Ha Long Bay is blessed by nature with majestic and poetic beauty, like a lyrical painting. With thousands of large and small islands, this heritage holds great cultural, historical, and biodiversity value for humanity. So what makes this destination attractive? Let’s explore with BestPrice!
About Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay is located in Quang Ninh province, in the northeast of Vietnam, about 180 km east of Hanoi. This destination is surrounded by Bai Tu Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba Island, Tuan Chau Island, and Ha Long City.
The landscape of Ha Long Bay
Ha Long means “Descending Dragon.” Before the 19th century, the name Ha Long Bay was not recorded in ancient Vietnamese texts, mainly known by names such as Giao Chau, Luc Thuy, An Bang, An Quang, Hai Dong, Hoa Phong, and Nghieu Phong.
By the late 19th century, the name Ha Long Bay appeared on French maritime maps and in some French and Vietnamese language newspapers.
“Ha Long” is also associated with the legend of the origin of the Vietnamese people as “Children of the Dragon, Grandchildren of the Fairy.” The dragons descended to help the Vietnamese fight foreign invaders and protect their land.
Ha Long Bay with its diverse and majestic islands
It is said that in ancient times, when establishing the country, during an invasion, the Heaven Emperor sent Mother Dragon with her dragon children to help the Vietnamese fight the invaders.
When the enemy’s ships attacked from the sea, the dragons descended. The dragons spat out countless pearls, which turned into numerous towering islands, forming a strong barrier that suddenly blocked the enemy’s advance.
The enemy’s ships crashed into the islands and into each other, shattering. After the enemy retreated, the Mother Dragon and her children did not return to heaven but stayed in the lower world. The place where the Mother Dragon descended is Ha Long, and the place where the Dragon Children descended is Bai Tu Long.
The tail of the dragon whipping up foam is Long Vi (now Tra Co Peninsula, Mong Cai City, Quang Ninh province).
Ha Long Bay view from Bai Tho Mountain
Visiting Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay is famous not only for its sightseeing spots but also for its numerous interesting activities. Let’s explore!
Prominent Attractions in Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay is famous for its beautiful system of rocky islands and caves. Hundreds of large and small islands of various sizes, each with different shapes, are incredibly lively and impressive.
Some famous places you shouldn’t miss when visiting:
Located southwest of Ha Long Bay, Trong Mai Islet is about 5 km from Bai Chay Wharf. The two rocks face each other, resembling a rooster and a hen, symbolizing fidelity. Moreover, Trong Mai Islet has become a symbol of Ha Long tourism.
Trong Mai Islet – the symbol of Ha Long Bay
Con Coc Islet, a 9-meter-tall limestone mountain shaped like a toad waiting for rain, has long been a favorite spot for many tourists exploring Ha Long Bay due to its unique, funny, and strange shape.
In the midst of the sea and sky, Dinh Huong Islet resembles a giant incense burner, 10 meters tall, as if intentionally arranged by nature. This is one of the famous islands rated as a masterpiece that you should visit during your Ha Long Bay exploration.
Ti Top Island, considered one of the most beautiful islands in the bay, is only 7 to 8 km southeast of Bai Chay tourist area. The crescent-shaped sandy beach is quite beautiful and impressive. Moreover, when conquering this island, you also have the chance to see the entire Ha Long Bay from above.
View of Ha Long Bay from Ti Top Island
Located in the center of Ha Long Bay, Sung Sot Cave is one of the most uniquely beautiful caves with many strange shapes. With its majestic beauty and unique shapes, this cave was voted one of the world’s top 10 most beautiful caves by the Czech Travel Agencies and Brokers Association in 2012.
Tam Cung Cave, located about 5 km northeast of Sung Sot Cave in the heart of Ha Long Bay, attracts tourists with its mysterious beauty and ancient stalactite system.
Other notable attractions include Thien Cung Cave, Kim Quy Cave, Trinh Nu Cave, and Luon Cave, all worth visiting when traveling to Ha Long Bay.
Interesting Activities in Ha Long Bay
Besides sightseeing, you can also experience many interesting activities in Ha Long Bay:
Each cruise has its own itinerary, such as day trips, 2 days 1 night, or 3 days 2 nights, taking tourists to explore and admire the beauty of Ha Long Bay. With a luxury cruise, visitors will enjoy facilities like staying in a floating hotel on the bay: outdoor swimming pool, spa, gym, golf course, cinema, and more.
Exploring Ha Long Bay on a cruise (@syniky)
Ha Long Bay is one of the top 25 kayaking destinations in the world, as voted by National Geographic Adventures magazine. This is also a favorite activity among tourists. Each kayak is usually for two people. Visitors can paddle themselves and explore the bay.
A new experience for tourists visiting Ha Long Bay is exploring the fishing villages and directly experiencing the life of the local fishermen. Some famous fishing villages you can visit are Cua Van and Vung Vieng.
- Explore caves on a hand-rowed boat
Visitors sit on boats rowed by local fishermen, weaving through small pristine caves. You can take photos and hear the rower tell stories about the life of the “floating villages” here.
Exploring small caves in Ha Long Bay
Getting to Ha Long Bay
The distance from Ha Long City center to Ha Long Bay is about 16 km. You can easily choose to travel by motorbike or taxi. The shortest route from the city center to Ha Long Bay is along National Highway 18.
Traveling from Ha Long City center to Ha Long Bay
Things to Know When Visiting Ha Long Bay
Here are some tips for your Ha Long travel guide to have a perfect trip to Ha Long Bay:
Travel time:
The best time to visit Ha Long Bay is from April to October. Specifically:
- From April to June is summer, the weather is hot and sunny, with no rain, making it an ideal time for swimming and outdoor activities.
- From September to October is autumn, with cool weather, very suitable for experiences like kayaking, cruising, or exploring caves.
- July and August are the rainy season, so you should avoid visiting Ha Long Bay during this time.
Exploring Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay entrance fees:
- General admission: 120,000 VND/person/trip
- Admission per attraction: 30,000 – 50,000 VND/attraction/person
- Tour fees: 200,000 – 300,000 VND/trip/person
Some notes when traveling to Ha Long Bay:
- Instead of exploring by day cruise, you can choose an overnight cruise on the bay for more exciting experiences.
- Currently, there are two main cruise routes: Ha Long and Lan Ha. The Ha Long route often includes many familiar famous islands and activities. The Lan Ha route is suitable for tourists who prefer pristine and poetic beauty.
- Do not draw or carve on rocks when visiting caves in Ha Long Bay.
- When sitting on a boat to visit Ha Long Bay, wear a life jacket, do not sit at the bow, or reach out to avoid falling.
- Wearing flip-flops or better yet, sandals with straps will help you move easily while visiting the bay.
Luxury Ha Long cruise
Here is the complete and detailed information about the experience of visiting Ha Long Bay. What are you waiting for? Pack your bags and travel to Ha Long now!
