Famous for its unique natural scenery amid the vast ocean, Ha Long Bay has become a beautiful tourist destination that is constantly featured in newspapers and on social networking sites. Not only that, but this place also has a rich culinary scene, offering many interesting experiences for visitors.
What to do when traveling to Ha Long, where to go, what to eat, which hotel to choose? What is the reason for you to choose Ha Long as your vacation destination? What is the experience of traveling to Ha Long Quang Ninh to have fun and relax in style? All will be revealed in the complete Ha Long travel guide below!
Overview of Ha Long Bay
The Bay belongs to Quang Ninh Province. The name Ha Long (Vietnamese: Hạ Long) means “descending dragon”. According to local legend, the islands of Ha Long Bay were created by a great dragon from the mountains. When Vietnam was just beginning to establish itself, it had to fight foreign invaders. The gods sent a family of dragons to serve as protectors and assist the Vietnamese in defending their country.
The Dragons immediately spewed fire to scorch the enemy, partly spitting out jewels and jade, which formed a towering stone wall that caused the enemy boat to crash and shatter, stopping the invaders. After the invasion, seeing the peaceful ground and lush trees, the dragons decided not to return to heaven but live in this bay. The place where the mother dragon landed was named Ha Long; the place where the dragon’s children landed was called Bai Tu Long; and the place where the dragon’s children wriggled their tails violently was called Bach Long Vy island. However, the name Ha Long or Bai Tu Long only existed during the French colonial period.
The Bay consists of nearly 2,000 islands, most of which are composed of limestone and schist. Ha Long Bay has been voted by UNESCO many times as a Natural Wonder of the World, known as a place that must be visited once in a lifetime.
Why should you visit Ha Long at least one time in your life?
With the 3 reasons below, Vietdreamtravel believes that everyone wants to pack their backpack and visit this famous tourist destination.
- One of the 7 natural wonders of the world: Ha Long Bay is certainly the dream destination of every tourist. Not only domestic tourists but also foreign tourists are very interested in and admire the natural beauty here.
- Many interesting and attractive entertainment and discovery spots: coming to Ha Long, you will be free to explore, experience, and have fun. Most people’s experience traveling to Ha Long includes visiting attractions such as Ha Long Bay, the old town, the night market, and Tuan Chau Islands, and enjoying a variety of sports activities.
- The travel expenses are quite cheap. Although Ha Long Bay tourism is very developed, the cost of a tour here is not too expensive. Whether tourists are in the North or the South, there are many good flights available year-round to reach Ha Long Bay. Daily tours here also offer affordable prices and reliable service. Additionally, the culinary is abundant and diverse; visitors to Ha Long Bay can enjoy a wide range of delicious dishes at reasonable prices.
What’s the best time to visit Ha Long Bay?
Ha Long’s weather changes every month and is quite distinct in each season, so please carefully review the weather forecast before your trip. Travel time to Ha Long can be divided into the following time periods:
- April to June is the ideal time to travel to Ha Long. At this time, the weather has almost no rain; sunny and warm; very pleasant, suitable for sightseeing and resting with family and friends.
- June to August is the peak season of Ha Long, many families combine vacations with children, so the number of tourists flocks, room prices and services also easily increase. This time is summer. Especially in July and August, there are easily tropical depressions and storms, directly affecting tourists’ Ha Long travel schedules.
- Late November until Tet holiday is the travel time for foreign tourists to Ha Long. Vietnamese tourists mainly choose to come here in the summer, so this time Ha Long is also peaceful and has more private space for you to enjoy.
How to reach Ha Long Bay?
From Hanoi, visitors can travel by many means of transport. In addition to personal cars, there are Limousine cars available to pick you up on request with ticket price of 180,000 – 220,000 VND per person. In addition, you can catch buses at stations in Hanoi city. Passenger car prices are about 150,000 – 200,000 VND per person.
The most ideal direction of travel is Hanoi – Hai Phong, Hai Phong – Ha Long highway. The road is beautiful, but you need to pay attention to signs, drive at the right speed, turn on the signal lights when changing lanes and always wear a seat belt. Travel time is about 2.5 to 3 hours.
Quang Ninh has Van Don airport. So, from Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, visitors can fly straight to Quang Ninh, then take a 50 km road trip from the airport to Ha Long Ward. There is a bus from the airport to the center.
In Ha Long, if you do not have a personal vehicle, you can rent a motorbike for 120,000-200,000 VND per day. Tourists traveling in large groups such as families, groups of friends, colleagues… should rent a taxi (Mai Linh, Thanh Hung, Thinh Hung), book a Grab (bike or car), or a private car to Ha Long.
