1. Introduction to Ha Long Quang Ninh – "Tourist Paradise" of the North
Ha Long Quang Ninh is a famous tourist destination. (Source: Collected)
Ha Long Quang Ninh has long been known as a leading seaside tourist paradise in the North, a place that converges the beauty of a world natural heritage site and the unique cultural identity of the Northeast region. With its majestic scenery, fascinating limestone island system, and outstanding cultural-historical values, Ha Long becomes an unmissable destination in the journey to explore Vietnam in 2025.
Located in Quang Ninh province, Ha Long city is about 165 km northeast of Hanoi center, possessing a strategic position on the coast of the Gulf of Tonkin. Thanks to the Hanoi – Hai Phong – Ha Long expressway system, traveling here has become faster and more convenient than ever. Especially, the flexible connection location allows tourists to easily visit nearby attractions such as Cam Pha, Uong Bi, and Van Don, forming a diverse and modern coastal tourism network.
In 1994, Ha Long Bay was recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage Site, and in 2000, the conservation area was expanded. By 2025, this heritage area is expected to be connected with Cat Ba Archipelago, forming a continuous ecological space of over 2,000 km² with nearly 2,000 large and small limestone islands. Famous caves such as Sung Sot, Thien Cung, Dau Go, along with uniquely shaped islands like Hon Ga Choi, Hon Con Coc, create a vivid and enchanting natural picture.
2. Traveling to Ha Long Quang Ninh 2025
There are many ways to travel to Ha Long Quang Ninh. (Source: Collected)
Thanks to modern and synchronized transportation infrastructure, traveling to Ha Long Quang Ninh in 2025 has become easier and more flexible than ever before. Visitors can choose various means of transport depending on their budget, time, and preferred experience.
2.1. From Hanoi to Ha Long Quang Ninh
The Hanoi – Ha Long route has been fully invested with the Hanoi – Hai Phong – Ha Long expressway system, shortening travel time to only about 2 hours by private car.
Visitors who want comfort and convenience can choose high-class limousine buses, with ticket prices ranging from 290,000 – 350,000 VND/trip, taking about 2.5 hours.
If you want to save costs, sleeper buses are a suitable choice, with ticket prices only from 180,000 – 220,000 VND.
Especially, the Yen Vien – Ha Long tourist train route offers a unique sightseeing experience, suitable for those who love a leisurely journey.
2.2. From other provinces/cities to Ha Long Quang Ninh
Visitors departing from Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang can fly directly to Van Don International Airport (about 50 km from Ha Long) or Cat Bi – Hai Phong Airport (about 60 km away). Major airlines such as Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, and Bamboo Airways operate daily flights to these two airports.
After landing, visitors can continue their journey by bus, taxi, or airport shuttle, taking only about 1–1.5 hours to reach the center of Ha Long city.
In addition, sleeper buses from Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, or the Central – Southern provinces to Ha Long are also operated regularly in 2025, offering a cost-saving option for those who are not in a hurry.
2.3. Intra-provincial travel in Ha Long Quang Ninh
Within the city, Ha Long tourist transportation is extremely diverse, meeting all visitor needs.
Mai Linh, G7 taxis operate 24/7 with transparent fares and professional service.
Tourist electric vehicles are an environmentally friendly option, suitable for cruising around Bai Chay, Sun World Ha Long, or central areas.
In addition, intra-city buses connect famous tourist attractions such as Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh Museum, Tuan Chau Island… with reasonable ticket prices.
Visitors can also choose all-inclusive tours with convenient door-to-door pick-up and drop-off services, helping to optimize travel time and provide a more complete travel experience in Ha Long Quang Ninh in 2025.
3. Top famous attractions in Ha Long Quang Ninh
Ha Long Quang Ninh is known as the "Northern paradise of tourism", gathering a series of outstanding destinations from magnificent natural heritages to modern entertainment complexes, offering diverse experiences for all ages and preferences.
