1. Where is Soi Sim Island (Dao Soi Sim)? Why has it become a new destination of Ha Long Bay
Soi Sim Island is located in the Southwest of Ha Long Bay. (Source: Collected)
Soi Sim Island , located in the Southwest of Ha Long Bay, attracts tourists thanks to its convenient location near Bai Chay and Ti Top Island, while also boasting pristine landscapes with beautiful beaches and unique terrain. With purple sim forests blooming in season and a rich ecosystem, the island quickly becomes an attractive new destination for those exploring Ha Long Bay.
1.1. Geographical location and convenient connection to Soi Sim Island
Soi Sim Island , located in the Southwest of Ha Long Bay, stands out with its strategic position just about 10-12 km from Bai Chay tourist port. Interestingly, the island is less than 700m from the famous Ti Top Island, allowing tourists to easily combine visits to both points in a single itinerary. With an area of 8.7 hectares and two peaks about 100m high, Soi Sim Island has a terrain that gradually slopes towards the Southwest, creating attractive natural beaches and beautiful sea scenery.
From main ports like Bai Chay or Tuan Chau, tourists can easily choose boat routes to the island. Thanks to its convenient location and pristine landscape, Soi Sim Island becomes an ideal stopover in integrated exploration tours, making the experience of the natural world heritage Ha Long Bay complete and memorable.
1.2. Origin of the name and characteristic beauty of Soi Sim Island
Soi Sim Island gets its name from the sim forest trees that cover the island. These endemic sim shrubs, when in season, bloom with gentle purple flowers, creating a rare romantic scene in Ha Long Bay. When sim flowers cover the entire island, it's as if the whole island is draped in a light purple cloak, offering a poetic natural experience that any visitor would marvel at.
Unlike many other islands in the bay, Soi Sim Island retains its wild beauty with a rich, underexploited natural forest cover. The ecosystem here includes not only sim trees but also bamboo, wildflowers, and many other native plants, creating a diverse ecological environment. The harmonious combination of purple sim forests, fine white sand beaches, and clear blue sea water creates a unique beauty, making Soi Sim Island an unmissable destination when visiting Ha Long Bay.
2. Guide to traveling to Soi Sim Island 2025
Travel by tourist boat to reach Soi Sim Island. (Source: Collected)
Getting to Soi Sim Island is easy thanks to a diverse transportation system from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and other provinces, including cars, buses, trains, or planes. Planning your travel reasonably and choosing suitable boats and canoes will help visitors fully enjoy the wild and fascinating beauty of Soi Sim Island as soon as they set foot on the island.
2.1. Traveling from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and other provinces to Ha Long Bay
Traveling from provinces to Ha Long Bay is convenient with many options such as cars, buses, trains, or planes, suitable for each visitor's needs and budget. Planning your travel reasonably will help you save time, costs, and fully enjoy the beauty of Ha Long Bay as soon as you arrive.
When departing from Hanoi, visitors have many options to travel to Ha Long Bay such as private cars, buses, or limousines, with a travel time of about 2.5 – 3 hours. Transportation costs range from 200,000 – 400,000 VND depending on the vehicle type. Additionally, the Hanoi – Ha Long train route is also an interesting option, both economical and allowing passengers to admire the beautiful scenery along the route.
For visitors from Ho Chi Minh City, the popular option is to fly to Van Don or Cat Bi airport (Hai Phong), then continue by car for about 2 hours to Bai Chay or Tuan Chau. Airfare currently ranges from 1,000,000 – 2,500,000 VND, depending on when the ticket is booked.
Visitors from other provinces can choose inter-provincial buses or a combination of flights and cars for a convenient journey. Planning in advance will help visitors optimize their time, save costs, and fully enjoy their Ha Long travel experience.
2.2. How to travel by boat and canoe to visit Ha Long Bay and Soi Sim Island
Bai Chay Port and Tuan Chau Port are the two main departure points for visitors to travel to Soi Sim Island . Travel time by tourist boat usually lasts from 15 – 30 minutes, depending on the type of vehicle and weather conditions. Visitors can choose large boats suitable for groups or high-speed canoes for a more private and flexible experience.
During the peak tourist season from April to October, it is advisable to book tours 2 – 3 days in advance to secure your spot. Choosing a reputable travel agency and checking the detailed itinerary will help visitors optimize their sightseeing time and have a convenient, complete experience on Ha Long Bay.
