The Complete Guide to Traveling to Hạ Long (Quảng Ninh)

If you could choose a travel destination with both beaches, mountains, and delicious food, Quảng Ninh would be one of the first choices. This is not only where you can discover Hạ Long Bay - one of UNESCO's recognized natural heritages, but also a place with much more to learn and discover! Let's start the journey together!

When is the best time to visit?

This coastal city is beloved by many tourists, both domestic and international. Therefore, if you visit during peak tourist season, it will be extremely crowded and may not offer the most pleasant travel experience. Around June and July in the lunar calendar, Quảng Ninh is in the midst of the storm season, so you should avoid this time! So, when is the best time to visit Quảng Ninh? You can plan your beach trip around April to May when the weather is warmer, allowing you to enjoy the beach and outdoor activities without feeling too tired. Alternatively, you can visit around September to October in the Gregorian calendar as the weather tends to be cooler and it's also the start of the new school year, making it a perfect time as tourist numbers decrease significantly without being in the storm season.

Hạ Long Park.

What to pack for a trip to Hạ Long?

When traveling, essentials such as clothing, technology gadgets, cosmetics, etc., are surely not forgotten by anyone, because the main purpose of our trips is to have hundreds of photos for social media, isn't it?

Additionally, items that you shouldn't forget to bring to ensure your health for the exciting trip to the end are sun protection items (sunscreen, hat, clothing, etc.) Because Quảng Ninh is being planned and renovated extensively, there are many recreational areas or tourist attractions without trees for shade, so remember to bring sun protection items and don't forget some preventive medicine for yourself.

Essential items to bring.

>>> Check out 5 essential items to prepare when traveling to Hạ Long.

How to get to Quảng Ninh?

If you're in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, congratulations! The road to Quảng Ninh has never been shorter and faster! Previously, traveling by car from Hanoi to Quảng Ninh would take about 3 to 4 hours, and sometimes unlucky trips would catch large coaches that pick up passengers along the way, making the return trip from Quảng Ninh to Hanoi about 7 exhausting hours.

But now, in Hanoi, there are home pick-up services that take you directly to your destination. You just need to wait at home for the car to pick you up, without having to go to the bus station or anywhere else to catch the car, very convenient! Moreover, the route to Quảng Ninh will be shorter because now the car will pass through 2 highways: Hanoi - Hai Phong and Hai Phong - Quảng Ninh, so the travel time will be shortened to just under 2 hours each way! If you don't know much about means of transportation to Hạ Long, Quảng Ninh then check it out here.

And if you're in Ho Chi Minh City, instead of flying to Hanoi or Hai Phong to get to Quảng Ninh, now you can fly directly to Vân Đồn Airport - Quảng Ninh! With the travel route shortened, what are you waiting for? Book your flight to Vân Đồn now and always!

Means of transportation in Quảng Ninh?

Quảng Ninh is a modern city, so you can freely choose from various modes of transportation. But in my opinion, the most convenient option is to rent a motorbike, which is both cheap and much more flexible.

Here are some common means of transportation in Quảng Ninh that you can choose from:

- Bus: You can check the bus schedule by searching on Google, to plan your trip in detail and on time. I don't choose this mode of transportation because it feels like being on a tour, having to catch the bus on time to avoid missing it.

- Taxi: This is also a fairly flexible option, but somewhat limited because you still have to depend on waiting time for the taxi. This mode of transportation is quite expensive, so you should consider the cost carefully. Some taxi companies you can consider in Quảng Ninh are:

+ Hạ Long Taxi - Phone: 033.626.262

+ Thành Hưng Taxi - Phone: 033.659.659

+ Quảng Ninh Taxi - Phone: 033.656.656

+ Bãi Cháy Taxi - Phone: 033.646.464

+ ...v...v….

- Motorbike: undoubtedly, this is the preferred means of transportation for me on every trip. I rented a bike on Dao Street, and you can also explore other bike rental places. Remember to check the bike's condition before renting!

Where to visit?

Currently, Quang Ninh is increasingly developing its tourism services, making it not difficult to find entertainment venues here. However, there are some places I recommend you to experience and explore for a true Quang Ninh trip:

Halong Bay

Of course, visiting Halong Bay in Quang Ninh is an absolute must! Halong Bay is known as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Indeed, if it's your first time here, you'll be amazed by the beauty that nature has bestowed upon this place. The rugged mountains, majestic skies will provide you with breathtaking photo opportunities.

You can rent a boat for a day to explore Halong Bay, but I recommend opting for a 2-day 1-night cruise to fully experience the bay, especially its stunning night views. Additionally, you can enjoy exciting activities such as kayaking, overnight stay on the bay, fishing, and more.

Halong Bay.

