Attractions & Things To See In Ha Long Bay
Cai Dam Market
Cai Dam Market is a traditional Quang Ninh Province seafood market that is situated on Tien Ong Street, Bai Chay, in the heart of Halong City.
Cai Dam Market occupies a wide space of over 4000 square meters. The entire structure consists of six floors and is open 24 hours a day.
There are 300 stores providing goods and fresh seafood on the ground floor.
There are almost 200 stores on the first floor, including fashion labels, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and office supplies.
The second level sells jewelry, woodwork, and mementos.
The remaining floors house various services.
Although Cai Dam Market offers a variety of goods, it is mainly known as a wholesale market for an abundance of fish. Visitors can find freshly caught seafood such as shrimp, lobster, squid, and fish, among others.
- Distance to city center: 4.4km (2.7 mi)
Sun World Halong Complex
The 214-hectare Sun World Halong Park welcomes visitors to embark on an everlasting voyage of happiness. This world-class amusement complex is most well-known for its Coastal Amusement Park on Bai Chay Beach and its Amusement Park on Ba Deo Hill, which features the Queen Cable Car & Mystic Mountain, Dragon Park, and Typhoon Water Park.
Sun World Halong Park is accessible by a multitude of modes of transportation. On the one hand, there are numerous buses and coaches from My Dinh Bus Station in Hanoi to Halong City for those in Hanoi and the surrounding areas, such Kumho Viet Thanh, Phuc Xuyen, Van Don Xuyen, Anh Huy, and Kalong VIP Limousine. The cost is merely approximately 200.000 VND.
Alternatively, visitors traveling from the south or farther afield can fly into Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi), Cat Bi International Airport (Hai Phong), or Van Don International Airport (Quang Ninh) and then take a bus or taxi to the park.
The best time to visit Sun World Halong Park is from May through July during the summer. The weather is great for all activities at this time, and the Typhoon Water Park has not yet been closed for maintenance. As this is the beginning of the school vacation, though, you should expect to be surrounded by tourists. Alternately, you might visit in autumn, when the weather is more pleasant and there are fewer tourists.
- Hours: 9:00am – 7:00pm
- Distance to city center: 1.8km (1.1 mi)
Vung Duc Temples and Grottoes
In order to reach Ba Trai Dao Islet, one of the most well-known sites in Halong Bay, guests must likely take a cruise for 9 to 10 hours.
This three-mountain complex is located 22 kilometers south of the Bai Chay Tourist Wharf. The term “Ba Trai Dao,” which literally means “three peaches” in Vietnamese, derives from the fact that, from a distance, the three of them mimic the image of three enormous peaches.
The islet’s height of up to 23 meters gives it a majestic appearance.
You will be even more enchanted upon arrival when you discover the legend behind the unique name of Ba Trai Dao Islet. It is commonly believed that once upon a time, a young, beautiful fairy visited Halong and fell in love with a poor fisherman. Her profound love inspired her to do the unthinkable: take the immortal peaches from heaven and deliver them to her lovers so that they may live eternally together. However, as she waited for the fishermen at the location where Ba Trai Dao Islet is located now, the King of Heaven appeared. It turned out that he had complete knowledge of the robbery. The king of heaven transformed the three peaches into three islands of stone and compelled the young fairy to return to heaven. Too hopeless and helpless, the young fairy’s dwelling.
Currently, Ba Trai Dao Islet is a popular tourist destination. This islet is renowned for its three enchanted beaches, each of which encompasses a little island. The combination of mountains, white sand, and the water creates an unparalleled picturesque landscape at this location. However, if you intend to visit Ba Trai Dao Islet, you must conduct research beforehand, as there are only two to three hours per day when the beaches are accessible.
- Distance to city center: 16.0km (9.9 mi)
Ba Trai Dao Islet
In order to reach Ba Trai Dao Islet, one of the most well-known sites in Halong Bay, guests must likely take a cruise for 9 to 10 hours.
This three-mountain complex is located 22 kilometers south of the Bai Chay Tourist Wharf. The term “Ba Trai Dao,” which literally means “three peaches” in Vietnamese, derives from the fact that, from a distance, the three of them mimic the image of three enormous peaches.
The islet’s height of up to 23 meters gives it a majestic appearance.
You will be even more enchanted upon arrival when you discover the legend behind the unique name of Ba Trai Dao Islet. It is commonly believed that once upon a time, a young, beautiful fairy visited Halong and fell in love with a poor fisherman. Her profound love inspired her to do the unthinkable: take the immortal peaches from heaven and deliver them to her lovers so that they may live eternally together. However, as she waited for the fishermen at the location where Ba Trai Dao Islet is located now, the King of Heaven appeared. It turned out that he had complete knowledge of the robbery. The king of heaven transformed the three peaches into three islands of stone and compelled the young fairy to return to heaven. Too hopeless and helpless, the young fairy’s dwelling.
