Discovering Emerald Waters and
Limestone Islands
Explore Ha Long Bay
Hạ Long Bay is one of Vietnam’s most remarkable natural landscapes and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its emerald waters and thousands of limestone islands rising dramatically from the sea. Cruising between these towering formations is the classic way to experience the bay, whether on a day trip or, as I chose, by spending a night aboard a traditional-style junk cruise.
Check out my photography in
Ha Long Bay Visual Stories
for more inspiration and places I have explored.
Why I Enjoy Ha Long Bay
Hạ Long Bay was part of my first journey through Vietnam. I started the trip in Hanoi with a friend before flying to Hue and continuing by road through Da Nang and Hoi An. From Da Nang, I flew north with VietJet and arranged a private car to take me to the port for my Hạ Long Bay cruise. After the cruise, I continued by road back to Hanoi before flying home.
This part of the journey, however, I did alone. Looking back, travelling solo to Hạ Long Bay was probably a mistake—not because I didn’t enjoy it, but because this is one of those places that would have been better shared with someone.
After arriving at the port, I registered and waited in the passenger lounge until it was time to board. A smaller boat then transferred us to the junk cruise anchored offshore. Once aboard, we received an orientation covering the programme and safety information before settling into our rooms.
The one-night stay turned out to be the most memorable part of my Hạ Long Bay experience. The boat glided slowly through the calm waters before anchoring in a peaceful open area surrounded by limestone mountains. Apart from a couple of organised cave excursions, there wasn’t much to do—and that was exactly what made it enjoyable. It was a chance to slow down, enjoy the silence and simply watch the scenery around me.
Unfortunately, it rained during much of my visit. Fog drifted between the limestone formations and limited some of the views I had hoped to photograph. Yet the weather created an atmosphere of its own, with islands appearing and disappearing through the mist. From the boat, I could also see sea kayakers paddling between the towering formations below.
For the return journey, the cruise brought us back to the boarding point, where travellers could continue by private car or shared transport. I travelled by road to Hanoi via Hai Phong, a journey of around two and a half hours at the time, including a short rest stop, before being dropped directly in front of my hotel.
The experience convinced me that Hạ Long Bay deserves another visit. Next time, I hope for clearer weather—and I definitely wouldn’t do the overnight cruise alone again.
What to Do
Staying overnight gives you more time to experience the quieter side of Hạ Long Bay rather than simply arriving and leaving on the same day. Cruise itineraries vary, but there are several ways to explore the bay and its surrounding landscape.
- Stay overnight on a junk cruise – Spending a night on the water allows you to experience the bay after the day visitors have gone, surrounded by limestone islands and remarkably calm waters.
- Explore the limestone caves – Many cruises include excursions into caves hidden within the limestone formations, with enormous chambers and unusual rock formations.
- Kayak through the bay – Kayaking offers a completely different perspective, allowing you to paddle closer to the limestone cliffs and explore quieter areas away from the larger boats.
- Enjoy the views from the deck – Sometimes the best thing to do is nothing at all. Sit outside, watch the limestone islands pass by and enjoy the slower pace of the bay.
- Watch sunrise and sunset – An overnight cruise gives you the opportunity to see and photograph Hạ Long Bay in softer morning and evening light, weather permitting.
- Explore Cát Bà National Park – Travellers spending more time in the region can continue to Cát Bà Island, where the mountainous national park offers hiking and another perspective of the Hạ Long Bay region.
- Try more adventurous activities – Depending on the season, weather and operator, activities around the wider bay can include rock climbing and diving.
Ha Long’s Most Instagrammable Spots:
The cruise deck itself offers some of the best photography opportunities, with layers of limestone islands stretching across the water and kayakers paddling between the towering formations. A land excursion to explore one of Hạ Long Bay’s limestone caves adds another perspective, taking you from the open water into impressive chambers filled with natural rock formations.
My rainy visit gave Hạ Long Bay a different mood, with fog drifting between the mountains and islands appearing and disappearing through the mist. Check out my Hạ Long Bay Visual Stories to see photographs from the journey—from life aboard the junk cruise and the cave excursion to the quiet moments of cruising through one of Vietnam’s most distinctive landscapes.
