12 Interesting Things to Do in Halong Bay, Vietnam

Picturesque and gorgeous, Halong Bay is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Vietnam. Home to more than 200 islands, Halong Bay is endowed with immeasurable natural beauty that would astound you.

Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is characterized by mighty, surreal limestone cliffs. While the cliffs are an integral part of Halong Bay, the place offers much more than this.

To appreciate the surreal beauty of Halong Bay, a cruising trip is a must. From one-day trips to overnight ones, there are several cruise trips to choose from.

You can explore Halong Bay on traditional style ‘junk boats’ or luxury cruises as per your interest. This is the best way to go island-hopping in Halong Bay.

The crystal-clear turquoise waters of Halong Bay make scuba diving a must-do activity here. The deep diving experience would give you the chance to see a variety of colorful corals, deep and mysterious grottoes, and a marine ecosystem that is unique to the place.

If you think scuba diving is not for you, take a boat trip and enjoy snorkeling that would take you to a mesmerizing world just below the surface of the waters.

Apart from the limestone islands, Halong Bay is filled with islands that have tall mountains, surrounded by lush greenery, making them perfect for hiking and trekking.

The 18-km long climb at Cat Ba National Park is one of the best hiking trails in Halong Bay. Apart from this, Coong Do Island and Bai Tho Mountain also offer great trekking and hiking opportunities.

If you have time to explore only one island on Halong Bay, it should be Cat Ba Island. Known to the biggest island on the bay, Cat Ba Island offers everything from natural beauty to adventurous activities.

The best way to explore the Cat Ba Island is by foot or on a bike. You must also visit the Cat Ba National Park, which is home to interesting variety of flora and fauna.

Do visit the Cat Ba Island Market to check out the local delights and delicacies.

Halong Bay has some of the most beautiful and mysterious caves, and it is a delight to explore them. Complete with winding tunnels, deep chambers, beautiful stalagmites and stalactites, the caves of Halong Bay are great for spelunking.

Me Cung Cave, Virgin Cave, Dau Go Cave, Thien Cung Cave, Sung Sot Cave, etc. are some of the caves worth exploring on the island. Do check out the Hospital Cave, a cave that operated as a secret hospital during the Vietnam War.

Floating villages are one of the unique things you would find in Halong Bay. While there are several floating villages here, Cua Van is surely the best and the most popular.

At Cua Van Fishing Village, you would not only get to see the floating houses and enjoy the beauty surrounding it but would also get to meet the indigenous people of Halong Bay and get an insight about their lives.

Visiting the Beaches

With so many islands, it is not surprising that Halong Bay possesses some of the most stunning beaches in the world.

The pristine white sandy beaches of Halong Bay are surrounded by verdant forests and they are great for relaxing and sunbathing. Some of the beaches also offer a variety of water sports activities like kayaking, jet skiing, fishing, canoe parachuting, etc.

Sun World Halong Park is a must-visit-stop when travelling to Halong Bay with kids. A massive amusement park, the place has everything from thrilling rides to a fun water park.

Although the Zen garden, wax museum, game zone and an arcade make for some of the amazing attractions of Sun World Halong Park, but the large Ferris Wheel is its main attraction. Moreover, the place has its own private sandy beach.

If you want to see the incredible limestone caves at close quarters and at the same time enjoy the surreal beauty of Halong Bay at a leisurely pace, kayaking and canoeing are great options for you.

Visiting Quang Ninh Museum

People interested to know more about the history and culture of Vietnam, should visit the Quang Ninh Museum. Spread around an area of 24,000 square meters, this museum has an eclectic collection of exhibits connected with the history and culture of the place.

Halong Bay is heaven for seafood lovers, and you would get to enjoy the freshest and juiciest seafood dishes here.

Grilled Ngan, lemongrass steamed scallop, tamarind fried snails, fried squid, etc. are some of the delicacies that Halong Bay is known for.