Bai Tu Long Bay is located in the Gulf of Tonkin, in the Northeast region of Vietnam. Bai Tu Long Bay covers a sea area of Cam Pha City and the Van Don Island district. It borders Ha Long Bay to the southwest, the East sea to the East, the mainland to Cam Pha City to the west, and Co To Island to the northeast. Bai Tu Long Bay has hundreds of large and small islands, many of which are large and inhabited.
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1. About Bai Tu Long Bay
According to a legend, in the past, the country of the Vietnamese people was invaded by foreign invaders. Jade Emperor sent the mother dragon and her baby dragons down to earth to help the Vietnamese fight the enemy. When the enemy's ships came from the sea, the Dragons sprayed countless pearls, which suddenly turned into thousands of rocky islands in the sea, creating a solid wall to block the enemy.
The enemy's ships, which were rushing fast, were suddenly stopped and crashed into rocky islands or crashed into each other. After the war, the mother dragon and baby dragon did not return to heaven but stayed in the lower world, where the battle had just taken place. The location of the mother dragon landed is Ha Long Bay, and the place the baby dragon landed is Bai Tu Long Bay. The tail of the dragon is Bach Long Vi Island, which is more than 10 km long.
Bai Tu Long Bay together with Ha Long Bay becomes the natural wonders of the world. This place is still imprinted with Ha Long culture from thousands of years ago and also preserves the pristine features of an archipelago. With beautiful islands and long white sand beaches, Bai Tu Long Bay is increasingly attracting foreign tourists to visit. Bai Tu Long National Park was selected as one of the representative areas for marine conservation in Vietnam.
Bai Tu Long Bay of Vietnam was in the top 5 of the most wonderful tourist destinations in Southeast Asia. The islands in Bai Tu Long have the form of limestone islands and schist islands, which are ancient images of terrain with a geological tectonic age of about 300 million years, due to the process of lifting and lowering many times from the mainland.
The beautiful landscape of Bai Tu Long Bay
The process of karst erosion and weathering creates a special shape like ink painting pictures created from the sea and islands. On the rocky islands of the bay, there are also karst caves that people used as a shelter for ships in the past during rough seas.
Bai Tu Long Bay is home to a high concentration of biodiversity with typical ecosystems such as mangrove ecosystems, coral reef ecosystems, aquilegia ecosystems, and tropical forest ecosystems.
2. Best time to visit Bai Tu Long Bay?
The weather in Bai Tu Long Bay is very mild and pleasant, the average temperature only ranges from 15°C to 25°C. Like Ha Long Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay has 4 seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Each season of the year brings its beauty to Bai Tu Long Bay along with different attractive activities.
The beautiful scenery in Bai Tu Long Bay
- Spring from February to April: It is pleasant, the average temperature is from 18 to 23°C. At the beginning of Spring, it can have a little drizzle, but from March to April, the sky will be clear and blue. It is really short time before it is going to be hot in Summer. Many tourists choose this season for a holiday.
- Summer from May to August: It is sunny, humid, and hot, the average temperature is over 35°C. In August, there is the monsoon, sometimes there will be a storm and the overnight cruise in Bai Tu Long Bay will be suspended. However, this is a good season for beach activities and promotion from cruise companies.
- Autumn from September to October: It is the most beautiful of the year in Bai Tu Long Bay. The sky is deep and clear, the temperature is moderate, and it's not too hot, or too cold. However, this is also the peak season for international tourists.
- Winter from November to January: It is the coldest season in Bai Tu Long Bay, the temperature is around 10 to 15°C and it is dry. This is also the festival season with some important occasions such as Christmas, New Year Eve, and Lunar New Year. Tourists could choose this period for the holiday in Bai Tu Long Bay. If you travel during this time, please note that there are some extra charges for gala dinners on a cruise.
Based on the above information, tourists can choose a time to visit Bai Tu Long Bay based on preference, schedule and budget.
3. What to do in Bai Tu Long Bay?
3.1. Taking Bai Tu Long Bay overnight cruise
Visitors exploring Bai Tu Long Bay will find that the landscape resembles Ha Long Bay. It is like an extension of Ha Long Bay to the Northeast. Throughout Bai Tu Long Bay are giant limestone mountains on peaceful blue water. However, visitors will notice that the limestone karst mountains in Bai Tu Long are higher and more dense than in Ha Long Bay. Bai Tu Long Bay is a less touristy attraction, which creates a wonderful feeling as if they are discovering somewhere that has never been discovered before.
