Halong expeditions
Appeared in the first epoch as a huge limestone scattered in the delta
of the Red River full of alluvium and located in Quang Ninh province
abundant in open coal mines, Ha Long Bay looks like a paradise due to
its charm and beauty. Ha Long Bay is a bay in the Gulf of Tonkin
comprised of regions of Ha Long City, the township of Cam Pha, and a
part of the island district of Van Don. Ha Long Bay borders Cat Ba
Island in the southwest, the East Sea in the east, and the mainland,
creating a 120 km coastline.
Legends said that a huge dragon and its children descended there to help the Vietnamese fight against the Northern invaders. After the victory, these dragons decided to stay with the local people. Since then this area has been called the “ descending dragon” region. The local junks moving gently along the islets in the sunset bring a strange experience.
With its 3,000 islands on an area of 1,500 km2 rising from the crystalline emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin, the Ha Long Bay has been a major attraction for tourists and film makers alike. It is one of the natural wonders of Viet Nam and is now listed as a World Heritage site.
Ha Long Bay affords some of Vietnam's most spectacular scenery, including beautiful limestone formations, rock arches, gin-clear water, virtually scenery lagoons, eerie caves, peaceful coves, sheer cliffs, secluded strips of white, powdery sand, and thousands of limestone islets. Like sculpted cartoon characters, these islets are fancifully named: Frog Island, Face Island, Isle of Surprise, etc. Among thousands of caves of all sizes and shapes, Hang Dau Go (Grotto of Wooden Stakes), known to the French as the Grotte des Merveilles (Cave of Marvels) is a huge one consisting of three chambers which you reach via 90 steps. Among the stalactites of the first hall, scores of gnomes appear to be holding the meeting. The walls of the second chamber sparkle if bright light is shined on them. The cave derives its Vietnamese name from the third of the chambers, which is said to have been used during the 13th century to store the sharp bamboo stakes, which Tran Hung Dao planted in the bed of the Bach Dang River to impale the Kublai Khan's invasion fleet. Other well-known caves in Ha Long Bay include the Grotto of Bo Nau and 2 km long Hang Hanh Cave.
Getting there and away
Bus: In Ha Long bay, you can catch Hanoi-bound buses from Mien Tay bus station in Bai Chay, close to the Bai Chay bridge, every 15 minutes.
Buses to Hai Phong take you 2 hours and leave every 20 minutes from a bus station across the road from Mien Tay. Buses to NorthEasten destination leave from Hon Gai bus station.
Car and motorbike: Ha Long city is 170km from Hanoi, 55km from Hai Phong and 45 km from Cam Pha. The one way trip from Hanoi to Ha Long bay takes about 3 hours and a half by car.
Boat: There are daily slow boats connecting with Hai Phong (about three hours). There is also a daily boat connecting Hon Gai and Cat Hai Island but its departure times depend on the season and the number of visitors. There are occasional direct boats from Hon Gai to Cat Ba Island.
There are also services from Hon Gai and Bai Chay to Mong Cai (Chinese border) by hydrofoil.
Current types of tourism
- Travelling by boat: tourists can go to Ha Long Bay to view the landscape, visit the caves and grottoes and relax and go swimming on the sandy beaches of the limestone islands.
- Kayaking: a romantic and adventurous kind of tourism. A large boat carries small inflatable canoes or kayaks to deserted, almost unknown areas of the Bay. Visitors can paddle by themselves to explore remote wild islands and caves.
- Cultural-historical tourism: tours for people interested in culture and archaeology. They stay a longer time in Ha Long to visit archaeological remains, study tangible and intangible culture and experience the beautiful land and seascapes, along with the outstanding geological and historical sites.
- Eco-tourism on Ha Long Bay: visitors can visit isolated ecosystems with beautiful sandy beaches, tidal flats, mangroves, coastal wetlands and coral reefs.
Routes on the Bay
There is a variety of different and attractive tours on the Bay. Tourists can choose their favorite tour to visit popular caves, grottoes and beautiful islands.
+ Tour Routes and their duration:
- Route 1: Tourist Wharf, Thien Cung Grotto, Dau Go Cave, Dinh Huong Islet, Ga Choi Islet (3-4 hours)
- Route 2: Tourist Wharf, Thien Cung Grotto, Dau Go Cave, Dinh Huong Islet, Ga Choi Islet, Sung Sot Grotto, Ti Tov Beach (7-8 hours).
- Route 3: Tourist Wharf, Me Cung Cave, Sung Sot Grotto, Ti Tov Beach (7-8 hours).
- Route 4: Tourist Wharf, Tam Cung Cave, Sung Sot Cave, Luon Cave (7-8 hours).
- Route 5: Tourist Wharf, Bai Tu Long, Ngoc Vung Island, Quan Lan Island (2days/ 1 night).
+ Timetable for tourists visiting caves and grottoes on the Bay:
Summer: From April 1-Sep. 30
Winter: From Oct. 1-March 31
Name of cave(s)
Thien Cung-Dau Go: 7:30a.m-5:00p.m8:00a.m-4:30p.m.
Sung Sot-Ti Top-Tam Cung: 8:00a.m-5:00p.m.8:30a.m-4:30p.m.
Me Cung: 8:30a.m-4:30p.m.9:00a.m-4:30p.m.
Travel Guide 
