Bai Tu Long Bay overview

If Halong bay is compared to a glamorous beauty queen surrounded by reporters and followers, Bai Tu Long Bay is to an original and charming one without much public attention. Lesser known than its sister, Bai Tu long is another secret haven.
Accounting for three quarters of Halong Bay World heritage site, Bai Tu Long also encompasses many islands in Van Don and Cam Pha District. With 3,000 rocky, sky – crapping islets and white sand beaches, it is known as one of the most primitive and insightful places in Vietnam. Bai Tu Long and its islands still have low population and as a result haven’t much developed. However, this less rowdy and touristy side contribute to the fact that Bai Tu Long is somehow more stunning and attractive than its neighbor thanks to its natural and primitive beauty.

Where is Bai Tu Long Bay ?

Bai Tu Long Bay takes place in the Northern Bay that situates in the Northeast region of Vietnam. Bai Tu Long Bay comprises a coastal area in Ha Long city, Cam Pha city, and Van Don island district. Besides, it shares the border with Ha Long Bay, beach, land, Cam Pha city and Co To island district in the Southwest, the East, the West, and the Northeast respectively. Bai Tu Long includes hundreds of islands with residents inhabiting in many big islands.
Bai Tu Long Bay- Off the beaten track with experienced locals. Bai Tu Long Bay is also home to long and eloquent sand beaches and crystal clear sea water. This area is less touristy than Ha Long Bay and a place for anyone wants to truly enjoy the beautiful beaches. It is unique because of its historic and cultural sites, precious and rare specialties, and the archipelago’s unspoiled beauty.

The weather in Bai Tu Long Bay

The tropical climate of this Bay has divided its weather into two distinct seasons, specifically, hot and humid summer, cold and dry winter and very similar to Halong Bay weather. The average temperature fluctuates between 15 °C and 25 °C. Due to its weather, summer is always the peak season of the Bay. If you drop by Bai Tu Long in summer, you can take part in a great deal of energetic activities such as swimming and kayaking. Nevertheless, winter is a good time for ones who want to avoid the tourist crowds. Still and all, in both seasons, you can enjoy your best with the amazing and magnificent scenery of this wonderful Bay.

When is best time to visit Bai Tu Long Bay ?

Bai Tu Long Bay is a specific region with 2 separated seasons: hot moist summer (from April to October) and cold dry winter (from November to March of the following year). Annual average temperature falls into 15-25 degree Celsius. The level of rainfall is estimated to be about 2000 mm per year. Bai Tu Long Bay also possesses tidal system with the level of 3.5-4 meters per day. Level of salinity is measured to be more or less 31-34.5 MT in the dry season and lower in the summer.

The period of summer-autumn (from March to May, August to October) intensively attracts domestic tourists. The period of wintertime draws the attention of foreign visitors. It is highly recommended not to travel to Bai Tu Long Bay in the period from June to July due to stormy time happening in that place.

How it took its name : Bai Tu Long?

Identically to Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long owns the same legend. Once upon a time, in order to protect the ancient Vietnam’s border from invaders, God sent mother dragon and child dragons down to help Vietnamese people fight the enemy. When the enemy’s boats approached the shore, the dragons sprayed countless pearls which then turned into thousands of limestone and became a solid wall that blocked invaders’ way. After the victory, since having fallen in love with spectacular landscapes and hospitable Vietnamese people, the dragons decided to stay. The location where mother dragon landed is Halong Bay and where child dragons launched is Bai Tu Long. The dragons’ tail hitting the water to create white foam layers later became white sand beaches around Bai Tu Long.

Scenery and Activities in Bai Tu Long Bay

Bai Tu Long Bay consists of a long range of islands which was created when the whole limestone upland sunk below sea level. Its breathtaking and magnificent beauty is undeniable. In this area, you can enjoy pristine natural scenery. An enormous area of this landscape is still unexplored. Coming to Bai Tu Long or a book a halong bay overnight cruise you will have the chance to visit a great many of amusing destinations such as: Cong Do area, Vung Vieng fishing village, Da Xep Park, Cong Dam area, Thien Canh Son cave and Tra Gioi beach. Besides, Quan Lan, Ngoc Vung, Cong Dong, and Cong Tay are the largest, most developed and most populated islands where you can help yourself relax on their beautiful beaches. The special highlight of Bai Tu Long is its national park. This place is really worth seeing because it is the home of many endangered species of birds and animals, as well as plants.

Best things to do in Bai Tu Long Bay

To enjoy your time in Bai Tu Long, kayaking is one of the best choices. This is a really good way to have a close glimpse of charming vivid islets and observe fully the life of people living in floating village. Apart from travelling by boat, you can also enjoy an enjoyable bicycle ride watching insightful dense forests on the islands. The beautiful beaches around the Bay are definitely perfect places for ones who obsessed with swimming and surfing.

