Upon mentioning Ha Long, the first thing that comes to most people’s minds is taking a cruise into Halong Bay, one of the most visited attractions in Northern Vietnam. With about 2000 stunning karst islets soaring high above the emerald sea water, Halong Bay is an area of exceptional natural beauty and has been listed as a World Natural Heritage by UNESCO. Many of the limestone islands are home to weird caves and floating villages, meaning there is a wealth of natural treasures, adventurous activities, and charming cultural experiences to enjoy.
The following Halong Bay travel guide is meant to help you plan your perfect trip to Halong Bay.
Top Things to do in Ha Long Bay
Cruise through the Fairytale Landscape
No surprise, for most people the first and the best thing to do in Ha Long Bay is cruising through the lush limestone islands. There are day cruises or overnight cruises (2-3 days) of different standards for you to choose from. Nothing beats sitting on the deck, relaxing and enjoying the sunrise, sunset, and scenic scenery on the water. Most cruises offer a great selection of on-board activities and entertainment, including Yoga/ Tai Chi sessions, cooking classes, sunbathing, star-gazing, etc. The thrilling on-shore experiences like kayaking, exploring floating villages, and visiting islands and caves are also eagerly anticipated.
Go Kayaking and Explore Caves
Don’t miss the kayaking experience which will take you close to the gorgeous seascape, towering cliffs, charming beaches, caves, lagoons, and some hidden parts of the bay. The limestone formation has endowed Halong Bay with a number of impressive caves. A kayak tour will take you to explore some enormous caves, to marvel at the incredible stalagmites, stalactites, and limestone arches.
Visit One of the Charming Floating Villages
Halong Bay is home to some traditional floating villages that are nestled among the karst mountains. They are some of the most unique fishing communities you’d ever seen, enabling you a chance to experience the deep-rooted fishing culture and life. It’s memorable to get up close to the residents and see them carry out their daily routine tasks: fishing, net weaving, and pearl processing. Today, the four remaining floating villages in Halong Bay are Cua Van, Vung Vieng, Cong Dam, and Ba Hang.
Tour Cat Ba Island for Beach Sunbathing, Cycling, etc.
The largest island in Halong Bay, Cat Ba Island stands out from others thanks to its pleasant blend of nature and culture. With some nice sandy beaches, little fishing villages, lush rice paddies, and coastal paths, Cat Ba has attracted throngs of tourists to enjoy the natural beauty and fun-filled activities. A popular way to explore the island is riding a bike along its several bike trails through the lush forests, coastal lines, and paddies.
Challenge Rock Climbing
The thousands of limestone islands make Halong Bay a perfect place for climbing. For sporty types of travelers and adventure seekers, it’s thrilling to challenge rock climbing and admire the surrounding scenic scenery from above. There are 100+ climbing routes of different climbing grades (ranging from 4a to 8a+) to cater to people of different energy and ability. Deep-water soloing (DWS) is also popular, and there are now 230 lines for DWS on 24 cliffs.
Recommended Itinerary: 7 Days Classic North Vietnam Tour with Halong Bay Cruise
Halong Bay Weather: Best Time to Go
Located in Northern Vietnam, Halong Bay enjoys a humid and tropical monsoon climate. Similar to the weather in Hanoi, Halong has four seasons which deliver four distinct weather features.
September to November (the autumn season) and April to May is the best time to Ha Long for many people when the temperature hovers around 19-30°C (66-86°F), the sky is clear, the rain is less, and the waters are still calm. Just keep in mind that it will be slightly crowded during this period. In March, it is likely to have more rain. June to early September is Ha Long’s summertime and rainy season when it becomes hot and humidity (average temperature is around 29-32°C/84-90°F), and more likely to see storms and typhoons. Yet it is the good time for those keen on water activities. From December to February, the bay sees more mist and drizzle, and the temperature becomes a little chilly on some days.
Halong Bay Transportation: Getting to and Getting around
How to Get There
There are various ways to get to Halong Bay, and the most popular options are cruise, flight, and bus.
By Waterway
By cruise ship is the most popular and easiest way, which allows one to admire the bay from a close distance. Most cruise lines sail to or from Hanoi, and you can also board the cruise from Da Nang, Nha Trang, and Ho Chi Minh city. Day cruises usually cost about 30+ USD, the 2-day cruises cost about 50+ USD, and the 3-day cruises cost about 100+ USD.
By Air
There is a 45-minute seaplane from Noi Bai International Airport to Tuan Chau Island Marina, the gateway to Halong Bay cruises. If you look for a bird’s eye view of Ha Long Bay, take an additional 15-minute seaplane ride for a scenic tour over the bay. It is a luxurious way to travel from Hanoi to Halong Bay, costing about 175 USD to 385 USD per person, depending on the season.
By Bus
People getting to Ha Long from Hanoi can also take the buses, which will take about 3.5 hours and cost about 5-10 USD. The bus will stop at My Dinh, Gia Lam and Luong Yen bus stations, and the terminal is near Bai Chay bridge.
How to Get around
It is convenient to get around Halong City by either taxi or bike, and there are also bike trails and bike renting services available on some islands of Halong Bay. Travelers can take a taxi to the pier, airport, or other places. On average, the starting fare of the taxi is around 5,000 VND (about 0.25 USD), then the fare increases at 14,000 VND (0.70 USD) increments for each kilometer. Want more flexibility? Then we recommend renting a bike, the cost is around 100,000-150,000 VND (5-7 USD), varying according to the bike type.
