Beyond Hanoi
Hạ Long Bay: limestone islands in the Gulf of Tonkin
The back story
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Arianos · Public domain via Wikimedia CommonsAbout Hạ Long Bay: limestone islands in the Gulf of Tonkin
UNESCO describes Hạ Long Bay – Cát Bà Archipelago, inscribed in 1994, as covering 65,650 hectares and including 1,133 islands and islets, a seascape of limestone rising from the sea in Quảng Ninh province and Hải Phòng city (whc.unesco.org). Most visitors drive from Hanoi to the cruise harbours and spend a night aboard; Lan Hạ Bay, off Cát Bà, is quieter.
Getting there
By car or shuttle on the expressway east from Hanoi to the cruise harbours; most cruise lines include the transfer.
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Shyamal · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsOn the water
Cruise lines such as Heritage Line, Orchid Cruises, Paradise, Ambassador and Emeraude sail overnight among the islands, with kayaking, caves and swimming stops.
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Arianos · Public domain via Wikimedia CommonsChoose an overnight cruise: day trips spend most of the day on the road.
Safety
GOV.UK advises checking the safety record and registration of boats before an overnight trip, and making sure you get a safety briefing and a life jacket.
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Edgardo W. Olivera from Montevideo, Uruguay · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsOur advice: one night is enough to see the bay at dawn; two nights take you on to Lan Hạ Bay.
Why it's on our list
- Getting there
- On the water
- Safety
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Hạ Long Bay: limestone islands in the Gulf of Tonkin before you go.