Vietnam travel, Ha Long Bay has long become a destination to visit as it is one of the 7 natural wonders of the world with magnificent landscapes like no other. Ha Long Bay also has many other remarkable things that make this place a place to visit once in a lifetime. Let’s explore with Paradise Travel the answer to the question “Why visit Ha Long Bay” as well as some travel experiences here.
Overview of Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay is located in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province, about 180km from Hanoi, and is known as the tourist paradise of the North. With its convenient location, modern infrastructure, and developed transportation system, Ha Long Bay attracts millions of tourists from both domestic and international destinations every year.
Ha Long Bay covers an area of 1,553km² with 1,900 limestone islands of various shapes and sizes, creating a diverse and vibrant landscape. This bay has been recognized multiple times by UNESCO as one of the world’s natural wonders and is often referred to as a must-visit destination at least once in a lifetime.
Why visit Ha Long Bay?
One of the 7 natural wonders of the world
Ha Long Bay is honored as one of the 7 natural wonders of the world, a title recognized by UNESCO. With this title, Ha Long Bay promises to bring tourists unforgettable scenery in their exploration journey.
Surrounded by magnificent scenery, nowhere else to be found
Ha Long Bay is surrounded by incredibly beautiful natural landscapes, nowhere else to be found. The emerald waters contrast against the stunning limestone mountains, creating a mysterious and captivating scene. In particular, the rich, diverse and amazing cave systems is a special feature that makes Ha Long Bay unique and attractive.
Cool climate with clear skies
Another thing that makes Ha Long Bay even more special is its cool climate and clear skies. During the summer days when temperatures soar in neighboring areas, Ha Long Bay still maintains a cool climate with clear blue skies. This provides favorable conditions for tourists to explore and discover without experiencing the discomfort of scorching heat.
Full facilities and quality services
In recent years, Ha Long has experienced remarkable economic development, with significant growth rates. The infrastructure and facilities have been heavily invested in, ensuring quality. This helps tourists have a full experience with all the amenities, catering to all needs from entertainment, accommodation to shopping, and exploring local culture.
Many exciting nature exploration activities
When visiting Ha Long, tourists not only get to sightsee, admire the scenery, and relax but also can experience many unique and impressive activities such as:
- Kayaking: Enjoying the scenery of Ha Long Bay by Kayak is an activity that many tourists look forward to. Sitting on a small kayak, paddling through the water, tourists will feel small amidst the majestic scenery of the sky and clouds. The experience of kayaking is to sit still and maintain balance.
- Overnight on a Ha Long Bay cruise: If you love romantic natural scenery, you should try spending a night on a cruise at least once. Tourists will welcome the dawn surrounded by the sea, away from the dust and noise of the city.
Read more: Top 10 cruises in Ha Long Bay
- Admiring Ha Long Bay from a seaplane: This is a relatively new experience. On a seaplane, tourists will have a bird’s-eye view, embracing the majestic scenery of Ha Long Bay.
Convenient and easy transportation
Traveling to Ha Long Bay is convenient and easy from many locations. With the development of transportation infrastructure, tourists can choose various means such as motorcycles, cars, or public transportation such as taxis, buses, trains, and buses to travel from northern provinces. Especially, using airplanes from southern provinces and landing at Cat Bi Airport (Hai Phong) or Van Don Airport (Quang Ninh) is also a convenient option for tourists who want to explore the beauty of Ha Long Bay.
Fresh, diverse seafood with attractive prices
One of the appealing reasons why visit Ha Long Bay is to enjoy the unique and diverse seafood of this land at attractive prices.
Ha Long is famous for its variety of fresh and delicious seafood, from shrimp, crabs, scallops, snails, oysters… There are also other famous specialties such as Ha Long fish sausage, fish noodle soup, banh da cua (crab noodle soup), banh cuon cua (crab rice noodle rolls), nem cua be (crab salad), and many other unique dishes that have created the irresistible allure of Ha Long cuisine.
Travel Guide to Ha Long Bay
Best Time to Visit Ha Long Bay
The weather in Ha Long varies from month to month and differs significantly between seasons, so you should carefully check the weather forecast before your trip. The travel time to Ha Long Bay can be divided into the following periods:
- From April to June is the ideal time to visit Ha Long Bay. The weather during this time is mostly sunny with warm temperatures, perfect for sightseeing and relaxing with family and friends.
