Halong City is the center of culture, commerce, politics for Quang Ninh province in the northern coastal region. The city lies along the bay for a length of 50 km, 165 km away from Hanoi in the northwest, 60 km from Haiphong in the west.
Halong Bay – the natural wonder of the world is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Vietnam. This place is also well known for Bai Tho Mountain and the immortal poem of King Le Thanh Tong carved into a cliff in 1468.
Ha Long Bay is located in northern Vietnam. Its four seasons are all different. The best time to travel to Halong is from August to November. The weather in these months is cool and pleasant. The average daily maximum in Halong is 24°C. You can also visit Halong Bay in the summer, but summer is peak season for Vietnam tourism and therefore very busy.
There are many attractions in and around Halong Bay including Halong Bay itself, amazing caves, fishing villages, Yen Tu Pagoda, Bai Tho Mountain, Yen Duc Village, Dong Trieu Village… Asia Shore Excursions offers many great choices of shore excursions in Halong Bay for cruise passengers at Halong port. If you do not find any suitable tours and day trips in Halong Bay, please contact us to customize a tour to meet your needs.
Things to do and see in Halong shore excursions
Halong Bay – one of the most popular attractions in Vietnam – is also one of seven natural wonders of the world. But more than these amazing caves and wonderful islets, Halong city has several other attractions such as fishing villages, Yen Tu pagoda, Bai Tho Mountain, Yen Duc Village, Dong Trieu Village, and so on. Asia Shore Excursions would like to recommend top things to do and see in Halong shore excursions.
Kayak along the bay
Kayaking in Halong Bay is the best to enjoy all the splendor beauty of this UNESCO Natural Heritage Site. Gently paddle through various islets, explore hidden caves, mysterious lagoons, and stunning beaches. Due to small size, the kayak can easily go through the caves that boats cannot get closer to limestone karst and enjoy the serene natural sight in a less visited corner of Bai Tu Long Bay will be one of the greatest experiences for life.
When kayaking, you have to follow the instruction of your guide that it is really dangerous to do by yourself. The guide will show you how to use the paddle and the way to the safe areas. The life jacket is a compulsory part preparing for this activity when kayaking along Halong Bay. Suitable clothes are recommended such as T-shirt and short, swimming suit in summer, warm clothes in the winter, wet shoes, hat, sunglasses, and so on.
Available on the shore trip:
https://www.shoreexcursions.asia/halong-bay-cruise-1-day/
Explore islets and caves
A cruise around the bay to admire several grottoes and caves such as the Incense Burner Islet (Dinh Huong), Fighting Cock (Ga Choi), Rocky Dog (Cho Da), Heaven Cave (Thien Cung), Amazing Cave (Sung Sot), Luon Cave, and so on. Most of them are always available, but some can be swallowed by the tide.
These caves are well-known for fantastic limestone structure that was created by thousands of years due to calcification of water inside. On the cliff, you can find traces of fossils of fresh-water snails. Monkeys mischievously run in groups, fig trees cover all the landscape and many orchids hang their odorous flowers.
Available on the tour:
https://www.shoreexcursions.asia/halong-bay-cruise-hanoi-capital-2-days/
Yen Duc Cultural Village
A drive through 60km to the west of Halong City, Yen Duc Cultural Village reveals the unique traditional culture of northern Vietnam. The village is serene, quiet with yellow rice paddy fields and lush green gardens as well as huge fish ponds. More than this, the village is home to several cultural monuments and historical sites such as Canh Huong Pagoda, Canh Mountain, 73 Cave, and so on.
Enjoy a space imbued with regional cultural which is the feature of the countryside, meet and chat with the locals, then witness their peaceful daily life, culture, and tradition as well as get hands-on experience feeding animals in the gardens and fish in the ponds, seeding or collecting rice in the field depending on season. The trip will offer you a chance to enjoy the traditional Water Puppet Show and taste a savory meal with traditional Vietnamese cuisine.
Available on the shore trip:
https://www.shoreexcursions.asia/quang-ninh-museum-yen-duc-cultural-village-1-day/
Yen Tu Pagoda
Yen Tu Pagoda is a complex of pagodas associated with King Tran Nhan Tong that is about 60km from Halong City. In 1299, after a long time successfully building and handling the country, he decided to leave the throne and escape to Yen Tu Mountain and practice Buddhism.