3.1. Ha Long Bay
As the heart of Ha Long Quang Ninh tourism, Ha Long Bay boasts nearly 2,000 large and small limestone islands with peculiar shapes, creating a majestic and mystical natural landscape. Prominent among the complex is Sung Sot Cave – one of the most beautiful caves in the bay, with a capacity of up to 1,000 visitors at a time. Thien Cung Cave impresses with its shimmering stalactite system, while Dau Go Cave is considered the first historical tourist symbol of Ha Long Bay. Islands like Ti Top with its fine white sand beach, clear blue water, and a peak offering panoramic views of the bay, or the Fighting Cock Islet – the symbol of Ha Long tourism, are all must-visit spots.
Experiencing a Ha Long cruise is an ideal choice for exploration. A 4–6 hour cruise tour costs from 340,000 VND/person, including a seafood lunch and visits to 2–3 famous caves. For visitors who want to enjoy a luxurious vacation, overnight cruises like Paradise Cruise and Heritage Cruise offer private cabins, premium services, and international-standard cuisine.
3.2. Sun World Ha Long
Sun World Ha Long is an attractive entertainment destination. (Source: Collected)
Sun World Ha Long is located right in the center of Bai Chay tourist area, about 150 km from the capital Hanoi. Visitors can easily travel here by car, bus, or motorbike via the Hanoi – Ha Long expressway in just about 2 hours. The convenient location makes Sun World Ha Long an ideal destination for both short trips and weekend getaways.
Coming to Sun World Ha Long, visitors will enjoy a diverse and attractive series of entertainment activities:
Queen Cable Car – a sea-crossing cable car line with large cabins, offering a beautiful panoramic view of Ha Long Bay.
Dragon Park – a world of thrilling games for adventure enthusiasts such as roller coasters, free-fall towers, high-speed carousels...
Typhoon Water Park – a modernly designed water park with a wave pool, water slides, and a safe children's play area.
Sun Wheel – the hottest check-in spot in Ha Long, especially beautiful at night when the city lights up.
In addition, the restaurant system and culinary areas here serve a variety of local and international delicacies, meeting all visitors' dining and resting needs.
3.3. Bai Chay
Bai Chay is the central beach of Ha Long city, famous for its long white sandy shore over 1 km, clear blue sea water, and coconut trees swaying in the wind. This area attracts visitors with its spacious environment, poetic scenery, and a series of attractive sea sports such as jet skiing, parasailing, windsurfing, operating continuously from morning to afternoon. On both sides of the beach are rows of sea-view cafes, a night food street, and a bicycle rental area – where visitors can sip coffee while watching the sunset over the sea.
3.4. Tuan Chau Island
Tuan Chau Island is planned as a luxurious tourist-resort complex, serving as the largest international tourist port in Vietnam and the main departure point for Ha Long Bay cruise tours. It stands out with its dolphin, seal, and sea lion performance area at Tuan Chau Cultural Palace, offering an exciting entertainment experience for the whole family.
The beachfront resorts and villas are luxuriously designed, featuring private beaches, swimming pools, and 5-star restaurants, catering to high-end nghỉ dưỡng needs. Visitors can choose a day tour to explore the island, combined with private beach bathing, enjoying fresh seafood, and participating in water sports such as surfing, SUP paddling, or parasailing.
3.5. Quang Ninh Museum
Quang Ninh Museum attracts a large number of visitors. (Source: Collected)
Quang Ninh Museum is one of Ha Long's iconic tourist destinations, nổi bật (standing out) with its modern design simulating black coal blocks – characteristic of the mining region. Located right on the coast of Ha Long Bay, the structure makes a strong impression with its black glass facade reflecting the sea, becoming a favorite check-in spot for young tourists.
Inside the museum, over 20,000 precious artifacts are preserved, reflecting the formation and development of culture, the history of coal mining, and the lives of fishermen in the Northeast region. The exhibition area simulating underground coal mines offers a vivid, realistic experience, helping visitors gain a deeper understanding of the miners' arduous work. Additionally, contemporary art and coal sculpture works are delicately arranged, creating a unique creative space. On weekends, the museum also organizes experiential activities for children and families, making the visit more engaging and beneficial.
