How to explore insight Halong Bay

Spending one night in Halong Bay is just enough for a rapid glance. It worths to spend more than that on exploring insight Halong Bay.

Overview of Halong Bay

Halong Bay is the nearest UNESCO natural heritage sites to Hanoi capital city with a distance of 180 km in 3-hour drive. If traveling Vietnam without visiting Halong Bay, it means you never visit this Asian country. Almost travelers have compared Halong Bay with Phang Nga Bay of Thailand, but they prefer Halong Bay because of its calm water and over 2000 various-shaped islands/islets.

This bay belongs to Quang Ninh province which offers both the potential travel and coal resources. If Hon Gai, Cam Pha in Quang Ninh province are known as coal towns of Vietnam, Halong city is famous for tourism. It is 180 km Northeast of Hanoi. There are daily local and tourist buses from Hanoi to get there, the price is around $5-$20 depending on your regular bus or Limousine bus

It is divided into three main parts: Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay, and Lan Ha Bay. Halong Bay – the first part is invested in serving both domestic and international travelers. Then the local government and private enterprises varied the cruising routes from Halong Bay to Bai Tu Long Bay. Not stopping, at this moment, it is extended to Lan Ha Bay which is the most less tourist part in this bay.

Main basic cruising route of Halong Bay

In the past, 20 years ago, Halong Bay was just available daily cruise, not sleeping cruise. Until nowadays, it is too differentiative with so many multiple choices of cruises and hotels from medium to luxury ranges. Moreover, there are many entertaining and trading complex serving to the domestic and overseas tourists also such as Sunworld park, Night market, the Trading area in Halong town, etc.

Halong Bay stands out with its beautiful island and cave system. The island in Ha Long has two forms: limestone island and schist island, concentrated in 3 main areas: Lan Ha Bay, the southeastern region of Bai Tu Long Bay and the southwestern city of Ha Long Bay. This is the oldest image of the geologic topography of 250 – 280 million years, as a result of the process of lifting and lowering many times from the continent to a sea basin.

The 1st part – Halong Bay

Hundreds of stone islands, each island has a different shape which challenging our imagine: Hon Dau, Hon Rong, Hon Vong island, Canh Buom island, Ga Choi island, Hon Lu Huong, etc. Latent in the stone islands are beautiful caves associated with many miraculous legends such as Thien Cung, Dau Go cave, Sung Sot cave, Trinh Nu cave, Tam Cung cave, etc. These are real castles of the earth.

The 2nd part – Bai Tu Long Bay

This part is further than Halong Bay from the mainland so it is less-tourist and the water is purer. By doing this, we get a chance to visit other caves which are not as famous as the cave in Halong Bay but less-tourist for sure. We have some cases such as Hang Co, Hang Thay, Vong Vieng fishing village, Cap La cave, Cong Dam fishing village, etc.

The 3rd – Lan Ha Bay

This 3rd part of the bay belongs to the different city of Hai Phong, not Halong city. If Halong Bay part is famous for Sung Sot cave, Lan Ha Bay is known as for over 100 small white sand beach on the islands, and Ham Rong cave, Hang Do Cung cave, and Hang Ca cave. Not only that, but we also see the rustic fishing villages were feeding all kinds of seafood such as fishes, crab, prawn, abalone, etc.

Not like the other, Lan Ha owns over 130 lovely white sand beaches on the small islands which is very less-tourist. It is also available small engined boats or bamboo boats to sightsee this area as well as the beautiful lagoons and caves. Besides it, it exists the monkey island with homestay/lodge for overnight option and the pearl farm.

Various outdoor activities in Halong Bay

Coming to this wonder, you will have a wide selection of watersports and vigorous outdoor activities which will amaze you. It suits to all demand from leisure to adventure lovers:

• You can sightsee / sunbath on the sundeck of the cruise while the other young are challenging themselves with kayaking or rock-climbing on Cat Ba mountain or diving or jumping from the 2nd floor into the sea, etc.
• Best place for Photography tour: All professional photographers are
• Sightseeing landscape or sunbathing on the sundeck
• Swimming
• Kayaking
• Bamboo boat paddling
• Sunset party with a cocktail and tropical fruits
• Welcome Sunrise with Taichi demonstration
• Rock-climbing on Cat Ba island

Where to go in Halong Bay

Quang Ninh museum

Quang Ninh museum: is a unique artistic architecture. With its ‘’wow’’ appearance, it worths to visit if you have one free day there. If you come inside, everyone must be overwhelmed by the spacious space. With three floors, Quang Ninh Museum offers a complete view for visitors to nature and people here. The museum is open every day, except Mondays, from 08:00 – 17:00. The entrance ticket will be VND 30,000 / time / adult; and VND 10,000 / time / per child

Dragon Park

Dragon Park: If you are someone prefer the bustling atmosphere, the party, should try to visit Dragon amusement park which offering many games with intense feeling and challenging yourself. This park is Southeast Asia’s largest theme park and belongs to Sun World Group – one of the biggest trading group in Vietnam.

Ba Vang Pagoda

Ba Vang Pagoda: Located on the middle of Thanh Dang mountain, the pagoda is also called Bao Quang Tu, the folk name is often called Ba Vang. The pagoda is located at an altitude of 340m on a beautiful location in the west of Uong Bi city, in front of Bach Dang Giang winding, far away is Hai Phong port city, attracting the sight of Do Son sea with the same waves.

Yen Tu relic

Yen Tu relic: One of the best religious sites should be visited in Quang Ninh province. At this moment, it is available Melia Yen Tu retreat which is operated by Accor global hotel brand name. This relic is a system of pagodas, mountain ranges, ancient towers, forests, and refine resort that blend with natural landscapes.

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LIST OF ENTERTAINING PLACES IN HALONG BAY