Halong Bay, Vietnam
Lan Ha bay. Hai phong (source)
Splendid Nature View Halong Bay (source)
Ha Long Bay City (source)
Bai Chay Bridge at Night (source)
(source)
(source)
Monkey Island Beach (source)
Suset View, Ha Long Bay (source)
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Halong Bay

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Vietnam
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Halong Bay Travel Essentials

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4.2 /5 (26 ratings) Rate This Destination

Weather:

Ideal duration: 1 day

Best Time: During the winter and spring months Read More

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"Breathtaking karst formations and scenic boat cruises"

Halong Bay Tourism

Characterised by towering karst limestone pillars and small islets of various shapes and sizes amidst crystal blue waters, Halong Bay's ethereal beauty is a sight to behold. Located in northern Vietnam, it is the most popular tourist spot this side of the country. Halong Bay, where 'Halong' translates to 'where the dragon descends into the sea', had a part of it designated as a World Heritage Site in 1994. Halong City is the main entry point to the bay.

The most common way of exploring the region is via a cruise or day-trip boats, where tourists laze around in the boats while cruising among the limestone pillars and a number of islets. Many cruises and day-trips also include an island drop off and cave explorations. There are some floating villages as well which allow visitors to come and interact with the locals, try their food and buy knick-knacks.

Kayaking is another activity which has vastly become popular in recent years. One can kayak near and around the limestone pillars on a bright sunny day. Few caves also allow for exploring by kayaking which is an experience highly recommended.

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Halong Bay Travel Packages

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6 Days / 5 Nights

Best of Vietnam Tour including Halong Bay Cruise

$ 3,010
13% off
$2,595   per adult on twin sharing
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8 Days / 7 Nights

Family Vietnam Trip for 7 Nights

$3,680   per adult on twin sharing
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7 Days / 6 Nights

Vietnam Halong Bay Tour Package

$2,925   per adult on twin sharing
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7 Days / 6 Nights

Vietnam Tour for 6 Nights with Private Boat Cruise

$3,963   per adult on twin sharing
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10 Days / 9 Nights

4 Star Luxury Vietnam Holiday Tour for 9 Nights

$8,966   per adult on twin sharing
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6 Days / 5 Nights

Beautiful Ho Chi Minh City Tour including Hanoi and Halong Bay Cruise

$ 3,463
15% off
$2,925   per adult on twin sharing
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Must Know Before You Travel to Halong Bay

  • The best way to explore Halong Bay is by cruise. There are day cruises and cruises with onboard stays for multiple nights available in various budget categories.
  • Be sure to book these cruises well in advance, especially during the peak season, as they can get sold out quickly.
  • Tours to Halong Bay generally begin from Hanoi, but you can also head to Halong Bay from other nearby towns or cities. In addition, buses are regularly available to Halong Bay from most towns and cities.
  • It is advisable to seek help/advice from your hotel management about tours and cruises in Halong Bay. Generally, the hotel patrons can give a complete guide for the same.
  • Be sure to carry cash when traveling to Halong Bay.
  • As Island stops and water activities are a part of most cruises, be sure to carry appropriate clothing as needed.
  • Also, carry hats, sunscreens, and any such lotions and medications as needed, as these are not easy to come by when out in the bay.

Things To Do In Halong Bay

Day Cruise in Halong Bay

Day Cruise in Halong Bay
Dong Thien Cung (Cave)

Dong Thien Cung (Cave)
Cat Ba Island

Cat Ba Island
Kayaking in Halong Bay

Kayaking in Halong Bay
Overnight Cruise in Halong Bay

Overnight Cruise in Halong Bay
Snorkelling in Halong Bay

Snorkelling in Halong Bay
View All Things To Do In Halong Bay

Top Hotels In Halong Bay

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More on Halong Bay Travel

Nightlife in Halong Bay

The nightlife in Halong Bay can be enjoyed both on land and on the sea.

  • The various cruises offer wonderful nighttime dining experiences, late-night squid fishing, onboard live music, and karaoke.
  • While on-shore, one can visit the streets of Halong City and indulge in some thrift shopping and gorge on the street food.
  • The nightclubs in Halong are also quite popular and are thronged by locals and tourists alike.
  • If you are looking for a more quiet experience alongside the seaside, then the open-air bars at Bai Chay are highly recommended.
  • Lastly, visit the Bai Chay at night when it is lit up in all its glory.

Shopping in Halong Bay

  • There are very few shopping options located in this area. However, you can easily get hold of some pretty decent products such as the famous Vietnamese Silk by visiting Bai Chay Town.
  • You also can go and visit some floating shops, which are actually shops situated on boats which allow for goods such as beer, vodka etc.

Exchanging Money in Halong Bay

Try getting you currency converted on the airport and or withdraw cash before reaching Halong Bay. You won't be able to find banks or money exchnage centres easily in this area.

