Ha Long Bay travel experience - The majestic beauty of the world natural heritage

1. Introduction to Ha Long tourism

Ha Long Bay, one of the World Natural Heritages recognized by UNESCO (Photo source: Collected)

Ha Long Bay is one of the most beautiful natural wonders in the world, recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage twice in 1994 and 2000. The bay is famous for its unique limestone island system formed over millions of years, creating majestic rock mountains amidst emerald green water. Not only does it have stunning natural beauty, it also possesses a diverse ecosystem with more than 500 species of plants, 200 species of fish and 450 other species of animals. Visitors to Ha Long not only admire the beautiful scenery but also have the opportunity to learn about the unique culture of the local fishing community, who have lived and been attached to the bay for hundreds of years.

2. The best time to travel to Ha Long

The weather in Ha Long is divided into two distinct seasons: summer (from May to September) and winter (from October to April of the following year). For the most perfect Ha Long tour experience, you should choose the time from March to April or from September to November. During these months, the weather is cool, there is little rain, low humidity and clear blue skies, creating ideal conditions for sightseeing and photography. In particular, in the fall (September-November), the temperature ranges from 20-25 degrees Celsius, which is a great time to enjoy cruises on the bay and explore the amazing caves.

3. Instructions on how to get around when traveling to Ha Long

3.1. How to get to Ha Long?

From Hanoi, you have many options to travel to Ha Long, the most convenient of which is by bus or limousine. Reputable bus companies such as Hoang Long, Sapa Express or Phuc Xuyen all have regular schedules from 5am to 5pm, with a travel time of about 4 hours.

If you want more comfort, you can choose limousine service with reclining seats, free wifi and drinks.
For travelers who like new experiences, the train is an interesting choice with train SP7 departing from Hanoi station at 4:55 am, taking you to Ha Long at 11:30 am.

3.2. Means of transportation in Ha Long city

Once in Ha Long, you can easily travel by many different means. Taxi is a popular choice with reputable companies such as Mai Linh, Ha Long Taxi or ABC, starting at 12,000 VND/km. To save money and be more proactive in exploring the city, you can rent a motorbike for 120,000 VND to 200,000 VND/day at hotels or reputable car rental establishments. The public bus system is also a good choice with fares starting from only 7,000 VND/trip, serving the main routes in the city.

4. The most famous tourist destinations in Ha Long

4.1. Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay – Majestic natural wonder (Photo source: Collected)

The highlight of every Ha Long tour is the bay with more than 1,969 large and small limestone islands. Visitors can choose a 4-6 hour boat tour to visit famous spots such as Sung Sot Cave, Thien Cung Cave, Titop Island. If you want a more complete experience, an overnight cruise is a great choice to watch the sunset and sunrise on the bay, participate in kayaking activities, night squid fishing or practice morning tai chi on the deck.

4.2. Tuan Chau Island

Tuan Chau Island - tourist paradise on Ha Long Bay (Photo source: Collected)

Tuan Chau Island is a modern tourist complex with many attractive entertainment activities. The highlight of the island is the large water park with interesting games, special dolphin shows and spectacular water music performances in the evening. Visitors can also visit the wood museum, enjoy cuisine at seafood restaurants or simply stroll along the 6km long artificial beach.

4.3. Quang Ninh Museum

Quang Ninh Museum - A tourist destination not to be missed when coming to Ha Long (Photo source: Collected)

Located in the center of Ha Long city, Quang Ninh Museum is a unique architectural work with a design inspired by coal - a characteristic of the mining area. The museum displays more than 500 valuable artifacts about the history, culture and people of Quang Ninh through the ages. Visitors will visit 5 main exhibition areas, including spaces about nature, history, culture, economy and Ha Long city.

4.4. Cua Van fishing village

Cua Van Fishing Village - A peaceful little village in the middle of Paradise Bay (Photo source: Collected)

Cua Van fishing village is one of the last remaining floating villages on Ha Long Bay, home to more than 300 fishing households. Visitors can visit the village by kayak or bamboo boat, learning about the daily life of fishermen and traditional fishing culture. The special feature of the village is the system of floating houses cleverly designed to adapt to living conditions at sea, along with small vegetable gardens grown on floating rafts. In the early morning, you can witness fishermen going out to sea to catch fish or visit the seafood cages of the local people.

4.5. Poem Mountain

Poem Mountain is a unique highlight of Ha Long city, with a height of 200m and steep cliffs facing the bay. The mountain still preserves many poems carved from the 15th century, including the famous poem of King Le Thanh Tong. Visitors can climb 400 stone steps to the top of the mountain, from here they can see the whole view of Ha Long bay and the city. The most ideal time to conquer Poem Mountain is early morning or late afternoon, when the weather is cool and the light is beautiful for taking pictures.

