Living in the concrete jungles that we do, we rarely get to appreciate how beautiful planet Earth truly is. You will have no such troubles during your holiday in Halong Bay. The Bay is littered with 1,600 limestone islands and islets and covers an area of over 1,500 SQ km. The most popular of these islands is the Cat Ba Island. The island consists of rugged sandy beaches and dense jungles. The island's popularity has led to the construction of many hotels, bars, and restaurants. But one thing that will become very evident during your holiday in Halong Bay is how untouched Cat Ba's rich natural splendor remains. The locals of Cat Ba Island have not let the influx of tourists influence their daily lives. They still do what they have done for thousands of years for their livelihoods, fish. Dau Be Island is a swimmer’s paradise. With three inland lakes and rich corals and deep grottoes which make it perfect for diving, Dau Be Island is favorite of the travelers. The luscious greenery on the islands serve as habitat for a rare and diverse range of animals such as the golden-headed langur monkey. Halong Bay, with its picturesque setting, is undoubtedly a photographers dream.

Dau Be Island is also home to caves which can only be accessed at low tide via rowing boats. Caves can also be found on the Bo Hon Island. Pelican Caves are popular among the tourists on Bo Hon Island. Also on Bo Hon Island is the most famous of all of Halong Bay's caves, the Virgin Cave. The Virgin Cave is a tourist hotspot thanks to the presence of a shrine that legend dictates belonged to a girl who had committed suicide on the island. One of Halong Bay's chief attractions is the floating houses. Locals have been living and fishing off of these floating houses for decades. Tourists can arrange to stay on these houses on the water.

Since it is a Bay consisting of hundreds of islands, there are many boat tours on offer for tourists on a holiday in Halong Bay. Tourists are encouraged to spend at least one night on a boat. This leads to a more special perspective on the magnificence of Halong Bay. You can stop on any particular island in the Bay and go for a swim. Or maybe hone your diving and snorkeling skills. There is something heavenly in being in the water of Halong Bay with rolling hills serving as the background for as far the eye can see. Tourists can go trekking through the forests present on the islands as well. There are various trekking routes available which provide visitors with an up-close and personal look at many of the animals on the islands. You can even take a bicycle trip around the islands and visit traditional villages like the Viet Hai Village. The Cat Ba Island Resort and Spa has a water park which is great fun for the family during their holiday in Halong Bay. It is the only one of its kind in Vietnam.

When you are on a tropical island, you will find fish to be a constant in all the local dishes. Majority of the restaurants in Halong Bay are beach front and serve mostly seafood. You will find your fair share of Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants as well. One of the top restaurants in Halong Bay is the floating restaurant on Cat Ba Island. Enjoy your meal that is freshly caught from the water and cooked in front of you for your satisfaction.  Recently, many international cuisines have become widely available in Halong Bay. Nightlife in Halong Bay is far from being a crazy scene bursting with energy. But, one can easily take in the breathtaking setting of the Bay at night on a boat or sitting in any of the beachside restaurants. All this makes your holiday in Halong Bay all the more interesting.

From May to September, the weather here is hot, humid, and windy. Halong Bay is unique as it has two monsoons. As a result, it is very windy and then there is the constant rain. Halong Bay receives an annual 1832mm of rainfall, 85 percent of which is falls during this season. Halong Bay is one of the most humid cities in Vietnam, with humidity going as far up as 90 percent. Despite the incessant rainfall, temperatures in Halong Bay soar up to the mid30s during the rainy season. This time of the year is best avoided. Although, if you are willing to risk it, ticket prices are the cheapest during this period.

If you are looking to get the most out of your holiday in Halong Bay, then the dry season is definitely your best bet. Dry season witnesses the least amount of rainfall in Halong Bay. In fact, the rainfall during the dry season only amounts to 12 percent of the total rainfall that Halong Bay receives in a year. November marks the beginning of the dry season. Though temperatures, for the most part, remain in the mid20s, January is awfully cold as the temperature can go as low as 5 degrees. Of course, the temperature then rises as we approach April of the following year. It is worth noting that Halong Bay's geographical location ensures that there is a very low chance of a tropical thunderstorm hitting this part of the world. As this is the peak season, tickets are a bit on the expensive side. But, once you get to Halong Bay, it is completely worth it.

These families have lived in this village for generations. They go about their daily lives, oblivious to the buzz surrounding the Heritage site of Ha Long Bay. Living far away from the bustling tourist attractions, the people at Vong Vieng is friendly and all smiley to curious visitors. It is interesting to take part in the making of fishing nets and processing fishes. The rambunctious children make up one third of the local population and their presence livens up the quiet fishing life.

Once you’ve set food on the peaceful village of Vong Vieng, be sure to stay over night for the exciting communal activities which only unfold in the evening. Under the majestic moonlight, tourists sit on woven bamboo boats beside the crackling fire, breathe fresh air, listen to folk song duets, drop flower garlands and coloured lanterns for luck and watch the fishermen catching marine products. If you’re lucky to arrive at Vong Vieng during the annual Ha Long Tourism Week, you’re welcome to participate in the fishing village festival. Exciting activities vary from folk song singing contest, culinary competition, swimming competition and boat handling competition etc.

