Ha Long Bay Review with Wonderful Natural Beauty

1 Brief overview of Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay is a scenic complex located in the northeast of Quang Ninh province covering 1,553 square kilometers and including nearly 2,000 islands of various sizes. The area recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site alone covers 434 square kilometers with up to 775 islands. Legend has it that Ha Long Bay is where the Dragon descended.

Notably, Ha Long Bay has a very distinct geographical location; surrounded by rocky islands of all sizes, the water remains clear and green, and the air stays cool, gentle, and fresh, providing visitors with a sense of comfort and safety throughout their journey of exploring and enjoying the scenery at Ha Long Bay.

2 How to travel from Hanoi to Ha Long

Hanoi is about 170 km away from Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh province, taking around 4 hours to travel (with faster vehicles, it only takes about 3 hours to arrive)

• Private vehicle: if you use a private vehicle, it only takes about 3 hours because you will travel via the Hanoi – Hai Phong – Ha Long expressway system. This expressway prohibits motorbikes; if you want to travel by motorbike for the Hanoi – Ha Long route, you can take Route 1A, passing through Bac Ninh and then turning onto National Highway 18 to reach Uong Bi – Ha Long.

• Public transportation (Bus): it can be said that the fastest means of transportation to reach Ha Long Bay is by coach or bus. The departure point is My Dinh bus station, taking about 4-5 hours following the old route. However, the road network as well as bus operators have made conditions very comfortable to shorten the travel time to 3 hours. Depending on your schedule, you can choose the most suitable option.

• Train: Every day, there is a train running from Yen Vien station to Ha Long station, but the travel time is very long (7-8 hours for a distance of about 170 km), and upon getting off, you still have to spend time catching a taxi. Therefore, taking the train to Ha Long is probably only suitable for those who have plenty of spare time and are curious to try a different experience.

• Airplane: There are 2 airports closest to Ha Long: Cat Bi Airport in Hai Phong and Van Don Airport in Quang Ninh. If you want to explore some famous spots in Ha Long such as Co To or Quan Lan, I recommend choosing Van Don Airport. If you want to combine exploring Hai Phong and Cat Ba Island, please choose flights to Cat Bi; it is close and saves a lot of time.

See more: Travel tips for visiting Sun World Ha Long - The ultimate entertainment paradise

3 Ha Long Bay Review – The Most Beautiful Sightseeing Spots

3.1 Thien Cung Cave

Thien Cung Cave (Heavenly Palace Cave) is a very beautiful cave and a must-visit when exploring Ha Long Bay. The cave is about 4 km from the tourist boat port, with a relative altitude of around 25 m above sea level. Passing through a narrow entrance, the cave interior suddenly opens up into the space above with an area resembling a quadrilateral with a length of more than 130 m. The deeper you go inside, the more its beauty radiates, magnificent and splendid thanks to layers of stalactites.

The deeper you go, the more you will encounter a magnificent and colossal picture, where characters from ancient fairy tales emerge, each subtle, soft, yet extremely graceful stroke crafted by skillful artisans creating a stunning masterpiece.

3.2 Dau Go Cave - Ha Long Bay Review

Dau Go Cave (Wooden Stakes Cave) is located below Thien Cung Cave and is one of the most beautiful caves on Dau Go Island, boasting a pristine, simple yet very ancient and solemn beauty.

This Dau Go Cave is divided into 3 chambers. The first chamber features numerous stalactite formations shaped like familiar images from daily life: lions, pythons, turtles, and even a pair of fighting roosters... The second chamber is a majestic picture of rocky islets undulating on the water waves. The final chamber showcases images with many gigantic stone pillars that look very strange and striking.

3.3 Sun World Ha Long Park

Sun World Ha Long Park entertainment complex covers an area of about 214 ha and is an internationally acclaimed multi-themed park complex. Here, it is divided into two complexes: the Coastal Amusement Complex and the Ba Deo Hilltop Entertainment Complex. 

This is a destination that attracts many tourists because of its beauty. It is not only for sightseeing and admiring the gorgeous scenery here in early morning or at sunset, but also for experiencing many exciting and highly entertaining games. Some famous activities here include: the cable car (the cable car is very long, allowing you to freely enjoy and observe the surroundings while seated), the water park with extreme rides (those who fear heights shouldn't try them...)... and countless other games.

3.4 Yen Tu Relic Site

If you are someone who enjoys temple visits and tranquility, don't forget to visit Yen Tu Pagoda. You will be overwhelmed by a system of pagodas and towers blending with nature to create a peaceful and serene landscape.

3.5 Bai Chay Old Quarter

Bai Chay Old Quarter is one of the hotspots very suitable for young people and becomes extremely vibrant in the evenings. Here, you can admire myriad culinary spaces, "hot" dishes that youth are passionate about, outdoor dance activities, and more...

4 What to eat in Ha Long?

Visiting Ha Long is not only about sightseeing, but also about discovering many delicious dishes here, the first of which is:

• Ha Long squid patties: a culinary brand of Tay Ninh, the preparation method for this squid dish is delicious; the squid is pounded finely in a mortar, then seasoned and placed into pans of hot fat, flipped evenly on both sides until golden brown. It smells very fragrant, and the squid patties are well-seasoned, crispy, and rich.

• Sa sung (peanut worms): a very signature dish found only in Ha Long, shaped like earthworms, dried or cooked in soup, very delicious and possessing its characteristic delicate flavor.

• Horseshoe crab: This is a dish that anyone who has tried once will want to have again; it is truly a very delicious dish in Quang Ninh.

5 What to prepare when traveling to Ha Long?

- Clothing: you can choose the most comfortable outfits for yourself and your whole family for sightseeing, which are also suitable for the weather here.

- Bring sufficient necessary personal items: A complete trip requires thorough preparation of personal items such as: toothpaste, toothbrush, perfume, body wash, shampoo, bath towel, …

See more: Is kayaking in Ha Long difficult? The answer will be right in the article below

Renowned as a wonder bestowed by Mother Nature upon Vietnam, Ha Long Bay increasingly attracts domestic and international tourists to visit and experience. Hopefully, this Ha Long Bay review will help you have a truly rewarding and enjoyable trip!