Many of you are now looking for alternatives to the main Halong Bay, which attracts large crowds, especially during the summer months. After exploring Lan Ha Bay, we now invite you to discover an even lesser-known area: Bai Tu Long Bay.
Only a few boats are allowed to navigate here, and even fewer are permitted to drop anchor. This makes it a wonderful opportunity to experience the bay in a preserved and tranquil environment.
In this article, we share everything you need to know about this area so you can make an informed decision about what to visit.
Feel free to contact us to plan your cruise.
The Three Areas of Halong Bay
Halong Bay, Lan Ha Bay, and Bai Tu Long Bay in Vietnam are all located in the Gulf of Tonkin and are renowned for their breathtaking natural beauty. However, each bay has its own unique characteristics that set it apart from the others.
Halong Bay
Halong Bay, the most famous of the three, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Quang Ninh Province in northeastern Vietnam. It is renowned for its thousands of limestone islands and islets rising from the emerald waters, creating a spectacular seascape.
Visitors can explore the bay aboard large cruise ships, enjoy kayaking, swimming, and hiking. Tuan Chau Harbor is the usual departure point for excursions into the bay. Halong Bay is also home to several impressive caves and grottos, such as Sung Sot Cave and Thien Cung Cave.
Lan Ha bay
Lan Ha Bay is located to the south of Halong Bay and is considered its natural extension. However, Lan Ha stands out for its tranquility and peaceful atmosphere. It lies close to Cat Ba Island, a popular spot for beaches and hiking.
Lan Ha Bay is less crowded than Halong Bay, making it an ideal destination for travelers seeking calm and serenity. It is also home to beautiful beaches, such as Van Boi Beach, perfect for swimming. Visitors can also explore local fishing villages and interact with the residents.
Bai Tu Long bay
Bai Tu Long Bay is located to the east of Halong Bay. It is less well-known than its neighbors, making it an ideal destination for escaping the crowds. The bay is renowned for its crystal-clear waters, pristine beaches, and unspoiled landscapes.
Visitors can discover caves, uninhabited islands, and a fascinating marine biodiversity. Bai Tu Long Bay is perfect for a more intimate cruising experience. Travelers can also visit fishing villages and learn more about the local way of life.
Why Visit Bai Tu Long Bay?
Less famous than its neighbor Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay offers equally breathtaking scenery. It is an ideal destination for those seeking a more authentic and less crowded experience. With its pristine beaches, impressive karst mountains, and wild nature, Bai Tu Long Bay is truly worth recommending—even if it’s your first trip to Vietnam.
To this day, Bai Tu Long remains largely unexplored. In many ways, it is even more spectacular than Halong Bay, as it is still in the early stages of becoming a destination for travelers. Bai Tu Long offers many sites to visit, including Cong Do area, Vung Vieng fishing village, Da Xep Park, Cong Dam area, Thien Canh Son Cave, and Tra Gioi Beach.
There are also several inhabited islands, such as Quan Lan, Ngoc Vung, Cong Dong, and Cong Tay, each boasting stunning beaches. In addition, Bai Tu Long Bay National Park is rich in biodiversity, home to a wide variety of flora and fauna species.
How to Get to Bai Tu Long Bay
Hon Gai Port is the departure point for cruises to Bai Tu Long Bay. Here are the different options depending on your starting location:
- From downtown Hanoi to Hon Gai Port (Halong City): 3 hours 15 minutes by bus/car, covering a distance of 136 km.
- From Noi Bai International Airport to Hon Gai Port (Halong City): 3 hours 20 minutes by bus/car, covering 157 km.
- From Cat Bi International Airport to Hon Gai Port (Halong City): 2 hours by car/taxi, covering 79 km.
The most common option is, of course, to book a cruise that also includes a shuttle service from Hanoi to Bai Tu Long Bay.
Travelers can also hire a private driver, but if your plan is only to take a cruise, the shuttle services offered by the cruise operators are perfectly suitable.
Things to Do in Bai Tu Long Bay
Although quieter, Bai Tu Long Bay still offers plenty of activities and discoveries. Here are the main ones:
Take a Cruise
The obvious choice: the best way to discover Bai Tu Long Bay is on a cruise. Most itineraries focus on routes that include famous sites such as Thien Canh Son Cave, Vung Vieng Fishing Village, Ban Chan Island, Cap La Island, and the Cong Dam area.
You’ll find our selection of recommended cruise operators further below.
Visit the Fishing Villages of Vung Vieng and Cong Dam
Vung Vieng floating village, located nearly 20 kilometers from the mainland in the heart of Bai Tu Long Bay, is an excellent place to learn more about the local way of life centered around fishing and seafaring. Fishing boats with nets spread out to dry, along with the laughter of local families, give Vung Vieng an idyllic and traditional character.
You can choose to visit the village either on a rowboat with a local resident or by kayaking to explore the surroundings on your own.
