Are you confused about choosing between Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay, and Lan Ha Bay when travelling to Vietnam? Don't worry; please refer to our article and pick the ideal bay for your holiday in Vietnam. 

Through this post, you will learn the pieces of information below. 

General differences between Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay, and Lan Ha Bay

Together with Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay are also two attractive areas in the Halong Bay Natural Wonder of the World. Despite sharing many similarities in the landscape with beautiful islets and limestone mountains, these three islands still have distinctnesses. Let's consider these characteristics below.

Geographical and scenery features

In general, there are not many differences in geography and scenery among the three bays. All of them possess various limestone mountain ranges and beautiful sandy beaches. However, the area of the bays and the number of islands vary greatly. 

• Halong Bay

Halong Bay is 170 kilometers to the Northwest of Hanoi, belonging to Ha Long City, Quang Ninh province. The bay is bounded by Bai Tu Long Bay in the northeast, the Cat Ba archipelago, and Lan Ha Bay in the south and east. 

Halong Bay

Formed by many limestone mountains, caves, and beaches with majestic natural beauty, Halong Bay is recognized as one of the World Natural Heritage by UNESCO. The bay covers an area of up to 1,553 m2 with about 1,969 large and small islands. Currently, the core area of Halong Bay has an area of 434 kilometer square with about 775 islands.  

• Bai Tu Long Bay

Bai Tu Long Bay is located northeast of Halong Bay, bordering the mainland of Cam Pha city to the West. Occupying ¾ the total area of the Tonkin Gulf, the bay owns around 3000 islets. The islands in Bai Tu Long are mainly in the form of limestone islands with a geological tectonic age of about 300 million years. 

Bai Tu Long Bay

• Lan Ha Bay

Lan Ha Bay, located on the East of Cat Ba Island, is about 30 kilometers from Hai Phong city center. The bay has a total area of more than 7,000 ha, with 5,400 ha under the management of Cat Ba National Park. Coming to Lan Ha Bay, you can find around 400 islets in different sizes and shapes. 

Lan Ha Bay

Pros and cons of each 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. 

• First route: Tuan Chau Marina - Van Canh Park Conservation Center
• Second route: Tuan Chau Marina - Cave Park Conservation Center
• Third route: Tuan Chau Marina - Marine Culture Conservation Center
• Forth route: Tuan Chau Marina - Marine entertainment development and conservation centre area
• Fifth route: Tuan Chau Marina - Gia Luan Port (Cat Ba - Hai Phong)

Spots to visit in Halong Bay

Halong Bay appeals to tourists with impressive limestone mountains and beautiful cave systems. Each mountain has its own shape: Dau Nguoi Cave, Dragon Cave, La Vong Cave, Canh Buom Cave, Trong Mai Cave, etc. Hidden in the heart of these rocky islands are beautiful caves associated with many miraculous legends, such as Thien Cung cave, Dau Go cave, Sung Sot cave, Trinh Nu cave, Tam Cung cave, and so on. Below are some worth visiting spots in Halong Bay you should not miss. Let's refer and choose a suitable route for your trip!

• Titop Island

Titop Island is located in the center of Halong Bay, about 8 kilometers from Bai Chay Harbor to the Southeast. The island impresses tourists with its crescent-shaped white sandy bank and beautiful crystal beach. Walking about 400 sidesteps, you will reach the observatory on Titop mountain's peak. Although many boat anchor here, Titop mountain is still a peaceful place to admire the scenery of Halong Bay.

Titop Island

• Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Cave)

Sung Sot Cave is located on the Bo Hon Island range, 14 kilometers from Tuan Chau Marina. It is the most popular cave in Halong Bay, with a capacity of up to 1000 people. Coming here, you will be amazed by the glistening beauty of the masterpiece inside the cave. The deeper you go inside the cave, the more shimmering, fanciful stalactites are. 

Sung Sot Cave

• Thien Cung Cave

Thien Cung Cave, about 4 kilometers from Tuan Chau Marina, is also one of the most stunning caves in Halong Bay. The cave is nearly 10,000m² wide with a complex structure of many levels, compartments, high and wide ceilings, and walls. Stepping into Thien Cung Cave, you will find various stalactites and stalagmites in different forms and shapes. Besides, there are also clear ponds with water flowing all year round. 

Thien Cung Cave

• Dau Go Cave

Dau Go Cave is 300 meters from Thien Cung Cave. This cave is exceptionally different from other Halong Bay caves due to the ecological system's rich diversity. Here you can find the diverse development of flora, especially mosses, ferns, and woody plants. 

