Ha Long Bay, located about 2.5 – 3 hours from Hanoi in northeastern Vietnam is a breathtaking natural wonder that attracts millions of tourists every year. Ha Long Bay is well known for its stunning limestone karst rock formations protruding from the waters below. This stunning and unique landscape is one of Vietnam’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites and most popular tourist attractions. There are many tours that offer trips to Ha Long Bay. Visitors can embark on an overnight trip to Ha Long Bay and spend the night in the middle of the bay on a boat. Some travelers don’t have that kind of time and opt for a Ha Long Bay day trip which can easily be done from Hanoi. Join us as we explore some of the highlights, stops, and must see attractions our tour took us on while on a Ha Long Bay day trip from Hanoi.
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Ha Long Bay, also written as Halong Bay is a bay in northern Vietnam known for its 1,600 – 2,000 islands.
In the Vietnamese language Ha Long translates to “Descending Dragon”
The famous islands that are seen protruding from the water are limestone and the majority of them are uninhabited.
In 1994, Ha Long Bay was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Booking a Tour for Ha Long Bay
Being one of if not the most popular tourist attraction in Vietnam, it is recommended to visit Ha Long Bay via a guided and organized tour.
In Hanoi, there are tour shops on almost every block of the city offering tours to Ha Long Bay.
I recommend just booking the tours online through well known companies like Viator or Get Your Guide.
We actually booked the Ha Long Bay Cruise Day Tour – best selling: Kayaking, Swimming, Hiking & Lunch, through Viator.
This was a Ha Long Bay day trip from Hanoi and included pickup from our hotel, transfer on a bus, a very good lunch, multiple activities, and of course amazing views of Ha Long Bay.
Exploring Ha Long Bay
After a 2.5 – 3 hour bus ride to Ha Long Bay from Hanoi, we arrived at Tuan Chau Port. Already, our “Junk” tour boat was waiting at port for us. These “Junk” boats are actually really nice and spacious with several places to lounge around and relax. The boats are even equipped with bathrooms.
As we pulled out of port, it was about 1 – 1.5 hours before our first destination. While en route, we enjoyed a huge lunch, provided by the tour. The lunch was fantastic, we had a whole fish, shrimp, several salads, fresh fruit, and many other delicious dishes.
After lunch we were free to walk around the boat, relax in the many chairs on the deck, and just take in the beautifully unique scenery at Ha Long Bay before making it to our first destination which was Ti Top Island. After a brief stop at Ti Top Island, we kayaked at a different destination called Hang Luon. We ended our Ha Long Bay tour with a walk through Ha Long Bay’s largest natural cave, Surprise Cave.
Ti Top Island - Best Views of Ha Long Bay
For the best views of Ha Long Bay and that iconic shot of the karst formations sticking out of the water we stopped at Ti Top Island.
Ti Top Island is a popular spot for tourists. All the “junk” boats make a pit stop here. At Ti Top Island, there is a beach, bar, a few souvenir shops, and a hiking trail that leads to the top of Ti Top Island.
We were limited on time and with some of the best beaches in the world right here in Okinawa where we lived, we decided to skip the beach and head straight to the top of Ti Top Mountain.
I am glad we decided to hike to the top. I’m not going to lie, the hike to the top was not easy. Granted it was only 400 steps, the humidity was bad, temperatures were high, and we had to fight crowds going both uphill and downhill.
Once we summited to the top, we were amazed by the beauty of Ha Long Bay. Here we saw that picturesque landscape of the limestone formations protruding from the water below.
Kayaking at Hang Luon
The tour we booked included several activities and attractions. One of the activities was to kayak at Hang Luon.
This was somewhat touristy as there were a hundred other kayakers, but I can’t deny that I had a lot of fun and the scenery was absolutely stunning.
There is a hidden cove surrounded by towering jungle peaks. The only way to access the cove was to kayak through a natural cave. On the other side we were greeted by a 360° view of mountains and beautiful water.
We kayaked for about 30 minutes before heading back to the boat.
Surprise Cave - It was Actually Surprising
The last attraction on our Ha Long Bay tour was a visit to Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave.
The cave really did live up to the name, it was quite surprising.
Founded by the French in 1901, Surprise Cave is the largest and most fascinating cave at Ha Long Bay.
Visitors walk through several caverns, each bigger then the previous. The final cavern was a shock, I’ve never seen a cavern as open or as large as the one at Surprise Cave.
Upon exiting the cave, there are any scenic overlooks with great views of the karst formations and water.
Conclusion
A day trip to Ha Long Bay from Hanoi is an unforgettable experience that is a must for any traveler. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of Vietnam’s top rated tourist attraction and receives millions of visitors a year. The unique limestone karst formations, reflective waters, and prime attractions make Ha Long Bay a natural wonder that is well worth a day trip from Hanoi. From kayaking in secret coves to walking through spectacular cave systems, a Ha Long Bay day trip is full of adventure and stunningly scenic landscapes.
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Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️ 🇻🇳
Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖
For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com
Activities and Tours 🏖️🚁
Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options.
In need of a car rental? 🚗🚘
I recommend checking with Rental Cars.
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