Bai Tu Long Bay overnight cruises
The best way to explore Bai Tu Long Bay is by overnight cruises. These are like mobile floating hotels, which will take visitors to discover the beauties and combine activities to maximize the experience for an overnight cruise on Bai Tu Long Bay.
3.2. Visiting fishing villages
Cong Dam Fishing Village: This is one of the tourist attractions of Bai Tu Long Bay that is very attractive to tourists, you will have great experiences following the life of Northern fishermen, learn about traditional culture, and listen to fascinating legends about the sea... Here, visitors also have the opportunity to go fishing with fishermen, talk to fishing villagers, or sit on lovely bamboo boats to explore beautiful small houses or soaring mountain ranges.
Cong Dam fishing village
Vung Vieng Fishing Village: Located in Bai Tu Long Bay, about 20km from Tuan Chau pier to the North-east. This place is still quite wild, so the space is extremely peaceful and airy. People living here are busy all year round with fishing and catching seafood. Coming to Vung Vieng fishing village, you can always feel the fun sounds of life with bustling laughter and a positive spirit. Vung Vieng is considered the most beautiful fishing village in the world and is a tourist destination in Quang Ninh that attracts a large number of tourists.
3.3. Relaxing at Ban Chan Beach
Ban Chan Beach is one of the wild beaches which is untouched by human intervention. The fine white sand and clear blue water of Ban Chan Beach are surrounded by the cliff of karst limestone cliffs that are considered paradise. This is an ideal beach to relax and immerse in the wild and nature in Bai Tu Long Bay.
3.4. Exploring Thien Canh Son Cave
The cave complex on Bai Tu Long Bay is no less abundant than Ha Long Bay. The caves here still retain many natural features. Thien Canh Son Cave in Bai Tu Long Bay is the most beautiful one that could not be missed. This is an unspoiled cave belonging to the Cong Do reserve.
Thien Canh Son Cave in Bai Tu Long Bay
To get to the cave, you have to climb over nearly 100 stone steps. Before entering and standing from the cave entrance, you can also see a corner of Bai Tu Long Bay. Inside the cave are countless stalactites formed over thousands of years forming strange shapes, evoking the imagination of people such as lotuses, stone elephants, seals, chandeliers...
3.5. Enjoy kayaking activity in Bai Tu Long Bay
Kayaking in Bai Tu Long Bay is an attractive activity for tourists to get closer to nature. The overnight cruises cannot go near the rocky mountains, but with Kayak, visitors can go close to the cliffs to admire the beauty of nature, which sea water and time are eroding and forming grooves around the foot of the stone mountains.
3.6. Night squid fishing in Bai Tu Long Bay
Squid fishing is an interesting activity that tourists should try when visiting Bai Tu Long Bay. Most overnight cruises offer this activity in the package for visitors after dinner. Visitors can fish for squid from the cruises with assistance from the staff. You will be provided with fishing rods, bait, and fishing lights. From April to August is the ideal time for squid fishing in Bai Tu Long Bay.
Squid fishing in Bai Tu Long Bay
4. How to get to Bai Tu Long Bay?
To get to Bai Tu Long Bay from Hanoi, visitors can choose a shuttle bus or cruise. This is the most convenient way for visitors.
Most cruises in Bai Tu Long Bay embark from Hon Gai Pier which is connected to Halong City by Bai Chay Bridge. So to travel to Bai Tu Long, tourists could go to Halong and then from Halong cross the bridge to Hon Gai pier to check in on the cruise.
>> Read more: How to get from Hanoi to Halong Bay?
5. Best Bai Tu Long Bay Cruises
There are many choices of overnight cruises in Bai Tu Long Bay for visitors. From 3-star (superior) to 5-star (luxury) cruises, from private to charter cruises are a variety of good options. Cruises are packages with full board, all entrance fees, activities on cruise or in the bay as well as the tourist guide on board.