Famous places in Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay possesses majestic and poetic natural beauty with thousands of large and small islands and many unique caves. The bay is also recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Wonder, attracting many tourists every year with beautiful destinations such as:
Tuan Chau Island
Tuan Chau is an island connected to the mainland by a beautiful straight 2km long concrete road. This place is famous for its long sandy beaches, clear blue sea, and Tuan Chau International Seaport – the departure point for sightseeing cruises taking visitors around the entire bay.
The island is regarded as one of the most popular destinations in Ha Long for domestic and international tourists and an indispensable destination of tours. Coming here, travelers can visit and observe special works and services such as the dolphins, sea lion, and seal-performing club, animal circus club, golf court, cultural-sports center, artificial beach, rural market, ornamental fish lake, food court, complex of villas, hotels, and amusement parks.
Dau Go Grotto
Another interesting place to explore in Halong Bay is the Dau Go Grotto (Driftwood). The name of the island comes from the historical story of the resistance war against the Mongol aggressors. In a decisive battle, Tran Hung Dao was given an order to 
prepare many sharp bamboo stakes to be planted on the riverbed of the Bach Dang River. They were stored in the grotto where the remaining wooden pieces were found.
The cave is situated on Driftwood Island, next to Thien Cung cave. Dau Go cave is known as “Cave of Wonders”. The cave has a large entrance shaped like a jellyfish and receives ample natural light. This is the reason why stalactites and stalagmites are covered with a layer of green moss. Deep inside the cave, you can see numerous images in the rock formations carved by nature like an ancient, majestic, and unique architectural complex.
Thien Cung Grotto
Thien Cung Grotto is one of the most beautiful grottos and a must-see in Halong Bay for all travelers who stop by, even for just a few days. Thien Cung cave is located on a southwest island of the bay, 4km from the wharf outside of Ha Long city. While Dau Go 
Grotto (on the same island) offers magnificent beauty and an honorable history, travelers visiting Thien Cung Grotto will feel as if they are in a heavenly world. After entering a narrow gate, covered by a thick forest outside, the magnificent grotto’s 130-meter-long girth opens up. From the base to the top of the cave, numerous strange images appear in the stone: birds, fish, blooms, and even scenes of human life. On the northern wall of the grotto, you can see many fairies dancing and singing in honor of the wedding. Under the tremendously high roof, stalactites form a natural stone curtain. And the wind blowing through the stones produces the sound of a beating drum.
To finish a voyage through Thien Cung Grotto, you have to pass a thin way with dazzling stalactites, and at the existing door, you’ll be enchanted by the overview beauty of Ha Long Bay and Ha Long City.
Cua Van Fishing Village
Cua Van fishing village is located on the calm waters of Ha Long Bay, surrounded by rocky mountains. This area is an ideal location for anchoring. The village is home to many generations of fishing families living in small floating houses. Currently, 
more than 300 households live on spacious, pristine, and clean floating houses.
The village is only accessible via boat. Cua Van fishing village is a must-see attraction in Ha Long Bay, and many travelers visit the village as part of their exploration of the bay.
When admired from a distance, Cua Van fishing village brings a realistic and extremely beautiful view with the spectacular “background” of mountains and forests. Here, you will discover exciting activities such as fishing, squid fishing, and boating, and enjoy delicious seafood right on the boat.
Vung Vieng Fishing Village
Vung Vieng Fishing Village is located off the beaten track in Bai Tu Long Bay, about 20km from Tuan Chau Marina to the South-east. It’s a very small floating village, as it’s inhabited by only 50 families.
When you come here, you will have the opportunity to experience immense peace and quiet compared with other fishing villages; this is the less-touristy one. The daily activities of the local villagers are closely linked to water and fishing. Most of them work as fishermen or do aquaculture. But a few of them sell souvenirs and snacks to tourists passing by.
Coming to visit the village, you can relax on the pristine beach located on the mountainside of the fishing village while enjoying peaceful time, or experience a day as a fisherman catching fish with the locals. After the fishing trip, you can also enjoy the delicious, fresh taste of seafood that you have just collected yourself.
Titov Island
This beautiful island is located in the Cat Nang channel. The previous name of this island was Cat Nang. On January 22nd, 1962, President Ho Chi Minh, along with the Russian astronaut Gherman Stepanovich Titov, visited Ha Long Bay and the island. To
commemorate this special event and to express the enduring friendship between the Vietnamese and Russians, President Ho Chi Minh proposed naming the island “Ti Top”. It’s a lovely rest stop for cruises in Ha Long Bay. The small island is well known for its beautiful scenery of calm air, white sand, and blue water.
