A boat trip in Halong Bay: the 5 circuits you need to know

Do you have a plan for your first excursion to Halong Bay? Do you already know the best things to see and do but you still have some queries about the circuits in Halong Bay? Let this small itinerary guide for boats in Halong Bay and their specific features guide you to get an idea of what is right for you.

The most popular way to enjoy Halong's breath-taking natural surroundings is by boat. What do the different circuits offer? If you're looking for a boat that crisscrosses many of Halong's attractions, from superb caves to sublime islands and islets, pretty beaches to attractive floating villages, these Halong Bay excursions of set times are sure to interest you.

Why choose them?

Excursion to Halong Bay, how much does it cost?

The price includes:

+ Fixed entry ticket: 40,000 VND per person and

+ Tour fees, varying between 200,000 and 250,000 VND per person, depending on the program chosen.

5 tours to visit Halong Bay by boat

You will find the advantages offered by each of the 5 circuits below.

Circuit 1: Centre of Van Canh Park (Multi-spaces)

Duration: 4 hours

Itinerary: Departure from the port of Tuan Chau - Thien Cung cave (Celestial Palace) - Dau Go cave - Stone Dog Island - Ba Hang village - Island of the incense burner - Island of the Fighting Roosters - end of the circuit.

Cave of the Celestial Palace

Strong points:

+ Some of the most beautiful caves in Halong Bay, the Cave of the Celestial Palace and Cave of Wonders (also Wooden head cave). They impress with a bewitching and sumptuous decor of miraculous and mystical stalactites and stalagmites. Without forgetting the poetic symbols of Halong, you’ll visit the islet of the Fighting Roosters and islet of the incense burner.

+ Ba Hang village, 3 km from the port of Tuan Chau, is an old fishing village which preserves an intangible heritage of cultural value.

+ Possibilities: tasting of fresh seafood, night fishing for squid, fishing in the company of the inhabitants of the village.

+ This circuit lasting 4 hours is especially suitable for groups of families with children or the elderly. A longer visit offered by circuit 2 below allows you to better exploit each of the bay's attractions.

Circuit 2: Cave Park Conservation Centre

Duration: 6 hours

Itinerary: Departure from the port of Tuan Chau - Soi Sim station on Soi Sim beach - Titop island - Surprise cave - Me Cung cave - Pelican cave - Luon cave - Trong cave - Trinh Nu cave - Ho Dong Tien cave - end of circuit.

Luon cave

Strong points:

+ Soi Sim is a quiet island with little traffic, prized for a clean beach with beautifully transparent water. 700m from Soi Sim Island, Titop Island is home to the most beautiful crescent-shaped station in Halong. Its small pretty beach of emerald water offers a pleasant parenthesis.

+ The Surprise cave, reputed to be one of the largest and most magnificent in Halong Bay, as well as the Me Cung cave which will amaze you with sparkling multifaceted stalagmites and stalactites.

+ Spectacular caves of the Pelican, Fighting Roosters, Trong and Trinh Nu are places of remarkable beauty that inspire many photographers.

+ The Tung Sau pearl farm teaches you about the traditional way of making of a well-known local speciality. There’s also an opportunity to buy beautiful pearl souvenirs for a reasonable price.

+ Leisure: swimming, water games (motorbike, paragliding) or various beach activities, fishing, kayaking.

Circuit 3: Port - Centre of Maritime Culture

Duration: 6 - 8 hours

Itinerary: port of Tuan Chau - Centre - Tien Ong - Ba Ham lake - Ba Men temple - Ang Du - bamboo forest.

Strong points:

+ This itinerary takes you through the historic and cultural remains of the area. The Cua Can Maritime Culture Centre exhibits various images and objects reflecting the daily life and cultural identity of the fishermen of Halong through preserved intangible values.

+ Discovery of traditional crafts and fish farming.

+ Enjoy traditional music shows and visit important places of worship such as Cau Vang and Ba Men temples.

+ Exploration of biodiversity around Ba Ham and Ang Du lakes which are rich in rare animals.

Circuit 4: Port - Centre for conservation and nautical leisure

Duration: 8 hours

Itinerary: Tuan Chau port (otherwise Hon Gai port) - Co cave - Thay cave - sector of Cong Do Island - Cap La cave - Tung ecological sector - Ang - Hon Xep park - Vung Vieng sector.

Strong points:

+ Head for Bai Tu Long Bay, visit beautiful caves surrounded by pretty beaches suitable for swimming and kayaking.

+ Meeting the fishermen of Vung Vieng village on traditional boats, sampan or kayak navigation, tasting seafood...

+ Climbing and exploring the abundant coral reefs, various animal and plant species on Cong Do Island.

+ Discovery of islands with particular shapes.

Bai Tu Long Bay

Circuit 5: Port - Gia Luan pier

Duration: between 6 and 8 hours

Itinerary: port of Tuan Chau - islets of Wooden head - Thien Cung cave - Cave of Wooden head - Stone Dog islet - Ba Hang cave – Incense burner islet – the Islet of Fighting Roosters - Rocky forest of the bay from Cat Ba (Haiphong).

Strong points:

Offering almost the same visits as the first, circuit 5 travels through the caves of great interest, but allows you the opportunity to better enjoy each of the places, thanks to a longer duration. The stop in the rocky forest of Cat Ba Bay is worth the detour to really end your excursion in style.

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