A Quick Guide to Exploring Ha Long Bay in Vietnam

Local

• 2 min read
Photo by Anmol Bindra / Unsplash

Listed as New Seven Wonders of the World and recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, Ha Long Bay is well known for its stunning bays, natural caves, and Limestone Island.

Bai Chay

Ha Long offers lots of beaches, but the most popular is Bai Chay. This beach is great for sunbathing and relaxing as the average temperature is always about 20 degrees celsius. Island hopping is one of the tourist favorites here.

Tuan Chau

Most people usually head to Tuan Chau, one of a few inhabited islands. Tuan Chau has the biggest artificial beach in Vietnam, with many choices of aquatic games. You can also cruise along the bay and explore its natural caves. Ha, Long Bay is surrounded by a dense cave network offering many opportunities for exploration. Among those, Hang Luon and Hang Sung Sot (Grotte Des Surprises) are the most famous and recognized as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

Foods

When visiting Ha Long, you should not miss the seafood, which is always fresh and affordable. King-crab, a seafood specialty of Ha Long which can be cooked in many ways: king-crab salad, king-crab with barbecue sauce, grilled king-crab, stir-fried king crab noodle, stir-fried king crab with herbs, etc. The best places selling king crab are Gieng Don or Cao Xanh area.

Tips

  • Time to visit: the best time to visit is from May to August during Summertime, but make sure you watch out for the storms.
  • Hidden gems: Bai Tho mountain, Old Town coffee, Ha Long by Night lounge
  • Things to do: explore the caves, sunbathe on the beach, book an island tour, and scuba dive.
  • Foods to eat: seafood, especially king crab
  • Transportation:
  • Car: from Ha Noi, the fastest route is through the Bac Ninh provinces, which is about 150km and a 3-hour drive.
  • Bus: Available from 6 am to 5 pm at either Luong Yen or My Dinh bus station in Hanoi. Each bus departs 5 to 15 minutes away from each other, stops at Bai Chay station. A one-way ticket costs $8-10USD.
  • Train: The Ha Long Express departs from Gia Lam railway station. Trains start running at 7 am daily and will take you there in 5 hours. The cost of a one-way ticket is $15USD for foreign passengers.