Noi Bai International Airport is the main airport located in Hanoi servicing Halong Bay. It is a 4-hour journey from Hanoi to Halong Bay. If you have not booked a private transfer with us you have a few options for transportation, including rental cars, taxis, buses, and shuttles.

The journey to Halong Bay from Noi Bai International Airport takes around 3.5 - 4 hours by road. Halong Bay is a popular cruise destination and our package includes a private transfer from the airport to the port.

Halong Bay is a popular cruise destination and the best way to see this area is by boat, there are multiple ports located in the city. Most cruises or junk boat tours will depart from the Bai Chay Tourist Wharf, located in Halong City. You may either be visiting Halong Bay to take a cruise for the remainder of your stay, which will mean most of our activities during your stay will include water activities and excursions, such as kayaking, snorkeling, island hopping and visiting the caves and grottos.

If you are staying on the mainland Halong (most likely in BaiChay) or spending a night or two in town en route to the outlying islands or a cruise then you have a few options for getting around town, including taxis, which can be found outside the main bus station in town and outside the post office. Buses can be found in town and the main bus station in Bai Chay is located about 4 miles south of central Halong City, close to the Bay Chai bridge.

The Halong Bay area boasts some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. This idyllic destination features beautiful beaches, secluded bays, hidden caves and grottos and much more. Exploring the city on foot is a great way to see the beauty that the area has to offer. Halong Bay offers visitors stunning landscapes with dramatic limestone cliffs and lush dense forests that are perfect for hiking and climbing.

Yes riding a bike in a unique and peaceful atmosphere surrounded by some of the Natural Wonders of the World is a great visual experience in Halong Bay. You can ride your bike to the beaches and coves with stunning views of the bay and the magnificent karst limestone cliffs.

The magical, majestic caves situated in Halong Bay are something everyone should see while visiting the area. There are five famous caves in the bay, including The Trinh Nu Cave (Virgin Cave) which tells the tale of a love-struck couple, considered to a be a romantic cave and the symbol of true love where people come to take the oath of love. This famous cave features a stone shaped statue of a girl looking out to sea, the Trong Grotto (Male Cave) is situated across from the Virgin cave and features a stone statue of a boy facing towards Trinh Nu Grotto.

Sung Sot Cave is one of the biggest and most beautiful caves in the bay, situated on the same island as Trinh Nu cave. A steep path leads down to the grotto lined which is lined with trees and inside the caves features many different rock formations, the cave is also known as `Surprise` or `Amazing` Cave.

Pelican Cave is another popular cave filled with stalactites and stalagmites in all different shapes and sizes with vaulted ceilings. The mouth of this cave is said to look like three fairies with their heads close together or a monster`s mouth with large teeth hanging down. The views through the mouth of the cave out over Halong Bay are pretty spectacular and provide some magnificent photo opportunities.

Halong Bay is a fantastic destination for rock climbing with over 3,000 limestone cliff islands and karsts that rise from the sea, all situated within Halong Bay. There are several different boat tours that will take climbers out to these majestic climbing areas for day trips. Cat Ba Island is the largest island situated in Halong Bay with a chain of over 350 islands, the area is known for its amazing limestone cliffs which are popular climbing destinations.

A few popular places to climb in Cat Ba include `The Cave` which overlooks Cat Ba town, featuring 7 different climbing routes ranging from 5b to 7a+.

Ben Beo Wall overlooks the main fishing harbor and features the highest concentration of hard rock climbs on the island, featuring 7 routes ranging from 6a+ to 7c+.

Halong Bay is home to many unique and authentic floating villages that have been around for generations, the locals live, work and learn here. The floating villages can be seen whilst traveling around the bay; visitors can also stop at these unique communities and see the life and culture of the locals that live here. Some of the villages found here are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites including Ba Hang, Cua Van, Vung Vieng and Cong Dam. Each village contains around 30 - 50 families and a population of around 200 - 600 people and the main income here is from fishing and tourism.

Halong Bay is a very safe destination to visit. The usual caution and street smarts should be practiced when visiting any major city. Keep your belongings secure at all times as pickpockets are not uncommon in crowded areas. Do not wander into unlit or unpopulated areas late at night and keep your wits about you.

Halong Bay is not quite a shopping destination, more of an idyllic beach destination and major cruise ship port. There is a popular night market found in Bai Chay Town with open-air stalls selling authentic Vietnamese goods including the traditional silk dresses, ceramics, and conical hats. There are unique floating shops in the area which is a fun way to pick up some of your necessities including food, snacks, and alcohol.

The units of currency in Halong Bay are the Vietnamese Dong (VND). US dollars are accepted but it is always better to pay in VND. Currency exchange desks can be found at the airport and many locations throughout the city. For more detailed information, consult our guide to tipping in Vietnam

Some of the best and freshest fish and seafood can be found in Halong Bay, the fresh catch in many restaurants located here comes straight from the local fishing boats daily. Bai Chay Town offers a wide selection of great restaurants many of them are beachfront and have great views of the bay. The cuisine offered here is mostly traditional Vietnamese style dishes as well as Chinese and plenty of fresh seafood.

A unique dining experience in Halong Bay is floating restaurants, the chef literally picks the live seafood out of a cage that is floating in the sea and cooks it to your liking.

Some traditional dishes to try when you are visiting would be, Ngan (bivalve mollusks) similar to a clam but larger, Tu Hai a type of rare shellfish served in soup or salads, Gat Gu steamed rice pancakes and Gat Gu a specialty cake.

Halong Bay is the perfect destination for quiet, romantic beachfront dinners, long walks on the soft white sand and stunning sunsets. One unique evening activity is dining in a cave, some of the cruise ships offer this service and it is one that should not be missed while visiting this amazing city. Enjoy a romantic candlelit dinner inside one of these magnificent caves.

The official language spoken in Halong Bay is Vietnamese. Most Vietnamese speak enough English for tourists` needs, and it is common for hotels, restaurants, and shops that are aimed at tourists to use the English Language. We suggest you get a good English-Vietnamese guidebook and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, please, thank you and numbers 1-10.

In case of an emergency dial 113 for Police, 114 for fire, 115 for an ambulance.

Hospitals:

Bai Chai Hosptial tel. 033-382-5482