5.1. Best Bai Tu Long Bay superior cruise (3-star)
Swan Deluxe cruise – 18 cabins – price from 146 USD/person
Garden Bay Classic cruise – 12 cabins – price from 117 USD/person
Renea cruise – 11 cabins – price from 142 USD/person
Treasure Junk cruise – 18 cabins – price from 152 USD/person
Lily Cruise - 20 cabins - price from 141 USD/person
>> See more: 3-star Bai Tu Long Bay Cruises with real-time price
5.2 Best Bai Tu Long Bay deluxe cruises (4-star)
Signature Cruise – 12 cabins – price from 232 USD/person
Signature Royal Cruise – 16 cabins – price from 172 USD/person
Prince Cruise – 4 cabins – price from 266 USD/person
>> See more:4-star cruises in Bai Tu Long Bay with real-time price
5.3 Best Bai Tu Long Bay luxury cruises 5 star
Athena cruise – 21 cabins – price from 185 USD/person
Dragon Legend cruise – 24 cabins – price from 211 USD/person
>> See more:5-star cruises in Bai Tu Long Bay with real-time price
5.4 Best Bai Tu Long Bay charter cruises
L'Amour cruise – 1 cabin – price from 358 USD/person
Prince 4 cruise – 4 cabins – price from 223 USD/person
Bhaya Legend cruise – 3 cabins – price from 211 USD/person
Bhaya Legend cruise – 2 cabins – price from 256 USD/person
>> Read more: Charter cruises in Bai Tu Long Bay
6. Bai Tu Long Bay cruise itinerary
6.1. Bai Tu Long Bay cruise 2 days 1 night
Day 1: Hon Gai pier – Bai Tu Long Bay
At 12.00, embark the cruise for a trip in Bai Tu Long, warmest welcome drink and check in your cabin.
Enjoy a delicious lunch while cruising on the bay.
Discover Cap La island and enjoy kayaking through the karst limestone mountain, swimming and relaxing
In the afternoon, enjoy the sunset time or some cruises will offer a cooking class.
Sumptuous dinner on the cruise and free time to relax or try your luck with squid fishing.
Hon Gai Pier by the city
Day 2: Bai Tu Long Bay – Thien Canh Son cave – Hon Gai pier
In the morning, freshen up with Tai Chi. Breakfast will be served on the cruise.
Explore Thien Canh Son cave. One of the most beautiful caves in Bai Tu Long Bay.
Keep continuing the cruising and prepare to check out before lunch.
At noon, Disembark in Hon Gai pier
Tourists could use private car service or shuttle bus of cruise to return to Hanoi. The Bai Tu Long cruise trip ends,
6.2. Bai Tu Long Bay cruise 3 days 2 nights
For 3 3-day 2-night cruise trip in Bai Tu Long Bay, the first day and the last day will be the same as the program 2 days 1 night.
Day 1: Embarking on the cruise - the same as 2 day 1 night program
Day 2: Bai Tu Long Cruising and Discovery
In the morning, take part in a Tai Chi lesson and enjoy breakfast then transfer to a day boat for a full day exploring the beauty of Bai Tu Long Bay.
Do more kayaking to discover deeply the bay. After lunch on the boat, keep cruising to Vung Vieng fishing village to explore the local life and how pearls grow.
In the late afternoon, return to the “mother cruise” for sunset time with tea, coffee, and fresh fruit.
Dinner and overnight on cruise.
Day 3: Bai Tu Long – Thien Canh Son cave – Hon Gai pier.
The same as 2 day 1 night program
Depending on each cruise, the itinerary or schedule for Bai Tu Long cruises may be a little bit different. However, it will be some main activities as we mentioned above.
Bai Tu Long Bay cruise map
7. Bai Tu Long Bay or Ha Long Bay for the cruise trip?
The natural landscapes of Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay are quite similar, there is not too much difference.
The overnight cruises are equally good in 2 bays. However, Halong Bay was exploited for tourism earlier, and tourists mainly know about Halong Bay. Many limestone islands in Halong Bay have strange shapes named and associated with legends.
In addition, in Halong Bay, there are many large and beautiful caves with beautiful stalactites. That is why Halong Bay is always chosen by many tourists.
Bai Tu Long Bay is more pristine because there are fewer tourists, and there are no big caves like in Halong Bay, but it has its charm, very peaceful and non-touristy. More and more tourists know about Bai Tu Long Bay.
02 Comments
Christmas Island
Visited Halong Bay several years ago. Bai Tu Long Bay is also as charming as Halong Bay.
Vietnam
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