Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business 
Ha Long Bay, in northeastern Vietnam's Quang Ninh province, is a seascape of nearly two thousand limestone islands and islets rising from green water. Shaped over millions of years, the karst towers are riddled with caves and arches, and the bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its name means descending dragon, from a local legend.
Most visitors explore by boat, on a day cruise or an overnight trip. Sung Sot Cave impresses, and Ti Top Island has a small beach and a stairway to a viewpoint over the bay. Hon Trong Mai, the Fighting Cock Islets, is the most photographed formation. Kayaks and small boats slip through Luon Cave into an enclosed lagoon, while Thien Cung Cave is lit. Neighboring Lan Ha Bay offers quieter waters near Cat Ba Island, where Cat Ba National Park has forest trails, and Bai Tu Long Bay to the northeast sees fewer boats. On land, Bai Chay has a cable car over the water, the Quang Ninh Museum explains the region's history, and Cua Van recalls the fishing families who long lived on floating homes.
Ha Long suits couples and families seeking dramatic scenery without strenuous effort. Spring and autumn offer the best balance of weather and visibility, while summer is hot with storm risk and winter can be misty. An overnight cruise gives the calmest experience.
WiserMap travel guideHa Long Bay Vietnam Sung Sot Cave and Cat Ba IslandPlan Ha Long Bay with this guide to Sung Sot Cave, Ti Top Island, Lan Ha Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay, Cat Ba Island, cruise routes, seasons and getting there.Read the guide
Surprise Cave on Bo Hon Island is one of the largest caves in Ha Long Bay, with two huge chambers full of lit stalactites and stalagmites. Steps climb up to the entrance and continue through the cave. It is included on most cruise routes, so it can be crowded, and paths may be wet.
Luon Cave is a sea tunnel leading to a hidden lagoon ringed by cliffs, visited by bamboo boat or kayak, where monkeys may appear. Thien Cung, the Heavenly Palace Cave, is a richly decorated cavern near Ha Long City. Each is a stop on different cruise routes, so check your itinerary.
Wooden Stakes Cave is a large cave on Dau Go Island, named for the stakes said to have been stored here by general Tran Hung Dao before a famous battle in 1288. Its chambers are lit with colored lights. It sits close to Thien Cung Cave, and the two are often visited together.
An island with a small crescent beach and a steep staircase to a summit viewpoint over the bay. It was named after the Soviet cosmonaut Gherman Titov, who visited with Ho Chi Minh. The climb takes about 15 minutes, and you can swim from the beach. Visit early to avoid crowds.
A small island near Ti Top with a sheltered beach for swimming and a stairway and trail up to a viewpoint over the karst islands. It is quieter than Ti Top and is visited on some cruise routes. The climb can be slippery, so wear proper shoes and bring water on hot days.
The largest island in the area, with a busy town, beaches and a national park of forested hills that is home to the endangered Cat Ba langur. Hike to the Ngu Lam peak lookout or visit Hospital Cave, a wartime hospital in a cave. It is a good base for trips to Lan Ha Bay.
Two tall rocks rising from the water that look like a rooster and a hen facing each other, one of the best-known symbols of Ha Long Bay and often printed on money and postcards. They are seen from the deck on many day cruises, and kayaks and boats circle around them for photos.
A bay south of Ha Long next to Cat Ba Island, with the same limestone karsts but fewer boats. It has small white beaches, floating fish farms and lagoons good for kayaking and swimming. Many smaller cruises use this area. Boats leave from Cat Ba Town or from Hai Phong and Tuan Chau.
A large bay northeast of Ha Long Bay, with karst islands, caves and fishing villages, but far fewer cruise boats. Overnight cruises here are quieter, and the Vung Vieng fishing village can be visited by rowing boat. It is a good choice for travelers who want a calmer bay experience.
Bai Chay is the tourist area of Ha Long City, with hotels, an artificial beach and the Sun World complex. Its Queen Cable Car crosses the water to a hilltop park with the Sun Wheel, one of the largest Ferris wheels in the world, giving views over the bay. Ride near sunset for the best light.
A striking modern museum on the Ha Long City waterfront, its black glass facade reflecting the sea. Exhibits cover the natural history of the bay, coal mining in Quang Ninh province and local history and culture, including a whale skeleton. It is an easy stop on the way to or from the cruise pier.
A fishing village of floating houses in the middle of the bay, where families lived by fishing and farming fish. Most residents have since moved to the mainland, but a floating culture center and some houses remain. Visitors tour by rowing boat. Many cruises include a stop here or at Vung Vieng.
No reviews yet. Been to Ha Long Bay? Be the first to share your experience.
Share what you loved, what to skip and tips for other travelers.
Log in to write a reviewBeen to Ha Long Bay? Add your best shots to the gallery.
Log in to add photosPhoto: lumoplank, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Steffen Schmitz (more photos), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Nguyễn Thanh Quang, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Velvet, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jakub Hałun, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: NASA Earth Observatory images by Joshua Stevens, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geolo…, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Jrwooley6, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Salgo60, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Thomas Hirsch / User:Ravn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Erik A. Drabløs, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Steven C. Price, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Clément Chevallier, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: YangChen(TW) from Taichung, TAIWAN, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Taewangkorea, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Saaremees, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Saaremees, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jakub Hałun, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Richard Mortel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Mike Colvin from Manchester, UK, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Adam Jones Adam63, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Gryffindor, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Gryffindor, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Mustang Joe, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Jakub Hałun, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Jakub Hałun, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Jakub Hałun, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Jakub Hałun, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Shyamal, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Christophe95, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Christophe95, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Christophe95, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: AnhTuan Le, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Benjamin Smith, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Benjamin Smith, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Benjamin Smith, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Hoangkid, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Hoangkid, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Hoangkid, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Hoangkid, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
