Bai Tu Long Bay

Bai Tu Long Bay lies northeast of Ha Long Bay, bordered by Cam Pha to the west, and covers around 158 km² of sea. Its limestone islands are more widely spaced than Ha Long's, and the larger islands to the east are still home to fishing communities, giving the bay a calm, off-the-beaten-track feel.

Itineraries take in Thien Canh Son Cave, the floating village and pearl farm at Vung Vieng, kayaking in the Cong Dam area and the white-sand beach at Cap La Island.

Getting there

Bai Tu Long cruises board at Hon Gai Port in Ha Long city, near the Sun Wheel. Shuttle buses from Hanoi's Old Quarter take about 3 hours via the Hanoi – Hai Phong – Ha Long expressway.

Highlights of Bai Tu Long Bay

Thien Canh Son Cave

Thien Canh Son is a rather unspoiled cave located on Bai Tu Long Bay in the Cong Do Conservation Area. The cave is well known for its unique natural beauty and picturesque surrounding scenery, which allure thousands of visitors coming to this off-the-beaten-track area of the World Heritage Site. Inside the cave, visitors will be impressed by the strange beauty of stalactites in unique shapes formed millions of years ago. Although the area is smaller than Sung Sot Cave, Thien Canh Son Cave still possesses an irresistible beauty, and also the cave is not too crowded, which helps visitors get the most complete experience. The discovery is like stepping into a fantasy world where tourists could immerse in their own imagination with stone flowers, baby elephant, lovely gnomes… Outside the cave, visitors could admire the spectacular views of Bai Tu Long Bay, enjoy the fresh air and cool atmosphere of the bay. Besides, spending some time relaxing at the beautiful white sand beach at the foot of the mountain will be a great ideal before continuing next excursions.

Vung Vieng Fishing Village

Located among plenty of islands on Bai Tu Long Bay, Vung Vieng fishing village (also called Vong Vieng) impresses visitors as an off-the-beaten-track destination on your path of discovering the world heritage site Halong. Vung Vieng fishing village belongs to the Vung Ha archipelago located in the important protection area on Bai Tu Long Bay, about 25 km from the mainland. The very unique gate to the village is a huge stone arch created by nature. Currently, Vung Vieng has begun to participate in developing tourism and building a floating cultural center. If you desire to enjoy a peaceful and relaxed excursion, head to Vung Vieng floating village on a bamboo boat. You could immerse in the poetic nature, admire the rock mountains covered by green trees and vines, feel the cool sea breezes or simply observe the daily life of hardworking fishermen. You can also participate in the daily experiences with fishermen such as rowing bamboo boats, dropping fishing nets, catching fish...

Cong Dam Area

Located on the less touristy Bai Tu Long Bay, Cong Dam Area is best known for its majestic and poetic natural beauty of an outdoor geological museum. Visitors will feel overwhelmed by the rock mountains formed from stacked stones in straight lines and the peaceful space of waterscape and surrounding scenery. Coming here, tourists also have a great chance to visit Cong Dam fishing village – a small ancient fishing village with the population of about 120 people. Due to being quite far from the mainland and completely isolated from the usual tourist routes, the scenery of the village still retains many untouched features and a very clean environment. Beside enjoying kayak on pure waters as Cat Oan, Tra Gioi, Cay Bang, visitors can also participate in the experience of planting mangrove forests to protect the marine environment or follow fisherman to discover their daily life on the floating village.

Cap La Island

Cap La Island is a wonderful attraction with peaceful waterscape and pristine white sand beach. Visiting this area, tourists will be lost in the maze of dazzling natural wonders with islands, beaches, seawaters. How to exploring this area? At present, many cruises choose Cap La beach as a part of tour route for kayaking activity. Professional tour guides will take you by kayaks around beautiful landscape and also beaches for enjoying the crystal clear blue water. Another option in this area is passing by Cap La fishing village. It is a small floating village with each boat being a separated household. Here visitors could witness the rafts and cages of fish or oysters and observe the simple and tranquil daily life of the locals.