Destination Guides

Halong Bay: the emerald in Vietnam's crown

Recently updated on July 5th, 2023 at 04:16 pm

To me, Halong Bay is the jewel in Northern Vietnam’s crown.

Its glistening emerald bay is occupied by an archipelago of 2,000 lushly-vegetated limestone islands, each towering above the calm waters of the Gulf of Tonkin.

I wasn’t really sure what to expect before I arrived in Halong Bay; I know my imagination certainly only stretched as far as the visual beauty I’d seen in photos. But that all changed the moment I climbed aboard my Vietnamese junk boat.

I visited Northern Vietnam during its cooler season, which is between November and March. Some prefer to experience Halong Bay in summer, because its colours are much more vibrant.

My out-of-season trip presented a different perspective; one in which its already extraordinary backdrops were shrouded by a mystical haziness. There were fewer people, too – always a bonus!

Halong Bay in the mist
Halong Bay in the mist

Here are a collection of my favourite moments from the trip:

Junk boat

Staying on the junk boat was probably my highlight. My fondest memory aboard the vessel was dining with fascinating travellers on freshly-caught seafood, with the beauty of Halong Bay as a backdrop. It was also nice to wake up somewhere different than in a hotel room.

Amazing caves

From face value, you’d never imagine that Halong Bay’s limestone islands could contain what feels like compact underground cities. The main cave in the archipelago contains strange yet extraordinary stalagmites and stalactites. And the grotto’s capacity is so vast that people exploring the other side from where you’re standing are the size of ants!

Tai Chi

Sailing around Halong Bay was already a retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life, but that was matched by a morning of Tai Chi on the boat’s sundeck. Such a relaxing and invigorating experience, and one I won’t forget.

Halong Bay
Halong Bay

Ti Top Island

Climbing to the viewing point of Ti Top Island provided fabulous photo opportunities. It was great to see Halong Bay from a different perspective.

Fancy sailing the emerald waters of Halong Bay? Our 15-day Highlights of Vietnam and Cambodia itinerary covers Northern Vietnam with a trip to Halong Bay, as well as some of south-east Asia’s other treasures: Siem Reap, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh and the Mekong Delta.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Want to hear more from us?

Sign up to receive inspiring travel articles, offers & news

"*" indicates required fields

Hidden
Receive Monthly Emails*
Receive All Brand Communications
Terms and Cons*
Generic filters
Exact matches only
Search in title