Things to know about Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
Ha Long City is located in Quang Ninh Province, about 160 km from Hanoi. Ha Long Bay beckons with diverse stays – budget-friendly hotels, charming homestays, luxurious resorts, or unforgettable cruises. Explore, unwind, and wake up to jaw-dropping limestone cliffs rising from emerald waters.
How to get to Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
Ha Long Bay is a famous tourist destination for its stunning scenery. In recent years, the infrastructure of Ha Long Bay has been heavily invested in, making it easier for visitors to get there. There are now many different ways to travel to Ha Long Bay, depending on your budget and preferences.
Plane: The fastest way to get to Ha Long Bay is by plane. There are direct flights from both Hanoi and Saigon to Van Don International Airport in Quang Ninh Province. From the airport, you can take a taxi or shuttle bus to Ha Long City.
Train: Several trains operate to Ha Long City from Hanoi and Saigon. The train journey from Hanoi takes about 5-6 hours, and from Saigon takes about 24-26 hours.
Bus: Many bus companies operate direct buses to Ha Long City from major cities in Vietnam, such as Hanoi, Saigon, Hue, and Da Nang. The bus journey from Hanoi takes about 3-4 hours, and from Saigon takes about 18-20 hours
Self drive: It is also easy to self drive. The total distance is 155 km. From Hanoi, take Highway 5 to Sai Dong Junction: 10 km. From Sai Dong, take Highway 1 to Bac Ninh: 23 km. From Bac Ninh, take Highway 18 to Pha Lai, Chi Linh, Dong Trieu, Uong Bi, and Ha Long: 122 km.
Best time to visit Ha Long, Vietnam
Ha Long City is located in the North of Vietnam, so it has four distinct seasons.
April to June: The weather is warm and dry, with little rain. This is the best time to visit Ha Long City if you want to enjoy swimming and sunbathing.
June to August: The weather is hot and sunny, with a chance of rain and storms. This is the peak season for tourism in Ha Long City, so the city can be crowded.
September to December: The weather gradually cools down and becomes cold. This is a good time to visit Ha Long City if you want to avoid the crowds and enjoy milder weather.
No matter what time of year you visit, Ha Long City is sure to amaze you with its stunning scenery and unique culture.
What to do in Ha Long, Vietnam
Take the cruise: To experience Ha Long Bay to the fullest, you should consider taking a cruise. Ha Long Bay offers many cruise companies with 1-5 star service standards such as Heritage Cruises, Paradise Cruise, Stellar of the Seas, Indochine, Scarlet Pearl Cruises, Orchid, Starlight Ha Long, Dragon Legend…
You can try one of the tour HERE or HERE
Try helicopter or seaplane: Visitors to Ha Long Bay can also see the bay from above by helicopter or seaplane. If you choose Halong Heli Tours, you can take a 12-minute, 25-minute, or 40-minute sightseeing tour. The ticket price is about 1.9 to 5.4 million VND per person for a journey through Thien Cung Cave, Dau Go Cave. If you choose to fly a seaplane with Hai Au Aviation, the 25-minute sightseeing tour costs 1.5 million VND/person.
Trekking to Poem Mountain: Located in the center of Ha Long City, Poem Mountain is a place where many poems by Le Thanh Tong and Trinh Cuong are preserved, expressing the unique beauty of Ha Long Bay.
Swimming in Tuan Chau Island: Tuan Chau Island is the most beautiful island among the 1,969 islands in Ha Long Bay. It is also the only island with a population. It has the largest artificial beach in Vietnam. The gently sloping Tra Co beach with white sand is an ideal place to have fun and participate in exciting water sports.
What to eat in Ha Long, Vietnam
Ha Long City is famous for its delicious seafood dishes.
Bun bề bề (rice vermicelli with mantis shrimp): This is a popular breakfast and lunch dish in Quang Ninh Province, especially in Ha Long City. Mantis shrimp is a type of seafood that is abundant in the Ha Long Bay area. It has firm, sweet, and nutritious meat. A bowl of bun bề bề costs about 30,000 – 40,000 VND.
Bun cù kỳ (rice vermicelli with cù kỳ crab): This is a dish that can only be found in Quang Ninh Province. Cù kỳ crab is a small crab with a lot of shell and little meat. However, its claws are large and meaty. Therefore, the claws are the main ingredient used to make this dish. Cù kỳ crab meat has a sweet taste that is different from crab meat. It is stir-fried with onions and garlic for flavor, then added to a bowl of rice vermicelli with the pre-cracked claws.
Address: Cuong Huong | Hùng Thắng Ward, Hạ Long City, Quảng Ninh Province
Trứng, tiết hầm ngải cứu (eggs and blood pudding with mugwort): This is a nutritious snack that is often sold in the afternoon in Ha Long City. Blood pudding with mugwort and boiled duck eggs are recommended by food connoisseurs in Ha Long City to try when visiting this city.
Bánh cuốn chả mực (steamed rice rolls with squid cakes): This is a famous specialty of Ha Long City. In Ha Long City, visitors can find bánh cuốn chả mực to eat at any time of the day. A serving costs 30,000 – 55,000 VND depending on whether the customer wants to order additional squid cakes.
Where to stay in Ha Long, Vietnam
There are many different accommodation options in Ha Long City, including budget hotels, resorts, homestays, guesthouses, and cruises from high-end to budget-friendly. The rental price ranges from a few hundred thousand to a few million VND.
Ha Long City is divided into two areas, Bai Chay and Hon Gai, by Bai Chay Bridge. The Bai Chay area has many tourist areas, hotels, and restaurants, while the Hon Gai area is mainly residential.
If you choose a comfortable homestay with a more affordable price, you can refer to The Bay, Halong Ginger, Orestay, Deja Vu House…
If you want to be more luxurious: you can book hotels such as Wyndham Legend Halong, Novotel, Sai Gon Ha Long, Vinpearl Resort and Spa, and Premier Village Ha Long Bay Resort…
Book at Wyndham Legend Halong, Oakwood Ha Long, The Watson Premium Halong Hotel
If you want an unforgettable cruise experience: Consider staying on a cruise ship. Ha Long Bay boasts a wide variety of cruises, ranging from luxurious vessels with all the trimmings to budget-friendly options offering basic amenities. Waking up to breathtaking sunrise views over the bay from the comfort of your cabin is an unparalleled experience. Imagine sipping your morning coffee on the sundeck, surrounded by the majestic limestone formations.
Book at Rita Cruise, Indochine Premium Halong Bay Powered by Aston