Ha Long city makes a good base for day trips that leave the bay. The main choices are Cat Ba island by ferry, the Yen Tu pilgrimage mountain, the Bach Dang battlefield at Quang Yen and the quieter waters of Bai Tu Long. Distances below are approximate. Prices are in Vietnamese dong (VND), at roughly 26,000 per US dollar. Cat Ba island by ferry A car ferry runs from Tuan Chau to Gia Luan on northern Cat Ba and takes about 45 to 60 minutes.

Ha Long works for families when you mix a boat trip with the theme parks, the beach and the museum, and keep a few safety rules in mind. Prices are in Vietnamese dong (VND), at roughly 26,000 per US dollar, and the park prices below are approximate. Dragon Park and the water park Both are part of Sun World Ha Long in Bai Chay. Dragon Park reopened on 13 March 2026.

Ha Long has few products made only for couples, so a romantic stay here is built from a handful of real options: a night on a cruise with a balcony cabin, a sunset ride on the Queen Cable Car, a soak at the Yoko Onsen hot springs and a quiet overnight in Bai Tu Long or Lan Ha. This page is short on named luxury operators because few could be confirmed, and it says plainly where you need to ask.

Sightseeing in Ha Long divides into the bay, which you see from a boat, and the city, which you reach on foot or by car. Most bay sights sit on one of the official routes, so check which route your tour follows. Prices are in Vietnamese dong (VND), at roughly 26,000 per US dollar. Sung Sot Cave Sung Sot is on Bo Hon island and is reached only by boat. The Ha Long Bay Management Board calls it the largest cave found in the bay.

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.

Most attraction tours in Ha Long are boat trips that follow one of the official sightseeing routes set by the Ha Long Bay Management Board. The routes were renamed in 2025, so Routes 1 to 5 are now VHL1 to VHL5, and three more routes were added, VHL6 to VHL8. Knowing which route a tour follows tells you what you will see and what the sightseeing fee is. Day routes and what they visit VHL1 takes about 5 hours from Tuan Chau or the Ha Long port.

The standard multi-day trip from Ha Long is a cruise of two days and one night, with longer versions of three days and two nights. Some travellers then add Ninh Binh on land. Prices below are in Vietnamese dong (VND), at roughly 26,000 per US dollar. Cruise prices differ by boat, so ask each operator for a written quote. Two days, one night A typical overnight cruise boards around midday, serves lunch while sailing into the bay, and stops for a cave, a kayak or a swim at Ti Top.

Ha Long is not a big walking city, but three areas reward a stroll: the Hon Gai seafront, the Bai Chay beach and night market, and the forest trails on Cat Ba island. One popular peak, Bai Tho mountain, is closed. Costs are in Vietnamese dong (VND), at roughly 26,000 per US dollar. Hon Gai seafront walk Start at Cho Ha Long 1, the traditional fish and squid market, and walk past the foot of Bai Tho mountain to Chua Long Tien and Den Tran Quoc Nghien.