Welcome to Halong Bay

Halong Bay is around 165 km from Hanoi Center. It takes you around 3.5 - 4 hours by local bus and 2.5 - 3 hours by cruise bus or taxi.

Yes. Halong bay is absolutely worth seeing at least once in your life. It was twice recognized by UNESCO for aesthetic value and geological and geomorphological value. Recently, Halong Bay and Cat Ba Island also became the very first Vietnamese inter-provincial heritage site of the world. The destination attracts not only nature lovers but also adventurers who love to know about the geology, geomorphology, history, and culture of Halong dating back millions of years ago.

See 12 reason why you should visit Halong bay

In fact, Halong Bay is suitable to visit all year round as each season offers a distinct beauty of the bay. If you prefer a dry season with less harsh sun and cool temperatures, March to May and October to November are the best. If you prefer lots of sunshine for water activities and a blue and clear sky for perfect photos, summer months such as June and July would be ideal. However, summer may come with more rain and possible storms. A backup plan for summer vacation is recommended.

Halong Bay is famous for the unique formation of nearly 2,000 thousand limestone islands and islets on the emerald ocean. In addition, many natural caves and beaches were found on these islands, making it an ideal place not only for exploring but also for relaxing and escaping from the bustling city.

• Halong Bay has an area of 1,553 km2 and consists of almost 2,000 islands and islets yet the core area that was recognized by UNESCO is 334 km2 and includes 775 islets only.
• Some caves in Halong remain vestiges of prehistoric man such as Me Cung Cave and Tien Ong Cave and have historical value such as Quan Y (Hospital) Cave and Dau Go Cave.
• Most Halong residents were required to relocate to the mainland by the government. This is to improve their life quality, especially for children and the elders, and contribute to preserving the environment. There are currently 4 villages with a small number of locals in the bay namely Cua Van, Vung Vieng, Cong Dam, and Ba Hang Village.
• Halong has a rich ecosystem with tropical rainforests,  mangroves, and coral reefs. There are 163 species of coral that can be found at 4-6 meter depth. Halong is the home of 450 Mollusc species and 200 kinds of fish.
• Halong Bay was twice recognized as the world’s Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO: in 1994 for aesthetic value and in 2000 for geological and geomorphological value. Besides, Halong Bay was recognized as one of the new 7 natural wonders of the world by New7wonders on 11/11/2011.