Besides its natural beauty, Tien Ong Cave also draws attention from archaeological experts for containing stone artefact assemblages from Hoa Binh Culture that dated to 10000-2000 BCE. If you’re lucky to go with a knowledgeable and experienced guide, your trip will be even more eye-opening with fantastic history lessons of cave exploration. Tien Ong Cave was officially opened for tourism in 2010, satisfying both Ha Long Bay enthusiasts and archaeology buffs.

As the largest fishing village in Ha Long Bay, Cua Van has a population of 733 in 176 households. They live on floating houses and call fishing their bread and butter. Cua Van can be considered the “wealthiest” village in Ha Long Bay. Their floating houses look spacious and clean. The well-off families even have tiled roof houses with radios, television sets, tables and chairs, etc.


When thinking about Ha Long Bay, the image that frequently crosses people’s minds is the surreal breathtaking mountains rising from the emerald green water. But Ha Long Bay is not all about world-class caves and grottos. There are local people who go about their daily lives with an optimistic attitude. Visiting the village, tourists have a chance to experience the villagers’ daily life as well as the traditional culture and customs of the fishermen, the often overlooked main characters of the World Heritage Area of Halong Bay. Observing the making of fish nets and fishing is good lesson for kids and an interesting experience for adults from other cultural backgrounds. Looking at the small boats driven by tiny oars going to school, the radiant faces of the children, and their rambunctious calling, one feels confident in a bright future for the fishing village.

In recent years, the locals at Cua Van village have been more engaged in the tourism industry in Ha Long Bay. Aside from fishing, many families also offer homestay and participate in environment awareness campaign. It’s no wonder why Cua Van has become a tourist attraction and has been present in the itinerary of almost all tourist agencies.

As you walk down the path to explore the cave, you cannot help the endless imagination and association of these formations with real life figures such as tortoise, dragon, sword. So let the imagination soar! A visit to Sung Sot cave is included in most cruise so you know you won't miss it.

There are not yet many tours delivered, the beach remains pristine, and residents are more local fishermen than tourism service workers. Among all cruises deliver tours to Halong Bay, a few anchor in BaiTu Long such as Santa Maria, Dragon Pearl and White Dolphin. These are smaller boats, offering a less luxury but definitely more tranquil feel as one tour the Bay.

Living in the concrete jungles that we do, we rarely get to appreciate how beautiful planet Earth truly is. You will have no such troubles during your holiday in Halong Bay. The Bay is littered with 1,600 limestone islands and islets and covers an area of over 1,500 SQ km. The most popular of these islands is the Cat Ba Island. The island consists of rugged sandy beaches and dense jungles. The island's popularity has led to the construction of many hotels, bars, and restaurants. But one thing that will become very evident during your holiday in Halong Bay is how untouched Cat Ba's rich natural splendor remains. The locals of Cat Ba Island have not let the influx of tourists influence their daily lives. They still do what they have done for thousands of years for their livelihoods, fish. Dau Be Island is a swimmer’s paradise. With three inland lakes and rich corals and deep grottoes which make it perfect for diving, Dau Be Island is favorite of the travelers. The luscious greenery on the islands serve as habitat for a rare and diverse range of animals such as the golden-headed langur monkey. Halong Bay, with its picturesque setting, is undoubtedly a photographers dream.

Dau Be Island is also home to caves which can only be accessed at low tide via rowing boats. Caves can also be found on the Bo Hon Island. Pelican Caves are popular among the tourists on Bo Hon Island. Also on Bo Hon Island is the most famous of all of Halong Bay's caves, the Virgin Cave. The Virgin Cave is a tourist hotspot thanks to the presence of a shrine that legend dictates belonged to a girl who had committed suicide on the island. One of Halong Bay's chief attractions is the floating houses. Locals have been living and fishing off of these floating houses for decades. Tourists can arrange to stay on these houses on the water.

Since it is a Bay consisting of hundreds of islands, there are many boat tours on offer for tourists on a holiday in Halong Bay. Tourists are encouraged to spend at least one night on a boat. This leads to a more special perspective on the magnificence of Halong Bay. You can stop on any particular island in the Bay and go for a swim. Or maybe hone your diving and snorkeling skills. There is something heavenly in being in the water of Halong Bay with rolling hills serving as the background for as far the eye can see. Tourists can go trekking through the forests present on the islands as well. There are various trekking routes available which provide visitors with an up-close and personal look at many of the animals on the islands. You can even take a bicycle trip around the islands and visit traditional villages like the Viet Hai Village. The Cat Ba Island Resort and Spa has a water park which is great fun for the family during their holiday in Halong Bay. It is the only one of its kind in Vietnam.