History of Halong Bay

There isn't much history available of this place. However it is believed that this islands was broken in to parts by a descending dragon which landed on a single piece of land.

Best Time to Visit Halong Bay

Top Stories about Halong Bay Tourism

Experiences

Experiences

Halong Bay Cruises for a Luxurious Holiday
Beaches & Islands

Beaches & Islands

6 Halong Bay Cruises for a Luxurious Vietnam Holiday
Adventure

Adventure

Caves in Halong Bay
Beaches & Islands

Beaches & Islands

7 Beaches in Halong Bay for a Slice of Coastal Beauty
Art & Culture

Art & Culture

10 Interesting Facts about Ha Long Bay to For Offshore Fun in Vietnam
View All Posts About Halong Bay

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How to Reach Halong Bay

How to Reach Overview

Halong Bay is serviced by 3 International airports - Van Don Airport, Noi Bai International Airport and Cat Bi International Airport. These airports are well connected to other domestic hubs across Vietnam and also from popular international destinations across the world. Taxis are available from these airports to Halong Bay. The capital city of Hanoi is the most important urban city nearest to Hanoi. From here, taxis, rental cars and even trains are available to Halong City which is the gateway to Halong Bay.

How to reach Halong Bay by flight

The three airports - Van Don Airport, Noi Bai International Airport and Cat Bi International Airport all can be flown to, to get to Halong Bay. From the airports, taxis can be hired at reasonable rates to Halong City which is the access point to Halong Bay.

How to reach Halong Bay by road

You can comfortably reach to Halong Bay through the means of roads. You can take a cab from the city of Hanoi and take highway 18 which would leave you at this location in around 4 hours.

How to reach Halong Bay by train

Halong City has a train station which is well connected to other stations in northern Vietnam. There are daily trains which depart from Yen Vien station in Hanoi to Halong City Station.

How to reach Halong Bay by bus

There are numerous mini buses which would allow you to reach to this bay. You can take a minibus from the Gia Lam a location in the Hanoi and can reach the Bay in about 4 to 5 hours.

How to reach Halong Bay by waterways

No known methods of travelling to this bay by sea are known.

Local transport in Halong Bay

As mentioned before being a bay there are numerous islands present in the vicinity. Therefore you can visit any of the islands with the help of ship or boat, while walking around islands can be done on foot.

Most frequently searched routes to Halong Bay

Route Name Distance Time
Hanoi to Halong Bay 125 Km 2.5 Hours

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Halong Bay Photos

Halong Bay, Vietnam
Lan Ha bay. Hai phong
Splendid Nature View Halong Bay

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FAQs on Halong Bay

What is the best time to visit Halong bay?

The best time to visit Ha Long Bay would be during the Spring (March to May) and Fall (September to November) seasons when the dry and pleasant weather conditions are optimal for outdoor activities and even water-based activities. Ha Long Bay has four distinct seasons, each offering a unique set of activities and experience. The weather conditions, as well as the scenery, change with the season. Hence, it is worth planning a trip here at all times of the year. Budget travellers can choose to plan a trip in the summer months during which it is most likely to receive massive sales and promotions. On the other hand, winter in Ha Long Bay is a truly unique and surreal experience. July and August, in particular, are prone to sporadic storms and hurricanes that can lead to a delay or even cancellation of your trip. Hence it’s advised to avoid travelling during that time of the year.
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What is the local food in Halong bay?

One of the most commonly consumed food item in this area is rice. People tends to make rice in numerous forms and then consume it along with chicken, beef or pork. There are a lot of spices as well as herbs a part of their normal diet.
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How much does a package cost for Halong bay?

The packages for Halong bay start at INR 6252 which can be further customized based on number of people, days, hotel category, vehicle type and customizations. You can have a look at all packages here

What are the top hotels in Halong bay?

There are 812 in Halong bay which can be booked through Holidify. The most popular hotels in Halong bay are Heritage Line - Ginger Cruise, Van Nam Hotel, Queen Motel, Stellar of the Seas Cruise, Sunshine Cat Ba Hotel, Full House The Apartment 2- seaview- up to 6 guests. You can see all the hotels in Halong bay here

What are the things to do in Halong bay?

The top things to do in Halong bay are Cat Ba Island, Sung Sot Cave, Dau Be Island, Virgin Cave, Ti Top Island, Dong Thien Cung. You can see all the places to visit in Halong bay here

What are the places near Halong bay?

The top places near to Halong bay are Hanoi which is 140 km from Halong bay, Sapa which is located 380 km from Halong bay, Hai van pass which is located 56 km from Halong bay, Bai tu long bay which is located 7 km from Halong bay, Haiphong which is located 52 km from Halong bay

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