Ha Long Activities on the Water and Ashore

Ha Long activities fall into two groups: things you do on the bay, and things you do in the city. On the bay the main choices are a kayak or bamboo boat at Luon Cave, a swim and a climb at Ti Top island, a pearl farm stop and night squid fishing on an overnight cruise. In the city the two big draws are the Queen Cable Car and the Yoko Onsen hot springs at Quang Hanh. Prices are in Vietnamese dong (VND), at roughly 26,000 per US dollar.

Kayak or bamboo boat at Luon Cave

Luon Cave is on Bo Hon island and is a stop on route VHL2. A stone archway of about 60 m leads into a round lagoon ringed by cliffs, and only kayaks and bamboo boats can get through. Low to mid tide is best. Macaques live around the lagoon, so keep food out of sight. Life jackets are required for the whole kayak or bamboo boat session. The tunnel is a boat channel, so do not swim in it.

Other paddling spots on the bay are Cua Van, Ba Ham Lake and Trinh Nu. Ba Ham needs low tide and is not on the standard day routes. Ask the operator whether kayaking is included in your ticket, because prices vary by boat.

Ti Top island

Ti Top was named in 1962 after the cosmonaut Gherman Titov, who visited with Ho Chi Minh. The island has a crescent of golden sand and a climb of about 400 steps to a viewpoint over the bay. The beach is crowded in summer. The water is cloudy and busy with boats, and there is no coral reef or snorkelling here. It is the working swim stop on the bay. Soi Sim beach has been closed to visitors since 2020, although some tour listings keep showing it.

Pearl farm and night squid fishing

Tung Sau pearl lagoon is on the VHL2 route. You can walk along the cages and watch a pearl implantation demonstration. Many overnight cruises also run squid fishing after dinner, using lights to draw the squid to the side of the boat. It depends on the operator, so ask before you book. October to April on a dark night is the best time.

Queen Cable Car and Ba Deo hill

Sun World Ha Long is in Bai Chay. Its Queen Cable Car holds Guinness records for the largest cabin capacity, at 230 people, and for the tallest cable car tower, at 188.88 m. The line runs about 2.2 km across the strait to Ba Deo hill.

  • Adult round trip: about 380,000 VND (roughly $15).
  • Child 1 m to 1.4 m: about 280,000 VND.
  • Hours: Monday to Friday 14:00 to 20:00, Saturday and Sunday 09:00 to 20:00.

The round trip ticket includes the Sun Wheel, the Samurai slide, the wax museum and Kidoland. Check sunworld.vn for current prices before you go.

Yoko Onsen Quang Hanh

Yoko Onsen Quang Hanh is a Japanese style hot spring resort in Quang Hanh, Cam Pha, east of Ha Long city. Public sessions run from 09:00 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 18:00. A Japanese buffet is part of some packages. Prices vary by season and package, so check the official site before you go.

Fees and the weather

Boat trips pay a sightseeing fee that the cruise price normally includes. Route VHL1, VHL2 and VHL5 day trips cost 250,000 VND, and VHL3 and VHL4 cost 200,000 VND, according to the Ha Long Bay Management Board fee page . Typhoon warnings halt sailings at short notice, so keep a spare day in storm season.

Read more: Outdoor activities in Ha Long covers more time outside.

Booking

Kayaking and bay tours can be compared on GetYourGuide .