Ha Long Travel - Admiring the panoramic view of Ha Long city from above

1 What makes admiring Ha Long from above so fascinating?

Ha Long is widely known as a tourist city with many major entertainment spots such as: Bai Chay Beach, Quang Ninh Library, Sun World Park, Ha Long Bay... Most travelers coming to Ha Long love exploring and discovering hidden corners frequently visited by locals. However, have you ever tried admiring a very different Ha Long from high above? If not, give it a try right away. 

According to MIA.vn's observations, Ha Long boasts many rooftop and cliffside cafes built along mountainsides or perched halfway up hills. You will surely find them truly unique when seeing them in person. What draws visitors to these cafes is not only the interesting roads leading up to them but also the truly one-of-a-kind scenery. Most of these cafes have the advantage of elevated locations, quiet and low-traffic roads. Depending on the cafe you choose, you will enjoy different perspectives: during the day, you can easily watch bustling boats sailing across the bay; at dusk, sit back to catch the sunset; or by night, admire Bai Chay Bridge lighting up an entire corner of the sky.

See more: Review of Ha Long travel destinations you definitely must visit

2 Cafes you should choose for your journey

2.1 Sao Bien Coffee

Address: No. 33 Dang Ba Hat, Hon Gai, Ha Long City, Quang Ninh.

This cafe is located on the right-hand side of the road if you are coming down from Bai Chay Bridge, or on the left-hand side if you are heading up from the foot of Bai Chay Bridge. On the way to the cafe, there is a small and rather steep slope, so be mindful of safety while traveling. You should follow Google Maps directions, and if you encounter any difficulties, feel free to ask local residents. Based on MIA.vn's experience, it is best to go by taxi or motorbike for safety, as the cafe's parking space is quite narrow, fitting only about 1 - 2 cars.

Upon arriving, you should head straight up to the 2nd floor, because the 1st floor is quite enclosed, stuffy, and dim, with hardly any guests seated there. The 2nd floor features an open space that is much airier and cooler, allowing you to comfortably take in views of Ha Long and breathe in the salty sea breeze. 

Drinks at Sao Bien are also very diverse, like many other renowned cafes in Ha Long, offering everything from smoothies, coffee, and fresh juices to various mojitos. Prices range from only 40.000 VNĐ - 60.000 VNĐ/cup. Beverage quality depends on individual taste, but according to many diners' reviews, the drinks here are quite delicious and well-balanced.

2.2 Gio Cafe

Address: Dang Ba Hat Street, Hon Gai, Ha Long City, Quang Ninh.

Gio Cafe is also located nearby Sao Bien Coffee; while Sao Bien sits on the right-hand side, Gio Cafe lies to the left. A special feature of this coffee shop compared to Sao Bien is that it has a dedicated parking floor with up to 5 car parking slots.

This is a 3-story cafe: the 1st floor is for parking, the 2nd floor is a room with glass-wall windows and a spacious balcony, and the 3rd floor is an open-air rooftop space. Gio Cafe is praised for its fairly new and modern design, well suited for young people who love taking photos. Each floor has its own distinct character, so depending on your preference, you can choose the best seating spot for yourself.

In terms of the menu, Gio Cafe is slightly better than Sao Bien. Gio Cafe offers a full selection of items such as milk tea, coffee, smoothies, soda… prepared with very special recipes. Drink prices are not overly expensive either, averaging from 40.000 VNĐ - 60.000 VNĐ/cup.

2.3 Hai Dang Cafe

Address: Dang Ba Hat Street, Hon Gai, Ha Long City, Quang Ninh.

Hai Dang Cafe is fairly easy to locate, featuring a small walkway bridge connecting the street directly into the shop. A minor downside of this cafe is its very limited parking, accommodating only about 10 motorbikes with no space for cars.

Hai Dang is a 2-story cafe designed with glass walls on the 1st floor and an open-air space on the 2nd floor. The cafe embraces a modern aesthetic, suitable for anyone who appreciates an airy, fresh ambiance and taking check-in photos.

Drinks at Hai Dang Cafe are also quite diverse, offering a full range of sodas, juices, coffee… However, the service style is a bit slow and prices are somewhat higher compared to the two cafes above, ranging from 50.000 VNĐ - 70.000 VNĐ/cup.

2.4 Sky Bar

Address: 16th Floor, Royal Lotus Hotel Ha Long, A13 Lot 1, Dong Hung Thang 2 Tourism Residential Area, Ha Long City

Opening hours: 16h – 23h

Sky Bar can be considered the cafe with the most stunning ambiance in Ha Long. Regarded as the highest cafe in Bai Chay, it is located on the 16th floor of Royal Lotus Hotel. This cafe features an extremely breezy outdoor area with panoramic views overlooking the entire city. The venue is also adorned with plenty of greenery, providing a thoroughly pleasant feeling for guests. A major plus for Sky Bar is that its tables and chairs are designed beautifully and uniquely. Because it is a cafe bar, it only opens at 16h so you can sip coffee while watching the sunset. 

The menu at Sky Bar is very diverse, ranging from coffee, juices, and smoothies to domestic beers, soft drinks, and cocktails. Beverage prices here are also quite reasonable, ranging only from 40.000 VNĐ - 75.000 VNĐ for a regular drink. However, since this is an open-air venue, it is only suitable for visiting on nice weather days. Therefore, check the weather forecast and plan your itinerary carefully when visiting this cafe.

2.5  Miam Miam – Bread & Cafe

Address: HG 1-11, HG 1-12, Vinhomes Dragon Bay Urban Area, Ben Doan, Hong Gai Ward, Ha Long City. 

Opening hours: 7h – 22h

If you love gentle cafes serving tea and pastries, Miam Miam is the most suitable choice for you. This cafe features a soft decorative style with rooms filled with flowers and a balcony looking directly out onto Ha Long Bay. 

The space is quite spacious, with the 1st floor hosting pastry and drink counters. The 2nd floor offers numerous photo corners dressed in chic white and pastel yellow tones. The 2nd floor outdoor balcony is breezy and refreshing, ideal for those who enjoy immersing themselves in nature and relaxing. In the evening, the view is romantic and poetic. Drinks are eye-catchingly presented, photogenic, and match high quality and taste standards. Food and drinks here only range from 10.000 VNĐ - 100.000 VNĐ; delicious cakes and fragrant teas are major pluses, combined with an exceptionally enthusiastic staff team. 

Traveling to Ha Long simply by sitting at a cafe with a gorgeous view to "chill" is an extremely enjoyable experience you shouldn't miss. MIA.vn hopes you will have truly memorable moments on your Ha Long journey.