Currently, Ba Trai Dao Islet is a popular tourist destination. This islet is renowned for its three enchanted beaches, each of which encompasses a little island. The combination of mountains, white sand, and the water creates an unparalleled picturesque landscape at this location. However, if you intend to visit Ba Trai Dao Islet, you must conduct research beforehand, as there are only two to three hours per day when the beaches are accessible.
- Distance to city center: 16.0km (9.9 mi)
Cat Ba Island
Cat Ba Island is the most popular destination in Ha Long Bay, and all tour companies provide trips there. Cat Ba is filled with hotels, restaurants, and bars, the usual tourist trappings. Nevertheless, the villagers have continued to engage in the same activity as their forefathers for generations: fishing.
Cat Ba Island is an excellent site for observing traditional local life while also enjoying modern comforts due to the combination of the aforementioned elements.
Ha Long Bay floating villages and fish farms
The floating villages and fish farms of Ha Long Bay are among the most fascinating aspects of any trip. These floating dwellings have been inhabited by locals for many generations, as fishing remains the primary source of income for the villages.
Additionally, some towns in Ha Long Bay provide affordable homestays to tourists. If you pass by them while on a cruise, don’t be shocked if the ship’s chef stops to purchase fresh seafood.
Caves In Ha Long Bay
Bo Nau Cave
Bo Nau Cave, often known as “Pelican Cave,” is located 13 kilometers southwest of Bai Chay Tourist Wharf in Halong Bay. It is called Pelican Cave because pelicans once called the cave home. “Bo Nau” sounds the same as the Vietnamese word for pelican, “bo nong.”
Wide and adorned with dangling stalactites, the entrance to Bo Nau cave resembles the jaws of some sort of beast. Aside from the numerous stalactites and stalagmites, the cave’s interior is approximately 200 m2 in size and quite flat.
Dark & Light Cave
Dark & Light Cave is one of the least visited yet most fascinating caverns in Halong Bay, and is only accessible by boat or kayak.
Lan Ha Bay is home to the Dark & Light Cave, which is situated near the shore of Halong Bay.
Lan Ha Bay is a few kilometers away from the more popular caverns and closer to Cat Ba National Park, so it could take up to two hours to reach here. Once you arrive, the brilliant combination of white limestone karsts, emerald-green waterways, and the dark mystique of the caverns creates a fantastic mood that makes your trip worthwhile.
The cave is termed Dark & Light Cave because it consists of two different cave systems. The 100-meter-long Dark Cave has very little natural or artificial light, so you will need a flashlight. Light Cave, on the other hand, is much shorter and is filled with so much natural light that it resembles a church carved by Mother Nature. Light Cave is always accessible, but Dark Cave is occasionally submerged by the sea.
You will witness a sea valley surrounded by stunning mountains after passing through the caverns. Take advantage of this chance to absorb your surroundings and make your journey unforgettable.
Trinh Nu Cave
Trinh Nu Cave is located east of Bo Hon Island, 15 kilometers south of Bai Chay beach, and three kilometers away from Sung Sot Cave. Due to the romantic legend associated with it, locals regard it as the center of Halong Bay’s love story. In English, it is sometimes referred to as “Virgin Cave.”
Thien Cung Cave
Halong Bay’s Thien Cung Cave is located in the south-west. The history of this cave is fascinating, as it was a site of legend until 1993.
Although people had investigated Thien Cung Cave in the past, the jungle had since grown over the cave’s entrance, and locals had long since forgotten how to locate it. However, the cave was immortalized in legends passed down through the generations.
In 1993, fisherman who were caught in a storm and desperately seeking shelter discovered the cave while searching for safety. Since then, Thien Cung Cave has been a popular tourist destination.
The trail leading to Thien Cung Cave is winding and bordered by dense vegetation. The cave is dry and contains a complex, high-ceilinged interior structure.
Tam Cung Cave
This cave is located in the middle of Halong Bay, roughly 5 kilometers from Sung Sot Cave, and is also known as the three-palace cave. The cave may be found on the opulent island of May Den. An island renowned for its breathtakingly gorgeous sheer cliffs and dense forests.
As suggested by its alternate name, the cave is divided into three distinct sections. The sounds heard in the initial portion of the cave might be captivating. The music has a very unusual nature due to the way the wind rushes through the cave and echoes off of the rocks. We can see a stalactite that resembles a stone flower garden dangling from the ceiling.
In the second room of the cave, there are animal-like features and formations. The second room is frequently referred to as a “fairy place” since it resembles a castle. The second portion of the cave contains a stream and inspires the imagination.
Sung Sot Cave
Sung Sot Cave is one of the largest and most magnificent caves in Halong Bay and a highlight on most Halong Bay itineraries. The French dubbed it “Grotte des Surprises” or (Surprise Grotto) due to its incredible beauty.
On the island of Bo Hon, the cave can be located alongside another famed Halong cave, Trinh Nu. From the dock, tourists must up 50 stairs to reach the opening of the grotto, which is only 25 meters above the water. The Sung Sot Cave is separated into two chambers; the first chamber, known as the “Waiting Room,” is enormous, decorated with stalagmites and stalactites, and illuminated by colorful lights that compliment the chamber’s structural grandeur.
