Halong Bay in Vietnam is home to the legendary dragon. Brief description of Halong Bay. How we went boating in Halong Bay

is one of the wonders of the world. It attracts tourists with picturesque landscapes and interesting legends. Admiring the numerous islands, rocks, inside a person slips slight fear and an overwhelming sense of curiosity.

Yes, one can go crazy from such beauty, forget about everything around, but it is impossible not to feel how the adrenaline rush occurs inside. That's why you need to take a Halong Bay cruise.

A bit about history

The origin of the bay is associated with beautiful legends. One of them says that in ancient times, the gods decided to save the Vietnamese people from enemies and lowered a family of dragons to earth. Protecting people, amazing creatures spat gems, creating beautiful islands. Enemy ships collided with these islands and crashed.

But the legend does not end there. After the crash, the wreckage turned into rocks, and the dragons remained in the bay, granting her unique name"Halong" - the place where the dragon descended to earth.

Description

Halong Bay surprises tourists with its mesmerizing scenery. It is rich in rocks, islands, cliffs, of which there are about three thousand.

Silvery waterfalls lurk in the rocks, deep caves similar to tunnels.

The Vietnamese gave the caves a wonderful look: they equipped the dungeons with multi-colored lamps, turning a natural creation into a real underground kingdom.

The islands of the bay do not have a logical order and differ from each other in size and shape. Numerous islands have interesting names, for example, Antelope, Fighting Rooster, Wooden Spear Cave, Drum Cave, Pillar Cave, Kuang Han. Their names have arisen due to the corresponding forms or in honor of the living animals.

natural attractions

The islands and cliffs of Ha Long stretch over 1,500 square kilometers. Different natural phenomena turned them into real sights of Vietnam. You can admire the rocks with tower karst, reminiscent of towers or high pillars.

Many vacationers like grottoes - small caves With large entrance having a landslide origin.

Here are some of them:

Acoustic grotto. Here you can hear unusual sounds that occur due to strong winds. It seems that the real Mother of Dragons lives inside the grotto;
Grotto stone pillars has stone giants, which allowed him to become popular place for visiting. Inside it is a reservoir with fresh water. Judging by the inscription on the wall, Khai Dinem was here in 1917;
Grotto of Quang Han is the most big cave Gulf of Tonkin. This proves its infinite length of 1300 m.

Halong weather. When to book a ticket

The climate of Halong has two seasons: summer and winter. Dry cold winter begins in December and ends in February. Rainy summer months are June, July, August, September. When to go on a cruise is the business of every tourist, but having overcome a long journey, I want to enjoy the most favorable moments of the trip.

Therefore, the optimal months for rest are April-May, September-October. Closes in November beach season. In early August, the typhoon season begins and it is extended until October.

How to get to a unique place

Tourists prefer to get to the bay accompanied by a guide. You can drive to Halong on your own, spending a small amount.

By bus

It is necessary to purchase a ticket for a tourist minibus. They are sold in any travel company that is easy to find on the streets of Hanoi. They pick up passengers from hotels and take them to a big bus. But you should be patient, the route on this transport will last more than 5 hours due to frequent stops.

Or buy a ticket for a flight intercity bus. It is sent from the stations every half an hour. Upon reaching Halong, buses end their route at Bai Chay Bus Station.

All buses go to end point in Halong. Here you can buy a tour and go on a trip around the bay.

All tourists should be aware that the last scheduled boat departure takes place at 13.00. Being late, travelers will have to spend the night or go back.

By train

Surprisingly, with a good railway, there is no train to Halong, so the departure point is Haiphong City, Hanoi Long Bien Station.

4 passenger trains depart from it every day. This method will allow you to get to Ha Long in 2 hours.

By car in 3 hours

If it is not possible to travel around the bay for more than one day, then you can get to Ha Long from Nha Trang by car.

Upon arrival, you need to choose a tour of the bay of the same name for 4 hours. After the tour, the driver of the rented car delivers the client to the hotel.