4.6. Bai Chay beach

Bai Chay Beach stretches 500m with a fine white sand beach and clear blue water, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Ha Long. The beach is modernly planned with full facilities such as bathrooms, loungers, umbrellas and sea sports services.

4.7. Lan Ha Bay

Lan Ha Bay (Photo source: Collection)

Lan Ha Bay is a sea area located in the southeast of Ha Long Bay, in the territory of Cat Ba Island, with more than 300 limestone islands and many pristine beaches. The special feature of the bay is the small white sand beaches located between the rocky islands, creating a unique landscape that cannot be found elsewhere. Visitors can join a boat tour combined with kayaking to explore the caves and clear blue waters.

4.8. Bai Tu Long Bay

Bai Tu Long Bay is a less crowded but equally charming extension of Ha Long Bay to the northeast. The bay has a diverse system of rocky islands and pristine golden sand beaches such as Ngoc Vung Beach and Quan Lan Island. Visitors can join boat tours to explore Vung Vieng fishing village, Thien Canh Cave or Tra Ngo Island. In particular, here you can experience fishing with local fishermen or enjoy fresh seafood right on the boat.

4.9. Ha Long Old Town

Ha Long Old Quarter is located on Le Thanh Tong Street, a neighborhood that still preserves many architectural works from the French colonial period. Along the streets, visitors can admire ancient houses with unique architecture, visit souvenir shops and enjoy street food. The highlight of the neighborhood is the retro cafes with sea views, where you can relax and enjoy the nostalgic atmosphere of the city.

4.10. Ha Long Night Market

Ha Long Night Market is located along Bai Chay Street, operating from 6pm to 11pm daily. Visitors can find a variety of items from souvenirs, clothes, to typical Ha Long street food. The food court at the night market is famous for its fresh seafood dishes prepared on the spot, at more affordable prices than restaurants. The market space is bustling with street art performances on weekends.

5. What to eat in Ha Long? Delicious dishes in Ha Long you should try

Ha Long squid cake (Photo source: Collected)

Squid cake - famous Ha Long specialty: Ha Long squid cake is made from the freshest squid, caught directly from Ha Long Bay and processed according to traditional recipes. The squid is ground, seasoned with spices and pounded until tough, then grilled on a charcoal stove until golden brown. The dish has the natural sweetness of squid, a characteristic chewy texture, and is often served with chili sauce and vermicelli.
Stir-fried snails with soy sauce - Ha Long delicacy: Stir-fried snails with soy sauce Ha Long is made from fresh sea snails, stir-fried with special soy sauce brewed according to the local people's own recipe. The dish has a rich, spicy flavor from soy sauce and spices, fragrant with lemongrass and lemon leaves. After stir-frying, the snails are just the right amount of crunchy, not tough, and are often eaten with hot, crispy bread.
Steamed Horseshoe Crab: Horseshoe Crab is a typical seafood of Ha Long Bay, shaped like a crayfish but larger in size and with a harder shell. Steamed horseshoe Crab with ginger and lemon leaves is the most popular way to prepare it, helping to retain the natural sweetness of the meat and its distinctive aroma.
Ha Long sea worms: Sea worms are a rare specialty of Ha Long sea, known as "ginseng of the sea" because of their high nutritional value. This seafood is often caught in spring and autumn, then processed into dried sea worms for preservation. The most popular dish is sea worms soup cooked with shiitake mushrooms and chicken, which is nutritious and improves health.
Grilled oysters - A rustic dish of Quang Ninh: Ha Long oysters are famous for their large size and sweet, fatty meat. Grilled oysters with scallion oil are prepared simply but extremely attractive, with fresh oysters grilled on a charcoal stove, sprinkled with fried onions and fragrant lard. Especially when eaten with crispy grilled rice paper and raw vegetables, it creates an unforgettable flavor.
Sea Horseshoe Crab: Ha Long sea horse is a unique seafood that can be made into many delicious dishes such as sea horse salad, steamed sea horse, grilled sea horse. Sea horse salad is the most popular dish, made from fresh sea horse meat mixed with herbs, pickled onions, and a special dipping sauce.
Ha Long Crab Cake: Crab Cake is a special dish made from Crab - a specialty that only appears during the breeding season from August to October of the lunar calendar. Crab is mixed with minced pork, chicken eggs, and herbs such as onions and dill, then fried until golden brown.
Tai long ep: Tai long ep is the local name for a special type of clam found only in the Ha Long sea. This delicacy is often prepared by steaming with lemongrass and lemon leaves to preserve the natural sweetness of the meat.

With the detailed travel experiences in Ha Long shared above, we hope you have enough information to plan your trip. From choosing the right time, means of transportation to sightseeing places and special dishes, all contribute to creating a complete journey in this beautiful natural wonder.

Source: https://www.vietravel.com/vn/am-thuc-kham-pha/kinh-nghiem-du-lich-vinh-ha-long-v16285.aspx