Tổng quan

If you want to explore the cultural insights into the marine life of Northern Vietnam and immerse yourself in the pristine beauty of secluded islands, visit Bai Tu Long Bay. Although sharing many geological features with neighboring Ha Long Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay is less well-known, making it even more peaceful and mysterious. With its dreamy white sand beaches, majestic limestone mountains, and two distinct ecosystems – evergreen tropical rainforest and coastal marine ecosystem – Bai Tu Long can be considered the most beautiful bay on the northern coast.

Location

Bai Tu Long Bay, strategically located in the Gulf of Tonkin, is bordered by Ha Long Bay (southwest), the East Sea (east), Cam Pha city (west), and Co To district (northeast).

Weather and Best Time to Visit

• Bai Tu Long Bay has a typical tropical climate with two distinct seasons: a hot, humid summer and a cold, dry winter. The average temperature ranges from 15°C to 25°C.
• If you visit Bai Tu Long Bay in the summer, especially from March to May, it’s the ideal time for swimming, snorkeling, and other water sports. However, this is also peak tourist season, so remember to book everything 1-2 weeks in advance.
• However, if you want to avoid the crowds and the typical summer heat in Vietnam, autumn and winter are the ideal seasons, especially from late September to November when it’s sunny but with little to no rain.
• It’s best to avoid visiting the bay in July, August, and September – months with unpredictable rain and the possibility of storms.

How to get there and where to stay

• There are two popular ways to explore Bai Tu Long Bay: book a cruise tour that includes transportation and accommodation so you have more time to enjoy the trip; or plan your own itinerary. The following information may help you decide which option suits you better.
• Booking a cruise tour is relatively more convenient because the tour company will pick you up, take you directly to Bai Tu Long Bay, allow you to stay on board overnight, and includes luxury services such as a rooftop bar, restaurant, massage, and sauna. Basically, everything you need for such a trip is already prepared when you book a cruise tour. Just remember to book a few days in advance to get the best price and avoid sold-out tickets. Depending on your current location, there are many different tours to choose from:

From Hanoi

If you are in Hanoi, most Bai Tu Long tours will pick you up from your hotel in Hanoi’s Old Quarter and take you to Hon Gai port by shuttle (as all Bai Tu Long cruises depart from this port). If you’re not staying in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, any taxi, Grab bike, or Be bike can take you there. 2-day, 1-night tours costing around 2,500,000 – 6,000,000 VND are offered by travel companies located near Hanoi city center such as:

• Signature Royal (Hotline: 0243.927.6999)
• La Regina Royal (Hotline: 098.587.3537)
• Huong Hai Sealife (Hotline: 093.699.5636)
• Renea (Hotline: 024.3835.6699).

If you want to be picked up from your hotel in Hai Phong or Hai Phong airport, consider Starlight Cruise or Oriental Sails. Their 2-day, 1-night tour costs approximately 3,350,000 – 6,600,000 VND. Contact them at 097.5200.357 for more details.

Instead of booking a tour, planning your own trip is also a fun option if you are an adventurous traveler, enjoy exploring lesser-known places, or if you only have one day to transit through Bai Tu Long Bay.

First, travel to Quang Ninh province by bus or sleeper bus, then to Hon Gai port by taxi. Typically, the journey from Hanoi to Quang Ninh takes about 5 hours and costs around 150,000 – 250,000 VND. Some reputable passenger transport companies in Hanoi include:

• Dai Phat Bus Route (Luong Yen Station – Cam Pha Station): Hotline 098.365.1722
• Duc Phuc Bus Route (My Dinh Station – Cam Pha Station): Hotline 0123.228.8389