halong bay
Halong Bay is located in the east of Halong City, Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam, on the northwest coast of Tonkin Bay. It is a bay famous for its magnificent and beautiful scenery. There are more than 2,000 rocks of various sizes standing on the calm sea. It is also called "Guilin on the Sea" because it resembles the landscape of Guilin in Guangxi, China. It is the most famous scenic spot in Vietnam and has been included in the list of World Natural Heritage List. The main attractions in Halong Bay include Paradise Island, Fighting Cock Rock, Human Head Rock, Incense Burner Rock, Tiangong Cave, Surprise Cave, Chuan Cave, Moon Lake, etc.
1.Paradise Island
Paradise Island is located in the south of Halong Bay, Halong City, Vietnam. The actual name of Paradise Island is Didok Island, and Paradise Island is just its common name. The island is dotted with large and small hills, and the entire island is covered by dense vegetation. When you climb to the top of the mountain, you can have a panoramic view of the charming Halong Bay seascape. Boats passing through it unintentionally form a moving picture.
Paradise Island consists of three parts: islands, seawater and beaches. The clear water near Paradise Island will make you intoxicated. Because it is clear, the water is blue with green, like a sapphire or an emerald. A small beach at the foot of Paradise Island may be the most attractive part of Paradise Island. The beach is very soft, and the waves gently kiss the beach. It is an incomparable pleasure to lie on the beach, look at the sky, and chat.
2. Fighting cock stone
The Fighting Cock Rocks are located on the south side of Mu Mu Island in Halong Bay. They are two small rocky mountains that are exposed out of the sea and are about 12 meters high. They were like a pair of big cocks ready to fight, separated by a narrow trench, standing facing each other and glaring. The Fighting Cock Rock is considered the most unique image of Halong Bay and has become a symbol of Vietnam's tourism industry.
3. Tiangong Cave
Tiangong Cave is located in the bay in the north of Mu Island in Halong Bay, 4 kilometers away from the Halong Bay Cruise Terminal. It consists of three sub-caves and is a typical karst cave. There are colorful and diverse giant stalactites that have been formed over millions of years. When you step into the cave, you will see all kinds of strange stalactites, illuminated by neon lights that change colors from time to time, showing many mythological shapes, which makes people imagine.
4. Incense burner stone
The Incense Burner Rock is located in the southeast of Mu Mu Island in Halong Bay, about 800 meters away from the Fighting Cock Rock. The incense burner stone has big feet and a slim bottom. It looks like an incense burner from a distance, hence its name. Most Vietnamese, especially local fishermen, believe in Buddhism. Therefore, the image of the incense burner is very sacred in the minds of local people.
This is a well-known attraction in Halong Bay, the central attraction of Guilin on the Sea, and a must-see for tourists visiting Halong Bay, especially tourists who believe in Buddhism. The image of the Incense Burner Stone is also printed on Vietnam's 200,000 dong banknotes.
5. Surprise Cave
Surprise Cave is located on the Wu Chuan Tu Islands in the center of Halong Bay Scenic Area. It is one of the largest and most beautiful caves in Halong Bay. It looks surprising and unremarkable from the outside, but when you walk in, it's a completely different place. Under the colorful lights, the stalactites of all kinds are very spectacular. There are countless small nests on the top of the cave. It feels like walking under the cloud-covered sky, which is surprising. This is where the name Surprise Cave comes from.
6. Human head stone
Human Head Rock is located in the southeast of Halong Bay. It is a small island made of a single boulder, more than two kilometers away from Surprise Cave. Viewed from the side, the island resembles a Greek head, with a large protruding nose and a chin hanging down to the water. Some low bushes grow on the top of the boulders, like the curls of hair on the heads of Greeks, which is very vivid.
7. Piercing
Chuan Cave, also known as Drill Cave, is located on Bo Han Island in the northeast of Wu Chuan Tra Island in Halong Bay. Bo Han Island is a circular stone island. The center of the island is the green and calm Moon Lake, surrounded by a closed 360-degree vertical cliff. The bay is ethereal and claustrophobic. The lake is crystal clear, as level as a mirror, and as round as the full moon when viewed from above, so it is called Moon Lake. It leads to the sea outside the island through a cave (i.e., a hole).
The length of the hole is about 60 meters, and the entrance is arch-backed. When the tide rises and falls, the height of the hole is about 2.5 to 4 meters. At low tide, you can take a boat or speedboat to enter the interior, which is like entering an urn city. There is a sense of isolation. After entering, it suddenly became clear that there is a cave inside the cave. Groups of monkeys can be seen on the circular rock wall. It feels like an adventure.
The above scenic spots can all be visited on a one-day tour. Among them, the Fighting Cock Stone, the Human Head Stone, and the Incense Burner Stone are passing attractions. Tourists are not allowed to get off the boat and can only take pictures on the boat. Independent tourists need to purchase additional tickets to visit Chuandong and Moon Lake.
Address: Halong City, Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam
Tickets: 290,000 VND/person (including 250,000 VND for water sightseeing tickets, line attraction tickets and 40,000 VND for port tickets)
Adult: 290,000 VND/person (1.2 meters or above)
Children: Free (under 1.2 meters)
(Old people over 60 years old in 2023 will not be able to enjoy the discounts as in previous years)
Opening hours: all day
