What to Do in Ha Long Bay

Halong Bay is a paradise for photographers as each of its rock formations is unique to itself. Tour companies always offer tourists plenty of choices of where to stop and each stop is a guaranteed memorable one. Some of the most popular activities in Halong Bay are swimming, fishing, snorkeling and kayaking, trekking and cycling. It is truly a paradise for active visitors.

Swimming and Sunbathing

Halong Bay has thousands of limestone islands and grottoes. There are countless places to stop for swimming, fishing, snorkeling and kayaking when cruising around. On famous Cat Ba Island there are a few well-known beaches to relax on, some with easily remembered names like Cat Co One, Cat Co Two and Cat Co Three. The stunning scenery of sheer mountain cliffs rising out of the bay makes an ideal backdrop to water-based activities.

Trekking, Cycling

Trekking is a good option on Cat Ba Island. There are lots of rare animals to see, including green and hawksbill turtles and golden-headed langur monkeys. Visitors can choose from various trek routes; either way it's an impressive experience.

Another good way to enjoy a visit to Cat Ba is to cycle around the local villages.

Water Park

Cat Ba Island Resort and Spa offers a grand swimming pool with water slides and waterfalls. It is the only hotel in Vietnam that has a water park as such and is a brilliant place for families.

Viet Hai Village

Viet Hai Village is located in a remote corner of Cat Ba National Park. Many people still live in simple houses made of bamboo, wood, leaves and soil. It is a chance to experience the true roots of Cat Ba culture which have carried on for hundreds of years.

Sleeping On Board

Though many new hotels are being built on the bigger islands, experienced visitors recommend newcomers to spend a night on board a boat. This way, you will be able to admire the bay closer up and in quite a special way. The boats in question range from diesel-powered junks as well as higher standard cruisers. The junks are less expensive compared to cruisers but keep in mind that they are usually small and do rock a lot. Pick the boat/accommodation that suits your style and budget, then try it for at least one night.

What to Eat in Ha Long Bay

Halong Bay is rich in seafood and offers tons of fish, shrimps and oysters. The catch served in most restaurants usually comes right out of fishing boats in the early hours of the morning. There are many good restaurants located in Bai Chay Town (Halong Bay Town) and most are the beachfront type. These eateries offer mainly Vietnamese and Chinese dishes with a good selection of seafood, however lately there are more international options to be had.

Floating Restaurant

Several floating restaurants adjacent to Cat Ba Island serve fresh seafood of all kinds. The cooks pick live seafood out of cages and plastic containers floating in the sea inside or next to the restaurants. They will then cook whatever you order on the spot. You simply can't get fresher seafood than this. Ask the locals or your guide where to get a boat to the restaurants. You'll love it.
Location: near Cat Ba Island

Green Mango

Green Mango Restaurant is one of the top choices on Cat Ba Island when looking for a restaurant with both good food and service. Customers can sit outdoors enjoying the harbour view or relax in a trendy and hip indoor setting. The menu features fusion food along with tapas, mouth-watering main meals and delectable deserts. Prices are above average. Open seven days a week, from 06:30 till the last customer leaves.
Location: The heart of Cat Ba Island
Tel: +84 (031) 88 7151

Noble House Bar & Restaurant

Noble House Restaurant offers delicious Vietnamese/Western food in a lovely and cosy place owned by an Australian. Open from 06:00 to late. Credit cards not accepted.
Location: Centre of Cat Ba Island, next to the post office, across from the pier.
Tel: +84 (031) 888363

Huu Dung Restaurant

This restaurant is famous for awesome seafood and a great view of the bay. The menu includes spring rolls, fried cuttlefish, battered shrimp and the house special is whole steamed fish with lashings of garlic and soy sauce.
Location: opposite Lan Song Xanh Disco on Nui Ngoc St., Cat Ba Island
Tel: +84 (031) 888407

What to Do at Night in Ha Long Bay

When not cruising Halong Bay, it can be a romantic idea to just enjoy the evening by spending time at any of the waterfront venues. The choice of nightlife in Halong Bay is limited but there are a few interesting places to visit.

Noble House

Noble House is a hotel with an outstanding restaurant on the first floor. There is a very nice bar on the second floor which also has a pool table and board games. Location:
Tel: +84 (031) 888363 Centre of Cat Ba Island, next to the post office, across from the pier.

Flightless Bird Café

Flightless Bird Cafe is another popular place among travelers. Open from 18:30 onwards choose a seat on the second-floor balcony. It will be hard to take your eyes off the beautiful harbour view. This is a good place to get information about Halong Bay as well as to exchange books.
Location: On the main street of Cat Ba Island.
Tel: +84 031) 888517

Blue Note Bar

A well-known bar which also has Karaoke, they have a good list of drinks and stay open until very late. Location: At Ward 1, Cat Ba Island.
Tel: +84 (031) 888967

Did you know?

a) The best time to visit the Halong Bay area is in spring and summer. In the autumn and winter the sea is not very clear because of the muddy waters. In summer, days are clearer and temperatures can be somewhat high. In winter the area may be visited, but you won't be able to swim.

b) The People's Committee of Quang Ninh Province has decided to stop the operation of jet-ski services in Ha Long Bay in a move to protect the world-famous tourist site from possible environmental pollution.

Where to Shop and What to Buy in Ha Long Bay

Though there are limited options for shopping in Halong Bay, what is actually available can be very interesting. Try the night market at Bai Chay Town. It is set up with many small open-air stalls with good collections of Vietnamese products includes the famous traditional Vietnamese silk dress (ao dai), lacquerware, chopsticks, trinkets, ceramic tea sets, Vietnamese conical hats (nón lá) and dolls. Experienced shoppers recommend bargaining hard to 30-50% of the original offered price. Most shops accept US Dollars as well as the local currency, Dong.

Another fun way of shopping is from small floating shops. Local people row boats filled with goods such as beer, vodka, cigarettes, potato chips, cookies and other snacks. Their small boats are usually laden with goods in a very organised way and even if you're not buying anything these vessels are fascinating to see and photograph.

It is important for shoppers not to encourage vendors selling stalagmites and stalactites as they should stay where they belong - inside Halong's caves and grottos.