Halong Bay is one of the most famous Vietnam travel destinations travelers should not miss in their Vietnam tour. When it comes to Halong, everyone knows that it has a lovely Halong Bay, but did you know that there are other notable places in this area besides Halong Bay? Let’s explore Halong and move around to locate more remarkable names. We feel you are already “outdated” if you only know Halong Bay! Let’s find out together.
About Halong Bay
Halong city in Quang Ninh province, 180 kilometers from Hanoi, has long been known for the stunning scenery of Halong Bay. Halong is unquestionably the ‘Northern Tourist Paradise of Vietnam’. With its numerous iconic vistas, this place attracts tens of millions of people each year, both domestic and international.
In addition to the well-known Halong Bay location, there are several gorgeous spots nearby for us to visit. If you think this place is merely Halong Bay, you are seriously out of touch. Now, let’s swiftly visit Halong tourism to see what else this place has to offer.
Explore Halong Bay with the following 7 attractive places
When you visit Halong with us, you will quickly find that there are many other great locations to see. It is not strange if you have been “bewitched” by a lovely Halong Bay and then “don’t want to return ” when you know more of the following areas!
Halong Bay
When it comes to Halong tourism, the first name that comes to mind is undoubtedly Halong Bay. This is the most well-known location in the area, with breathtaking scenery that includes thousands of huge and small floating islands, as well as intriguing tunnels with unusual formations. However, when come here, travelers may take a Halong bay cruise to discover many other wonderful spots, such Ngoc Vung Island, Dragon Eye Island, Con Coc Islet, Sung Sot Cave, and so on.
Halong Bay
Halong Bay covers 1,553 square kilometers and contains up to 1,900 large and tiny limestone islands of various shapes. It has been designated as one of the world’s natural wonders by UNESCO. Halong Bay is undoubtedly the name to visit first, but if you are interested in other locations, we can begin with the names listed below.
Cat Ba island
If you want to learn more about Halong tourism, you can visit Cat Ba Island (Pearl Island), which is located in the Cat Ba archipelago to the south of Halong Bay. This place is regarded as the Pearl of the Gulf of Tonkin because it always manages to win the hearts of travelers from all over the world with its pristine natural beauty, majestic and unnatural character.
Cat Ba Island
Hon Gai
Hon Gai is another site for you to discover Halong tourism. To get here, tourists must cross the Bai Chay bridge, which also serves as the city’s political and cultural hub. There are numerous tourist attractions in Hon Gai that are great for relaxation.
Hon Gai
When you visit Hon Gai, you will see the harmonizing natural beauty of HaLong Bay’s mountains and seas. This location also has many interesting places for us to visit, such as: Halong Museum, artificial beach, Vincom Plaza Halong,… and numerous works, such as: Church, harbor, Hon’s seafood market Gai, etc.
Bai Chay
Coming to Halong and skipping Bai Chay is not considered traveling; this is a stunning artificial beach located adjacent to HaLong Bay. With a length of over 1,000 meters, it is also considered the most beautiful beach in the neighborhood, where you may freely enjoy the crystal blue ocean and smooth white sand.
Remember to generate more stunning check-in images for yourself here once you’ve finished swimming. Participating in other activities such as cycling, boating, beach games, and so on is also an option for you.
Bai Chay
Cua Van fishing village
Now, let us visit HaLong tourism, which has numerous attractions, and adjust the breeze a little. Tourists visiting HaLong can visit Cua Van Fishing town, an ancient fishing town on the bay where numerous fishermen catch seafood.
Cua Van fishing village
You can learn and immerse yourself in different activities at this place, which is known for its beautiful beauty. At Cua Van fishing village, you may watch fishing boats, eat fresh seafood, or participate in a variety of sports such as rowing, squid fishing, fishing, and so on.
Yen Tu relic site
Now, let’s go on a spiritual tour of Halong! The Yen Tu relic site has a significant Buddhist history and is also recognized as the ancestral land of Buddhism in Vietnam. There are numerous pieces for travelers to visit and view. This will be an excellent location for visitors to learn more about the religious culture that has been in Halong City from ancient times.
Yen Tu relic site
Quang Ninh Museum
The museum sounds dull, but not in Quang Ninh! The architecture of the Quang Ninh Museum is quite distinctive, with a black box shape merged with it. The museum has three floors with diverse themes and numerous intriguing things to enjoy.
Quang Ninh museum
The first level of the museum will be dedicated to the sea and environment, with many whale skeletons and massive sharks on display. We will include major historical relics from each prehistoric – early – modern period on the second floor. On the third floor, we will be able to reconstruct the history of the coal mining business, revealing in full the challenges of this job to the visitor.
What is the best season to travel to Halong Bay?
Nature has blessed Halong with various lyrical beauty moments all year round, so you can visit at any time of year. If summer in Halong allows you to have exciting swimming activities, autumn allows you to enjoy touring in a cool atmosphere, and spring brings you stunning vistas that are ideal for those days spent holding a camera to satisfy your desire for virtual life.
To be sure, keep the following dates in mind for a perfect Halong trip:
- Halong has intense sun from June through August, however it does rain occasionally. When participating in aquatic activities, you should keep an eye on the weather forecast.
- Halong is warm from April to June, with no rain and no hot sun.
- From September to December, the temperature in Halong turns cooler, so bring appropriate clothing when visiting.
Read more: Halong Bay Weather: When to travel
How to go to Halong Bay?
If you start from Hanoi, you can go to HaLong by motorcycle using the following route: Noi Bai Airport – Bac Ninh, then continue on National Highway 18A via Pha Lai, Trieu Cave, and Hanoi. Uong Bi is the equivalent of Halong.
You can also travel to HaLong by bus, with fares ranging from 110,000 to 260,000 VND/ticket depending on vehicle type and trip time of 3-4 hours.
If you are leaving from Ho Chi Minh City, you can take a flight from Saigon to Quang Ninh, arrive at Van Don airport, and then take a car to Halong. Airfares from Saigon to Quang Ninh range between 600,000 and 900,000 VND per ticket.
Note for travelling to Halong Bay
- As there are so many different sites to visit and play in Halong, you should plan a schedule as well as a precise cost estimate to make the trip more comfortable!
- Boating to tour HaLong Bay and caverns is a must-do in Halong; however, remember to fully equip life jackets and follow the guide’s directions to protect your safety!
- June and August are busy tourist months in Halong; if you visit during these months, make sure to secure hotel rooms and plane tickets ahead of time to avoid long lines.
Bottom Line
In the last article, we discussed some of the most recent Halong travel experiences available today. This information should help you better plan for your upcoming trip to Halong. If you want to visit HaLong in the future, don’t forget to visit Paradise Travel to enjoy a HaLong experience; there are many unique offers for you!
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I really want to visit Cat Ba Island. I’m planning to travel to Vietnam during my summer vacation this year. Thank you for the good writing.
Hi! Thank you for your comment. Please kindly send us an email to sales@vietnamparadisetravel.com. We would like to have a further discussion.