Visit eco-tourism complex, spots

Traveling to Bai Tu Long Islands, you can visit some spots in the eco-tourism complex only around 60 kilometers from Bai Chay by land road or 1.5 hours by surfing ship through the bay. You are supposed to be amazed by the fanciful beauty of 2-kilometer expense of white soft sand, deep blue water in an extremely airy, fresh space. This place is regarded to be one of the most sublime beaches in the Northern area of Vietnam.
Bai Tu Long Bay 2019 All You Need To Know Before Travelling

Visit ancient temple, pagodas in Bai Tu Long Bay

In addition, you can accompany with Bai Tu Long Bay in the interesting journey of returning ancient time through temples, pagodas mainly constructed in Ly emperor’s time to understand more about local people. Drowning into the fresh air with cool wind bringing the peacefully clear taste of sea may clean all the nerve, worry and stress in your life.

Visit Bai Tu Long National Park

Bai Tu Long National Park presents as a national biosphere reservation zone. It also can be called a diverse and rich biology environment. When visiting this spot, you may have the chance to view wonderfully pristine beauty of islands such as Ba Mun, Big Tra Ngo, Small Tra Ngo, Sau Nam, Dong Ma, Hon Chinh,.. interposing each other. Limestone mountain ranges closely surround wide valleys, which creates a home to many different types of flora. Standing out is Hang Doi that locates in Cat Lim area of Tra Ngo island.

Visit caves, Island, beaches

Other “must-go” spots include Thong Thien carve, Phat Co Island, Cua Ong temple, Van Hoa harbor, Ban Sen Island famous for the taste of tea brewed for 100 years, Uyen Uong beach with crystal-like water.
If you do have time, it is advised to visit the villages of Tay, Dao Do, San Diu ethnic groups and they are really hospitable. The experienced travelers also explore around Bai Tu Long Island by boats slightly floating to mysterious forests.

What to eat in Bai Tu Long Bay ?

Bai Tu Long cuisine has a reputation about the considerable diversity of fresh seafood and unique specialties of Quang Ninh Province in general, Bai Tu Long Bay of Van Don in particular. Don’t miss the seafood in Bai Tu Long Bay! Snout Otter Clam: This is a kind of rare and expensive seafood. Snout Otter Clam has high nutrition value. It is extremely good for people’s health. Luckily, since 2005, Snout Otter Clam has been raised successfully for commercial use. You now can find it easily at almost all food stalls, seafood restaurants Blue King Crab: It will be a great omission for you to travel to Bai Tu Long without trying Blue King Crab with green pepper sauce or steamed Blue King Crab. These seafood are especially favored by many foreign visitors.

Visit Co To Island of Bai Tu Long

Co To island is a picturesque and romantic area to relax Co To Island is a quaint island with romantic beaches and golden sands. In addition to the shimmering blue water, Co To also has a pretty old lighthouse, from the top of which you have an uninhibited view of the virgin green forests and limestone karts in the vast expanse of the sea. Co To Island also has a fishing pier and a Ho chi Minh statue.

Visit Vung Vieng fishing village

A Visit to the vung Vien Fishing village offers a unique perspective on ways people life
Vung Vieng is a floating Vietnamese fishing village. Located amidst karst boulders, this village is accessible only by boat. Drinking water is brought in from small boats that are required for transport from one floating structure to another. Even children use boats to go to school! A short distance from Vung Vieng is one of the oldest caves in the bay.

Visit Quan lan Island

Quan Lan Island offers a picturesque retreat resplendent with white sand beaches.
Quan Lan houses the beautiful Minh Chau beach. This beach is the most famous tourist location in Quan Lan Island. The beach has white sands and the calm blue waters are ideal for surfing. Other water sports include Kayaking and Beach Volleyball. There are a number of beach cafes along the beach that serve authentic seafood and local beer. It is the perfect place to unwind.

How To Get To Bai Tu Long Bay

From Hanoi, you had better get in the passenger cars of many different brands to catch the ride to Bai Tu Long Bay, Cam Pha city of Quang Ninh Province with ticket price fluctuating from 120.000VND to 220.000VND. It may take you about 4 hours and 20 minutes to reach your destination. Below are some suggestions:

• Dai Phat car: Luong Yen station – Cam Pha station
• Nghia Anh Limousine: Hanoi station – Cam Pha station
• Van Don Xanh: Hanoi station – Cam Pha station
• Xuan Truong (Quang Ninh car): Hanoi – Quang Ninh
• Duc Phuc: My Dinh station – Cam Pha station
• Duc Thanh: My Dinh station – Cua Ong station
• Anh Quy: Hanoi station – Cua Ong station

Halong Bay overnight cruise tours in Bai Tu Long Bay

There are not yet many tours delivered, the beach remains pristine, and residents are more local fishermen than tourism service workers. Among all cruises delivering tours to Halong Bay, a few anchor in Bai Tu Long such as the Dragon Pearl and Calypso Cruise. These are smaller boats, offering a less luxury but definitely more tranquil feel as one tours the Bay. Cozy Bay Cruise or Cozy Bay Classic Cruise managed by Cozy Vietnam Travel not yet have tours going there yet, but Halong bay overnight cruise.

>> Read more about the destinations near Bai Tu Long Bay which you should not miss:

Best things to do in Ninh Binh, Vietnam | Trang An Boat Tour | Mua Caves Tour