Are you an explorer? Do you want to immerse yourself in nature? Do you enjoy the tranquility and wilderness of nature? Then come to the famous Ha Long travel destination, the most famous Bai Tu Long Bay, where the beauty of harmony between mountains, sea, and people is showcased. If Ha Long Bay is a beautiful and radiant girl, then Bai Tu Long Bay is a beautiful and alluring young woman, not inferior to anyone. If you are planning a trip to explore this beautiful Bai Tu Long Bay, don’t miss the information and experiences that Cuong is about to share below.
Where is Bai Tu Long Bay located?
According to the information Cuong has, Bai Tu Long is a Ha Long travel destination with stunning natural scenery located in the Gulf of Tonkin in our Vietnam, in the Northeast region of Vietnam. Bai Tu Long Bay includes a sea area of Ha Long city, Cam Pha city, and Van Don island district. To the Southwest of this Ha Long travel destination is Ha Long Bay, to the East is the sea, to the West is the mainland with Cam Pha city, and to the Northeast is Coto island district. Bai Tu Long Bay has hundreds of islands of various sizes, many of which are inhabited today. It can be said that with its convenient geographical location, harmonious nature, and unique aspects of the daily life of the people in the North, the Ha Long travel destination named Bai Tu Long Bay is definitely an ideal tourist spot for visitors to Ha Long to explore.
If you go on a Ha Long travel tour to explore Bai Tu Long Bay, you will not only admire, explore, and experience exciting activities, but also enjoy unique and enticing dishes or learn about the cultural aspects of the people’s lives at the most attractive tourist spots in this Ha Long travel tour.
Legend of Bai Tu Long Bay
During the Halong Bay trip, exploring Cuong’s Bai Tu Long Bay this time, Cuong not only enjoyed the scenery but also gained a lot of valuable information about the history and legends of Bai Tu Long Bay. Listening to the locals of Halong telling those legends, Cuong was very excited and fascinated. Names like Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long, or the Heavenly Palace Cave… are all associated with those intriguing sacred dragon legends.
According to the legend: “In the ancient times, during the establishment of the country, when Vietnam was newly formed and not yet stable, foreign invaders were encroaching on our land. The heavens took pity on the Vietnamese people and sent the Mother Dragon and her Dragon children down to fight the invaders and help the people. When the invaders aggressively approached our waters, the Dragon quickly descended to the lower realm, spewing out pearls. The pearls suddenly turned into large, solid, sparkling rocks, forming a sturdy wall to block the enemy’s ships. The enemy ships were blocked and crashed into the rocky islands, breaking apart. After driving away the invaders, the people’s lives returned to peace, the Mother Dragon and her Dragon children did not return to the heavens but stayed in the lower realm. The spot where the Mother Dragon landed became Halong Bay, while the place where the Dragon children paid homage to the Mother Dragon became Bai Tu Long. The tails of the dragons swirled the white water is Long Vi (the present-day Tra Co Peninsula) with its long, smooth sandy beach stretching over ten kilometers.” These legends seem to have deeply ingrained in the minds of the Vietnamese people, becoming a belief to be proud of in this fascinating Halong Bay region.
The Best Time to Visit Bai Tu Long Bay
With Cuong’s experience in traveling to Ha Long, exploring Bai Tu Long Bay, the ideal time to visit this famous Ha Long travel destination is in the summer, from March to May. If you want to stroll and admire the scenery, discover the beauty of nature, then you should visit Ha Long in the autumn, from August to October, which is the most beautiful time.
One interesting thing that Cuong noticed is that while summer is the ideal time to visit the most attractive spot – Bai Tu Long Bay for Vietnamese tourists, foreign visitors often prefer to visit this Ha Long travel destination in winter. A note that Cuong wants to remind Ha Long tourists is to avoid visiting Bai Tu Long Bay in June – July, as this time often experiences sudden storms and rain, which will affect your Ha Long trip. However, depending on your preferences and time, plan your trip to Ha Long travel, explore Bai Tu Long Bay that suits you best. Cuong recommends visiting Ha Long in winter and spring. Although the weather may be cold, there is no rain, and the natural scenery is fresh, vibrant, and more magnificent.