Entertainment in Halong Bay

The nature of the islands and proudly standing rocks almost untouched by man. Only on some pieces of land did the local people master life. They perfectly "made friends" with importunate wild monkeys who are happy with any delicacy from people. Here you can find decent entertainment for the period of rest.

Sea cruise

Halong cruises have different cost and available to every wallet. If vacationers have a desire to stand on the land of the island, then the Vietnamese are not averse to “parking” the boat.

They closely monitor the behavior of tourists and adhere to the rules so as not to harm nature. Riding along the bay can last several days, so the guides supply tourists with food.

Fishing

Vacationers are allowed to catch squid and fish. It is better to set aside for such an activity at night. In the dark, the water of the bay acquires an irresistible beauty and even glows.

Kayaking

You can arrange an independent swim in a rowing boat. There are no barriers and restrictions in front of the tourist, you can swim up to any island to view its wildlife.

You can take a memorable photo next to a rock that looms menacingly over your head, creating the feeling that it is about to collapse.

beach holiday

In Halong, all the beaches are artificially created, and if you want to get to wild beach, then you have to transfer to a kayak. The Vietnamese and many tourists assure that each island has its own peculiarity, which confirms the diversity and magnificence of Halong Bay.

The nature of Ha Long fascinates at first sight, you want to come back here, having abandoned your work. The wonderful world acts on a person like hypnosis, helping to forget problems, sorrows, gain strength and take a break from a hectic civilized life. After a day trip, the traveler feels light and falls into a sweet dream.

According to an old legend, in ancient times on the land that is today the location halong bay, inhabited by a huge dragon. A strong monster made hollows in the earth's surface with its limbs and tail and crawled into the sea, and the hollows themselves gradually filled with water. On the surface were only those islands that the dragon's paws had not touched. Today they rise above the surface of the bay. According to another version, the history of the appearance of Halong dates back to the time of the Old Kingdoms, when the inhabitants of neighboring China now and then staged devastating raids on. Seeing the suffering of the Vietnamese people, the Gods themselves intervened in the fate of their country and sent mighty dragons to help the warring ones. Having plunged into the sea, they created a barrier and did not let the Chinese invaders into the country. Spewing flames, mythical creatures turned fires into gems. As they came into contact with the surface of the water, they reincarnated into islands. The countless number of pearl islands has become an insurmountable obstacle for the Chinese. So the dragons helped the Vietnamese to win the battle with the enemy. The Mother of Dragons, who wished to visit the jubilant people, liked the picturesque bay so much that she chose it as her favorite vacation spot. Waving her tail, she plunged into the sea. Therefore, the bay was named Halong, because this word denotes the whole phrase "dragon descending into the sea."

Halong Bay - photo

But whatever the legends say, in 1288 the bay really had to take part in hostilities. Historical chronicles tell how the Mongol invaders tried by hook or by crook to conquer Vietnam. But the talented commander Tran Hyng Dao saw excellent strategic opportunities in the bay. Under his leadership, the fighters drove millions of sharp spears into the bottom of Ha Long, and then lured the conquerors into the waters of the bay. Having flown ships on pointed peaks, the foreigners broke through their swimming facilities and were convinced.

Natural Attractions of Halong Bay

The area of Halong accounts for about 1,500 square kilometers. Its territory is rich in caves, rocks and cliffs, and scientists have counted more than 3 thousand islands. What awaits tourists in the mysterious halong bay? In addition to the quaint green islands, the sights of the bay are rocks with tower karst. Internal formations were formed in them under the influence of rainwater, which eroded the limestone for decades.

Among all the grottoes, the most popular among vacationers are:

Acoustic grotto, impressive with unreal echoes of the wind. With strong gusts, such unusual sounds hover here that impressionable tourists get the impression of the presence of the Mother of Dragons here.
Grotto of stone pillars, rich stone giants. Its feature is considered to be an internal natural reservoir with drinking water. In 1917, the Vietnamese Emperor Khai Dinham visited this cave. He immortalized his visit with an inscription on a stele made specially for this occasion.
Quang Han Grotto is the most large cave in this bay. Its length is 1,300 meters, so it resembles an endless tunnel.