3. The unique ecosystem and natural beauty of Soi Sim Island
Soi Sim Island (Dao Soi Sim) has a rich ecosystem. (Source: Collected)
Soi Sim Island (Dao Soi Sim) stands out with its rich ecosystem, where sim forest cover combines with many native plant species to create an ideal habitat for wildlife. Besides its pristine natural beauty, the clear blue beach and the biological conservation project on the island offer visitors an ecotourism experience that is both relaxing and close to nature.
3.1. Rare flora and fauna on Soi Sim Island (Dao Soi Sim)
The primary forest on Soi Sim Island (Dao Soi Sim) is a rich ecosystem with the dominant sim forest species, combined with bamboo, various wildflowers, and many other native shrubs. The sim trees not only give the island its characteristic name but also play an important role in conserving ecological balance. This diverse vegetation creates an ideal habitat for many small animals and endemic insects.
When exploring Soi Sim Island (Dao Soi Sim), visitors can easily observe wild bird species, along with squirrels, wild rabbits, and characteristic insects of the island. The presence of this rich fauna not only enhances the ecotourism value but also contributes to maintaining natural balance, helping the island's ecosystem develop sustainably and remain pristine.
3.2. Biological conservation project and sim petal museum on the island
The year 2025 marks an important step in ecological conservation at Soi Sim Island (Dao Soi Sim) with the official launch of the flora and fauna conservation project. The project's goal is to preserve and develop the endemic ecosystem of Ha Long Bay, while promoting sustainable ecotourism, offering visitors a green, environmentally friendly experience.
A unique highlight of the project is the sim petal museum, designed to resemble a vibrant 9-petal sim flower, expected to be completed and open to visitors in 2025. This structure will not only become a new symbol of Soi Sim Island (Dao Soi Sim) but also a comprehensive exhibition space for the sim forest ecosystem, endemic flora and fauna, and the natural conservation process. Concurrently, the museum will showcase the important cultural role of the sim forest species in the lives of local people, helping visitors gain a deeper understanding of the island's natural and cultural values.
3.3. Soi Sim Beach
The beach of Soi Sim Island (Dao Soi Sim) stretches for about 200 meters, boasting a fine white sand shore and jade-like clear blue water. The shallow area near the shore often features small schools of fish swimming, creating a feeling of closeness to nature. The gentle sea waves are safe for all ages, especially suitable for young children to play and swim freely.
Unlike the famous Ti Top Beach nearby, the beach on Soi Sim Island (Dao Soi Sim) offers a quieter, more private, and peaceful space. The natural, crystal-clear seawater quality is ideal for swimming or relaxing under the sun. The beach is surrounded by lush green sim forests, creating a beautiful scenery that helps visitors easily capture impressive check-in photos. This is truly a perfect destination for those who want to enjoy nature and have a complete relaxing experience on Soi Sim Island (Dao Soi Sim) – Ha Long Bay.
4. Unmissable experiences at Soi Sim Island (Dao Soi Sim) in 2025
Soi Sim Island offers many attractive tourist experiences. (Source: Collected)
Soi Sim Island offers diverse tourist experiences, from conquering the island's peak to admire the panoramic view of Ha Long Bay, to relaxing and playing at the clear blue beach, immersing yourself in pristine nature. Additionally, the season of vibrant purple sim flowers and local sim specialties are also unmissable highlights, making the visit lively and memorable.
4.1. Conquering Soi Sim Peak: Panoramic Viewpoint of Ha Long Bay
The trail leading to the peak of Soi Sim Island is about 400 stone steps long, offering a gentle yet exciting trekking experience. The time to conquer the peak usually lasts from 20 – 30 minutes, suitable for most visitors. On the journey, you will admire the rich vegetation of the sim forest, breathe the fresh air, and enjoy the feeling of closeness to nature.
Upon reaching the summit of Soi Sim Island , the panoramic view of Ha Long Bay unfolds before your eyes with thousands of large and small islands dotted on the jade-green sea. This is an ideal spot for 'cloud hunting' in the early morning or at sunset, when the brilliant golden sunlight covers the landscape, creating beautiful photographic moments. Visitors should bring a camera or phone with a full battery to not miss the opportunity to capture unique panorama photos, preserving unforgettable memories when exploring Ha Long Bay and Soi Sim Island .
4.2. Beach Swimming – Entertainment at Soi Sim Beach
The beach of Soi Sim Island is fully equipped with lifeguard services and water sports equipment rental, offering a safe and convenient entertainment experience for visitors. You can rent life jackets and jet skis for about 300,000 – 400,000 VND/30 minutes, or experience kayaking for 150,000 VND/session. Additionally, refreshment stalls and picnic snacks are always available to serve relaxation and rest needs by the sea.