Then, Yen Tu Pagoda becomes one of the most sacred pagodas in not only Quang Ninh province but also northern Vietnam. Visiting the mountains, you will hike 1068 meters long steep stone steps to reach the top of the mountain. Yen Tu Pagoda is a great place to learn about Vietnam Buddhism and admire the Vietnamese ancient architecture. The pagoda can be accessed by taking 2-3 hours on the cable car but most of the locals choose to hike step by step to show their devotion to the Buddha.
Available on the tour:
https://www.shoreexcursions.asia/yen-tu-pagoda-yen-duc-cultural-village-1-day/
Quang Yen Village
Just 50km away from Halong City, Quang Yen is a beautiful natural village that famous for its traditional cultural values. A visit to Quang Yen also includes several historical monuments, wonderful landscapes, and the unique features. Moreover, this village still maintains the quiet and peaceful beauty of a farming village.
Villagers are proud of the highest concentrations of local monuments and historical sites in the whole country. Various traditional customs and activities still happen in the village. Many festivals are also held annually with three main ones are Bach Dang Festival, Tien Cong festival, Xuong Dong Festival. Moreover, traditional handicraft is an essential factor creating the attract of this ancient village.
Available on the trip:
https://www.shoreexcursions.asia/explore-countryside-quang-yen-village-1-day/
Quang Ninh Museum
Was designed by a Spanish architect, Quang Ninh Museum has a unique style, charming space, and several priceless artifacts. Inspired by the iconic coal - the typical mineral of Quang Ninh - the museum is a pearl on the most beautiful coastal road in the whole city. The building is covered with 14,000 square meters of glasses that follow the temperature changes.
After step inside the museum, you will admire a whale skeleton and sailboat models. The first floor has several columns of the covering fabric with images of Ha Long Bay combined with light to make visitors feel like lost in a mini Ha Long. The second floor is designed with the shape of a boat that introduces the history and culture of Quang Ninh Province. In the third floor, you will visit the exhibition of economic achievements, characteristics of ethnic groups in this province and artifacts used in mining, especially coal industry.
Available on the shore trip:
https://www.shoreexcursions.asia/quang-ninh-museum-yen-duc-cultural-village-1-day/
30 Comments
at 07:39
I will coming from a cruise ship on 3/18/15, I want information about your Halong Bay cruise price for four & six hours tour. We have four people. Thank
You.
at 07:38
Hi Bobby,
Thank you for your request. Please check your email for detailed quotation of Halong Bay shore excursion, and let us know if you have any questions.
Regards,
Jeanny
at 03:00
Six of us Canadians will be arriving on the Volendam on January 31,2016 in Halong Bay. What would the total cost be for a private 6 hour tour of the islands, fishing village, etc.. If we need to be part of a larger group please tell us how many would be in the group in total and what would th pr person cost be.
Thank you.
at 10:26
Hi Barb,
Thank you for letting us know your travel plan to Halong Bay. Please check your email for detailed quotation. Feel free to contact us if you have any other questions.
Regards,
Stephen
at 12:07
Hi. Could you please let me no the cost of a 6 hour tour of halong bay for 2 people with lunch 1 vegetarian?
Arriving 04feb16 HAL Volendam
Many thanks
I Lashford
at 09:45
Hi Ian,
Thanks for your request on Halong Bay Shore Excursions, we have dropped you detailed quotation for your 6-hour trip in Halong Bay, please check.
Best Regards,
at 22:50
SORRY. I cant see this information anywhere. please email again
many thanks Ian Lashford
at 23:56
Dear Ian,
Thank you for your notice. Please check your email again for the detailed reply.
Best regards,
at 09:47
Can you please send more information and prices for the 4 hour and 6 hour Halong Bay excursion. We are also on the Volendam arriving on 31 Jan. There would be 2 passengers. Thank you
at 10:51
Dear Lynn,
Thank you for contacting us. The detailed quotation on Halong Bay shore excursion has been sent to your email. Kindly have a look at it and let me know if you have any other questions.
Regards,
at 13:02
Can you please send more information and prices for the 4 and 6 hour Halong Bay excursion VSN01 . We arrive on the MS Volendam on 4 februari 2016. We are a party of 2 and willing to join a small group of people. We would like to start our tour around 10 am if possible
at 14:13
Hi Sjanne,
Thank you for reaching to us. Please check your email for detailed quotation of Ha Long Bay shore excursions. Feel free to ask us any question you may have.
