Ha Long Bay Travel Guide
Ha Long Bay (also
"Halong Bay") is in northern Vietnam, 170 km (105 mi) east
of Hanoi. The bay is famous for its scenic ocean karst topography and is
often included in lists of natural wonders of the world. Ha long Bay is a bay
located in the area of the Gulf of Tangkia, north of the Socialist Republic of
Vietnam. It has an area of 1,500 square kilometers and has a coastline about
120 kilometers away from Hanoi. The name was based on the pronunciation in the
Vietnam language "Viet Nam Ha Long".
Travel Information
Halong Bay
is serviced by 3 International airports - Van Don Airport, Noi Bai
International Airport and Cat Bi International Airport. These airports are well
connected to other domestic hubs across Vietnam and also from popular
international destinations across the world. Taxis are available from these
airports to Halong Bay. The capital city of Hanoi is the most important urban
city nearest to Hanoi. From here, taxis, rental cars and even trains are
available to Halong City which is the gateway to Halong Bay.
The best
time to visit Halong Bay is from September to December. This period is
characterized by pleasant temperatures and no rainfall. The months of November
and December especially experience bright sunny days and a lesser crowd making
it the ideal months. The temperatures in this time range from 18°C to around
28°C. The months of May to September is also a suitable time to visit Halong
Bay, especially for those who have tighter budgets.
Best Ha Long Bay Sightseeing Tour Packages
An Insight into Ha Long Bay tourism
Characterized
by towering karst limestone pillars and small islets of various shapes and
sizes amidst crystal blue waters, Halong Bay's ethereal beauty is a sight to
behold. Located in northern Vietnam, it is the most popular tourist spot this
side of the country. Halong Bay, where 'Halong' translates to 'where the dragon
descends into the sea', had a part of it designated as a World Heritage Site in
1994. Halong City is the main entry point to the bay.
The most
common way of exploring the region is via a cruise or day-trip boats, where
tourists laze around in the boats while cruising among the limestone pillars
and a number of islets. Many cruises and day-trips also include an island drop
off and cave explorations. There are some floating villages as well which allow
visitors to come and interact with the locals, try their food and buy
knick-knacks.
Kayaking is another activity which has vastly become popular in recent years.
One can kayak near and around the limestone pillars on a bright sunny day. Few
caves also allow for exploring by kayaking which is an experience highly
recommended.