Poem Mountain

Located in a small alley next to house number 86 on Hang Noi Street, Halong, Quang Ninh, Poem Mountain is the next destination you should experience. Climbing Poem Mountain is one of the unforgettable experiences when traveling to Halong. Standing on the top of Poem Mountain, you can admire the panoramic view of the Halong landscape from above, which is incredibly beautiful. Perhaps that's why Poem Mountain was chosen for the music video of singers Van Mai Huong and Bang Kieu.

The path to Poem Mountain has been transformed into steps, so it's quite easy to walk. However, the higher you go, the more the steps disappear, and you'll have to climb a short section to reach the summit. But don't give up, because when you arrive, you'll be rewarded with breathtaking scenery that makes your efforts worthwhile.

View from Poem Mountain.

Bai Chay Beach

After climbing the mountain, it's time to head to the beach! When you visit a coastal city, you can't miss taking those beach check-in photos, right? Quang Ninh has no shortage of beautiful beaches, but Bai Chay Beach must be on this list! Although in recent years, Bai Chay Beach has been equipped with additional services to support tourists' beach activities such as floating houses, restaurants, and bathing areas... you can still enjoy the beach for free!

This is one of the spots I highly appreciate for tourism services in Halong. Besides Bai Chay Beach, you can also visit Titop Beach, Tra Co Beach here! Each beach has its own beauty so if you have time, you should visit them, because I only had a short time so I only visited Bai Chay Beach! And to enjoy your time to the fullest while ensuring your safety, you should also check out tips for swimming at Halong beaches in this article.

Bai Chay Beach.

Quang Ninh Museum and Library

Quang Ninh Museum stands out with its two shiny black tiled buildings, which are the super hot check-in spots sought after by young people! The cost to enter and explore here is 25,000 to 30,000 VND per person per visit, and if you have a student card, you'll get a 50% discount! Here, you'll get to admire many models related to the culture, people, and traditional professions of Quang Ninh and Vietnam in general. It's not just about expanding knowledge; checking in here is beautiful too, so why not give it a try, right?

Quang Ninh Museum

Halong Park (Halong Park)

Halong Bay tourism definitely should include exploring Halong Park, especially for those who are passionate about thrilling experiences. Sun World Halong Park is located along the route passing through Bai Chay Beach, so it's easy to find. Halong Park is divided into 5 main areas:

- Dragon Park: This is where you can experience exciting games, from family-friendly to adrenaline-pumping ones. Usually, people choose this area first because it's quite close to the entrance, so you should also avoid exhausting yourself too much here and losing interest in other areas!

- Typhoon Water Park: This water-themed amusement park is extremely attractive to water lovers and those who are passionate about adventurous water slides. This area is divided into extreme thrill rides and family-friendly areas, so you can consider the appropriate place to play, saving time and maintaining your health for other games.

- Ba Deo Fun Zone: This is more like a check-in spot, as it includes many small amusement areas such as KIDOLAND, Queen's Cable Car, Sun Wheel.... Especially if you want to admire the sunset of this coastal city, you can go up to Sun Wheel in the late afternoon, enjoying the sunset with an interesting changing view from low to high.

- Sun World Beach: This is the revamped part of Bai Chay Beach, supplemented with water sports activities such as high-speed boat parachuting, kayaking, jet skiing,...

- Gastronomy and Shopping: A world-class amusement park cannot be without dining and shopping areas! Halong Park has many places where you can recharge after fun moments. Additionally, you can visit the shopping area here, with souvenir items bearing the distinctive mark of Halong quite lovely.

Halong Park.

Furthermore, outside Halong Park is a pedestrian street modeled after the ancient architecture of Hoi An, so there will be plenty of super interesting photo opportunities here. As the evening approaches, this street becomes more vibrant with EDM remix music, pubs, and delicious eateries, so stay back to experience a night in Quang Ninh! Super fun! To fully enjoy the Halong Park, check out all the fun experiences at Sun World Halong without missing anything!

Old Quarter outside Halong Park.

Beautiful Islands

Not only are there beautiful beaches on the mainland, but Quang Ninh also has pristine and picturesque islands like Co To, Quan Lan, Cai Chien.... You can choose one of these islands to experience an extremely enjoyable day. So, have you discovered the top 6 islands dubbed the 'paradise' of Halong that you absolutely must visit? If not, explore them right here in this article!

Co To Island.

What dishes to experience?

If someone asks me, 'Why travel?' I would answer, 'To change the dining scene.' And indeed, I always focus on where to eat and drink when I visit a new place. So, surely you should try the dining spots listed below at least once!

Squid Cake and related dishes

The super famous dish in Halong that must be mentioned first, the trending delicious dish on social media for a long time is squid cake. But it's only in Halong, precisely in Halong Market, that you can find the right address to buy authentic squid cake. If you've ever tried squid cakes with too much flour, then authentic Halong squid cake is hand-ground with crispy and crunchy squid pieces inside.

