Halong Bay Best Things To Do

Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a well-known tourist destination in Vietnam. It features a succession of limestone islands. The harbor contains over 2000 islands, many of which have gorgeous, lush vegetation, making them great for strolling. Many of the islands include caverns. The finest thing to do in Halong Bay is to join a cruise where you can see the islands up close and see caves and floating villages.

5 reasons to visit Halong Bay

Take a fantastic cruise through the beautiful landscape.
Do an adventurous activity such as kayaking or rock climbing.
View the local life in the floating villages.
Explore different islands with viewpoints and caves.
Be romantic with a luxury cruise, spa, and dining in a cave

Table of Contents

Practical information

Recommended days to stay

There are day tours from Hanoi that give you a good impression of the bay, but if you have time, try to stay at least 1 night here. Keep in mind that the travel time between Hanoi and Halong is already 3 hours.

ATMs & money exchange

There are ATMs In Halong City and Cat Ba Island. You can pay by credit card on almost every cruise.

Best Time To Visit

Fall (September, October) and spring (March, April) are the best seasons to visit Halong Bay. You are enjoying the greatest time of year, with cool weather. The bay is pleasant and bright during the summer months of May through early September when the sky is clear and blue.

There may be minor rain on some days or perhaps an unanticipated typhoon that could cause your cruise to be canceled. Halong Bay experiences frigid weather from November to March throughout the winter, which makes January and February particularly chilly and unsuitable for swimming. During this time, there are also cloudy days and a heavy monsoon.

10 best things to do in Halong Bay

The thousands of islands and floating villages already make an unforgettable experience, but there is more to see and do at Halong Bay. Most of these sights are included with the cruise that you book. Therefore, pay attention to which cruise you book. Below, you can read the best things to do at Halong Bay.

1. Cruise through Halong Bay

A cruise is, unsurprisingly, the best thing to do in Halong Bay. There are hundreds of boats available, ranging from very little to extremely huge, from luxurious to inexpensive, and from day boats to multi-day boats. So, no matter what type of visitor you are, there is always a cruise in Halong to suit you. The bay’s water is tranquil, so you won’t have to worry about waves or feeling seasick. You won’t be bored because there are so many things offered during the boat journey. Kayak, swim (during the appropriate season), explore caverns, see floating towns, and go on walks on the larger islands. If you prefer to relax at the end of your active Vietnam vacation, you can simply stay on the cruise to admire the beautiful landscape.

2. Scenic flight over the bay

The most exciting way to observe how wonderful this UNSECO site is is to take a scenic fly above Halong Bay. It is ideal for seeing the bay in a short amount of time, and if your money allows, you can combine it with a cruise.

The flights run 25 minutes and begin on the water at Halong City via seaplane. Taking off and landing alone in the ocean is an exciting experience, but the real delight is flying above the islands and rocks.

It is possible to photograph the flight using a camera or mobile device to preserve this unique experience.

3. Kayaking

From a cruise, you can admire the landscape perfectly, but with a kayak, you can get to places that boats cannot reach. It is also a wonderful activity on the water, with little current and no waves. For that reason, kayaking is one of the best things to do in Halong Bay.

There are caves that you can paddle through, ending up in a completely hidden part of the bay. You can also visit various beaches with a kayak. Almost all cruise boats, from day trips to multi-day trips, have included this activity in their travel program. If you don’t feel like it or it is raining, you can also choose to skip kayaking.

4. Floating fishing villages

Vong Vien Floating fishing village Halong Bay

In Vietnam they love seafood. To meet the high demand for these sea delicacies, you will see fishing boats all along the coast. Because the water in Halong Bay is so still, this is also a place where floating fishing villages have sprung up. Here people live and work on the water.

Many of the floating platformers are used for fish and shellfish farming. It is a unique experience to visit a floating village where you can see how the people work here and sometimes live for days.

5. Relax on beaches

Even though Halong Bay consists of hundreds of islands off the coast, it is not the most popular beach destination in Vietnam. This is because many islands do not have a beach and the islands that do have a beach are often small and difficult to access. For this reason, they can only be visited on a cruise. This visit to one of the beaches in Halong Bay is extra special.

If you would like to visit beaches but do not depend on a cruise, it is best to travel to the island of Cat Ba. On this island, you can stay and there are many beaches that you can visit on your own.

6. Explore Cat Ba

Cat Ba is the largest island in Halong Bay and one of the few islands where you can also stay. The island has a beautiful wild national park where you can take walks, spot animals, and enjoy beautiful viewpoints in the middle of the jungle.

Other fun activities include cycling or scooter around the island, kayaking or just relaxing on the beach. If you want to see a little more of the bay, you can also take a day tour by boat from Cat Ba.

7. Visit Lan Ha Bay or Bai Tu Long Bay

Almost everyone knows Halong Bay, but did you know that there are two other bays next to Halong? Lan Ha Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay are smaller than Halong Bay, but just as beautiful. But the best thing about these two Halong Bay alternatives is that far fewer boats come here and therefore fewer tourists. So you don’t have to be so afraid that you have to share a beach or cave with many other travelers.