Halong Bay - video

Halong Bay - where is it located and how to get there

Halong Bay is located in the Gulf of Tonkin, which belongs to South China Sea. You can find the bay in the north of Vietnam, 170 kilometers from its capital -. You can get to a paradise place from Hanoi or Nanying (this chinese city). For tourists vacationing in the south, it is better to get to the archipelago by plane, taking advantage of the flight to Haiphong. Drive to Halong from Hanoi more convenient by bus. You can buy a ticket for it at travel companies or just on the street. The fare is low - 10 - 12 dollars (the price is set based on the class vehicle and route features).

Halong Bay on the map

Halong Bay is one of the main attractions of Vietnam. Halong is located in the northern part of the country, 300 km from Hanoi. Like everyone who is going to go to one of the loudest sights of northern Vietnam, we read reviews, compared opinions different people, listened to those whom we trust and chose the most optimal option for both of us.

Great place in Vietnam - Halong Bay

How to go to Halong

Tour for 1 day for $40-60. If you want to see the famous Halong Bay, take pictures at the observation decks, visit a cave, ride a ship and return to your hotel by the evening, then you need to buy a one-day tour. According to the program, it does not differ from the two-day one, except for spending the night on the ship.
Tour for 2-3 days from $100. If, in your opinion, it is romantic to spend the night in a ship's cabin, you have free $150-200 per person and you have enough days in Vietnam, then take a tour for 2-3 days.

Although we are romantics, we somehow intuitively felt what we specifically needed. Having traveled one day and looked at Halong for several hours, we realized that we had not lost anything. For 1 day we saw all the most beautiful and at the same time gained time. We bought a tour at the reception of our hotel and did not lose.

Halong bay day trip

At 7:40 in the morning, a minibus came to the hotel for us. It is unexpected that a minibus, because the journey from Hanoi to Halong takes 4 hours. They even brought us big bus, even though the road is only 2.5 hours. On the way, they brought us to a souvenir shop with a toilet. Everything as usual.

The guide was a wonderful Vietnamese student. She spoke excellent English and most of the information was clear. The guide told us right away that she would not rush us anywhere, so that we would not feel like on a typical excursion, where we run everywhere to have time to see everything. So in the end it turned out, we had time everywhere, we were in no hurry.

After 4 hours, the road arrived at the port, from where the ships leave for Halong.

As soon as the group left the minibus, we immediately went to the ship, which was already waiting for us. We did not languish for half an hour waiting, as other tourists do. The ship was modest, but very dignified, clean, with an open upper deck.

European girls undress to sunbathe

Lunch on the ship overlooking Halong bay

It's time to satisfy your hunger. Dinner time came as soon as we sailed from mainland. Dinner was quite unimportant. There was no buffet and the food left a lot to be desired.

They brought one fish for 6 people, meat, some cabbage appetizer and tofu. Fortunately, Koreans were sitting at the table with us and, apparently, they understood that I do not eat meat. That's why most i ate the fish

Drinks are offered for separate fee. Prices are low, see for yourself. For the same prices, we buy drinks in cafes in Hanoi. We had our own water, it was not forbidden to drink it.

Mountains in Halong Bay

After lunch, we went upstairs and contemplated the passing mountains.

Despite the numerous opinions that the rocks in and the rocks in Halong are one and the same, it did not seem so to us. They are somewhat similar, but the keyword is similar, not identical. Only remotely reminiscent.

The rocks in the province of Krabi are more elongated, high and bare. The rocks from Halong are green and fluffy. Mostly completely overgrown with trees. They are so furry that you want to reach out and stroke them.

In Halong Bay, the rocks are presented in such a huge amount that you swim and do not see the edge where they end. There are ten times more of them than in Krabi.

Observation deck in Halong and the largest cave

A little later, we were dropped off at the first stop with an observation deck. Climbing it is not difficult, it is not very high.

