Halong bay travel guides

[Martin Nguyen]

 

Halong Bay Travel Information

 

Majestic and mysterious, inspiring and imperious: words alone cannot do justice to the natural wonder that is Halong Bay. Imagine 3000 or more incredible islands rising from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin and you have a vision of breathtaking beauty. Halong Bay is pure art, a priceless collection of unfinished sculptures hewn from the hand of nature.

In 1994 it was designated a World Heritage site. Visitors canâ help but compare the magical, mystical landscape of limestone islets to Guilin in China and Krabi in southern Thailand, but in reality Halong Bay is more spectacular. These tiny islands are dotted with beaches and grottoes created by wind and waves, and have sparsely forested slopes ringing with birdsong.

 

Beyond the breathtaking vistas on a boat cruise through the bay, visitors to Halong come to explore the caves  some of which are beautifully illuminated for the benefit of tourists  and to hike in Cat Ba National Park. There are few real beaches in Halong Bay, but Lan Ha Bay (off the coast of Cat Ba Island) has more than 100 sandy strips.

Almost every traveler who visits Southeast Asia makes it a point to visit Halong Bay: a picturesque bay set amidst emerald waters and craggy limestone cliffs. Next to Ho Chi Minh City, Halong Bay is right up the list of must-see destinations for travelers in the region.


So what can one do around Halong Bay besides taking that once-in-a-lifetime cruise into the UNESCO World Heritage site here? Fear no more as I had one extra day around Halong City. So here are some things you can do around Halong Bay if you have time to kill waiting for your junk boat cruise.

 

Halong bay things to do:

Bai Chay Tourist Wharf and Jetty

It is a plane where most of the travelers will arrive at before heading out on the Halong Bay Overnight Cruise. Depending on your departure time, you may or may not have time to explore the area.

Cruises on Halong Bay

Halong Bay Caves and Grottoes

Halong Bay there are many big and beautiful grottoes, each one there is different beauty and stories about it. Come to Halong Bay, tourists can visit many beautiful and famous grottoes such as Thien Cung Grotto, Dau Go Cave, Luon Cave, Me Cung Grotto… You will be totally amazing with stalagmites, stalactites which have been made for million years. I certain that you canât forgot it.


Coffee in Halong

Try some Vietnamese Coffee the Cafe 555 opposite the Bai Chay Tourist Wharf. Well, you need to walk about 100 meters to your right if you exit Bai Chay. The cafe is located in between a row of shops by the main road. They serve some potent coffee here so if you are a coffee lover, you hit jackpot here. If you donât drink coffee, they have other drinks there too.


Souvenirs in Ha Long

In Halong there are souvenirs of a diverse variety: local arts and crafts from coal, wood, horn items, brocade and embroidered items, glassware, porcelain and sea products (pearls, sea shells etc.) as well as electrical and photographic accessories, and post cards. Traditional souvenirs of Quang Ninh are porcelain, ceramics, embroidery and arts and crafts from coal, wood and other natural products.