Cong Dam is similar in appearance to Vung Vieng, but it is located farther from the mainland and is home to a smaller floating village of about 120 inhabitants. Travelers can take a kayaking excursion in the area to enjoy the scenery or join local fishermen to try their hand at fishing.
The area also features numerous lagoons and sea caves, as well as several beautiful beaches such as Tra Gioi, Cay Bang, and Cat Oan, all of which are worth exploring.
Swimming and Snorkeling at Ban Chan Beach
While kayaking is the must-try activity in Vung Vieng Fishing Village and the Cong Dam area, swimming and snorkeling are not to be missed at Ban Chan Beach.
Ban Chan Beach is renowned for its crystal-clear waters, soft white sand, and excellent visibility, making it perfect for swimming and snorkeling. The rugged rocks and lush forest that surround it add to its charm and make this beach a truly majestic spot.
Exploring Thien Canh Son Cave
Thien Canh Son is a large cave made up of three spacious chambers. Its entrance is hidden beneath a thick forest canopy, near a rocky cliff. Inside, the formations take on various shapes, resembling lotus flowers, young elephants, seals, and blossoms. The cave’s ceiling, in particular, looks like a shimmering carpet, adorned with sparkling stalactites hanging down.
There is also a beautiful beach named after the cave—Thien Canh Son Beach—making it a perfect place to relax after a few hours of exploration.
Visiting Bai Tu Long National Park
Bai Tu Long National Park was recently recognized as an ASEAN Heritage Park. Surrounded by towering limestone mountains, the park covers 15,783 hectares and is home to nearly 500 plant species, 37 bird species, and hundreds of marine animals such as seagulls, mussels, and abalones.
At the heart of Bai Tu Long National Park lies the Ba Mun island group, which hosts around 800 species of rare and diverse plants.
Cruise Operators for Visiting Bai Tu Long
There are far fewer cruise options for Bai Tu Long than for the main Halong Bay. We have made a selection based on several criteria: duration, private or shared experience, and the overall quality of the boat.
La Muse
La Muse is the day boat operated by Indochina Junk, a company that owns a total of nine junks. The boat offers two itineraries: full-day or half-day.
Half-Day Group Cruise
Boarding takes place at 12:00 pm, followed by lunch on board. You will then visit Mat Quy and Teapot islets, as well as Thien Canh Son Cave. In the mid-afternoon, enjoy a kayaking session before relaxing on board. Disembarkation is at 5:30 pm. The price is 1,550,000 VND (about €60) per person.
Private Full-Day Cruise
For families or groups of friends, the boat can be privatized for a full-day experience. The cruise begins at 8:30 am with visits to Mat Quy and Teapot islets, followed by Thien Canh Son Cave and a kayaking session. Lunch is served on board. In the afternoon, you will visit Vung Vieng fishing village aboard a small wooden sampan. Return to the port and disembarkation at 4:30 pm. The price is €400 for a private full-day charter.
Private Cruise: L’Amour and Prince
L’Amour and Prince are two other boats operated by Indochina Junk, both dedicated to private cruises.
L’Amour
L’Amour is a traditional wooden boat with just one cabin and a private bathroom. The cabin features a large window with a sea view, while the outdoor dining area is the perfect spot to admire the natural scenery during the cruise. This junk is the ideal choice for honeymooning couples.
Prince
Prince is a boat with four cabins, each equipped with a private bathroom. The junk was designed after the traditional fishing boats of Halong Bay, but on a slightly smaller scale with four cabins. It features two decks with both indoor and outdoor dining areas, as well as traditionally decorated cabins with sea-view windows where you can relax and admire the stunning scenery. This junk is perfect for families or groups of friends.
Please note: These junks are unique, which makes their prices relatively high, and they must be booked well in advance. We recommend contacting us at least three months ahead to secure your reservation.
Comfort Cruise: Garden Bay Boats
For a quality stay at a more affordable price, we recommend the Garden Bay boats. The company operates four boats with 10, 12, 13, and 14 cabins. The 10-cabin boat is the most luxurious and provides impeccable service, highly appreciated by our guests.
Each boat has an English-speaking guide on board, which makes the cruise experience smoother—both for the activities and for communication with the crew and the people you meet along the way.
You can find the detailed two-day program as well as photos of the boats by clicking on the link below.
Premium Cruise: Dragon Legend
This is the largest boat on our list—with 24 cabins—but also the most luxurious. Each spacious cabin features handcrafted traditional Vietnamese décor along with modern amenities. The private bathrooms include a bathtub and large windows overlooking the sea.
The boat spans four decks, offering both indoor and outdoor dining areas, a spa, a bar, and a sundeck. No fewer than 35 crew members are on board to make your cruise an unforgettable experience. The itinerary has been carefully designed to take you off the beaten path.
Now you know everything about the magnificent Bai Tu Long Bay!
Feel free to contact us to help organize your stay in the bay.