Exciting experiences not to be missed when traveling to Bai Tu Long Bay
Explore Bai Tu Long National Park
If you are a nature lover, enjoy trees, grass, and animals, then in your Halong Bay trip, make sure to visit Bai Tu Long National Park. This is a national biosphere reserve with a rich and diverse ecosystem. In this Halong Bay tourist spot, you will have the opportunity to admire the fascinating and pristine beauty of islands like Ba Mun, Tra Ngọ Lớn, Sậu Nam, Đông Ma, nestled among each other. There are limestone mountain ranges surrounding large valleys creating diverse habitats for various species of flora and fauna. Particularly notable is the Hang Dơi valley located in the Cat Lim area of Tra Ngọ Island. Moreover, if you have more time, you should visit the villages of the Tay, Dao Đỏ, Sán Dìu people currently living on these islands. The villagers are very friendly and hospitable.
Cuong believes that Bai Tu Long Bay is one of the highlights in the itineraries of many Halong Bay tours, whether it’s a 3-day 2-night or 2-day 1-night tour, so if you are on a full-package Halong Bay tour, remember to set aside a day to explore this fascinating Halong Bay tourist spot, you will surely not be disappointed and might not even want to leave. You will get to explore the tropical forest ecosystem in the Ba Mun ecological area – known as the most beautiful ecosystem in the country, and admire the stalactites in the captivating and adventurous caves of Bai Tu Long Bay, what could be more wonderful, right? Cuong is confident that this experience will bring you a new and enthusiastic feeling.
Try kayaking
The magical beauty of nature through the unique and whimsical image of thousands of limestone islands, caves with stalactites in Bai Tu Long Bay has enchanted many Halong Bay tourists. But to fully appreciate the grandeur of nature in Bai Tu Long Bay and explore the cliffs under the caves formed by thousands of years of waves, or watch the birds perched on the rocky cliffs and be surrounded by thousand-year-old stalactites, the best way is to kayak. If you don’t know how to swim, would you dare to paddle a tiny kayak amidst the vast waves? Cuong believes that many of you may not dare like Cuong, but his advice is not to miss out on this wonderful experience, you will regret it. At first, Cuong was very scared because he couldn’t swim, but with specific guidance from the guide, he participated and found that kayaking was not too difficult.
Let me tell you about the experience of kayaking with the Cuồng group. In the morning, we went kayaking, woke up and had a delicious hot bowl of ngán porridge (a type of clam) with fragrant răm coriander, then prepared to start the kayak paddling trip. The kayak we rented in Hạ Long came with a pump and life jackets. The whole group helped each other pump the boat, inflate it, put on life jackets. Each boat had 2-3 people, and off we went! Everyone shouted with excitement, at first not used to coordinating paddling, the boat wobbled, even spun around, and we were all startled. But then we got the hang of it. Each stroke of the paddle sent sparkling sea drops flying. After we had gone quite far from the shore, everyone relaxed, letting the boat gently sway amidst the shimmering water and clouds, enjoying sips of beer chilled in the cool sea water! As the evening approached, the wind blew stronger, Cuồng’s group just let the wind push the boat leisurely to the shore.
One small thing Cuồng wants to note for you travelers visiting Hạ Long to experience kayaking is that you may get wet while kayaking, so you should wear shorts or swimwear for comfort, you can bring a camera to capture those amazing moments that only kayaking can provide, but you also need to be very careful as it’s easy to get wet. Another note is that kayaking on a wide area of water like Bái Tử Long requires quite a bit of effort, so if you are physically fit, you should join in.
Experience on a cruise in Bái Tử Long
If you are not fit enough to paddle in a Kayak activity, there is no need to worry because there are cruise rental services available here to explore Bai Tu Long Bay and the surrounding bays and islands without exerting too much energy and time, yet still being able to visit all the places in the bay. The scenery of the mountains, the water blending together in a gentle blue color, the sea breeze cooling the atmosphere on the luxurious Halong Bay cruise, dispelling all the heat of summer. Admiring the panoramic view of Bai Tu Long Bay on the cruise makes tourists feel completely immersed in the unique natural space. Sitting on the deck, enjoying a cool refreshing fruit juice, feeling small in front of the majestic natural scenery, very peaceful. The Halong Bay cruise sails past limestone mountain ranges named after their natural shapes like Fighting Cock Islet, Roof Islet, Incense Burner Islet… In Bai Tu Long Bay, there are thousands of limestone islands of various sizes and shapes standing tall amidst the waves, with clouds floating in the clear blue sky. The afternoon on the cruise is also an interesting time for Halong Bay tourism visitors, preparing for the evening meal, the chefs have prepared the ingredients for making nem, including meat, vermicelli, wood ear mushrooms, carrots, spices, eggs, and rice paper guiding tourists to make the traditional Vietnamese dish. However, the cost of renting a cruise will be higher than renting a Kayak. So, you should consider which method of visiting is most suitable for you.
