Halong Bay, One of the Wonders of the World

Halong Bay is a beautiful natural wonder in northern Vietnam near the Chinese border. The Bay is dotted with 1,600 limestone islands and islets and covers an area of over 1,500 sqkm. This extraordinary area was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. For many tourists, this place is like something right out of a movie. The fact is that Halong Bay features a wide range of biodiversity, while the surrealistic scenery has indeed featured in endless movies.

The best way to get to Halong City is by car, minibus or bus from Hanoi which is only 170km away. If budget is not a problem, an hour-long helicopter transfer is also available.  We signed up for a half day tour to 3 spots at Halong Bay for 450,000vnd per person after a 50,000vnd discount because we are travelling with 4 pax. The activities are caving at Thien Cung Cave, swimming or hiking at Titop Island and kayaking around Halong Bay.

Departing early in the morning and the tour took about 6 hours tour which comes with a lunch set which is not really appetizing. That's what you get when you signed up for a cheap price. Maybe next time I will be back for an overnight cruise instead. We pass by a rock formation which looks like two chickens are kissing.

In Ha long Bay, there are around 1969 limestone rising from the sea. On top of each island has a massive amount of trees. There are several large caves located within the island. The biggest cave in the Bay area is a wooden cave, formerly known as the Grotte des Island. The largest islands in the Bay area Gad bah Island and Tuan Chau Island. There are people living permanently in these islands. On these islands, there are many beaches and hotels serving the tourists. Some small island is the Habitat of several animal species, such as chickens, antelope, wild monkeys and species of lizards. These islands are named from the shape such as Koh Chang, Koh Kaichon, Koh Langka etc.

Thien Cung Cave also known as Heavenly Cave, is located in the southwest of Halong Bay, 4 km away from Dau Go Island, which is considered the most beautiful primitive cave of the Bay. The cave is 10,000 square meters with complicated interior structure, many floors, and high ceiling. The cave becomes famous thanks to a unique system of stalactites and stalagmites with different forms and shapes.

Exploring Thien Cung Cave’s craggy cliffs is no easy task. Going through a narrow door, you would be surprised by a large space inside the cave that the further you walk, the more beautiful formation of stalactites come to your eyes.

On the wall of the eastern side of the cave, an impressive picture of stalactites and stalagmites give tourists the most fantastic feeling ever. The travel guide would never forget to tell you legends or folk tales interpreted from the picture by the local Halong people.

Make full use of your imagination to create pictures of fish schools, flocks of birds, and the daily life of people from a giant natural rock pillar all naturally sculptured by stalactites inside your mind when you come to the center of the cave. Above your head, on the ceiling of Thien Cung Cave, amazing rows of stalagmites drooping through million years that create colorful pictures and melodies thank to the light and the wind flowing inside the cave.

Leaving the cave, tourist would feel a lingering sensation like just finish a tour to a massive art museum created by the Mother Nature.

The next stop is kayaking at Luon Cave. You have two choices here. You either kayaking in a two person kayak or sit in a 25 person small rowboat and let a boatman to do all the work. The total time spending here is about 30 minutes. If you are on a rowboat, it would be just 15 minutes.

Luon Cave is only accessible by kayak or by small rowboat (the entrance is too low for cruise ships to pass under) which makes it a great choice for those looking for a more hands on adventure and the chance to explore at their own speed.

Known for its steep, rocky cliff faces and smooth waters below, Luon Cave displays many of the wonderful natural assets that Halong Bay’s ecosystem is known for. Bo Hon Island, the home of Luon Cave, sits starkly alone in the middle of the bay. Located 14km south of Bai Chay Wharf, Luon Cave measures in at 60 meters in length and anywhere between 2.5-4 meters in height depending on the levels of the tide. 

Upon passing through Luon Cave you will arrive at a hidden lake, surrounded by a steep enclosure of limestone mountains. The brackish lake is great to kayak around, thanks to its smooth, emerald waters. The craggy cliffs, flowering orchids and ancient trees of Bo Hon Island make the surrounding landscape quite spectacular, but what really sets this island apart is its population of golden monkeys that can be seen swinging up and down the sides of the cliff. If you fancy leaving the cruise ship behind and taking your experience into your own hands, hop in a kayak and paddle through Luon Cave.

The third stop and the last stop is the Titop Island. Located in the heart of Halong Bay, which is only 8 kilometers from the Southeast of Bai Chay Harbor, Ti Top Island is regarded as one of the most attractive site for both international and domestic tourists to Halong. The name Ti Top is named by the most respectful hero of Vietnam, President Ho Chi Minh, after the Russian astronaut Gherman Titov on the occasion of his first visit to Halong Bay in 1962. 

Unlike 2,000 other tourism spots in Halong, Ti Top does not only have beautiful nature view but also owns a fabulous sandy beach called Ti Top beach or Vang Trang beach (means the Moon beach, because the sandy beach looks like the moon hanging onto the island mountain). If you have only seen one picture of Halong bay, it is more likely taken from the crest of Ti Top island. Don’t wonder why there are thousands of tourists visit Ti Top island everyday. It is the highlight of entire Halong bay cruise experience and you will find out valid reasons for yours to come.

If you are active enough, you are definitely supposed to climb to the top of Ti Top mountain, the only barrier is the 400-step stair. No matter how tired you are from the stair, the high view will undoubtedly take your breath away. Widening your eyesight from the top, you would feel small, lost between the immersive lake and mountainous view. Being a part of nature, isn’t it the coolest part of trekking? So you get the option to swim at the beach or hiking to the top of the island. The things you need to know is when you are on a day trip package, your time is limited to only one hour. If you are travelling in a private cruise or an overnight cruise, you will enjoy longer.

In the early years, the island was less known and called the “Graveyard” island. The name was in memorial of the death of a French cargo ship crew, who faced disaster nearby and buried on the island. Thanks to daily tidal wave rise, the sand is “washed” to white, lying next to nice emerald green sea water. Photo-generic views are everywhere for your Instagram tour. You can try kayak riding, parachute jumping, and other water activities to enjoy the beach. 

If you have a drone, feel free to fly them here to take a great aerial view pictures and videos. There is no strict regulations on drone yet in Vietnam as of today. So you will see a lot of tourists doing a lot of drone shooting in Vietnam. Just take note that, don't ever fly your drone on private property. Don't get yourself into unnecessary trouble. Last but not least, enjoy my aerial photography below.

Overall, people are questioning if it is worth it to travel to Halong Bay because it is so expensive and over crowded with people. In my honest opinion, don't join for the day trip because it is so rush and not worth your penny. Join an overnight cruise or if you have extra budget, do hire a private boat. The trip in Halong Bay will be more worth it this way.

Total Damage: 450,000vnd
Ambiance: 5/5
Service: 3/5
Price: 2/5
Recommended?: Yes but not day trip package.