Bai Tu Long Bay is in Northern Vietnam. It borders the better-known Ha Long Bay which has similar scenery and many more tourists. Cruises to Bai Tu Long Bay leave from Hon Gai wharf (Cảng Hòn Gai) in the city of Ha Long. The islands of Bai Tu Long Bay can be reached by ferry from Cái Rồng port, approximately 60 km north of the city of Ha Long.
Understand
[edit]Bai Tu Long Bay is being promoted and developed as an alternative to the crowded Ha Long Bay. The new Van Don International Airport (opened December 30, 2018) is poised to bring tourists directly to Bai Tu Long Bay.
History
[edit]Landscape
[edit]Islands
[edit]Flora and fauna
[edit]Climate
[edit]Get in
[edit]By plane
[edit]- Van Don International airport (VDO IATA) flights from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
By ferry
[edit]- Ferries are available from Bai Chay, Cái Rồng port, and other cities.
Fees and permits
[edit]Get around
[edit]See
[edit]- 1 Bái Tử Long National Park.
Do
[edit]- Sightsee by Ferry - Ferries to the islands of Bai Tu Long Bay are available from Cái Rồng port.
- Sightsee by Cruise - Many people visit Bai Tu Long Bay on a commercial cruise departing from Hon Gai wharf (Cảng Hòn Gai) in the city of Ha Long.
Indochina Junk is one of the largest tour operators on Bai Tu Long Bay, offering day and overnight cruises, phone: +84 964 34 33 22, e-mail: [email protected], with 5 classes of boats – L’Amour Junk, Prince junk, Red Dragon junk, Dragon Pearl junk and Dragon Legend cruise. They offer one-day cruises as well as cruises lasting 2 or 3 nights. Activities include kayaking, swimming, cave visiting and floating village visiting. The cruise company offers transportation from Hanoi or you may join a tour directly from Hon Gai wharf (Cảng Hòn Gai).
When Indochina Junk is fully booked, their agents will offer to book with one of the other cruise companies departing from Hon Gai wharf (Cảng Hòn Gai), including Renea Cruises. Renea Cruises is a smaller and newer operation with similar itinerary and activities on Bai Tu Long Bay. Renea Cruises can often be booked on accommodation websites such as Booking.com at prices considerably lower than the rates quoted by travel agents and tour booking companies.
Buy
[edit]Eat
[edit]Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]Lodging
[edit]There are a few small hotels, guesthouses and resorts on the islands of Co To or Quan Lan (AirBnB shows several listings).
Larger hotels and a wider choice of accommodations are available in the city of Ha Long.
The city of Cam Pha lies between Van Don airport and Ha Long and offers a few small hotels but Cam Pha is primarily an industrial and coal-shipping port and has few amenities for tourists.