Because both bays are a bit further from Hanoi, you will be on the road longer. Furthermore, you will see similar landscapes and engage in similar activities such as visiting floating fishing villages, exploring caves, and kayaking on your own.

8. Caves

Hang Sung Sot Paradise Cave in Halong Bay

The islands of Halong Bay are made of the same rock as the landscape in Phong Nha, where you will find some of the most impressive and largest caves in the world. So there are also plenty of caves in Halong Bay.

You can visit a number of these caves and there is often always one included in every cruise itinerary. Some caves are also beautifully lit with various colors. Another unique experience is dining in a cave.

9. Nice viewpoints

From a boat trip, you often have to look up to get a good view of the islands, but the best view is often from above. If you don’t have the time or budget to take a scenic flight, the best alternative is to visit a viewpoint higher up in the bay.

The best viewpoints in Halong Bay are spread out. For example, you have Bai Tho Mountain near Halong City, Ti Top island in the middle of the bay, and on the island of Cat Ba, you even have several viewpoints that you can visit.

10. Rock climbing

If you don’t mind putting forth some effort to gain a viewpoint, try rock climbing in Halong Bay. The view from atop is worth it, but the entire journey is an exciting adventure. The bay’s rocks are ideal for climbers, and it could be one of the top climbing destinations in the world. There are also choices for deep-water soloing.

Where to stay in Halong Bay

1. On a cruise

As already mentioned, the best thing to do in Halong Bay is to stay on a cruise. It provides a unique experience and is also a nice change from a stay in a hotel or homestay during the rest of your holiday. You can stay on a cruise in both Halong Bay, Lan Ha Bay, and Lan Ha Bay.

Because there is so much to offer you can check our selection of the best cruises in Halong Bay.

2. Cat Ba Island

Several islands offer accommodation in Halong Bay, but Cat Ba is the first choice for most people. Here you have the most options in hotels, hostels, and resorts. Another advantage of staying here is that the island is so big that you have plenty of activities. If you still want to take a boat trip, you can also arrange that from here. There are plenty of freshly caught seafood restaurants, pier access, scooter rentals, and close to things to do such as Cat Ba National Park.

3. Tuan Chau Island

Tuan Chau Island is where you will find the harbor from which most boats depart. In addition to the port, there is also a large landscaped area for tourism with hotels, resorts, and beaches. However, this island lacks the local atmosphere. The island can be reached from the road.

4. Halong City

Ha Long City consists of two cities, Bai Chay and Hon Gai, which are connected by a bridge. The first is the tourist district of Ha Long City, while the second is more of a local scene.

5. Food & Drinking

When you choose a cruise, all food is always included. Each multi-day boat also has its restaurant. Drinks are usually not included.

When you stay in Halong City or Cat Ba you will mainly find seafood restaurants, but there are also plenty of other options.

How to get there

1. Cruise packages

Most cruise lines include pick-up and drop-off to Hanoi. It is not always included for boats going to Lan Ha Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay, but there is always an option to book this. This is because these depart from another port that is further away.

2. Buses to Halong Bay

There are buses from Hanoi to Halong City, 160 km away, and takes about three and a half hours. Buses leave from My Dinh, Gia Lam, and Luong Yen bus station, and the ride costs between $ 5 and $ 10. Most buses stop at a terminal near the Bai Chay bridge.

Booking a minibus is more convenient with pick up in the city center. The limousine buses are very comfortable too. Another option is to take a private car.

3. Flights to Halong Bay

There is a seaplane flying from Hanoi to Tuan Chau Island in Halong Bay, close to Halong City.

How to get around

On Cat Ba island you can rent a scooter or car with a driver to go around and visit places of interest. Another popular way is to go cycling. Many accommodations on the island have a bicycle to borrow for free or else you can always rent one somewhere.

If you want to see more of the bay, you should always take a boat trip.

Itinerary 2 days in Halong Bay

A standard 2-day Halong Bay cruise itinerary looks like this:

Day 1

Transportation from Hanoi to Halong Bay
Board your cruise and enjoy the views
Explore by kayak
Go swimming
Watch the sunset with a cocktail.

Day 2

Watch the stunning sunrise.
Tai Chi lessons in the early morning
Visit a cave
Visit a floating fishing village
Cooking class
Early lunch
Transportation back to Hanoi

For a detailed trip, click here!

More tips for traveling in Halong Bay

Halong Bay alternatives

As mentioned before, it is highly recommended to check out the Halong Bay alternatives to avoid mass tourism.

Where to go next?

Because cruises pick up and drop off from Hanoi, this is also the logical next point for most people. From Hanoi, you can also reach all parts of North Vietnam by bus, south by train, or even further south by domestic flights.

However, from Halong, it is also possible to arrange your transport to Ninh Binh so that you do not have to travel to Hanoi first.

Halong Bay with kids

If you are traveling through Vietnam with children, Halong Bay is highly recommended. They can swim, kayak, and do other activities. It is useful to take a good look at which boat has the best offer in child-friendly activities.