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Ha Long Bay

Vietnam travel guide

What to see in Ha Long Bay

Thousands of limestone islets rising from the sea: best discovered by boat, ideally sleeping on board.

Updated 19 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • 4 must-see places
  • Best time: from March to June and from November to January
  • Stay in Ha Long Bay
  • Typical food: Chả mực
Photo: Dratharr · CC BY-SA 4.0

Ha Long Bay highlights

The places you can’t miss. In the app we sort them by day and close to each other.

  1. Ha Long Bay

    Thousands of karst islets; 1–2 night cruises.

  2. Thiên Cung Cave

    An illuminated cave on one of the classic routes.

  3. Ti Tốp Island

    A beach and viewpoint linked to Yuri Gagarin’s visit.

  4. Tuần Châu Harbour

    A modern pier used by many cruises.

Where to stay in Ha Long Bay

The handiest areas for getting around and going out.

  • Recommended areas

    Ha Long Bay · Bai Chay

Day trips from Ha Long Bay

We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

Some links are affiliate links: if you book through them, Bagintravel may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

When to travel to Ha Long Bay

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Ha Long Bay are from March to June and from November to January. If you can, avoid August and October (summer rains and typhoons, golden week).

  1. Jan no warnings
  2. Feb with warnings
  3. Mar no warnings
  4. Apr no warnings
  5. May no warnings
  6. Jun no warnings
  7. Jul with warnings
  8. Aug with strong warnings
  9. Sep with warnings
  10. Oct with strong warnings
  11. Nov no warnings
  12. Dec no warnings
  • February

    Lunar New Year (approximate dates)

    Millions of people travel at this time: trains and flights are full and expensive, and many shops and restaurants close for several days.

    What to do: Book transport weeks in advance and expect closures for the first three days.

  • from July to September

    Summer rains and typhoons

    In July, August and September it rains a lot and the odd typhoon forces Ha Long Bay cruises to be cancelled.

    What to do: Book your Ha Long cruise with flexible dates and free cancellation.

  • October

    Golden Week

    From 1 to 7 October the whole of China travels: the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the trains are packed.

    What to do: If you can, move your trip by a week; if not, book tickets in advance and visit first thing in the morning.

Typical food of Ha Long Bay

The dish you have to try there and how to make it at home, to whet your appetite before the trip (or to go back to Ha Long Bay from your kitchen).

Chả mực
Photo: Hoangkid (Đặng Thái Hoàng) · CC BY-SA 4.0

Chả mực

Ha Long Bay’s hand-pounded squid cakes, fried until golden and springy. They’re eaten with sticky rice or bread.

  • Serves 4
  • 40 min

Ingredients

  • 500 g cleaned squid
  • 2 tablespoons of fish sauce
  • 1 teaspoon of sugar
  • 1 tablespoon of chopped dill
  • 2 shallots
  • Pepper
  • Oil for frying

How to make it at home

  1. Pat the squid very dry and cut it into pieces.
  2. Pound it in a mortar (or pulse it in a blender) until you have a sticky paste with a few small pieces.
  3. Mix with the fish sauce, sugar, pepper, dill and chopped shallots.
  4. With oiled hands, shape into 1 cm-thick patties.
  5. Fry them in oil over a medium heat until golden on both sides.

The trick: Pounding instead of blending is what gives them their springy texture.

Where and what to eat

To eat like a local: the phở stall. The dishes you can’t miss are in the Vietnam guide.

  • Yeol Restaurant

    Bai Chay

    Seafood with views over the bay.

  • Binh An Seafood

    Bai Chay

    Seafood by weight.

Frequently asked questions about Ha Long Bay

What to see in Ha Long Bay?

Ha Long Bay, Thiên Cung Cave, Ti Tốp Island and Tuần Châu Harbour.

What to see in Ha Long Bay in one day?

Don’t miss Ha Long Bay, Thiên Cung Cave, Ti Tốp Island and Tuần Châu Harbour. To split it into days and areas without crossing the city back and forth, the Bagintravel app plans your trip in a minute.

Where to stay in Ha Long Bay?

The handiest areas to stay are Ha Long Bay and Bai Chay.

What’s the best time to travel to Ha Long Bay?

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Ha Long Bay are from March to June and from November to January. If you can, avoid August and October (summer rains and typhoons, golden week).

What day trips can you take from Ha Long Bay?

Overnight cruise and Lan Ha Bay.

What is the typical food of Ha Long Bay?

Chả mực. Ha Long Bay’s hand-pounded squid cakes, fried until golden and springy. They’re eaten with sticky rice or bread.

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Guide reviewed 19 October 2026. Places, areas and seasons: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.