Visit Cống Đầm fishing village
Cống Đầm fishing village is a wonderful place that allows you to experience the life of Northern fishermen and explore the traditional culture, listen to fascinating sea legends. This is the cultural highlight for tourists when visiting Ha Long travel, visiting Bai Tu Long Bay. You will have the opportunity to fish with fishermen, chat with locals in Cai Dam fishing village, or sit on small bamboo boats rowed by charming girls to explore the beautiful small houses, towering mountains, and majestic scenery. Just listening makes Cuong want to return and immerse himself in the experiences at Bai Tu Long Bay right away.
There are many fascinating things in Ha Long travel tours that you shouldn’t miss, so go and experience with your own senses to fully appreciate the beauty that Ha Long travel and Bai Tu Long Bay bring to you.
How to get to Bai Tu Long Bay?
To get to Bai Tu Long Bay, you can choose to travel by passenger car, which is the most convenient option. If you are not sure about the travel route to Ha Long, how to visit Bai Tu Long Bay by passenger car, then with the following instructions from Cuong, you will easily imagine.
To get to Bai Tu Long Bay, from Hanoi you can travel to Gia Lam bus station or My Dinh bus station. Here, there are many bus companies with trips to Cam Pha, Quang Ninh with ticket prices starting from 120k – 220k per person. The travel time from Hanoi to Quang Ninh takes more than 4 hours. Some bus companies you can refer to are:
– Dai Phat Bus:
Departure: Luong Yen bus station – Cam Pha bus station
Phone: 0438641637 – 0983651722
– Duc Phuc Bus:
Departure: My Dinh bus station – Cam Pha bus station
Phone: 02033741879 – 01232288389
– Kumho Viet Thanh Bus
Departure: My Dinh bus station – Cam Pha bus station
Phone: 02435333888 – 0968360022
After arriving in Quang Ninh, you can take a taxi to Bai Tu Long Bay. Some affordable and quality taxi companies you can consider are: Ha Long Taxi (033. 62 62 62), Hon Gai Taxi (033. 84 84 84), Mai Linh Taxi (033. 628 628),…
Then, to admire the beauty of Bai Tu Long Bay, you can choose to rent a boat or cruise to explore the bay. Usually, tourists on Ha Long travel will choose a 3-day 2-night itinerary to have ample time for sightseeing, overnight anchoring, and enjoying the peaceful and relaxing feeling on the bay. Bhaya cruise also offers different itineraries combined with visits to Ha Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay, or Cat Ba Island for tourists to choose. Bai Chay Port (033. 846 592), Ha Long boat station (033. 847 481), contact boat rental at Duong Hai company (033. 845 042), boat rental at Ha Long Bay service center (033. 844 631), Hai Au company (033. 824 779),…Note: You should contact a few days in advance to avoid ticket shortages.
Transportation in Bai Tu Long Bay
If you are traveling within the city, you can use taxi companies like Taxi 886 – Mong Cai (033. 886 886); Ha Long (033. 62 62 62); Hon Gai (033. 84 84 84); Mai Linh (033. 628 628)… When visiting the bay, you can contact boat rental at Bai Chay tourist boat port (033. 846 592); Ha Long tourist boat station (033. 847 481); Duong Hai company (033. 845 042); Ha Long Bay service center (033. 844 631); Hai Au company (033. 824 779).
You can also book boat tours by day, prices depend on the time and type of boat, but Cuong advises you to contact in advance to avoid price hikes.
See more: 11 Must-Visit Places in Ha Long
What to Eat in Bai Tu Long Bay?