That rare case when I asked an outsider to take a photo and it turned out to be successful

Surprise Cave in Halong Bay

The cave was next place after observation deck. She's huge and so fantastic...

This is the most beautiful cave we saw

The cave is brightly illuminated with different lights, steps and bridges are laid along the entire length. Comfortable and convenient inspection is guaranteed to you.

Surprising cave and the truth turned out to be a surprise for us

You can wander through such caves for hours, and not like in Ninh Bing or in James Bond, when you canoe, swim down and try to see at least something in the dark, a candle with your flashlight. It still stinks of bat waste.

Everything about Halong Cave was perfect. Clean, beautiful, safe. We were given enough time and our group in the cave was the only one. It was the same on when our group was brought before the mass arrival of the Chinese and all other tourists, so that we could take pictures of every corner of this island and be in silence. This time we were lucky again with the agency.

Second observation deck

Having got out of the cave, there was again an observation deck and a small counter with souvenirs.

Having crossed the bridge, which reminded us, we loaded into our ship and sailed to Titov Island.

Titov Island in Halong

Our cosmonaut German Titov found the time to name an island and a monument in Halong Bay, thanks to friendly relations with Ho Chi Minh City. For some reason, only Ti Top is written on his monument, and not TiTov. We even came up with a version that Ti Top can be an abbreviation for the English Titov Top, Titov's top?

There are not as many people on Titov Island as it could be. The beach, of course, is not a bounty, but the water is transparent, the garbage does not float in it and you can swim.

Titov Island Beach

Rent a sunbed-chair 30,000 VND ($ 1.5). Very cheap for such a touristy place.

The mountains are close, the views are crazy. You can even see the bottom near the shore. In principle, a very bathable island

You have 1 hour to stay on Titov Island. We decided to swim in more suitable place, sometime next time and on another island. It is better to devote the allotted time to climbing the most beautiful observation deck in Halong bay.

Observation deck on Titov island

The ascent to the view point turned out to be more difficult than at the previous viewing points. In addition, there were crowds of people on the narrow stairs, even traffic jams sometimes formed. We didn't go up to the top.

We stopped in the middle. From here and so great view and fewer people.

Stood and watched for 20 minutes

There is even time left to go down, wander along the beach and drink an expensive coconut for 50,000 dong ($ 2.5).

We spent a total of 4 hours in Halong Bay. On the way back, all tired, but happy, sailed back and headed to the pier, where the minibus was waiting for us.

We swim and see the setting sun. Thank you Halong for the day spent in your bay. And thanks for the sunny weather!

Back we were waiting for a 4-hour road to Hanoi, which seemed to never end

Halong reviews and conclusions on excursions

Should I go to Halong? Yes, it's worth it. Be sure to visit when you are in Hanoi. Even if you have already seen rocks in Thailand. The views are tougher. But, if you are relaxing in Mui Ne or Nha Trang, then we think it is not worth paying $ 400 for an excursion and flying because of Ha Long.

If you have already been to Krabi and now doubt that Halong Bay will not touch your soul and will not make any impression, then I hope that you will take our word for it. Halong Bay impressed even us, who had seen enough of such beauty in Sam Roi Yot National Park, in Ninh Binh, in Vang Vieng and on the Krabi islands, such as.

Although the mountains are similar to Krabi, they are different here. And there are more of them. Countless. The scale is amazing. Even the simplest one day excursion will be remembered for a long time!

Perhaps, when you just go to Halong for show, then such an excursion may not be remembered by anything. It's rare for us, but it's happened. But now, we are from a 2-month stay in Russia and, oh, how glad we were that we did not cancel the trip to Ha Long at all. But such an idea slipped more than once.

Panoramic photo of Halong

Excursion to Halong for 1 day or for 2 days - which is better?

Our subjective opinion is that it is not necessary to take two-or even three-day tours to Halong. You are going to see a bay with mountains and 4 hours is more than enough. Well, the way back to Hanoi is not so tedious in fact.

