A day trip in Ha Long Bay– Vietnam Travel

Islands in Ha Long Bay

Once on the waters of Ha Long Bay, it was a great day. The knifing cold wind notwithstanding, the voyage on the boat was nice. Although it was grey day in winter, it was sufficiently clear to see the green waters. On a clear summer day, the water would have really been a magnificent shade of green.

Typically, a day cruise covers Ti Top Island, Tunnel cave and Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave, before heading back to Tuan Chau marina, from where all cruises start. 

There’s lunch on the boat, which we found quite good in its quality and variety, especially the vegetarian dishes (rice, noodles, dimsum).

The famous "kissing Rocks" 

Ti Top Island

Ti Top Island is a sort of staging point on the cruise. It was so named because of a visit by a USSR cosmonaut Gherman Titov back in 1962, but otherwise earlier it was named after sailors who had perished in a shipwreck in the Ha Long Bay in 1905. The statue on the island is of Gherman Titov. 

Ti Top Island

The island is steep wooded on one side and a slope going down to a beach on the other side. This seems to be man-made beach (quite neat and clean) nice enough for a swim if you planned for it; else you could climb the many steps to the top of the island and have a look around the bay. We climbed halfway to a stage, and got a view, but most people take a quick walk up. Takes about 20 minutes, but we weren’t the heavy outdoorsy type. 

People were also kayaking, and we understand you could also do some paragliding- check with your cruise operator, or the people on the island. 

Luon Cave entrance 

There’s a smallish restaurant and a rooftop where you could lounge around as well. The bathrooms were clean enough- just don’t expect 5-star cleanliness as there are simply too many visitors to the island.

Beach on Ti Top Island

Luon Cave

Leaving Ti Top, the next stop is an island formation with a secluded cove called Luon Cave, reachable thru a tunnel that’s got carved in the side of the island. You get transferred to a smaller boat which takes you into the tunnel and into the cove inside the island. 

A short scenic ride in a small boat with travelers wearing life vests. You could kayak thru the cave as well. This cave entrance must have been carved by years of erosion from the sea (see the photos).All in all, quite a neat nice excursion.

Sung Sot Island - Surprise Cave

This was the really surprising part of the trip. From outside, its just one of the many islands in Ha Long bay, but climb up on the steps and enter the cave, and its gigantic within. Its apparently called Surprise cave because the French who discovered it were surprised by the sheer size and scale of it. In the local language, its called Sung Sot Cave. 

The soaring ceiling of "Surprise Cave" 

The steps are many, and go thru the grotto and up and down thru the mountain, finally descending to sea level after about a half hour walk. Its not very easy, but there are more steps than slopes, so those with knee or heart issues may well be advised to skip this part.

But important notice! The boat that brings you to the Sung Sot cave does not wait there- it leaves after dropping off the passengers and goes to the other side of the island where the exit of the cave is. So if you don’t want to visit the cave, do NOT leave the boat! The cruise operator does tell you this, but many people miss it. Be careful!

It’s a very huge place with water streams, green- and brown-coloured stones and pathways and a lot of Stalactites (caused by water dripping from the roof of the grotto). Theres also many stalagmites there, as the water keeps dripping onto a place and the minerals harden over time. Makes for dramatic landscapes and arches all over, highlighted by strategically placed lights.

Stalactites in "Surprise Cave" 

Its worth a quick walk thru, if your health permits. Do note: you must be aware that this part of the trip can be difficult if have ailments.

There are other tours also- some with overnight stay on the cruise ships; some on hotels on the mainland, and some with more activities. But the one we took was just right without getting tiresome or boring. 

View from the exit of "Surprise Cave"

Of course, the weather was great, and that helped. The tour organization was perfectly fine as well, with good buses, ships and food. 

Ha Long Bay, Vietnam travel : how to reach

We took a one-day trip to Ha Long Bay from Hanoi on December 28 2022.

Ha Long Bay is a world UNESCO heritage site since 1994. Its about 2.5 hours by road from Hanoi, and is most of the most popular day trips. Its most famous for its many islands (over 1100)-  rugged, rocky and heavily wooded; the water really is emerald green (we thought this was just hyperbole, but it really was!) and there are some spectacular caves on some islands. Ha Long (which means the ‘descending dragon’) has become the symbol, the most recognized natural formation for Vietnam and with good reason! Over the years tourism has steadily increased here, and now the logistics seem well settled.

There are several options, from private buses to tours. Most visitors do a day trip but there are now hotels and cruise ships on which you can stay overnight as well, but expensive. We left our hotel Tirant in the old quarter around 845amm and returned to the hotel around 9 pm the same day. This was December 2022, and it was decently cold on the water- that’s a tip- wrap up warmly! Ha Long bay in December can have cold winds and mist like any European winter! 

Most options cost US$ 55-65 per head in December 2022 (please check latest prices); the one we finally booked was US$ 60 per head. 

Our tour operator, booked via Viator, was VietnamTonkin Travel and Cruises. The bus was quite nice and we were quite impressed with the organization of the trip- the coordinator Mr Trinh Tran was in good touch with us thru whatsapp (which seems the preferred method of communication in Vietnam). As expected, the bus stops at a oyster/ pearl shop and set up on the way for a quick break. The marina to Ha Long bay is quite like an airport terminal with a few shops and counters. The transfer from bus to boat at Ha Long bay shore was quite smooth, and the boat itself was clean and neat. But the most surprising part was the included food. It was quite good- simple, tasty and had good vegetarian options as well (noodles, rice, dimsum, and  local wine / beer/ soft drinks).

Everything was on time, and quite enjoyable. More surprising ( to Indians at least), which also shows how little visitors know about Vietnam, was the good quality of the roads from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay. Could be specially made for the tourist trade, but it was smooth and painless. There were no constant start-stop / grinding gear changes that are so common in India. 

Full details of the visit in next posting! 

All in all, good day trip and worth the effort and money.