On the island, 170 m-long stairways to the top of the mountain for sightseeing, a wide beach, and service shops were renovated to serve tourists as conveniently as possible. It is definitely an interesting place for sightseeing and relaxation.
Virgin & Male Grottoes
Virgin (Trinh Nu) Grotto is situated on Bo Hon Island, in the system comprised of the Sung Sot Grotto, Dong Tien Lake, and about 15 kilometers from Bai Chay beach. When visiting the island, you can see a stone statue in the middle of the grotto of a lying girl 
with long hair, looking out to the ocean. The second one is the Male Grotto (Trong), facing the Virgin Grotto, with numerous stalagmites and stalactites creating intricate carvings on the wall.
There was a love story about the girl statue in the grottos. It is said that the beautiful girl and a young fisherman in a village fell in love. While he was heading off far away to the ocean for fishing, she was compelled to get married to a rich administrator of the fishing zone. She refused, then got angry and was exiled by the administrator to a wild island where she suffered from hunger and exhaustion. She turned to stone. Her lover rowed his boat in search of her. However, a tempest destroyed his boat, and he floated to a nearby island. His final exhaustion and turned to stone. For local people, the Virgin & Male Grottoes represent romantic love.
Sung Sot Grotto
This is the widest and the most beautiful grotto in Ha Long Bay. It is surrounded by many rocky islands with unique shapes found nowhere else. The road to Sung Sot grotto, or the Cave of Surprises, is hidden under the forest canopy. You have to climb up around 
a hundred stone steps to reach the entrance of the cave.
The cave covers about 10,000 m², with thousands of stalactites and stalagmites. In the cave, there is a system of paved walkways along the entrance to the exit, which is longer than 500 m. The cave is divided into two main compartments; the first looks like a wide theater, with numerous stalactites dangling from the high roof. Entering the second one via a small trail, you will see a completely different space from the first, which can accommodate thousands of people. Colorful spotlights are set in such a subtly effective way that they add to the charm of the cave. Coming here, you will have a great chance to witness the beautiful landscapes of clear-water lakes, various tree species, and the birds that live here.
Bo Nau Grotto
The name Bo Nau is associated with the fact that pelicans often take shelter here. According to some documents, Bo Nau cave is one of the earliest known in Ha Long Bay and is regarded as a place with beautiful landscapes and an attractive destination for 
tourists. The grotto has a relatively large area, divided into 2 compartments totaling about 1,000 m², yet remains very pristine because it has not been renovated or heavily exploited.
The entrance area is a short sandy beach that visitors can reach only by small boat; large ships cannot enter. It also has a dome-shaped like a seashell facing down, creating a private space that feels like the ceiling of a theater. Stepping into the grotto, you will quickly see a stone column made of stalactites hanging down from the ceiling to the extremely majestic ground.
In front of the entrance are three stones, looking like three fairies with their head close to one another. Two men appear to be playing chess, with the third serving as a referee. Standing there, one can see a green mountain range undulating over the pure, emerald water all year round.
Luon Grotto
Luon Grotto is on Bo Hon Island, near Sung Sot (Surprise Grotto), 14 km south of Bai Chay. Luon grotto is a particularly attractive destination due to its tunnel-like shape and submerged ground.
This is a closed group of islands, connected to the sea only by a cave entrance about 4 m wide, 3 m high, and 100 m long. The lake in the grotto is about 1 square kilometer wide and surrounded by four mountainsides. There are not many grottoes of this type in Ha Long Bay, but perhaps the most appealing aspect for tourists here is the natural scenery. It is an interwoven, harmonious combination between the shape of the mountain, the color of the water, the clouds and the sky, and each tree and grass. The cliffs are steep, and the water is clear and calm like a mirror. It seems that it is impossible to find any defect in nature here.
The only way to visit Luon grotto is by a small boat with oars. Luon grotto is the connecting passage between the sea and the lake. Today, Luon Cave is a top tourist destination where visitors can freely kayak or take a bamboo boat to experience and explore the beauty of the bay. Most 2-days 1-night Ha Long Bay tours overnight on cruise go through this attractive tourist destination.
Chay Beach
Bai Chay is a famous beach in Northern Vietnam, located in Bai Chay ward, Ha Long, Quang Ninh province. Bai Chay is an 
artificial beach, located along Ha Long Bay with a sandy beach more than 500m long and 100m wide.
This beach attracts many tourists during the beach tourism season. The topographic feature is a strip of low hills running gently towards the sea, stretching more than 2km, lined with pine trees and interspersed with hotels and small villas with distinctive architecture.
