Activities in Halong Bay - Things to Do

Ha Long Bay is one of the most amazing destinations in Vietnam thanks to its magnificent scenery and varied activities which fit for all types of traveler. Located at the North of Vietnam, Ha Long Bay has 4 distinctive seasons and offers tourists unique experiences accordingly. Due to dry weather, peak time here is from September to December and tourists can enjoy all kind of recreational activities. However, no matter when you visit Ha Long Bay, you will absolutely gain unforgettable memory about this World Heritage Site. Tourists have many options for activities in Halong Bay depending on the budget, preferred activities and number of days.

Sightseeing on Cruise

One of the popular activities in Halong Bay is sightseeing on Cruises. It is unquestionable that the best way to enjoy Ha Long Bay is on a Cruise. Tourist will surely be enchanted by the spectacular view of limestone karsts on tranquil water of the bay. In addition, you are free to choose from engaging in the well – planned programs of the Cruise staff or just lying on board and appreciating the scenery. Popular activities on Cruises include Tai Chi, cooking demonstration, kayaking, enjoying BBQ party, squid fishing at night, appreciating sunset and sunrise on board, visiting floating villages and so on.

Tai Chi session

Originally practiced as martial arts, Tai Chi is now famous internationally as an effective exercise to help practitioners improve their mental and physical health. Tai Chi session starts around 6 am on board which is a great chance for tourists to enjoy sunrise while engaging themselves in gentle exercise. This combination of slow movements also known as a substitute for meditation so it will surely bring peace to tourist’s mind who are already immersed in the serene atmosphere of the Bay.

Floating Villages Visiting

Visiting floating village is one of the most popular activities when you come to Halong. The trip is normally organized in the morning, after the breakfast is done. Some typical floating villages are Ba Hang, Cua Van, Vung Vieng. These villages are the shelters of many fishermen and their families. They live side by side with neighbors on floating houses connected together. Their lives and livelihood rely largely on the sea and they are normally very poor. Children go to the so-called floating school and they are not expected to be knowledgeable as they will undoubtedly follow the same lives like their parents. Besides observing daily life of villagers, tourists will see fish farms and pearl farms and have chance to see how pearls are harvested. This part of the itinerary will bring travelers a realistic picture of fishermen’s life alongside with the dreamy image of Ha Long Bay.

Dinner in cave

Those who wish to seek for romantic experiences may find this activity captivating. The bay is already well-known for a system of diversified caves regarding size and geology. Food is prepared on the mainland and brought to a cave to set up your dinner. These dinners normally include both Vietnamese and Western dishes as to meet the demand of tourists. Inside the cave, systems of sparkling lights are put up to create exotic atmosphere so that tourists will get the best of these dinners. Apart from the grandiose sight, you will enjoy entertainment programs such as folk dance and live music.

Kayaking

Kayaking in anywhere else is only kayaking, but kayaking in Halong Bay is more than exceptional. Indeed, tourist will surely have memorable experiences with kayaking on the transparent water around the lime karsts of Halong Bay. Normally, this activity is organized so that tourists can explore some attractions of the Bay themselves. If you are not familiar with kayaks, the staff will gladly help you to know how to get around by these small boats. Locations to enjoy it are Ba Hang and Cua Van fishing villages, Luon Cave, Trinh Nu Cave, Ho Dong Tien area, Tung Sau area, and so on.

Cooking Demonstration

It is known internationally that Vietnamese food are fresh, healthy and delicious; therefore, this part of the itinerary is set up to satisfy the curiosity of tourists who love to study about culinary culture. The Cruise chef will show you how to make some of the most famous dishes in Vietnam such as “nem ran” or “goi cuon”. You will be informed about the ingredient, recipe and especially the cuisine of Vietnam.

Squid fishing

After dinner, participating in squid fishing is very popular among tourists. When everyone gathered at the wing of the boat, Cruise staff will give you fishing rod, bait and racquet, and share with you some instruction so that you can enjoy this activity as much as possible. The best time to catch squids here is from August to December. In these month, squids are bigger and more abundant which makes it more rewarding to join this activity. If you really favor squid fishing, take notice on the weather; the cooler it get, the more squids appear. It is no exaggeration to say that this is one of the most interesting activities on a Halong Bay Cruise as you can enjoy your own achievement. After 2 hours or so, the staff will help to steam your squids and bring it to your room; and if you are lucky, you can bring a full box of refrigerated squids to the mainland.

