1 An overview of Ha Long Bay
1.1 Ha Long Bay - Nature's colossal ink-wash painting
Ha Long Bay is located in Quang Ninh Province, bordered to the southwest by Cat Ba Island. It captivates travel enthusiasts with the majestic natural beauty of mountains harmoniously blending with the peaceful, serene calm of the sea. Nature has endowed this bay with lush green vegetation and picturesque clear blue waters. With such beauty, Ha Long Bay was honored to be recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage site in 1994 and 2000.
In particular, taking in the panoramic view of Ha Long Bay from above via seaplane, you will have the chance to admire thousands of islands resembling flawless sculptural and artistic masterpieces set amid the emerald green sea. This will certainly be an unforgettable experience on your trip to Ha Long.
Overwhelmed by the picturesque, poetic landscape of Ha Long Bay
1.2 What is the best time of year to visit Ha Long Bay?
If you wonder which season is best to visit Ha Long, visiting Ha Long Bay in the summer, from around May to August, is probably the most beautiful. During this time, clear blue skies and calm, tranquil waters make it ideal for soaring over the bay in a seaplane. You can also combine this with exploring Ha Long's famous attractions and taking part in beach entertainment activities. For those who love the gentle autumn, cool crisp air with a slight hint of upcoming winter chill, traveling between August and October is a great choice. The weather in Ha Long during this period is not too scorching, fairly pleasant with little rain or storms, ensuring a seamless trip. MIA.vn recommends checking the weather forecast before finalizing your itinerary.
See also: Ha Long Travel - Join Pham Duy Long to admire Ha Long from a seaplane
2 Suggested three itineraries to explore Ha Long from above according to your budget
2.1 Ha Long travel on a generous budget
Minimum duration: one day.
Total cost: from just 16 million VND (this cost includes transportation, meals, and a cruise tour).
For easier travel, you can book a round-trip Hanoi - Ha Long itinerary. Currently, there are only 2 flights departing each day at 9:00 and 12:45. To have more time to explore Ha Long, you should choose the morning flight. From downtown Hanoi, you can take a bus or taxi to Terminal T1 of Noi Bai Airport. Afterward, you will check in at Lobby A, counter number 10.
The Hanoi - Ha Long flight takes about 60 minutes, during which you will have 15 minutes of sightseeing over the bay from an altitude of 500 m – 3,000 m. The scenery of hills and large and small islands rising majestically from the emerald waters like nature's ink-wash painting unfolds before your eyes. Make the most of this time to capture lifelong memorable photos.
The seaplane will land on Tuan Chau Island and take off back to Hanoi at 11:30 and 16:00 daily. Therefore, take advantage of this brief time to explore Tuan Chau Island and purchase meaningful souvenirs as gifts for family and friends.
However, according to travel enthusiasts' experience, after admiring Ha Long Bay from above, you should book an additional cruise tour to explore Ha Long Bay for about 3 hours to take in the bay's beauty from up close. You can enjoy a lunch featuring Asian-European dishes made from fresh seafood right onboard.
A peaceful glimpse of Ha Long Bay seen from above
2.2 Exploring Ha Long from above on a moderate budget
Minimum duration: one day.
Total cost: around 9 million VND (this cost includes transportation, meals, and seaplane tickets).
To save costs and enjoy a more flexible travel schedule, you can purchase a one-way Hanoi - Ha Long seaplane ticket and book a coach or sleeper bus in advance for your return to Hanoi. After soaring through the skies to take in Ha Long Bay from above, you can continue your itinerary by exploring Tuan Chau Park and savoring the freshest seafood here.
At Tuan Chau amusement park, admission costs 300,000 VND and gives you access to unique performance shows such as dolphin and crocodile circus acts, musical fountains, and more. You can also visit the outdoor amusement area and try exciting water sports such as windsurfing, parasailing, jet skiing, and more. In addition, the Tuan Chau dining area offers diverse, delicious dishes starting at only 150,000 VND per meal. You can easily recharge your energy to keep snapping photos of every corner here.
After having fun to your heart's content, hail a taxi to the Tuan Chau welcome gate on National Highway 18 and catch a bus back to Hanoi around 17:00. The coach ticket costs around 100,000 VND per ticket.
With a moderate budget, you have the chance to capture every breathtakingly gorgeous moment of Ha Long Bay
2.3 An option for travelers on a tight budget
Thời gian tối thiểu: two days
Total cost: over 6 million VND (this cost includes transportation, meals, and seaplane tickets).
This is an ultra-economical way to admire Ha Long from above for students. The best approach is to travel to Ha Long by coach or personal vehicle. After that, you can book a 25-minute scenic flight tour by seaplane.
The seaplane takes off from Tuan Chau Port and returns to the starting point after completing its flight around the Ha Long islands. There are 3 flights daily, departing at 10:30, 14:00, and 14:40. When visiting Tuan Chau Island, you should prepare a list of attractions you want to see and choose delicious restaurants for lunch.
If you prefer not to make a day trip, Bai Chay has plenty of comfortable and convenient guesthouses and hotels to choose from. Room rates here are not very expensive, ranging from only about 350,000 – 500,000 VND per room.
For just over 6 million VND, you already have the chance to experience a seaplane flight overlooking Ha Long Bay
3 Some notes when traveling Ha Long by seaplane
- Since you will be traveling on a seaplane, the maximum baggage allowance is 20 kg.
- During holidays and New Year festivals, seaplane ticket prices to explore Ha Long Bay may incur surcharges. Therefore, you should check ticket prices in advance when choosing this experience.
- The check-in counter closes 25 minutes prior to departure, so be sure to arrange your schedule to arrive early.
- Depending on seat availability, you may be able to change your flight time.
- You should bring a camera and a power bank to comfortably take photos and preserve these once-in-a-lifetime moments.
- Apply sunscreen and choose comfortable clothing for easier movement.
Be sure to note the tips above for the most fulfilling Ha Long seaplane tour
Above is everything MIA.vn would like to share with you for your Ha Long seaplane trip. Quickly pack your backpack with your close friends to explore Ha Long Bay and share beautiful, meaningful moments with MIA.vn!