The beach is also an ideal spot for check-ins and photo opportunities, with a harmonious natural landscape of clear blue sea, lush sim forest, and fine white sand. The shallow areas, interspersed with natural rocks, offer a wild space, ideal for groups of young people or families wanting to capture memorable moments. These photo spots not only create artistic pictures but also help preserve the characteristic natural beauty of Soi Sim Island – Ha Long Bay.
4.3. Admiring the Purple Sim Flower Season and Enjoying Sim Specialties in 2025
The sim flower season on Soi Sim Island is most vibrant from May to July, when the entire island is dyed in a dreamy purple hue, attracting visitors for sightseeing and photography. Following that, from August to September is the ripe sim fruit season, with dark purple sim fruits, naturally sweet and refreshing, which can be enjoyed fresh or processed into attractive specialties.
Sim products such as sim wine, sim jam, and sim juice are characteristic that visitors should not miss when visiting Soi Sim Island . These gifts not only have delicious flavors but also reflect the traditional culture of the local people. Many ecological tours also organize experiences of harvesting wild sim, guiding on how to make traditional sim wine and sim specialties, helping visitors better understand the cultural life and unique nature of the island.
5. Suggested Itinerary for Visiting Soi Sim Island
Explore Sun World Ha Long when traveling to Quang Ninh. (Source: Collected)
The itinerary for visiting Soi Sim Island offers a complete experience by combining exploring pristine nature, admiring purple sim flowers, and relaxing beach bathing, while enjoying modern entertainment facilities at Sun World Ha Long. With a reasonable 2-day plan, visitors will have the opportunity to capture beautiful natural moments as well as experience diverse culture, cuisine, and recreational activities.
On the first day, visitors depart early in the morning to Bai Chay and board a boat to visit Ha Long Bay, exploring Soi Sim Island. Lunch can be enjoyed on the boat or on the island with characteristic fresh seafood dishes. In the afternoon, spend time swimming, trekking to the summit of Soi Sim Island to admire the vibrant purple sim flowers and capture beautiful sunset moments before returning to the mainland for dinner.
On the second day, the journey continues at Sun World Ha Long with a morning visit to the flower garden and experiencing exciting entertainment games. Lunch in the Sun World area, after which visitors can shop and relax before concluding the trip. This itinerary offers a harmonious combination of exploring the natural beauty of Soi Sim Island and experiencing modern entertainment at Sun World Ha Long, suitable for all types of tourists.
6. Useful tips for traveling to Soi Sim Island
Comply with regulations when visiting Soi Sim Island. (Source: Collected)
Travel experience for Soi Sim Island helps visitors fully enjoy the pristine beauty of the island, from preparing clothing, personal items to complying with environmental protection principles. Mastering these notes not only ensures safety and convenience throughout the trip but also contributes to maintaining the unique ecosystem for future generations.
When visiting Soi Sim Island, preparing quality swimwear and light, airy clothing is essential. Long-sleeved sun protection shirts, wide-brimmed hats, and sunglasses will help protect you from the sun when traveling by boat and exploring the island, are indispensable items for an island travel journey.
To climb to the summit of Soi Sim Island safely, you should wear trekking shoes with non-slip soles, combined with convenient beach sandals for swimming and playing in the water. Don't forget to prepare a camera, phone, and photography accessories to capture beautiful moments. Personal drinking water and mosquito repellent should also be in your bag to ensure your health throughout the trip.
During your visit, visitors must adhere to the principle of not picking or damaging sim trees and other plants on the island. Participate in activities as guided by the management board and tour guides to ensure safety and contribute to protecting the natural ecosystem. Each visitor is an "environmental ambassador" helping to maintain the island's pristine beauty.
Maintain general hygiene by disposing of trash in designated areas and prioritizing the use of environmentally friendly items. Respect wildlife, do not harm or illegally collect natural products will help Soi Sim Island maintain its natural beauty for future generations.
When participating in water activities, visitors must follow safety instructions, do not swim too far when the tide is rising, and contact reputable tour operators in advance to update the schedule and exact departure times. The ideal time to visit Soi Sim Island is from April to October, when the weather is favorable and the sim flower season blooms, offering a complete experience.
Soi Sim Island offers visitors a peaceful, green space in the heart of a world natural heritage site. Exploring the island on the Ha Long 2025 itinerary, you will experience pristine ecological beauty along with rare clear blue beaches. This is definitely an ideal stopover to relax and immerse yourself in nature.