Sunbathing and Sea Sports

Coming to Halong Bay without enjoying the beaches will absolutely make your trip unfulfilled. Halong Bay has many islands and islets with numerous white sandy beaches. If you do not like sharing a crowed beach, then Halong Bay is heaven for you. Most beaches here look primitive and beautiful in their own ways. Some of the most famous should be named are Ngoc Vung Beach, Titop Beach, Ba Trai Dao Beach, Tuan Chau Beach, and so on. Tourists can enjoy wide range of activities such as swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling, and scuba diving.

Trekking

Trekking is highly recommended when you visit Cat Ba Island as it has the diversified Cat Ba National Park. The park is about sixteen thousand hectare; and it is the first terrestrial and marine park in Vietnam with five thousand hectare of the sea surface and more than ten thousand hectare of mountainous areas. You can choose to take a short trekking route from the park entrance to some attractions here such as Ngu Lam peak, Trung Trang cave or Lien Minh (Butterfly valley). However, if you want to learn more about this World’s Biosphere Reserve, the trekking route of 8 km to Viet Hai village is definitely perfect. Travelers will go through “Ao Ếch” (Frog pond), which is the largest freshwater lake on the Island. If you are lucky, you may catch a glimpse of a Langur monkey, a critically endangered primate with the population of less than 70 individuals. Viet Hai village, the last stop, is a remote area where people live in a simple way of life. Nowhere else in Vietnam, people can put their motorbikes on the street without locking and taking out the key. Houses are made of bamboo, wood, coconut leaves and soil. Honestly, Viet Hai is all about a typical ancient village in the North of Vietnam.

Cycling

Looking for a tourist attraction with beautiful cycling route? Viet Hai village on Cat Ba Island is just the place for you. A biking tour to visit this undisturbed community is surely worth your time. The bike track is about 6 km around the village. It leads you through villagers’ paddle fields, plantations, cattle herds, houses and schools. The bike tour is simply refreshing since it brings you the chance to be close to nature as well as to learn more about harmonious people here.

Mountaineering

Besides trekking, mountaineering is another good option for adventure lovers who wish to explore Halong Bay and Cat Ba Island in their own ways. There are many locations suitable for this activities such as Titop Island, Ba Trai Dao Island, Navy Peak, and so on. All climbing routes will make tourists feel breathtaking when you are on the top, regarding the magnificent scenery and inspiring atmosphere. Cat Ba alone is already famous as an ideal place for novice climbers. Some cliffs like Butterfly Valley (Lien Minh Valley), Hidden Valley are commonly chosen as places to practice climbing as their routes are easy and well – established. At these location, tools and instruction are normally provided by organizers. However, if travelers want to open new routes themselves, there are still various spots for them to choose and enjoy their remarkable achievements.

Seaplane tour

If your budget allows, do not hesitate to join a scenic seaplane trip on Halong Bay. To see panorama view of the Bay is surely one-in-a-lifetime experience. First, you will take a direct flight from Noi Bai airport to Ha Long and spend 15 minutes to enjoy the majestic beauty of Halong Bay. Tourists will see a complex of emerald-green water with thousands of limestone karsts from a bird’s eye view. Without doubt, you will get the best view of Halong Bay and the best pictures from the plane as well. After landing on the sea, tourists are free to enjoy Cruises and other tourist services. When the Cruise tour ends, you can join an overnight Cruise tour from Tuan Chau Marina or a pre-arranged vehicle will take you back to Hanoi.

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Cruise operate Dinner in the Cave: Red Dragon Junk ; Dragon Pearl Junk; Prince Junk ; L’Amour Junk;

Cruises operate Lunch on the Beach: Dragon Legend Cruise

Cruises visit Viet Hai village (cycling/trekking): V’spirit Cruise; Perla Dawn Sails; Peony Cruise; Serenity Cruise; Bhaya Classic Cruise;

Cruises organize Cooking Class, Tai Chi, Kayaking, Trekking in Cave, visit Fishing villages: Aclass Cruise; Stellar Cruise; Silver Sea Cruise; President Cruise; Aphrodite Cruise; Indochina Sails; Ancora Cruise; Paradise Elegance Cruise

Explore Halong Bay Cruises

President Cruise; Luxury Flamingo Cruise; Glory Lege nd Cruise; Pelican Cruise; Syrena Cruise; Alisa Cruise; Phoenix Cruise; Aphrodite Cruise;Paloma Cruise; Oriental Sails ; Starlight Cruise ; Signature Cruise