When you are on a tropical island, you will find fish to be a constant in all the local dishes. Majority of the restaurants in Halong Bay are beach front and serve mostly seafood. You will find your fair share of Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants as well. One of the top restaurants in Halong Bay is the floating restaurant on Cat Ba Island. Enjoy your meal that is freshly caught from the water and cooked in front of you for your satisfaction.  Recently, many international cuisines have become widely available in Halong Bay. Nightlife in Halong Bay is far from being a crazy scene bursting with energy. But, one can easily take in the breathtaking setting of the Bay at night on a boat or sitting in any of the beachside restaurants. All this makes your holiday in Halong Bay all the more interesting.

From May to September, the weather here is hot, humid, and windy. Halong Bay is unique as it has two monsoons. As a result, it is very windy and then there is the constant rain. Halong Bay receives an annual 1832mm of rainfall, 85 percent of which is falls during this season. Halong Bay is one of the most humid cities in Vietnam, with humidity going as far up as 90 percent. Despite the incessant rainfall, temperatures in Halong Bay soar up to the mid30s during the rainy season. This time of the year is best avoided. Although, if you are willing to risk it, ticket prices are the cheapest during this period.

If you are looking to get the most out of your holiday in Halong Bay, then the dry season is definitely your best bet. Dry season witnesses the least amount of rainfall in Halong Bay. In fact, the rainfall during the dry season only amounts to 12 percent of the total rainfall that Halong Bay receives in a year. November marks the beginning of the dry season. Though temperatures, for the most part, remain in the mid20s, January is awfully cold as the temperature can go as low as 5 degrees. Of course, the temperature then rises as we approach April of the following year. It is worth noting that Halong Bay's geographical location ensures that there is a very low chance of a tropical thunderstorm hitting this part of the world. As this is the peak season, tickets are a bit on the expensive side. But, once you get to Halong Bay, it is completely worth it.

These families have lived in this village for generations. They go about their daily lives, oblivious to the buzz surrounding the Heritage site of Ha Long Bay. Living far away from the bustling tourist attractions, the people at Vong Vieng is friendly and all smiley to curious visitors. It is interesting to take part in the making of fishing nets and processing fishes. The rambunctious children make up one third of the local population and their presence livens up the quiet fishing life.

Once you’ve set food on the peaceful village of Vong Vieng, be sure to stay over night for the exciting communal activities which only unfold in the evening. Under the majestic moonlight, tourists sit on woven bamboo boats beside the crackling fire, breathe fresh air, listen to folk song duets, drop flower garlands and coloured lanterns for luck and watch the fishermen catching marine products. If you’re lucky to arrive at Vong Vieng during the annual Ha Long Tourism Week, you’re welcome to participate in the fishing village festival. Exciting activities vary from folk song singing contest, culinary competition, swimming competition and boat handling competition etc.

Besides its natural beauty, Tien Ong Cave also draws attention from archaeological experts for containing stone artefact assemblages from Hoa Binh Culture that dated to 10000-2000 BCE. If you’re lucky to go with a knowledgeable and experienced guide, your trip will be even more eye-opening with fantastic history lessons of cave exploration. Tien Ong Cave was officially opened for tourism in 2010, satisfying both Ha Long Bay enthusiasts and archaeology buffs.

As the largest fishing village in Ha Long Bay, Cua Van has a population of 733 in 176 households. They live on floating houses and call fishing their bread and butter. Cua Van can be considered the “wealthiest” village in Ha Long Bay. Their floating houses look spacious and clean. The well-off families even have tiled roof houses with radios, television sets, tables and chairs, etc.


When thinking about Ha Long Bay, the image that frequently crosses people’s minds is the surreal breathtaking mountains rising from the emerald green water. But Ha Long Bay is not all about world-class caves and grottos. There are local people who go about their daily lives with an optimistic attitude. Visiting the village, tourists have a chance to experience the villagers’ daily life as well as the traditional culture and customs of the fishermen, the often overlooked main characters of the World Heritage Area of Halong Bay. Observing the making of fish nets and fishing is good lesson for kids and an interesting experience for adults from other cultural backgrounds. Looking at the small boats driven by tiny oars going to school, the radiant faces of the children, and their rambunctious calling, one feels confident in a bright future for the fishing village.

In recent years, the locals at Cua Van village have been more engaged in the tourism industry in Ha Long Bay. Aside from fishing, many families also offer homestay and participate in environment awareness campaign. It’s no wonder why Cua Van has become a tourist attraction and has been present in the itinerary of almost all tourist agencies.

As you walk down the path to explore the cave, you cannot help the endless imagination and association of these formations with real life figures such as tortoise, dragon, sword. So let the imagination soar! A visit to Sung Sot cave is included in most cruise so you know you won't miss it.

There are not yet many tours delivered, the beach remains pristine, and residents are more local fishermen than tourism service workers. Among all cruises deliver tours to Halong Bay, a few anchor in BaiTu Long such as Santa Maria, Dragon Pearl and White Dolphin. These are smaller boats, offering a less luxury but definitely more tranquil feel as one tour the Bay.