To reach the second room, visitors must navigate a tight corridor. “Serene Castle” is the name of the second chamber. This room is enormous and opulent, with a very high ceiling, and it has numerous intriguing rock formations that locals characterize as animal-shaped.
While April to October is the greatest time for locals to visit Halong Bay, the winter months of October to December see the largest influx of foreign tourists. The humidity level is low and the weather is dry throughout this season.
Me Cung Cave
This cave is located around 2 kilometers southwest of Ti Top beach on Lom Bo island. This cave is thought to be one of the oldest in Halong Bay, with archeological evidence of life reaching back between 7000 and 10,000 years. On the island’s summit, the cave is approximately 25 meters tall and 100 meters long.
Me Cung Cave (or Maze in English) is one of Halong Bay’s narrowest caves. The entrance to the cave is a very small opening that only permits one person at a time to enter. The chambers are rather narrow and compact, but also stylish and sophisticated. It is a building comprised of numerous levels and rooms.
As you traverse the cave, you may glimpse a faint light in the distance, indicating that the exit is close by. As you depart the cave, you will encounter several stairs made of stones that are somewhat difficult to ascend. Once you reach the summit, you will be treated to a breathtaking view of a large lake (Me Cung lake) surrounded by magnificent mountains. Next to the lake is a location known as the “royal garden,” which is home to numerous ancient trees.
Kim Quy Cave
This amazing cave is also known as the Golden Turtle Cave. On Dam Nam Island, the cave extends over 100 meters from north to south, with the Dam Bac Islet at one end and the Soi Sim one at the other. The cave’s width is between 5 and 10 meters, making it relatively small, and its height is 187 meters.
Ho Dong Tien Cave
Ho Dong Tien Cave is also known as “Fairy Lake Cave” because, according to local belief, this is where fairies come to wash and repose.
There are two main chambers connected by tiny corridors within the cave. The first chamber is distinguished by its pairs of glistening stalagmite and stalactite formations. This first cave’s entrance is at sea level and can only be accessed with kayaks or rowboats. In the second chamber, there is a shallow pond encircled by limestone stalactites and two narrow passageways leading to the renowned fairy lake.
The enchanted lake is flanked by towering limestone peaks. Due to its isolation, the lake is tranquil and calm, and a wonderful humming permeates the air. The Ho Dong Tien Caves are teeming with fauna; you may encounter crabs, insects, and bats in the darkness. Locals claim that these animals are the pets of the local fairies.
Halong Management is currently protecting the pristine condition of H ng Tiên cave to prevent the cave from being exploited for tourism and to preserve the cave’s amazing natural beauty. Those interested in ecology or geomorphology may find Ho Dong Tien Cave particularly fascinating, and they may be able to tour the cave with an Environment Education class.
Hanh Cave
Hanh Cave is situated at the base of Quang Hanh mountain, approximately 9 miles (20 kilometers) from Bai Chay Tourist Wharf. It is the longest cave in Halong Bay, with a length of 1.3 kilometers (0.8 miles). If you wish to visit, you must wait until low tide and then enter using a small boat or kayak, as the cave’s entrance is relatively close to sea level.
Once inside, the pure splendor of Hanh Cave will be immediately apparent, with stalactites glittering around the ceiling and people marveling at such magnificent natural formations.
Luon Cave
This lovely cave is located on the island of Bo Hon, which is about 14 kilometers (8.5 miles) south of Bai Chay beach. Across from the cave is Con Rua islet, and to the island’s right is the Sky Gate. Bo Hon island is around one hour away from Halong City (Doan pier).
As cruise ships and/or tour boats are too large to enter the cave, the majority of visitors choose for a native Sampan boat that accommodates 10 to 15 people. It will take roughly twenty minutes to explore the cave in this manner. If tours and cruises are not your thing, you can always rent a kayak and explore on your own. The cave is around 60 meters in length and, depending on the tide, can be between 4 and 2.5 meters high.
Luon cave is one of the tiniest caves in Halong Bay and consists primarily of a creek that flows through the mountains. With its intriguing and gorgeous arches, this cave is worth a visit.
Dau Go Cave
Dau Go Cave, also known as “Wooden Head” or “Wooden Stakes,” is the largest cave in the Halong region and is located on Dau Go Island. Dau Go is located approximately 7 kilometers from Bai Chay Tourist Wharf and 3.5 kilometers from Tuan Chau Marina.
To reach the cave’s entrance, travelers must ascend 90 rocky steps located 27 meters above sea level. It includes three enormous chambers, each with impressive displays of stalactites and stalagmites as well as ancient graffiti dating back to the French expeditions. Due to the cave’s expansive entrance, its environment is damp. The third chamber of the cave contains a big freshwater lake.
In 1918, the 12th Emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty in Vietnam visited Dau Go Cave and was so inspired by its beauty that he composed a poem praising it. On the left side of the cave, the verse was etched.
