Private journeys and custom trips across Vietnam
Quang Ninh
Stone, water and a long, slow silence.
20.91° N, 107.18° EVietnam
Introducing Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay is a sea of limestone. More than a thousand karst towers and islets rise straight out of the Gulf of Tonkin, their cliffs hung with jungle and hollowed into caves. Ha Long means descending dragon, after a legend of a dragon that scattered jewels across the water to hold back invaders. At first light, with mist sitting between the peaks, the story seems perfectly reasonable.
The bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Vietnam's most visited places, so how you see it matters. A day trip covers the highlights in a rush. An overnight cruise lets you kayak into quiet lagoons, watch the light change on the rock at sunset and wake to water that is almost still.
The bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Vietnam's most visited places, so how you see it matters.
Why go
The scale of the karst landscape is hard to picture until you are inside it, with limestone walls rising on every side of the boat.
Sung Sot Cave opens into huge chambers of stalactites, and enclosed lagoons such as Luon Cave are reached by kayak or bamboo boat through a low rock arch.
Neighboring Lan Ha Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay share the same scenery with fewer boats, and many cruise routes now head there.
Things to do
01
Paddle close to the cliffs, under low arches and into sheltered lagoons where the only sounds are birds and water against rock.
02
Many overnight cruises start the day with a gentle tai chi session as the mist lifts off the bay.
03
Climb the steps to the summit for a wide view over the bay, then cool off at the small beach below.
04
Fishing families have lived on this water for generations. Some routes visit floating communities or pearl farms to show how that life has changed.
Before you go
Ha Long Bay is open all year, but the weather shapes the experience. Spring and autumn usually bring the calmest seas and clearest views.
Good to know
It is possible, but you spend around five hours on the road for a few hours on the water. An overnight cruise gives you sunset, sunrise and the quieter corners of the bay.
They share the same limestone scenery. Lan Ha Bay, near Cat Ba Island, tends to see fewer boats and has good kayaking and small beaches. We can talk through which suits your dates when you enquire.
Yes. The port authority can suspend sailings during tropical storms, most often between July and September. We'll confirm how changes are handled for your dates when you enquire.
Swimming is possible at designated beaches and some cruise stops, mostly from May to October when the water is warm.
If you want a route
6 of our journeys include Ha Long Bay. Every route can be reshaped around how you want to travel.
6 daysDa NangHoi AnHanoi +2
Central Vietnam and the north in six days: Hoi An's old town and Ba Na Hills, then a flight to Hanoi for an overnight cruise on Ha Long Bay and a full day in Ninh Binh.
5 daysHanoiHa Long BayLan Ha Bay +1
Five days in the north: a water puppet show, an overnight cruise through Lan Ha Bay, Hanoi's lakes and Old Quarter by cyclo, and a day in the incense, conical hat and pottery villages.
2 daysHanoiHa Long Bay
Out of Hanoi on the expressway and a night on the bay: Sung Sot Cave, Ti Top Island, a sunset party, and tai chi on the sundeck at dawn.
If you only have a day
Tell us how you like to travel and we'll build it into a journey that fits.