- From June to August is the peak season in Ha Long. Many families combine vacations for their children, so the number of visitors increases significantly, leading to higher room rates and services. This is the summer season, especially in July and August, which often experience tropical lows and storms, directly affecting the travel schedules of tourists.
- Late November to Tet (Lunar New Year) is the time for foreign tourists to visit Ha Long. Vietnamese tourists mainly come here in the summer, so during this time, Ha Long is quieter and offers more privacy for you to enjoy.
Ways to Get to Ha Long
With the comprehensive development of transportation infrastructure, it is very easy to travel from Hanoi to Ha Long City to visit the bay by the following means:
By motorcycle
From Hanoi and some northern provinces, you can ride a motorcycle to Bac Ninh via National Highway 18. Continue your journey, passing through Pha Lai Ward, Chi Linh District, Hai Duong Province. When you arrive at Dong Trieu town, the western gateway of Quang Ninh province, continue through Uong Bi City to reach Ha Long City.
This journey takes about 4 – 5 hours. It will be a great experience for those who love adventure. However, you should be cautious to ensure safety by maintaining an appropriate speed, wearing a helmet with a visor, and wearing long-sleeved clothing throughout the journey.
By car
Traveling by car saves time for your trip to Ha Long. From the center of Hanoi, you need to follow the directions on the Hanoi – Ha Long expressway to reach Ha Long City quickly and safely. Compared to traveling by motorcycle, the travel time is shorter, about 2 – 2.5 hours.
By public transport
In addition to private vehicles, you can use public transportation such as taxis, buses, trains, or coaches to reach Ha Long. If you are departing from southern provinces, you can take a plane and land at Cat Bi Airport (Hai Phong) or Van Don Airport (Quang Ninh). From these airports, visiting Ha Long Bay and exploring its beauty becomes very convenient.
Other Attractions near Ha Long Bay
Tuan Chau Island
Located on Tuan Chau Island, Tuan Chau tourist area attracts tourists with its beautiful and romantic space. When visiting Tuan Chau, you should participate in the water music performance, have fun at the outdoor amusement park, or explore the newly opened dinosaur park, which attracts many young people.
Quang Ninh Museum
Quang Ninh Museum is considered a miniature version of Quang Ninh province, while also preserving and depicting the distinctive culture of the people of Ha Long, focusing on the most special aspects of the mining land. Visitors will be amazed and impressed by the realistic and vivid models here, providing a deep and special experience of the history and culture of the region.
Cua Van Fishing Village
Many tourists have shared that to truly understand and appreciate the beauty of Ha Long Bay, visiting Cua Van Fishing Village is a must. Cua Van is an ancient fishing village located on the edge of the bay, deeply imbued with the life and culture of the coastal people. Here, tourists can experience unique activities such as fishing, squid fishing, or rowing boats, and enjoy fresh seafood right on the boat. This makes the experience of traveling to Ha Long Bay even more special and memorable than ever.
Lan Ha Bay
Lan Ha Bay is located on the eastern side of Cat Ba Island and adjacent to the southern part of Ha Long Bay. With its majestic natural scenery and unique pristine landscapes, Lan Ha Bay has become an ideal destination for those who love peace and wilderness. When visiting Lan Ha, tourists can participate in exciting sea activities and explore the rustic life of the fishermen in the fishing village here. This will surely create unforgettable experiences and new discoveries for all tourists.
Bai Tu Long Bay
Bai Tu Long Bay is a paradise with hundreds of large and small islands, captivating any visitor with its rustic and magical beauty. The limestone and limestone islands protruding on the waves create a breathtaking scene. The pristine and fresh landscape of the long beaches, white sands, is also an irresistible highlight, making everyone mesmerized and immersed in the taste of nature.
So why visit Ha Long Bay? Hopefully, with this article, tourists have seen the charming and unique points of this place. Let Ha Long Bay be the next destination on your Northern Vietnam tour list, and let Paradise Travel accompany you in building this unforgettable journey.