighting Cocks Islet

Thanks to aesthetic value and meaning, the Trong Mai Islets have become a symbol of Halong Bay. If you pass by this spot, do not forget to take photos of the stones and spectacular scenery surrounding them. 

• Ba Hang Fishing Village

Ba Hang Fishing Village is one of the attractive fishing villages in Halong Bay, 10 kilometers from the mainland. The village has about 50 households living mainly on fishing for more than a hundred years. When the tide recedes, three mysterious caves will appear and boats can pass through them. Coming to the Ba Hang Fishing Village, you can admire small floating houses on the sea, the smiles of locals, and experience their daily lives. 

Besides these above attractions, Halong Bay also has many other places for you to explore. Let’s choose a route and engage yourself in nature!

Things to do in Halong Bay

Traveling to Halong Bay, besides visiting stunning natural attractions, you will also have a chance to experience various exciting activities. Let’s explore some outstanding experiences now!

• Swimming

Swimming, of course, is an indispensable activity during your trip to Halong Bay. Visiting You cannot resist the long stretches of white sand and cool seawater. Titop Beach, Soi Sim Beach, and Ba Trai Dao Beach are some wonderful beaches in Halong Bay you may want to immerse yourself in. Besides swimming, you can also join beach games on the beach. 

• Kayaking

Kayaking is one of the most appealing things to do in Halong Bay you should not miss. You will have a chance to approach and know more about the special geological history here. 

Kayaking in Halong Bay

Besides,  you will be amazed by the unique karst landscape, crystal seawater, and endemic flora and fauna. Luon Cave, Ba Hang fishing village area, Dong Tien Lake, and Trinh Nu Cave are some ideal places to go kayaking in Halong Bay. 

• Taking an overnight cruise

Undeniably, taking an overnight cruise is the best way to explore Halong Bay. Staying on the cruise, you will be taken to featured spots in the bay, such as Sung Sot Cave, Dau Go Cave, Thien Cung Cave, etc. Besides, you will also have an opportunity to join and use other activities and services like kayaking, cooking class, Tai chi on the sundeck, squid fishing, karaoke, spa, bar, etc. 

Ambassador Cruise

Doing Yoga on Paradise Elegance Cruise

Cooking class on Syrena Cruise

Currently, there are various overnight cruises running along Halong Bay routes. For example, you can choose Paradise Elegance Cruise, Ambassador Cruise, Indochina Sails Halong Bay, etc. If you want to have more detailed information about which cruise to choose for your trip, let's refer to our article: The top best 05 cruises in Halong Bay you should not miss. Besides visiting Halong Bay on a night cruise tour; for example, the Halong Bay on Indochina Sails Junk tour, you can combine visiting Mai Chau, Pu Luong, and Ninh Binh with our tour: From the mountain to Halong Bay. The order of the destination in your trip can be arranged due to your request. For more information and to book the tours, please do not hesitate to contact our team or send direct requests to our Email address: info@handspan.com. 

Besides kayaking, swimming, and taking an overnight cruise, visiting Halong Bay, you will also have a chance to explore the amazing caves and spots mentioned above and visit wonderful fishing villages. Let's refer here for more detailed information. 

Vung Vieng Fishing Village

In conclusion, you have just learned some information about Halong Bay. Hope that these pieces of information will be helpful for your trip. Let’s prepare your luggage and visit Halong Bay now!