3.6. Bai Tho Mountain
Bai Tho Mountain – a mountain about 200m high in the heart of Ha Long city – is an ideal destination for those who love mountain climbing and scenic hunting. The trekking journey begins from Hang Noi street, with an accessible walking path, taking only about 30 minutes to conquer the summit. From above, visitors can gaze out at the entire Ha Long Bay and the sparkling city under the dawn or dusk light.
The best times to climb the mountain are early morning (5 AM–6 AM) or late afternoon (5 PM–6 PM). When moving, it is advisable to prepare sports shoes, water, and travel in small groups to ensure safety. Furthermore, visitors should pay attention to hygiene and avoid littering to preserve the pristine natural landscape here.
3.7. Ha Long Old Town, Night Market
If you want to explore local culture and the vibrant nightlife, you cannot miss the Ha Long Old Town area and Bai Chay Night Market – the busiest shopping and culinary center in the city. This area recreates ancient architecture mixed with modern styles, with hundreds of stalls offering food, souvenirs, and local specialties.
Here, you can enjoy banh cuon cha muc (rice rolls with grilled squid cake), grilled horseshoe crab, Quang Ninh nem chua (fermented pork rolls), and che sua ngo (corn milk sweet soup) – unforgettable signature dishes. Additionally, souvenir shops sell handicrafts made from coal, seashells, and farmed pearls, which are very suitable as gifts. The night market operates from 6 PM daily, attracting a large number of tourists thanks to its bustling atmosphere, reasonable prices, and many interesting street entertainment activities.
4. Top Must-Try Dishes in Ha Long, Quang Ninh
The cuisine of Ha Long, Quang Ninh is a harmonious blend of fresh sea flavors and the rustic culinary style of the mining region. Each dish here carries its own story, reflecting the culture and people of the coal land. Below are the must-try Ha Long dishes when you visit.
4.1. Ha Long Grilled Squid Cake
Ha Long squid cake is an attractive specialty. (Source: Collected)
Ha Long squid cake has long been a culinary icon of the bay area, famous for its delicious flavor and characteristic chewy and crispy texture. The dish is made entirely from hand-pounded fresh squid, combined with traditional spices, bringing a rich, unique flavor.
Tourists can enjoy Ba Kieu squid cake – a brand with over 20 years of history on Cai Dam street, famous for its stable quality and original taste. Additionally, Cua Ong squid cake near the pier is also a familiar address to buy as gifts, with prices ranging from 400,000 – 500,000 VND/kg depending on the type.
To fully appreciate the flavor, visitors should eat squid cake with hot steamed rice rolls or black sticky rice, two signature specialties of Ha Long. The sweet, delicate taste of squid combined with the chewy texture of sticky rice creates an unforgettable culinary gift.
4.2. Ha Long Seafood
Coming to Ha Long without trying fresh seafood would be a big omission. The Bai Chay area has many famous restaurants such as Quang Anh, Phuong Nam, Cua Vang, Hong Van, all highly rated by locals for their quality and service style.
Here, you can enjoy signature dishes like grilled razor clams with scallion oil, stir-fried horseshoe crabs with glass noodles, steamed mantis shrimp, grilled geoduck clams with scallion oil, steamed mud crabs with beer – all retaining the natural sweetness of the sea. Many restaurants also have live seafood tanks for customers to choose from, ensuring absolute freshness.
The spacious, sea-view setting and reasonable prices make the cuisine of Ha Long Quang Ninh always an unforgettable highlight of every trip.
4.3. Night Market Cuisine, Must-Try Snacks
After exploring the attractions, visitors can visit the Ha Long night market or the Bai Chay old town area to enjoy local snacks. Along Hoang Quoc Viet street, many beachfront barbecue and hot pot restaurants offer beautiful views, perfect for groups of friends or families.
