Archive for: Ha Long Bay

Overview

The fact is that Ha Long Bay features a wide range of biodiversity, while the surrealistic scenery has indeed featured in endless movies.

How to get there

Things to do

Cat Ba Island is the most popular destination in the bay and every tour company offers a trip to the island. Cat Ba is full of the usual tourist scenario; hotels, restaurants, and bars; still Cat Ba’s locals have carried on doing exactly what their ancestors did for generations before – fishing.

Dau Go Island

Dau Go Island is known for its large and colourful cave which has many stalactites and stalagmites, some of them more than 20 metres high.

Floating Villages and Fish Farms

The bay’s floating villages draw a lot of attention and are one of the highlights of the trip. Locals have been living in these floating houses for many generations as fishing is still the villagers’ main income. Some communities offer reasonably priced home-stays to visitors, too. If you pass by them on your cruise, don’t be surprised if the boat’s on-board chef stops to shop for fresh seafood from one.

Place to visit

Some of the most popular activities in Halong Bay are swimming, fishing, snorkeling and kayaking, trekking and cycling. It is truly a paradise for active visitors.

Sleeping On Boat/ Cruise

Though many new hotels are being built on the bigger islands, experienced visitors recommend newcomers to spend a night on board a boat. This way, you will be able to admire the bay closer up and in quite a special way.

Swimming and Sunbathing in Ha Long Bay

Halong Bay has thousands of limestone islands and grottoes. There are countless places to stop for swimming, fishing and kayaking when cruising around.

On famous Cat Ba Island there are a few well-known beaches to relax on, some with easily remembered names like Cat Co One, Cat Co Two and Cat Co Three. The stunning scenery of sheer mountain cliffs rising out of the bay makes an ideal backdrop to water-based activities.

Trekking, Cycling

Trekking is a good option on Cat Ba Island. There are lots of rare animals to see, including green and hawksbill turtles and golden-headed langur monkeys. Visitors can choose from various trek routes; either way it’s an impressive experience.

Another good way to enjoy a visit to Cat Ba is to cycle around the local villages.

Viet Hai Village

Viet Hai Village is located in a remote corner of Cat Ba National Park. Many people still live in simple houses made of bamboo, wood, leaves and soil. It is a chance to experience the true roots of Cat Ba culture which have carried on for hundreds of years.