If you happen to be vacationing or are planning to go to Vietnam, specifically in the Quang Ninh Province, be sure to include Bai Tu Long in your travel plan. Bai Tu Long is a picturesque long string of islands located north of the Halong Bay region created when the entire limestone plateau sank below sea level. It may not be a famous tourist spot yet but once you discover the place, you will realize how stunning and worthy it is.

Unlike most tourist spots today which have become overly commercialized, overpriced and terribly polluted, Bai Tu Long Bay is an untouched piece of nature free from any pollution and commercialism. It may be a little tough getting there, but think of it as an adventure. And once you get there, seeing how breathtaking the place is makes the trip truly worth all the hassle and expenses.


Van Don Island is the first island you’ll come across when you reach the place. It is also one of the main highlights of the spot since it is the most developed compared to all of the islands constituting the bay. It has a bridge which connects it to the mainland, making it accessible to personal and commercial travels. Quan Lan is another pride of Bai Tu Long though unlike the first island, it has a more laidback and relaxed pace.


Bai Tu Long National Park is one of the most popular feature of the island. It is also one of its best money-making schemes boasting of a large number of endangered species and a dense jungle. It can be reached by a speedboat or by road from Bai Chay Beach. Bai Tu Long is rich in historical and cultural sites, including the amazing fishing village at Minh Chau Island, Thong Thien Cave, Phat Co Island and Cua Ong Temple, among others.


If you want to get a perfect view of Bai Tu Long Bay and bask in its pure splendor, go there by boat from Halong Bay or from the Cai Rong Pier at Van Don Island. This will take you to the even more remote islands of the place, hypnotizing you with its unbelievably captivating beauty and peace. A one day trip is simply not enough if you want to breathe in the true, unmasked power and possibility of Bai Tu Long Bay.


How to Get There


From Halong Bay, you can go to Bai Tu Long Bay by speed hydrofoil. You can take a bus from Hanoi to Cua Ong Pier where there are several ferries that will take you to the archipelago. Some buses also take travel routes across the bridge all the way to Van Don Island.

If you travel by land, the trip is a straight path across Highway 18 which takes about four hours of travel time. But if you prefer to have a more convenient and relaxed trip by plane, the international airport at Noi Bai, which is at the north of the capital, has a steady schedule of flights from all over the region.