Halong Squid Cake

Because this is a dish full of pride, Halong locals also use it to create everyday rustic dishes such as squid cake sticky rice, squid cake rolls,... Halong Market is also a reputable address where you can buy seafood as gifts for family and friends.

>>> Discover the delicious dishes you shouldn't miss when traveling to Halong here.

Crab Noodle Soup

Quang Ninh's daily breakfast dish is crab noodle soup, and you can enjoy this flavorful dish anywhere in Quang Ninh. Because the freshness of the crab dominates 80% of the flavor of the dish. I tried this dish at a restaurant opposite Halong Park. The broth is sweetened by seafood and bones, not MSG, and besides the crab, this dish also includes vegetables, shrimp, scallions... and costs only 25,000 VND to 30,000 VND per bowl.

Crab Noodle Soup.

Here's an additional suggestion for you, if you have leisure time and can arrange it, I think you should set up a 1-day food tour in Halong. Trust me, if you explore this coastal city and don't enjoy the food here, it's a big loss!

Fresh Seafood

When you're in a coastal city, seafood will be the first thing you think of, right? So let's go eat! I stayed in the Bai Chay area for convenience in scheduling activities, so I also went there to eat. There are quite a few restaurants here, and I chose to eat at Toan Huong Seafood Restaurant - 1 Vuon Dao Street. There were 6 of us in the group and we spent about 200,000 VND per person. In my opinion, that price is quite okay for a satisfying seafood meal.

>>> Check out the top 8 delicious, diverse, and affordable restaurants in Halong that you must visit.

Scallop.

Not only can you enjoy delicious Halong seafood here, but you can also buy them as gifts for your family and friends. If you don't know where to buy Halong seafood, then read the article 'Top 6 quality, cheapest seafood markets in Halong voted by locals', and if you're wondering what to buy as souvenirs when traveling to Halong, check it out here.

Pearl milk yogurt

Causing a sensation for over a year, pearl milk yogurt has stolen the hearts of countless young people, so I came here to try it too! The first and most famous pearl milk yogurt shop here is Tuan Lien Yogurt on Tran Quoc Nghien Street, Tuan Chau, Halong. The shop is very spacious and simple but serves very quickly! All the food here is homemade except for the accompanying lychee fruit! The yogurt cup is freshly fermented, warm from the oven, served with creamy pearl milk and coconut milk, super delicious. I had to eat 3 yogurt cups to finish one cup of pearls because it's quite rich. The road to this place is the most beautiful coastal road in Halong, you can stop by to check in a bit, the view of the bay is gorgeous!

>>> Don't miss out on 8 super delicious, super cheap snack shops in Halong.

Pearl milk yogurt.

Island Cuisine

If you have time to visit the islands, staying at a homestay is a great choice. They provide full amenities and serve incredibly delicious food. The ingredients are bought fresh daily, so everything is very fresh, and the cooking skills of the locals here are top-notch! The food is fresh, plentiful, and cheaper than on the mainland. When I visited Co To Island, a meal only cost about 100,000 VND per person.

Meal on the island

Recommended itinerary for a budget-friendly trip!

Day 1: Halong Bay (2 days 1 night).

Day 2: Explore various snacks in the morning and have dinner in the Bai Chay area in the evening.

Day 3: Visit Halong Museum and Library + Halong Park and the old town area.

Day 4: Visit the Poem Mountain, check out from the hotel, and take a canoe to Co To Island.

Day 5: Explore Co To Island by motorcycle following the locals' recommendations and some information gathered online.

Day 6: Return to the mainland, back to Hanoi.

This is the Halong tour itinerary that I went on and found quite reasonable, you can consider it!

Some small notes for your Halong trip

- Remember to bring sunscreen as many recreational areas have few trees for shade.

- Prepare a pair of flip-flops and sneakers for this trip to suit both mountain and beach terrains.

- Everyone in the group must bring their ID card and driver's license! You'll need them for hotel check-ins and scooter rentals. And when riding a scooter, of course, you can't forget your driver's license!

- Bring your phone charger, power bank, and photography tools to capture memorable moments with friends and family!

- During peak season, it's advisable to book your hotel room early to get the best price and avoid encountering 'fully booked' situations! If you're unsure where to book, make your reservation at Hạ Long budget hotels on https://www.Mytour.vn/ for the most economical and quality trip. Alternatively, you can also explore various Hạ Long combos including shuttle services and hotel rooms for added convenience.

Above are the most comprehensive tips for enjoying Hạ Long, Quảng Ninh, hoping you've gained plenty of useful information to prepare for your upcoming journey. Wishing everyone memorable experiences in Hạ Long!

Thanh Dương

Image Source: Thanh Dương