Top 10 activities to do while in Ha Long Bay

Photo: TITC

Ha Long Bay (or Descending Dragon Bay) is located in the Gulf of Tonkin, within Quang Ninh Province. It was recognised as a World Natural Heritage by UNESCO in 1994. Ha Long Bay has stunning limestone formations and lush forests, and is one of the most ideal places to enjoy an epic seaside adventure. According to Joshua, there are many things to do in this  Bay, which will surely draw visitors coming back for more. For those heading to Asia and yearning to explore this amazing destination of Vietnam, here are 10 best ways to have interesting discovery at Ha Long Bay.

10. Go kayaking:

Kayaking is one of the most relaxing things to experience in Ha Long Bay. This activity will give visitors a chance to have a close look at the gigantic limestones, the views of lush forests carpeting the unique rock formations, and the endless stretches of the sea and sky just makes this nature-inclined experience a must-do in Ha Long Bay.

9. Take a cruise around the Bay:

One of the top-rated activities in Ha Long Bay is going on a cruise. The adventure easily takes travellers to the numerous islands across the bay presenting them with views of thousands of limestone formations of different shapes and sizes. Visitors are recommended to take a cruise at night to see completely different scenery characterised by the moonlight and the silver colour of the water.

Sunset on Ha Long Bay (Photo: TITC)

8. Get on a local Rowboat:

A rowboat is a popular mode of transportation for the locals in Ha Long Bay. Fishermen usually go by boat to get across the water and visitors who want to experience a more local and intimate relaxing time on this island, hop on one of these boats to have a closer look at the people and their culture is not a bad idea.

7. Engage in Rock Climbing:

For visitors who love thrilling activities, rock climbing is a must-do activity in Ha Long Bay.

With typical topographical features, Ha Long Bay has become one of the attractive destinations for those who love mountain climbing on the sea. Visitors can do kayaking to reach the challenging but extremely interesting climbing spots.

6. Go fishing:

Ha Long Bay is an ideal place to go fishing. Numerous fishing villages around Ha Long Bay so visitors can visit any of them to enjoy this experience. Cua Van, Ba Hang, and Cong Dam are some great fishing villages, Joshua highly recommended.  Squids are some of the popular sea creatures in the waters of the Bay, but others such as - crabs, snails, prawns, and shrimps can also be seen in the waters.

5. Eat some seafood:

Ha Long Bay is a fishing area in Vietnam, which makes seafood undeniable dishes visitors should not miss. Cha Muc - a grilled squid dish, is a must-taste dish in Halong Bay. Other delicious seafood to taste in Ha Long Bay include - fried snails and seafood noodles.

4. Explore some caves:

Besides beautiful seasides, Ha Long Bay is endowed with numerous caves that present great opportunities for cave exploration. The largest cave in Ha Long Bay is Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave, one of the best to see while on the bay. Luon Cave - one of the bay’s most beautiful caves can only be accessed by kayaks thereby creating more opportunities for exciting adventures. Joshua further listed a number of caves that visitors should visit, namely Thien Cung (Heavenly Palace) Cave, Trinh Nu (Virgin) Cave, and Dau Go (Driftwood) Cave.

3. Relax on a beach:

Ha Long Bay is famous for seasides and white sandy beaches. The beaches in the Bay area are characterised by turquoise waters and sugar-white sands. Visitors can fully enjoy activities such as swimming, kayaking, scuba diving, and snorkelling. Joshua recommended going to Ban Chan Beach and Quan Lan Beach for off-the-beaten-track.

2. Visit Sun World Ha Long Park:

This is a new site of recreation park, which features lots of activities ranging from - thrilling rides to exciting water slides, and towering Ferris wheels. There are also areas where visitors can explore trees, and waterfalls, as well as many other interesting attractions designed to keep visitors, written Joshua.

1. Visiting Quang Ninh Museum:

Quang Ninh Museum includes 3 blocks of museum, library and convention connected together by an overhead bridge system. As the typical mineral of Quang Ninh Province is coal, the building is also inspired and built as a symbol on the most beautiful coastal road in Ha Long City. This museum presents an impressive outdoor design and an interior endowed with artefacts that cover artistic, historic, and cultural aspects of the region. Joshua said that visitors can learn about the area’s fishing lifestyle as well as the fauna and flora surrounding the province.

TITC