Among them, bánh cuốn chả mực (steamed rice rolls with squid cake) is a signature dish that delicately combines soft rice rolls with crispy squid cake. Nem chua Quang Ninh (Quang Ninh fermented pork roll) has a mild sour taste, served with young guava leaves to enhance its aroma and appealing crispness. Finally, a hot corn milk sweet soup will be the perfect dessert on a cool evening.
Snacks here are priced from only 15,000 – 30,000 VND, suitable for tourists who want to experience the most authentic and intimate street food of Ha Long.
5. Standard 2025 Resort Itinerary in Ha Long Quang Ninh
Experience fun in Ha Long Quang Ninh. (Source: Collected)
A 3-day, 2-night travel itinerary for Ha Long Quang Ninh is an ideal choice for tourists to both visit natural landscapes and enjoy a complete vacation by the world-famous bay. Here is a suggested 2025 standard resort itinerary to help you plan effectively and enjoy every moment in Ha Long.
Day 1: On the first day, start your journey by joining a cruise tour to explore Ha Long Bay – the center of all trips. Tours usually depart from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, taking visitors to visit Sung Sot Cave, Thien Cung Cave, and Ti Top Island – iconic destinations of the bay. Additionally, you can kayak through small caves, visit Cua Van fishing village to learn about the characteristic livelihoods of fishermen on the bay.
Day 2: The second day is ideal for experiencing Sun World Ha Long, the leading entertainment complex in the North. Visitors can take the Queen Cable Car to admire the panoramic city view, and enjoy endless fun at Dragon Park and Water Park. When night falls, visit Bai Chay Night Market to enjoy Banh Cuon Cha Muc (grilled pork sausage with rice rolls), Ha Long yogurt, and the vibrant atmosphere of the coastal food street.
Day 3: On the morning of the third day, you can climb Bai Tho Mountain from 5 AM to 6 AM to watch the sunrise over Ha Long Bay – a moment loved by many tourists. Afterwards, move to Tuan Chau Island to enjoy a high-class resort space at beachfront resorts. In the afternoon, relax on a private beach, or participate in a spectacular dolphin and seal art show if visiting on a weekend.
6. Useful tips for tourists visiting Ha Long Quang Ninh
Choose the right time to travel to Ha Long Quang Ninh. (Source: Collected)
For a complete and memorable trip to Ha Long Quang Ninh in 2025, visitors should understand the ideal timing, prepare luggage carefully, and note some important experiences when visiting, shopping, and taking photos in this beautiful coastal city.
The period from April to June and September to October is considered the most beautiful tourist season in Ha Long. At this time, the weather is dry, the sky is clear blue, the sea is calm, and there is little rain, which is very convenient for outdoor activities such as swimming, kayaking, or cruising to admire the scenery.
Visitors should bring swimwear, a light jacket for moving by boat in the evening, along with SPF 50 sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses to protect their skin from the sun. Additionally, non-slip sports shoes will help you move easily and safely when climbing Bai Tho Mountain or exploring limestone caves.
When buying seafood or specialties in Ha Long, visitors should visit large markets like Ha Long 1 and Ha Long 2 – places with abundant goods, clear origins, and transparent prices. Ask for the price before buying, and prioritize choosing stalls frequented by locals to ensure quality.
When visiting Ha Long Bay, visitors need to maintain general hygiene, not litter into the water, and can participate in coral reef protection programs if given the opportunity.
When visiting spiritual sites such as Long Tien Pagoda or traditional fishing villages, you should dress modestly, speak softly, avoid making noise, and show respect for the customs and traditions of the local people.
With its majestic natural scenery, developed tourism services, and countless interesting experiences, Ha Long Quang Ninh is worthy of being an unmissable destination in 2025. Whether you love luxurious resorts, exploring local culture, or cruising the bay, this place offers unforgettable moments. Plan your trip today to fully enjoy your journey in Ha Long Quang Ninh.