Please also note that two-day excursions are not as tempting as they seem at first glance. The program is exactly the same as ours. one day tour. The only difference is that you spend the night on the ship. At the same time, such a tour costs 2-3 times more expensive - from $ 100 per person. The price depends on the quality of the ship. There are 2, 3, 4 and 5 star ships.

You can certainly argue and say that while we are trudging back to Hanoi in minibuses, you continue to admire the bay. But it gets dark in Vietnam at 6 pm. From the window of your cabin you will see only darkness and nothing else. Add to this boredom on the ship and somehow working Wi-Fi. Dubious pleasure, I tell you.

On the second day, no outstanding program is offered. Tourists will be evicted early in the morning from the ship's cabin, and the only entertainment will be canoeing in the area of Titov Island and a master class in Vietnamese cooking, which no one needs, as practice shows. That is, even the route of the ship does not differ from a one-day tour.

So, we recommend visiting Halong Bay. Cruise for 1 day can be taken safely. All the most interesting just look. 4 hours on the bus there and 4 back is not as scary as they scare in travel agencies. We went and were pleased that we did not take a two-day tour.

Write comments about your impressions of the bay and which tour would suit you personally.

halong video

A real treasure of Vietnam. Fantastic in its beauty, the views amaze thousands of tourists who visit this place every year.

Halong Bay (Vietnam) — description, photo

Halong Bay (or bay) - a place where nature has gathered thousands mysterious caves and grottoes, rocks, bizarre cliffs, large and very tiny islands. The size of the bay is over 1500 km. sq.!

It is worth saying that Ha Long itself is the capital city of the Vietnamese province of Quang Ninh, which is by no means of independent interest.

It is famous not only for its breathtaking landscapes of rocks and islands, but also for its mysterious caves. Inside them, a whole world is hidden, full of stalactites ominously hanging down and cones and pillars of stalagmites growing from the bottom, as well as small waterfalls.

Having equipped the caves with multi-colored lamps, the Vietnamese created bright underground kingdoms shimmering with all colors for tourists.

The islands of the bay - completely different in size - are randomly scattered over the water and stick out of it like rocks.

Almost a thousand islands have their own original name, among which are such interesting names as Elephant, Antelope, Fighting Rooster, Lizard. It is clear that they are named either because of their outlandish shape, or in honor of the animals that live on the island.
Part of the islands is completely occupied by caves.

– Among the famous cave islands is the “Cave of Wooden Spears”, which is famous for the fact that spears were kept inside it, driven into the bottom of the bay during the war with the Mongols.
- In the "Drum Cave" strong wind sometimes creates a rumble similar to a drum roll.
- Inside some caves, for example, in the "Cave of Pillars", - cleanest lakes with fresh drinking water.
- The longest cave is Kuang Hanh, its length is over one kilometer.

Most big Island bay occupies 285 sq. km. and is called Katba, which translates as "island of women." Here is a unique natural Park occupying half of the area tourist complex and excellent sandy areas bathing sushi.

Another famous island- Tuanchau, it is the former residence of Ho Chi Minh - the famous leader - a fighter for independence.

Another interesting place, showing the whole flavor of local Vietnamese life - floating fishing villages. Incredibly, they are built on rafts!

The local flora and fauna is extremely rich, and fishermen manage to catch more than 200 species of fish and about 450 different shellfish.

Halong Bay in Vietnam: legends

The people of Vietnam are quite superstitious, so the history of Ha Long is riddled with mythical legends and stories. The most popular of them are associated with dragons, which now adorn all kinds of souvenirs in the bay, because the name "Halong" itself is translated approximately as "the place where the dragon dives."

According to one legend, the land where Ha Long is now located was once inhabited by a huge fire-breathing dragon. Walking along it, with his powerful tail, touching the mountains, he hollowed out the rocks, and left deep holes with his paws.