When visiting Ha Long, exploring Bai Tu Long Bay, tourists not only enjoy sightseeing, strolling around, but also cannot miss the opportunity to discover the unique cuisine here. There are many delicious dishes waiting for you to enjoy. The dishes prepared from the abundant and diverse seafood here are very fresh and delicious, unforgettable after just one meal. The aroma still lingers around Cuong. If you visit Bai Tu Long and do not try these dishes at least once, your trip will lose its completeness.
The cuisine of Bai Tu Long is diverse with fresh seafood and specialties of Quang Ninh in general, Bai Tu Long – Van Don in particular. For example:
– Geoduck: this is a rare and expensive seafood. Geoduck has high nutritional value, good for health. Fortunately, in 2005, geoduck was successfully farmed and is present in most seafood restaurants in and out of the province. Not only does it have a delicious taste, but geoduck in Bai Tu Long also has very high nutritional content, so it is very good for health. Geoduck is farmed a lot in Bai Tu Long Bay, so it is much cheaper than in the market, so you can enjoy it with peace of mind.
– Green clams: Visiting Bai Tu Long Bay without enjoying dishes made with green clams such as Green clam with green pepper sauce, steamed green clams with fruit,… would be a missed opportunity. These are considered delicious dishes, famous specialties at this renowned Halong travel destination that many people love.
– Banh gat gu: a cake made from rice like rolled cake in other regions, sweet, fragrant, and rich. The sweet and fragrant taste of the cake, with a slightly rich texture, will surely make you unforgettable after tasting it even just once.
– Ngán soup with Malabar spinach: Ngán soup with Malabar spinach is a dish from Quang Ninh, carrying the special flavor of the homeland, so if you have the opportunity to travel to Ha Long and visit Bai Tu Long Bay, you must definitely try this dish.
In addition, there are other specialties such as grouper and cobia swimming right at the fish rafts on the sea. Just with cobia, locals here can prepare up to 12 different dishes such as fried, steamed, grilled, stir-fried fish intestines, crispy fried fish skin, and the best is eating fish salad with mustard. Sa sung, geoduck, and ku ky (similar to crab but much tastier) are also memorable dishes, adding to the allure of your fascinating journey to a tourist area that is still being awakened.
To fully explore the cuisine at the Ha Long travel-Bai Tu Long Bay destination, you should visit some famous dining places in Bai Tu Long Bay such as:
- Ngan Tuyet Restaurant – Address: Cai Rong, Van Don.
- Gio Bien 2 Restaurant – Address: Dong Son, Area 8, Van Don.
- Binh Yen Floating House – Address: Bridge 3 Van Don, Van Don.
- Kim Lien Seafood Restaurant – Address: Area 9 Van Don Port, Van Don.
- Thanh Thuy Restaurant – Address: Area 8, Van Don Urban Area, Van Don.
- ATI Bai Tu Long Van Don Restaurant
- Tuyen Tuyet Restaurant. Address: Cai Rong, Van Don.
What to buy as gifts at Bai Tu Long Bay?
The coolers filled with fresh seafood just brought in by fishermen are extremely practical and attractive gifts when you travel to Ha Long, visit Bai Tu Long Bay. If you can’t buy or hesitate to carry fresh food for a long distance, tourists traveling to Ha Long can choose dried squid or squid sausage as gifts for relatives and family.
In addition, we cannot forget the typical gift of Quang Ninh land, coal sculptures. Created by the skilled hands and talents of the people here, these rough coal pieces have truly become a meaningful souvenir for every visitor who has the opportunity to visit this most beautiful tourist destination.
Notes when visiting Bai Tu Long Bay
To prepare for a trip full of interesting experiences without encountering any health issues. Tourists traveling to Ha Long should note the following:
- Always have a hat and sunscreen with you when going to the beach.
- Carry all personal belongings. Especially insect repellents and special treatments to prevent incidents.
- The scenery of Bai Tu Long Bay is extremely captivating, so prepare a digital camera to capture beautiful moments is essential.
- When traveling to Bai Tu Long Bay, choose the right time. If you choose to travel in the summer – peak tourist season, you should contact the bus company, hotel 1-2 weeks in advance to reserve your spot. Avoid sold-out tickets and rooms.
- Bai Tu Long Bay is now recognized with 3 tourist routes and 3 new accommodation points.