Wide beach, clean sand suitable for organizing group games, swimming, sunbathing or walking to watch the sunrise…
Dinh Huong Islet
Dinh Huong Islet is a famous islet among hundreds of large and small islets, islands, in Ha Long Bay. Located right next to Dog Rock Island, southwest of Ha Long Bay, Dinh Huong Islet is considered a masterpiece of creation, shaped like the top of an incense burner. Its appearance is very imposing and can easily be mistaken for a giant incense burner set on four slender stone slabs, but it is actually very solid.
Today, Dinh Huong islet is featured on the 200,000 VND note, representing an important part of this sacred island.
Some other attractive experiences in Ha Long Bay
Not only can visit, sightsee, coming to Ha Long, visitors can also try many unique and impressive experiences such as:
- Kayaking: enjoying the scenery of Ha Long Bay by kayak is an activity that tourists look forward to. You will be able to sit on a tiny Kayak, swim in the middle of the water, and feel small in the majestic landscape of clouds and sky. Try to sit stable and hold the position tightly for easy balance.
- Spend the night on a yacht: If you love romantic natural scenery, try spending the night on a yacht. Visitors will welcome the sunrise with the sea on all four sides, no more dust or noise of the city.
- Viewing Ha Long Bay from a seaplane: a relatively new experience. On the seaplane, you will have the same view as a bird flying high above, taking in the entire majestic landscape of Ha Long Bay.
WHAT TO EAT
Famous delicacies in Ha Long are mostly made from seafood such as crab, squid, sea worms, shrimp, fish,… Seafood noodle dishes are very popular.
Cha Muc (Grilled Chopped Squid)
Cha Muc, also known as squid sausage or squid cake, is famous in Quang Ninh province and is considered one of Vietnam’s top regional specialties. The main ingredient is squid meat, patiently ground by hand, then fried over medium heat until golden brown. The crunchy and delicate texture of this dish makes it one of the most delicious dishes in Ha Long.
In Ha Long, diners can find Cha Muc at any time of the day. Some famous addresses include Ba Ngan, Ba Yen, Goc Bang, or in the local market during the day. One serving costs 30,000-55,000 VND, depending on whether diners order more squid.
Fresh Oyster in Ha Long
Oysters are famous the world over for being a luxurious treat; Halong Bay is a wonderful place to enjoy them fresh. After being cleaned, the oysters will be grilled on a charcoal stove with salt, pepper, and grilled onions or served raw with a slice of lemon.
Sa Sung (Peanut Nudus)
Sa Sung, or peanut noodles, is probably the most unusual food on this list. It’s a type of sea worm found in abundance in Ha Long. The worm lives in the sea, just under the top layer of sand, and lives in brackish waters. It can be fried with garlic or pineapple, grilled with chili salt, roasted and served with chili, lettuce, or eaten raw with mustard. Sa Sung is considered a valuable food rich in protein.
Ngan (Austriella Corrugata)
Ngan is a special type of bivalve mollusk living in the sea, bigger than the clam, with a white shell and a big tentacle. It can be found only in the Bach Dang River (border between Quang Ninh and Hai Phong). Ngan can be processed in various ways: grilled, steamed, in soup, or stir-fried with noodles or vegetables.
“Gat gu” cake
“Gat Gu” cake is made from rice powder similar to rice noodles and steamed rolled rice pancakes. The secret to making this delicious and unique cake is the sauce. The local people steam fish sauce with chicken fat, onion, and chili. This perfect combination creates a special dipping sauce, making the dish even more exotic with a unique aroma.
Sam (Horseshoe crab)
Another attractive specialty of Halong is Sam, known as a seafood with high nutritional value. Sam is used in many dishes, such as Sam pudding, fried eggs, Sam salad, Sam sautéed with peppers and lemongrass, steamed Sam, or stir-fried Sam with glass noodles… all very unique and delicious. However, sam is a type of seafood with cold properties, so if you have a “history” of allergies or have a cold stomach with seafood, you should not eat it or only eat a little. The famous Sam’s address in Ha Long is Ba Ty’s Sam’s in alley 6 Cao Thang, or Sam’s in Quang Yen, located on the road from Ha Long to Hanoi. In the afternoon, in the snack area of Ha Long 1 market, there is also a shop selling sweet and sour crab legs, sam rolls… quite delicious
Be Me noodles
Be Me noodles is a popular breakfast and lunch dish in Quang Ninh, especially in Ha Long city. Be Me shrimp (also known as mantis shrimp) is a seafood species abundant in Ha Long waters, with firm, sweet-smelling, and nutritious meat. A bowl of vermicelli costs about 30,000-40,000 VND.
Source: collected by An
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