Having descended to the coast, the dragon plunged into the sea, which, overflowing its banks, flooded the entire valley, and only rocks, cliffs and thousands of islands created by a mighty creature remained from it.

Another legend is no less fantastic.
In ancient times, Heaven helped the Vietnamese fight against Chinese warriors who were trying to plunder and seize their land. In order to prevent defeat, it sent a flock of magical dragons to help, in which, instead of fire, precious stones - pearls - poured into the sea from their mouths. Just by touching sea waves, they turned into islands right in front of the opponents and thus defeated the enemy ships.

Having dealt with the hated enemies, the dragons decided to settle on this land. The mother of all dragons chose the most picturesque bay for herself, which has since been called Ha Long in honor of the Dragon descending into the sea.
Historians say that in the XIII century, hostilities really took place in the bay, but between the Mongols and the Vietnamese.

Driving long wooden spears into the bottom, the Vietnamese lured the enemies there and easily won, as the Mongol ships fell into a trap, flying into the pointed spears, which were invisible due to the tide.

By the way, the scientific, more realistic theory of the formation of the bay is the following. The coast, created from limestone rocks, was washed away by rains over time, carried away by the wind - hence caves, grottoes and rocks originated.

The shore of the bay about 10-15 thousand years ago began to sink, which led to the appearance of islands rising among the waters.

Bay is currently halong bay is a unique creation of nature, which is an object world heritage and protected by UNESCO. In addition, in 2011, Halong began to be considered one of the wonders of the world.

Halong bay: how to get from Hanoi

The bay is located 170 kilometers from the capital Hanoi in the Gulf of Tonkin in the South China Sea.

It is most convenient to get there as part of an excursion, but it is also possible independent travel which may be even more expensive. organized tour. Some tourists come to the bay from Naning, China by bus. From Ho Chi Minh City you can fly to Haiphong. But the most basic route runs from the capital Hanoi.

Minibuses and regular buses

Tourist minibuses reach Halong in about 3 hours, longer due to many stops (about 5 hours), but cheap option- regular intercity bus. Buses usually go straight to the pier.

Some Ha Long hotels offer their future guests their own transfer from Hanoi Airport to Ha Long. In addition, you can rent a car with a driver for a few days.

Through the city of Haiphong (a two-hour drive from the capital), trains run to Halong. From here you can also get there by ferry, boat or speedboat.

Halong Bay: cost

It is visited all year round, but the winter months can significantly spoil the impression of this place due to strong winds, and summer is usually famous for prolonged showers. Optimal time visits - autumn and spring.

To enjoy and admire the bay, you can not do without a boat trip between the rocks and islands or a cruise for several days. The cost of such excursions depends on the number of days, the class of the boat and the place where the excursion was purchased. At the official box office travel agencies prices are lower.

A standard boat trip with a visit to the island costs from $5.

- a real treasure of Vietnam. Fantastic in its beauty, the views amaze thousands of tourists who visit this place every year.

Halong Bay, in other words, is a bay where thousands of mysterious caves and grottoes, rocks, bizarre cliffs, large and very tiny islands are collected by nature. Its size is impressive - more than one and a half thousand km. sq.!

It is worth saying that Halong itself is the capital city of the Vietnamese province of Quang Ninh, which is by no means of independent interest.

Description of Halong Bay

Ha Long is not only famous for its breathtaking scenery of cliffs and islands. Hiding in the rocks mysterious caves, inside of which there is a whole world full of stalactites ominously hanging down and cones and pillars of stalagmites growing from the bottom, as well as small waterfalls.

Having equipped the caves with multi-colored lamps, the Vietnamese created bright underground kingdoms shimmering with all colors for tourists.

The islands of the bay - completely different in size - are randomly scattered over the water and stick out of it like rocks.

Part of the islands is completely occupied by caves.

Among the famous cave islands is the "Cave of Wooden Spears", which is famous for the fact that spears were kept inside it, which were driven into the bottom of the bay during the war with the Mongols.
In the Drum Cave, a strong wind at times creates a rumble similar to drumming.
Inside some caves, for example, in the Cave of Pillars, there are the purest lakes with fresh drinking water.
The longest cave is Kuang Hanh, its length is over one kilometer.

