Best time to visit
- The best travel time for Halong Bay is spring (March, April) and fall (September, October). The weather is cool and you enjoy the best time of the year.
- The summer time lasts from May to early September, when the bay is sunny and warm to swim under a clear blue sky. In some days there will be light rain and even an unexpected typhoon that could cancel your cruise.
- The winter in Halong Bay lasts from November to March, leading to cold weather, especially in January and February; not ideal for swimming. The foggy days and the strong monsoon are also present during this period.
10 best things to do in Halong Bay
The thousands of islands and floating villages already make an unforgettable experience, but there is more to see and do at Halong Bay. Most of these sights are included with the cruise that you book. Therefore, pay attention to which cruise you book. Below you can read the best things to do at Halong Bay.
1. Cruise through Halong Bay
- Tip: With so many boats cruising the bay, it can be a bit overwhelming to find a cruise that suits you best. So take a look at the selections we have made of the best Halong Bay cruises divided into categories
2. Scenic flight over the bay
The coolest way to see how magnificent this UNSECO sight is, is taking a scenic flight in Halong Bay. It is perfect for when you want to see the bay in a short time or when it fits your budget you can also combine it with a cruise.
The flights last 25 minutes and start from the water in Halong Ciy by seaplane. Taking off from the water and landing alone is a great experience, but the real highlight is of course when you fly above the islands and rocks.
It is possible to take pictures during the flight with a camera or mobile, so that you can capture this special experience.
3. Kayaking
From a cruise you can admire the landscape perfectly, but with a kayak you can get to places that boats cannot reach. It is also a wonderful activity on the water, with little current and no waves. For that reason, kayaking is one of the best things to do in Halong Bay.
There are caves that you can paddle through, ending up in a completely hidden part of the bay. You can also visit various beaches with a kayak. Almost all cruise boats, from day trips to multi-day trips, have included this activity in their travel program. If you don’t feel like it or it is raining, you can also choose to skip kayaking.
4. Floating fishing villages
In Vietnam they love seafood. In order to meet the high demand for these sea delicacies, you will see fishing boats all along the coast. Because the water in Halong Bay is so still, this is also a place where floating fishing villages have sprung up. Here people literally live and work on the water.
Many of the floating platformers are used for fish and shellfish farming. It is a unique experience to visit a floating village where you can see how the people work here and sometimes live for days.
5. Relax on beaches
Despite the fact that Halong Bay consists of hundreds of islands off the coast, it is not a most popular beach destination in Vietnam. This is because many islands do not have a beach and the islands that do have a beach are often small and difficult to access. For this reason they can only be visited on a cruise. This makes a visit to one of the beaches in Halong Bay extra special.
If you would like to visit beaches but do not depend on a cruise, it is best to travel to the island of Cat Ba. On this island you can stay and there are many beaches that you can visit on your own.