Specifically, the first tourist route is Ha Long – Hon Xep Park. This route starts from ports, docks in Ha Long City, through tourist spots such as Hang Co, Hang Thay, Cong Do, Cap La, Tung Ang Ecological Area, Hon Xep Park. The total length of the route is about 30km; travel time is 6-8 hours.The second route is Vung Duc – Hon Xep Park, with a total length of 15km, travel time of 4 hours.The third route is Cai Rong – Minh Chau, with a total length of 18km, travel time of about 6 hours, starting from Cai Rong Port, through tourist spots such as Vung Lo O, Ba Mun National Park, Minh Chau Beach. There are also 3 accommodation points including: Accommodation at Hon Xep Park, accommodation at Van Canh Island, and accommodation at Vung Lo O.
Expanding activities to serve tourists traveling to Ha Long for sightseeing, accommodation on Bai Tu Long Bay is very important in the tourism development orientation of Quang Ninh province. With the thorough preparation of local authorities and functional agencies, along with the dynamic and proactive participation of businesses, it is hoped that when new tours and routes are put into operation, the tourism space will be expanded, bringing attractive and unique tourism products to visitors when coming to Quang Ninh.
See more: Ha Long Travel Experience, Visit Chua Ba Vang in Detail
Tourist destinations near Bai Tu Long Bay
1. Quan Lan Island
Quan Lan is a large island located 45km from Halong City, also known as Van Don Island or Canh Cuoc Island, situated in Bai Tu Long Bay, near Halong Bay. Located within Bai Tu Long National Park, Quan Lan Island is a beautiful island with a rich ecosystem of flora and fauna along with stunning beaches. Currently, Quan Lan Island is a popular Halong tourism destination that many tourists, both domestic and international, visit to explore and admire the unique beauty of the island seascape.
One of the attractions of Quan Lan Island is its famous and extremely rare species of sandworm. When visiting Quan Lan Island, Halong tourists should experience digging for sandworms with the local people. Sandworms usually burrow deep in the sand, so only those with luck and experience can find them.The sandworms from Quan Lan Island are very delicious, hence they are sold at a high price. Fresh sandworms can be used to make pho broth, while dried sandworms can be grilled or fried to make a tasty dish.
2. Cai Bau Pagoda
Located near Bai Tu Long Bay, about 11km from the center of Cai Rong town, the historical site of Cai Bau Pagoda is a spiritual tourism destination often visited by tourists exploring Ha Long Bay. According to historical records, Cai Bau Pagoda was built on the foundation of Phuc Linh Pagoda from the Tran Dynasty about 700 years ago. The pagoda is built leaning against the mountain, facing the sea, considered the most beautiful pagoda with a meditation center system in Vietnam.
3. Ngoc Vung Island
Located in the heart of the green Bai Tu Long Bay, Ngoc Vung Island belongs to Van Don island district and is quite close to Minh Chau and Quan Lan islands. However, Ngoc Vung Island started developing tourism relatively late compared to its neighboring islands, so there are still few tourists visiting. With an area of 45 km2 and a sparse population (about 1,000 people), limited types of services available, this place still doesn’t attract many tourists visiting Halong tourism annually. To reach Ngoc Vung Island, you can take a high-speed boat from Hon Gai (Halong) or choose a wooden boat from Cai Rong port (Van Don).
4. Tam Cung Cave
When it comes to tourist spots in Bai Tu Long Bay, Ha Long, the famous Tam Cung Cave cannot be missed. Located in the Bai Tu Long Bay area, the cave is divided into three main chambers winding through each rock crevice. Inside the cave, there are many stalactites and stalagmites with unique shapes, in the innermost chamber, these formations create a unique artistic masterpiece with vivid images like fairies, orchids, lions, seals, etc. All of these contribute to the rare and unique beauty of the caves in Ha Long Bay.
5. Vung Vieng Fishing Village
On the journey to visit the famous Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay, the fishing village of Vung Vieng (25 km from the mainland) is a must-visit destination. Here, visitors have the opportunity to feel the peace and tranquility. In Vung Vieng, you can experience a day as a fisherman, catch fish with local people, then return to enjoy the fresh seafood just caught or relax on the pristine beaches by the mountains.