The largest island of the Bay occupies 285 sq. km. and has the name Katba, which translates as "island of women." Here is a unique natural park, which occupies half of the territory, a tourist complex and excellent sandy areas for swimming.

Another well-known island is Tuan Chau, where the former residence of Ho Chi Minh, the famous leader and fighter for independence, is located.

Another interesting place that shows the whole flavor of local Vietnamese life is floating fishing villages. Incredibly, they are built on rafts!

The local flora and fauna is extremely rich, and fishermen manage to catch more than 200 species of fish and about 450 different shellfish.

According to one legend, the land where Ha Long is now located was once inhabited by a huge fire-breathing dragon. Walking along it, with his powerful tail, touching the mountains, he hollowed out the rocks, and left deep holes with his paws.

Having descended to the coast, the dragon plunged into the sea, which, having overflowed its banks, flooded the entire valley, and only rocks, cliffs and thousands of islands created by a mighty creature remained from it.

Another legend is no less fantastic.

In ancient times, Heaven helped the Vietnamese fight against Chinese warriors who were trying to plunder and seize their land. In order to prevent defeat, it sent a flock of magical dragons to help, in which, instead of fire, precious stones - pearls - poured into the sea from their mouths. Only when they touched the sea waves, they turned into islands right in front of the opponents and thus defeated the enemy ships.

Having dealt with the hated enemies, the dragons decided to settle on this land. The mother of all dragons chose the most picturesque bay for herself, which has since been called Ha Long in honor of the Dragon descending into the sea.

Historians say that in the XIII century, hostilities really took place in the bay, but between the Mongols and the Vietnamese.

The shore of the bay about 10-15 thousand years ago began to sink, which led to the appearance of islands rising among the waters.

Currently, Halong Bay is a unique creation of nature, which is a World Heritage Site and protected by UNESCO. In addition, in 2011, Halong began to be considered one of the wonders of the world.

Where is Halong Bay located on the map

The map below shows the exact location of the bay.

How to get to Halong Bay

Distance from Hanoi to Halong

The bay is located 170 kilometers from the Vietnamese capital Hanoi in the Gulf of Tonkin in the South China Sea.

It is most convenient to get there as part of an excursion, but an independent trip is also possible, which can be even more expensive than an organized tour. Some tourists come to the bay from Naning, China by bus. From Ho Chi Minh City you can fly to Haiphong.

How to get from Hanoi to Halong

The most basic route runs from the capital Hanoi.

Minibuses and regular buses

In about 3 hours, tourist minibuses reach Ha Long, longer due to the many stops (about 5 hours), but a cheap option is a scheduled intercity bus. Buses usually go straight to the pier.

Airport transfer

Some Ha Long hotels offer their future guests their own transfer from Hanoi Airport to Ha Long. In addition, you can rent a car with a driver for a few days.

Train

Through the city of Hai Phong (a two-hour drive from the capital), trains run to Ha Long. From here you can also get there by ferry, boat or speedboat.

Time and cost of visiting

Halong Bay is visited all year round, but the winter months can significantly spoil the impression of this place due to strong winds, and summer, as a rule, is famous for prolonged downpours. Best time to visit is autumn and spring.

To enjoy and admire the bay, you can not do without a boat trip between the rocks and islands or a cruise for several days. The cost of such excursions depends on the number of days, the class of the boat and the place where the excursion was purchased. In official cash desks, in travel agencies, prices are lower.

A standard boat trip with a visit to the island costs from $5.
A 2-3 day cruise with meals and an overnight stay at a hotel (or boat) will cost $35 or more.
If you order a tour from Hanoi, then one day, including travel, will cost from $25, two days - from $50, and three - from $85.
Some companies offer helicopter rides over Ha Long starting at $175.

In any case, it is worth it, because Ha Long is a real masterpiece created by nature.