Travel Guide to Vietnam - 10 Best Things to do in Halong Bay, Vietnam
Want to see the beauty of Halong Bay, Vietnam? Read our tips below on the things to do in Halong Bay with suggested tours!
If you're in Vietnam, going to Halong Bay is a must. This beautiful bay is a popular place for scuba diving, rock climbing, and hiking. It is a magical place par excellence to admire the beauties of nature. The emerald waters, towering limestone islands, and stunning caves, Halong Bay is indeed a place to unwind. Is it worth a visit? Absolutely yes! With the adventure and mystery it brings, everyone deserves to see the real wonder of this gorgeous bay.
Photo by digitalarbyter :)
Visa Guide for Vietnam
Anytime you’re planning to travel internationally, sorting out your passport and visa requirements should be high on your list of things to do. After spending a long flight to Vietnam with visions of floating markets and pho noodles dancing in your head, being turned away at the border could quickly bring all your vacation dreams crashing down. Be smart and plan ahead so this doesn’t happen to you!
Most travelers need a visa to visit Vietnam, depending on your nationality. Luckily, citizens of 80 countries are able to get one online, including people from Australia, Canada, EU member states, the Philippines, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Getting your visa online before your trip takes the stress out of your travel day since you’ll already have all your paperwork taken care of and ready to present to immigration officials when you arrive. You can use an online visa agent like Byevisa to make the process easier.
To complete the application, you’ll need to fill out a simple form and submit digital scans of your passport’s bio page and a passport photo. The authorization is sent to your email, and all you have to do is print it out and take it with you when you travel.
With your electronic visa, you can enter the country at one of 33 entry points (land, air, and sea) and stay for up to 30 days. That’s a good amount of time to spend discovering Vietnam’s spectacular land and seascapes, friendly people and fascinating history!
Another type of travel authorization is the Vietnam Visa on Arrival (VoA). Despite the name, it does require you to do some work before you arrive: you must get an Approval Letter from a visa agent or a Vietnamese embassy or consulate before you travel. Then, when you get to the airport, you have to stand in line to present the letter, pay a fee (cash only), and get a stamp. Getting the eVisa is a much smoother process, but if you want to stay for longer than 30 days, you might consider the VoA, as you can opt for a 90-day stay. However, keep in mind that the VoA is only valid for entering the country by air.
Some nationalities are visa-exempt for short visits of 15 days or longer. These policies change regularly, so it’s important to check the latest requirements ahead of your trip.
Once you’ve got the official paperwork out of the way, you can look forward to enjoying everything the S-shaped country has to offer. Now, let’s talk about the best things to do in one of the most famous destinations in Vietnam!
List of Best Things to do in Halong Bay, Vietnam
1. Bai Tu Long Bay
Photo by Taylor Simpson
Tu Long offers breathtaking views but without the crowds. It's much less crowded than Halong Bay and which presents exactly the same landscapes. An incredibly beautiful bay and fantastic sunsets included. Highly recommended!
2. Bai Chai Bridge
Photo by Le Anh Tuan
This Long Bridge is a landmark. It's a beautiful bridge connecting two parts of Halong city. This is a very impressive bridge, from which excellent photographs are obtained, both in clear weather and in fog.
3. Bai Chay Beach
A beach in Halong Bay and a good place to relax during the summer season. You can see the typical scenery of Halong Bay in the sea, so you can enjoy the atmosphere. You can spend your time eating Vietnamese food as there is a local seaside restaurant.
4. Sung Sot Cave
Photo by Jesus Abizanda
A gigantic cave. Sung Sung Sot Cave is located on the same island as Virgin Cave, its access is made through narrow and steep staircases surrounded by lush vegetation. These natural caves were used as a refuge for pirates. Inside you can see formations that resemble guards talking and in the other a general who watches his troops. The light that penetrates through the holes reflected by the movement of the waves from the outside seems to give life to these formations.
5. Dong Thien Cung
Photo by Bryan Dorrough
A huge cave, discovered in 1993. Inside there are quaint stalactites and stalagmites, many beautiful surreal panoramas, and interesting lighting. To get into the cave, you need to climb quite steep steps, of which there are about 200. The stalactites are illuminated with multi-colored lamps, which adds to the effect. It's definitely worth a visit.
6. Ti Top Island
Photo by Peter Borter
While crossing the bay of Halong you will pass here. Despite the tourist invasion, this island remains magical. The island itself is not very big, but it has two things you must go for; the viewpoint where you can see all the beauty of Halong Bay and second, a beach where you can cool off. To get to the top, it can take at least 30 minutes to climb but definitely worth it.
7. Dau Go Cave
Photo by Davidlohr Bueso
Another beautiful cave in Halong Bay. To get there you have to go by boat. You'll find multi-pass paths among ancient nature, bizarre stalagmites, and stalactites hang high from above. Such Wonderful beauty!
8. Castaway Island
Castaway Island offers plenty of activities for tourists that want to have some fun. These activities include kayaking. It has calm waters and stunning scenery. Lots of parties and the landscapes of Ha Long Bay speak for themselves.
9. Cua Van Floating Village
Along with several of these islets, this floating town is located, where you can still see the harsh living conditions that this part of the population experienced. Here, you can broaden your cultural knowledge appreciating a different conception of life, for example in their boats and floating houses they grow edible plants, fish, etc.
10. Tien Ong Cave
The access to Tien Ong Cave is by boat. From the dock to the entrance, you will climb a steep staircase, but the stairs and passages are well maintained, so even small children can do it. If you want to see this limestone cave, visit it during your trip to Halong Bay!
These are the possible things you can do in Halong Bay, Vietnam. So if you are ready to have a fun and exciting trip, you know what to do and where to go! So pack your things now and prepare yourself for a wonderful adventure in Halong Bay.
About the Writer
Hi there! I’m Fatima. My first major travel was in 2016 in the beautiful city of Cebu. After that, I got interested in traveling. Now I enjoy learning languages and other country’s cultures. My goal is to visit at least one country each year and to share my experiences with other people through writing or blogging. Witness my journey by following me on Instagram.
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