Ha Long Bay is Vietnam's most iconic landscape - 1,600 limestone islands rising from emerald waters. The key is picking the right cruise.
Places to Visit · 4 spots
🏝️ Island
Bai Tu Long Bay
Bái Tử Long Bay - Ha Long's quieter, less-visited neighbour to the northeast - shares the same UNESCO-listed karst landscape but with far fewer cruise boats, better beaches, and a more traditional atmosphere. It's Ha Long Bay the way it was 20 years ago.
🌿 Nature
Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay - Vietnam's most iconic landscape and a UNESCO World Heritage Site - is 1,553 square kilometres of emerald water, nearly 2,000 limestone karst islands, sea caves, and floating villages in the Gulf of Tonkin. The only way to see it properly is by overnight cruise.
🌿 Nature
Sung Sot Cave
Sung Sot Cave - the largest and most spectacular limestone grotto in Ha Long Bay - hides two vast cathedral chambers, surreal stalactite formations, and a panoramic viewpoint over the bay, all inside Bồ Hòn Island in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
🏝️ Island
Ti Top Island
Ti Top Island - named after Soviet cosmonaut Gherman Titov, who visited with President Hồ Chí Minh in 1962 - is Ha Long Bay's most iconic stop: a crescent-shaped white sand beach for swimming and a 400-step summit climb rewarded with a 360° panorama of the bay.
Plan Your Trip
Getting There
Bus from Hanoi to Ha Long City (3.5 hrs). Most cruises include transfers.
Best Time to Visit
October – April for clear skies. Avoid July–August (peak crowds).
Recommended Stay
1 – 2 nights on a cruise
Practical Info
SIM & Connectivity
Viettel or Vietnamobile available locally. Unlimited data from ~150,000 VND/month.
Scam Alerts
Use Grab for transport. Agree on prices upfront for any local services.
Money
Cash-first destination. Withdraw VND at ATMs - avoid airport exchange booths.
Emergency
Police: 113 · Ambulance: 115 · Fire: 114
Explore the region
🏔️ North Vietnam