Best,
at 14:05
We are arriving on Celebrity Millenium 12 Feb docking at 12.00 until 10.00 pm the following day 13 Feb. Can you advise of any overnight Halong Bay boat trips for this period for 2 people? Thank you.
at 15:02
Dear Patsy,
Thank you for letting us know your travel plan. The detailed quotation of Halong Bay shore excursion has been sent to your email address. Please check it and let me know if you have any other enquiries.
Kind Regards,
at 18:43
We are a group of ten people. We will be arriving on a cruise ship Marinear Of The Sea on March 6th 2016 at 7:00 Am. We will be leaving the same port Ho Chi Minh City at 4:Pm the next day. We are interested in your Harlong Bay cruise. Can you quote us the prices for 4 and 6 hrs. Cruises including picking us up and returning to the cruise port the same day March the 6th 2016.
Thank you,
Michael Liu
at 19:12
Hi Michael,
Thank you for letting us know your travel plan. The detailed quotation has been sent to your email address. Please check it and let me know if you have any other enquiries.
Kind Regards,
at 03:36
Hi, we are a party of 4 seniors arriving by cruise ship on 29 October 2016, from 7.00am until 11.00pm, a d would like to do a 6-8 hour cruise in Halong Bay.
@ of us were there a year ago, and did a 4 hour cruise, which was only just over 2.5 hours, so this time we would like to see more of the islands etc.
Can you recommend a cruise? Thanks, Ross
at 04:25
Hi Ross,
Thank you for contacting us. The detailed quotation for Halong Bay shore excursion has been sent to your email. Please have a look at it and let us know if you have any other enquiries.
Regards,
at 02:10
Hi. There are 6 of us adults that will be cruising on the Celebrity Millennium, arriving Halong Bay at 12 Noon March 7, 2017, departing 10pm March 8. We already have a FULL day planned for March 8, but nothing for March 7. Do you have any suggestions for a PRIVATE boat tour with guide (smaller boat) or a GROUP boat tour (on a Chinese junk) I would think we could disembark about 1pm. Would it be possible to see the famous caves and perhaps a fishing village too? No lunch is required. Could you provide a cost estimate which would include all fees and we would need pick-up & drop off at the ship. Maybe 4 or 5 hours. We are from USA. Thank you.
at 03:16
Dear David,
Thank you for letting us know your travel plan. The price per pax is cheaper if there are more people joining the tour. Please check your email for detailed quotation. Kindly let me know if you have any other questions.
Best,
at 07:10
We offer the best price for 1-day shore excursion day trip from Saigon port for cruise passengers visit Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
at 08:07
Hi Alex,
The price per pax is cheaper if there are more people joining the tour. Please check your email for detailed quotation. Kindly let me know if you need more information.
Best,
at 09:59
Hello,
Arriving on a cruise via Celebrity Millenium, it would be great if you can post all the prices for all the tours you have advertised to make it transparent for everyone rather than ask them one by one (that will make people decided faster and easier). Otherwise, please send me a price list on your available day tours on my email, thank you.
Florence
at 11:04
Hi Florence,
Thanks for your request on Halong Bay shore excursion. Due to the price per pax is cheaper if there are more people joining the tour, we have dropped you the detailed quotation, please check your email.
Best Regards,
at 23:56
Hi
We are a group of 4 arriving at halong bay with celebrity millenium on the 14th Feb at 0700 until 1300 on the 15th Feb. Ideally we would like an overnight cruise or if not a 6hour cruise on the14th. Please can you provide me with the costs and itineraries for both. Thanks
Hayley
at 00:17
Hi Hayley,
Thank you for your request. Please check your email for detailed quotation of Halong Bay shore excursion. Feel free to contact us should you have other enquiries.
Best,
at 15:10
there are 2 of us arriving on Vollendam on 18th Dec could you please tell me price of both of your Halong Bay tours
at 16:07
Hi Dinah,
Thank you for your request. The detailed quotation of the Halong Bay shore excursion has been sent to your email for perusal. Please let us know if you have any further enquiries.
Regards,
at 19:44
We are arriving on Celebrity Millennium an Feb 27,2018 and are interested in taking your 4 hr Halong Bay cruise. Can you send me more information and prices of this excursion. Thank you.
at 20:27
Dear Gabrielle,
Thank you for your request on Halong Bay shore excursion. Please check your email for detailed quotation and let me know if you have any other questions.
Regards,