According to statistics, Bai Tu Long Bay has hundreds of limestone islands with famous landmarks such as Bai Tho Mountain, Con Coc Islet, Tien Ong Islet, Con Rua Islet, Oan Dam, Mat Quy Islet, Con Co Islet, Thien Canh Son Cave, Tam Cung Cave, Me Cung Cave…
Suggested 2-day 1-night Bai Tu Long Bay tour itinerary
DAY 1: HANOI – HALONG BAY – BAI TU LONG BAY
Morning: pick up guests in the Old Quarter of Hanoi and depart for Halong. Stop on the way in Hai Duong.
12:30: Arrive at Bai Chay pier, where you will be taken to The Viet Beauty cruise by a small boat. Upon boarding, the cruise staff will welcome you with a cool drink. Then you will check into your cabin and have lunch on board while cruising through Bai Tu Long Bay to enjoy the natural beauty and peaceful atmosphere of Bai Tu Long Bay and Halong Bay.
Afternoon: The cruise will stop at Bai Tu Long Bay, where you will be taken to a fishing village for about 1 hour to swim, sunbathe, take photos, engage in sea activities. Here, you can kayak to explore the beaches, swim, and watch the sunset on the sea, participate in fishing with local fishermen…
After kayaking, you will return to The Viet Beauty ODC cruise to relax, enjoy the scenery, and have drinks provided by the cruise.
19:00: Dinner at the restaurant on board, where you will dine under the shimmering candlelight. After dinner, relax and participate in some entertainment activities like karaoke, night squid fishing…
DAY 2: BAI TU LONG BAY – THAY CAVE – HANOI
Morning: 06:30 Wake up early to watch the sunrise on the cruise’s sundeck. Then, have a light breakfast with tea and coffee.
8:00: Visit Thay Cave, one of the most beautiful caves, still retaining the shiny layers like sparkling crystals when illuminated, exuding a rare beauty at first sight.
10:00: Check out and pack your personal belongings.
11: Have lunch while the cruise returns to Bai Chay pier. Then return to Hanoi with a stop in Hai Duong for rest and you can buy local specialties as gifts.
Afternoon: 17:30 Return to Hanoi. End of the program.
You can also consider other tours:
2-Day 1-Night Bai Tu Long Bay Cruise Tour
DAY 1: HANOI – BAI TU LONG BAY – VUNG VIENG FISHING VILLAGE
Morning
07:30 – 08:00: Depart from Hanoi, the guide will pick up guests in the Old Quarter of Hanoi or at the meeting point.
12:00: Arrive at Hon Gai pier and check-in on the cruise. The cruise staff will provide an overview of the cruise and safety instructions. The cruise begins the journey to explore Bai Tu Long Bay.
12:30: Enjoy lunch with exquisite seafood dishes from Halong Bay.
Afternoon
Visit Vung Vieng fishing village by kayak, bamboo boat, or choose to relax and enjoy nature and use the facilities on the cruise.
17:30: Join a traditional Vietnamese food demonstration, learn more about the unique features of Vietnamese cuisine. Or simply enjoy a cocktail as the sun sets over the sea.
19:00: Enjoy dinner in the peaceful atmosphere of Halong Bay. Experience squid fishing on the bay and free time to relax.
DAY 2: BAI TU LONG BAY – THIEN CANH SON CAVE – HANOI
Morning :Watch the sunrise on the sea and participate in a Tai Chi – Tai Chi Quyen class with a cup of coffee or tea, for a day full of energy. Then, have breakfast on the cruise.
07:30: Explore Thien Canh Son Cave, admire the beauty of the stalactites and stalagmites in the cave, you will experience a 200-step climb to reach the cave entrance.
09:00: Check out. An early lunch is served at the restaurant on the 2nd floor while the cruise sails through the beautiful areas of Bai Tu Long Bay.
10:45: Return to Hon Gai port, say goodbye to the journey and the cruise staff.
16:00: Return to Hanoi, end of the journey.
Visiting Bai Tu Long Bay is a favorite itinerary of many Halong Bay cruises. Compared to the northern sea areas, Bai Tu Long is even more peaceful. Travelers to Halong Bay who want to visit and stay at Bai Tu Long Bay just need to book a cruise with 2-day or 3-day itineraries to fully explore the landmarks of Bai Tu Long Bay. These are the travel experiences in Bai Tu Long Bay that Cuong wants to share with you. Hopefully, with these experiences, you will have a memorable Halong Bay trip with exciting experiences.
