1 Overview of Dolphin Palace
Located on Tran Quoc Nghien Street—the most scenic coastal road in Ha Long City—Dolphin Palace is a planning, exhibition, and cultural trade fair project of Quang Ninh Province inspired by dolphins playing in the waves of Ha Long Bay. This architectural work was designed and built by Salvador Perez Arroyo and Co-workers Design Joint Stock Company.
With a total investment of up to 1,000 billion VND, Dolphin Palace leaves an unforgettable impression on visitors thanks to its unique architecture and numerous engaging experiential activities regularly organized here.
From a distance, the building looks just like a dolphin frolicking amidst the ocean waves, coated with a uniquely glossy, smooth paint finish. Situated right behind Dolphin Palace is the natural wonder of Ha Long Bay. Both interior and exterior spaces are exceptionally spacious, frequently utilized to host cultural exchanges as well as domestic and international trade promotion fairs.
Address: Tran Quoc Nghien, Tuan Chau, Ha Long City, Quang Ninh, Vietnam
Opening hours: 08:00 – 17:00
See also: Pocket guide and tips for trekking Bai Tho Mountain to capture ultra-stylish photos
Dolphin Palace is located on Tran Quoc Nghien Street, the most beautiful thoroughfare in Ha Long City. Photo: Dien Bui
Dolphin Palace leaves an unforgettable impression on visitors thanks to its distinctive architecture. Photo: @louistavu
Dolphin Palace was designed based on the idea of dolphins playing with the waves in Ha Long Bay. Photo: @louistavu
2 How to get to Dolphin Palace
There are many ways to travel to Dolphin Palace. For travelers from southern Vietnam, as the distance from Van Don Airport to various parts of Quang Ninh Province can vary, you can book a flight and then travel roughly 1 hour to Ha Long city center. If departing from northern provinces, you have more travel options, such as coaches, trains, or backpacking by motorbike if you love self-guided adventures.
After arriving in the city center, visitors can rent a motorbike to continue to Dolphin Palace. The distance is neither too far nor too difficult, making it convenient to travel by personal transport. The fastest route you can take is from National Highway 18 to Ha Long 2 Market. Then turn toward Tran Hung Dao Street and go straight to CGV Vincom Plaza Ha Long. Continue turning left onto Tran Quoc Nghien Street, go straight for a few hundred meters, and you will see Dolphin Palace.
Alternatively, you can travel along the route from Ha Long 2 Market to National Highway 18, past Ha Long High School for the Gifted, and then turn left to reach your destination. If you are still unsure of the way, you can use Google Maps for precise directions or choose a taxi or bus to arrive safely and save time.
There are many ways to travel to Dolphin Palace that visitors can choose from on their journey. Photo: @louistavu
Dolphin Palace is located only 8 km from the city center, making it very convenient for visitors to reach. Photo: @uyenbog_
3 What makes Dolphin Palace special?
3.1 Unique exhibition and display areas at Dolphin Palace
Spanning an expansive area of 20,700 square meters and divided into two sections—the display block and the exhibition block—Dolphin Palace is an impressive destination on any Ha Long journey that you definitely should not miss.
Right inside the exhibition area, there are over 1,000 seats and more than 300 booths where visitors can freely relax and admire the seashell-shaped vaulted architecture, approximately 22 meters high. Exploring further into the large arc design, visitors can proceed to the spacious display hall, designed with an airy grand lobby equipped with seats for dining and relaxing.
Unique book models are also displayed here to attract more visitors. Not only is the display block designed as a grand arc stretching from East to West, but it is also equipped with state-of-the-art projection technology, giving visitors the chance to better understand urban architecture through provincial regional master plans and local planning models.
Dolphin Palace spans an expansive area of 20,700 square meters and is divided into two sections: the display block and the exhibition block.
3.2 A venue for numerous captivating events
Boasting a smart, contemporary design that easily impresses anyone at first sight, Dolphin Palace is frequently chosen as the venue for large-scale musical concerts and events. The hall is fully equipped with modern sound and lighting systems to ensure events run smoothly. An airy, luxurious space with an enormous capacity is one of the standout advantages of Dolphin Palace.
Along with its expansive space and monumental architecture, it can truly be called one of the most impressive attractions in Ha Long. Even more notably, it features architectural dioramas and visual artifacts of cultural and tourist sites, offering visitors further learning opportunities. What could be better than a sightseeing trip combining entertainment with new knowledge?
Dolphin Palace is frequently chosen as the venue for large-scale concerts and events.
3.3 A one-of-a-kind photo check-in spot for young people
The most unique and striking highlight at Dolphin Palace that you cannot miss is the incredibly trendy photo backdrop featuring vibrant red and blue hues. This is an ideal, super-chic photo angle for photography enthusiasts. All you need is a pretty outfit and an enthusiastic photographer, and you can strike countless poses against this stunning backdrop.
Moreover, thanks to its prime location right next to beautiful Ha Long Bay, Dolphin Palace offers picturesque vistas of natural sea and sky. Remember to prepare standout outfits to look your absolute best in photos.
According to locals and numerous reviews from previous visitors, you can come here to take photos at any time. However, early morning and late afternoon are the two best times for photography. At these hours, if you are lucky, you can capture the shimmering, magical sunrise or sunset over Ha Long Bay in your shots.
The most unique and striking highlight at Dolphin Palace that you cannot miss is the incredibly chic photo backdrop. Photo: @kemmatchan
This is an ideal, super-stylish photo spot for photography lovers. Photo: @lilyy7699
What could be better than visiting and discovering this one-of-a-kind architectural marvel in Ha Long? It is bound to become one of the most exciting and memorable experiences on your journey to discover the beauty of this coastal city. Don't forget to visit Quang Ninh Museum, located right next to Dolphin Palace, to explore another destination preserving historical artifacts through all the ups and downs of time!