1 An Introduction to Ha Long Bay
Located in Quang Ninh Province, approximately 180km from Hanoi, Ha Long is renowned as the travel paradise of the North. Thanks to its favorable location, modern infrastructure, and well-developed transportation system, Ha Long attracts tens of millions of domestic and international tourists every year.
Ha Long Bay spans an area of 1,553km2 with around 1,900 limestone islands and islets in remarkably vivid shapes. The bay has been repeatedly recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage site and is hailed as a must-visit destination at least once in a lifetime.
See also: Ha Long Tourism - Contemplating Autumn on Vietnam's Most Beautiful Bay
Ha Long tourism is always a wonderful destination for those passionate about traveling in Vietnam
2 Why Should You Visit Ha Long Once in a Lifetime?
Why should you choose Ha Long as your travel destination? With these 4 compelling reasons shared by pilot Pham Duy Long below, surely anyone would want to pack their bags and hit the road immediately!
2.1 Ha Long Bay is One of the New 7 Wonders of Nature
Ha Long Bay is honored to be voted among the top 7 natural wonders of the world thanks to its "unrivaled" natural beauty. As such, it is undoubtedly a dream destination for travelers from both Vietnam and abroad. Arriving here, anyone will be awestruck and full of praise for the majestic natural splendor bestowed by Mother Nature.
Ha Long possesses a harmonious blend of three elements: stone, water, and sky
2.2 Complete Amenities and Quality Services
The land of Ha Long is actively investing in and continually upgrading its infrastructure and services to meet the sightseeing and leisure needs of visitors from near and far. Visiting Ha Long, you can freely experience top-tier luxury amenities, exploring vibrant entertainment hubs, resorts, shopping venues, and more...
2.3 Numerous Attractions and Exciting Experiences for Your Ha Long Trip
According to the travel experiences of travel enthusiasts, when exploring Ha Long, you shouldn't miss fascinating sights such as: Ha Long Bay, the Old Town, the Night Market, Tuan Chau... These destinations will surely offer you marvelous experiences and moments of pure relaxation.
2.4 Ha Long Bay Boasts Fresh and Delicious Seafood
In Ha Long Bay, alongside the mesmerizing scenery, the fresh, delectable seafood is another key reason why countless visitors fall in love with this region. When touring Ha Long, you can savor numerous famed dishes such as: Ha Long squid patties, grilled oysters, sweet and sour horseshoe crab, peanut worms, shrimp noodles, river clam soup, stir-fried snails with soy sauce, beer-steamed sea crab, tamarind-glazed crab… With such freshness and culinary artistry, almost anyone who visits Ha Long once falls completely captivated by the local cuisine.
Ha Long squid patties – Quang Ninh's famed delicacy
3 How to Travel to Ha Long from Hanoi by Seaplane
Ha Long Bay is no longer an unfamiliar destination for travelers. Typically, coaches and motorbikes are the two most common means of transportation to reach Ha Long. But nowadays, you can elevate your journey to the "land of descending dragons" via a seaplane.
The awe-inspiring journey to behold Ha Long's beauty from a seaplane operates 2 flights/day, departing at 9:00 AM and 12:45 PM. Depending on your preference, you can choose a one-way or round-trip ticket for this flight. To complete the check-in procedures, you need to head to Terminal T1 (Noi Bai), Hall A, Counter 10.
It takes about 60 minutes for the seaplane to fly from Hanoi to Ha Long, after which you will have about 15 – 25 minutes (depending on the ticket type purchased) to admire Ha Long Bay from an altitude of 500 – 3000m. Upon concluding the tour, the seaplane lands on Tuan Chau Island and returns to Noi Bai at 11:30 AM and 4:00 PM. Choosing to travel by seaplane will undoubtedly be an extraordinary option for your day trip to Ha Long Bay!
Flying by seaplane is exciting and offers plenty of novel experiences
4 Touring Ha Long Bay on a Top-notch Seaplane with Pilot Pham Duy Long
You don't need to visit the paradise islands of the Maldives to enjoy a scenic seaplane tour. Right here in Vietnam, travelers already have the chance to experience this one-of-a-kind adventure.
Pham Duy Long is one of three Vietnamese pilots flying Vietnam's first two commercial seaplanes. Ha Long Bay was the maiden destination in the take-off journey of this seaplane service. With two pilots on board each flight, Pham Duy Long and his co-pilot can take turns flying and effortlessly capturing panoramic views to ensure the most spectacular photos. This is undoubtedly one of the most remarkable experiences in this young pilot's life!
Ha Long viewed from the seaplane, captured by pilot Pham Duy Long
Pilot Pham Duy Long flew the seaplane across Bai Chay first. Poetic Bai Chay stretches gracefully along the coastline of Ha Long, allowing him to capture the picturesque moment of Bai Chay Bridge grandly spanning both shores from Bai Chay to Hon Gai.
Admiring Bai Chay from above is the only way to fully appreciate its modern charm!
Next, the aircraft continued soaring across Ha Long's skies to capture the most breathtaking scenes and moments of Ha Long Bay's seascape. Undeniably, sightseeing from above always provides the most stunning and "impressive" views. During this journey, not only will you witness thousands of undulating limestone karsts emerging over emerald-green waters and peaceful suburban fishing villages, but you will also take in the full, picturesque landscape of the Northern Delta, with vast rice fields stretching beyond the horizon and romantic rivers. It is truly a "one-of-a-kind" poetic landscape on Earth.
The picturesque landscape captivates pilot Duy Long
With two pilots taking turns at the controls, it is easy to use cameras and phones to capture these moments
The journey to behold the breathtaking grandeur of Ha Long from a seaplane presented by pilot Pham Duy Long is truly impressive, isn't it? In just a brief 15-minute flight soaring across the beautiful skies of Ha Long, you can experience firsthand scenes of "breathtaking" beauty.