Dau Go Cave

• Trong Mai Islets (Fighting Cocks Islet)

Trong Mai Islets, 5 kilometers from Tuan Chau Marina, include two islets looking like a rooster and a hen opposite each other. They are the symbol of Halong Bay, associated with the folk tales of Vietnamese people. 

Trong Mai Islets

Let's visit Halong Bay and have your own appreciation! Below are some recommended tours by Handspan you may want to refer to.

Bai Tu Long Bay - the original, unspoiled bay 

Bai Tu Long Bay fascinates tourists with the fanciful beauty of natural landscapes, limestone mountains, hundreds of small and big islands, and stunning untouched beaches. Below are amazing Bai Tu Long Bay places you may want to refer to.

• Vung Vieng fishing village

Vung Vieng fishing village is located in the center of Bai Tu Long Bay, 24 kilometers from the mainland. Coming here, you can learn about the life and culture of fishermen with traditional fishing and aquaculture and appreciate the peaceful scenery.

Vung Vieng fishing village

• Thien Canh Son Cave

Although Thien Canh Son Cave is much smaller than Sung Sot Cave in Halong Bay, it is still a worth-visiting masterpiece. You can find incredible stalactites in different shapes, like flowers, elephants, etc. 

Thien Canh Son Cave

• Ngoc Vung Island

Ngoc Vung Island is one of the untouched islands in Bai Tu Long Bay. The beach here is beautiful with crystal seawater and smooth stretching sandy bank. 

Ngoc Vung Island

• Van Don Island

Van Don Island is the largest island with the highest population density among the numerous Bai Tu Long Bay islands. The island has many attractions with unspoiled beauty, mountains and sea, beautiful beaches, and mysterious caves. 

• Bai Tu Long National Park

Bai Tu Long National Park is an attractive attraction for both domestic and international tourists. It is a national biosphere reserve with extremely rich and diverse flora and fauna ecosystem. Visiting Bai Tu Long National Park, you will have a chance to admire the exceptional, wild beauty of the islands surrounded by limestone mountains. 

Bai Tu Long National Park

Now, it's time for you to prepare your luggage and visit Bai Tu Long Bay! If you would like to immerse yourself in a secluded area with fewer tourists, you can refer to our tour: Halong Bay cruise on Treasure Junk (1 night). Also, you can extend your trip to Ninh Binh with our Halong Bay on Treasure Junk & the Ninh Binh extension tour (3 days). 

Lan Ha Bay - paradise bay

Lan Ha Bay has the smallest total area compared to Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay. However, the spots here are incredibly appealing to tourists. Let's refer to some well-known places in the bay below. 

• Cua Van Fishing Village

Cua Van Fishing Village is located in a calm seawater area of Lan Ha Bay. Coming to the village, you will have a chance to immerse yourself in the beauty and life of the locals here. The houses with a total area of 30 meter squares erected on the sea are the residences of fishermen here. 

Cua Van fishing village

• Nam Cat Island

Nam Cat Island is a small island in Lan Ha Bay, about 5 kilometers to the Southeast of Cat Ba Town's center. The island possesses a 500-meter beach that has a wide slope and is surrounded by many small islands. 

Nam Cat Island

• Monkey Island (Dao Khi) 

Coming to Monkey island, you will catch up with many naughty and lovely monkeys on the way. Besides, the island possesses two beautiful natural beaches: Cat Dua 1 and Cat Dua 2, which are ideal for swimming and joining beach games.

Monkey Island

• Van Boi Beach

Van Boi Beach is among the most tranquil beaches on Cat Ba Island you should visit. The beach has crystal-clear seawater, a pristine landscape, undulating mountains, and stretching forests.  

Van Boi Beach

• Dark and Light Cave

The Dark and Light Cave area, about 12 kilometers from Ben Beo Port, is ideal for kayaking with many underground cave systems. This area has four caves, including Dark & Light Cave, Doi Cave, and Sua Cave. 

Besides these above spots, Lan Ha Bay has many other places to explore. For more detailed information about the bay, please refer to our article: Exploring Lan Ha Bay - An unforgettable experience in Cat Ba Island. Otherwise, you can directly explore the bay with our tour on Orchid Cruises (1 night) here. 

In conclusion, you have just had an overall look at Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay, and Lan Ha Bay. If you would like to adore the most amazing views, Halong Bay is an ideal choice. Otherwise, Bai Tu Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay are more suitable choices for those who want to enjoy a relaxing holiday in an idyll atmosphere. Let's carefully consider and choose your journey!