30 Fun Activities To Do in Halong Bay During Day and Night

Halong Bay is a great family travel destination and filled with fun activities. We can help you sort through the activities based on what type of activity they are. We've listed 30 of our favourite activities you can do in Halong Bay including Swimming, Kayaking, cooking class and the best sights!




There is an abundance of activities in Halong Bay for you to participate in. So where do you start with a bay of this scale that has so much to offer? To help answer this, we’ve listed 30 of our favourite fun activities that you can do in Halong Bay, Vietnam. From kayak between karst limestone outcrops and thrills on a bamboo boats to sipping on cocktails you’ve mixed and shaken yourself at Halong Bay on your cruises as well. Halong Bay is an explosion of beauty and charm in four seasons, where nature flourishes, the air is fresh and sweet, the scenery is breath-taking, and the temperature is perfect. There are things to do on a Halong Bay Cruises that you may not have thought of, lots of things. It was heaps of fun for you and for the family. You can eat, sleep, swim, relax, enjoy evening entertainments on a cruises. But of course, there is something to keep you busy at any hour of the day or night. You watch movies at midnight on the big screen, dance on the deck, soak in spa pools and spend time in your cabin. View all activities for large groups here.



1. Visiting Halong Bay

Halong Bay is one of the world’s natural wonders, and is the most beautiful tourist destination of Vietnam. International visitors to Vietnam annually often cite charming Halong Bay as one of their favourite destinations. Halong Bay features more than one thousand awesome limestone karsts and islands of various sizes and shapes along the coastline of Halong Beach. Although the whole area is mostly known as Halong, there are in fact 3 different bays: Halong, Bai Tu Long and La Ha Bay, they all have a similar (beautiful) landscape of limestone cliffs, idilic bays, caves and small beaches. The best way to tour, see and enjoy Halong Bay scenery is cruise trips and cruise around the bay's islands. In the early morning, while standing on the sundeck and watching the unfurled sails on the sea, you will feel the blue sky and sea merge into one like an amazing watercolor painting of the sea. In the evening, release your soul in a melodious music under the fanciful moonlight on the bay and enjoy the silence of the sea to completely immerse yourself in the nature.



2. Discover Bai Tu Long Bay

Bai Tu Long is a bay in Quang Ninh province, located in the Gulf of Tonkin, in the Northeast of Vietnam. Bai Tu Long Bay includes a sea of ??Ha Long City, Cam Pha City, and Van Don Island District. The South West borders Ha Long Bay, the East is adjacent to the sea, the West is adjacent to the mainland with Cam Pha City and the North East borders Co To Island District. Bai Tu Long Bay consists of hundreds of islands, large and small, and many of them are large and populated. Bai Tu Long Bay along with Halong Bay becomes one of the natural wonders of the world. It also imprinted Halong culture from thousands of years ago and also preserved quite intact the original definition of an archipelago in the wild. With beautiful islands and long white sandy beaches, Bai Tu Long Bay is increasingly attracting foreign visitors.



3. Amazing Lan Ha Bay

Lan Ha Bay is a small bay located 10km from the south of Cat Ba. Luckily, it still remains pristine and unspoiled. A great choice if you prefer to enjoy the purity of nature. Some cruise boats even offer you a night sleeping in a resort in Cat Ba. Right at the southern part of famous Halong Bay, Lan Ha Bay is known as the twin of Halong with an intense concentration of limestone mountains which partition the sea surface into smaller bays and gulfs. Lan Ha Bay is less famous than its twin and still under tourists’ radar; therefore, this bay remains its pristine nature with many untouched lagoons, bays, and caves. Then coming to Lan Ha Bay, you will have a chance to get closer to local fishing life and are less likely to see as many tour boats and ships passing, never need to worry about the crowd. The bay has up to 139 golden sandy beaches, small but pretty and isolated as “blue straits” inviting tourists to explore. Many sandy beaches stretching between two rocky mountains, quiet with no big waves, are really the ideal beaches.



4. Fantastic Cruise Experience

Halong Bay is an explosion of beauty and charm in four seasons, where nature flourishes, the air is fresh and sweet, the scenery is breath-taking, and the temperature is perfect. Halong Bay features more than one thousand awesome limestone karsts and islands of various sizes and shapes along the coastline of Halong Beach. The best way to tour, see and enjoy Halong Bay scenery is cruise boats, browse our page https://www.halongbaycruise.vn to select the cruise itinerary that most suit you. When cruise around the bay's islands, in the early morning: while standing on the sundeck and watching the unfurled sails on the sea, you will feel the blue sky and sea merge into one like an amazing watercolor painting of the sea, in the evening: release your soul in a melodious music under the fanciful moonlight on the bay and enjoy the silence of the sea to completely immerse yourself in the nature.



5. Read books

In the receptionist area of the cruise often have books for tourists, while not many people look at this area and you will not find a vast collection of books there, but you will find some interesting books about local cultures and some travel magazines. It is good to get away from the hustle and bustle part of the ship.



6. Sleeping On Board

What's the best thing about sleeping on a cruise boat? It's the escapism. The freedom of your own space and the sense of peace by being surrounded by water. Watching the sunset and waking up to the sound of the sea and wind in Halong Bay. Or maybe it's the lifestyle that you'll love the most. Enjoying the luxury of a Halong Bay cruise for a few nights without the stresses of owning (or even sailing) one. Taking an overnight cruise is the best way to enjoy Halong and all of its charm. The cruise guarantees a stress-free vacation with most of the best things to do being arranged into 2 or 3 days on Halong Bay cruise. After one night in Halong Bay, tourists can know that their money is not wasted at all.



7. Food Lovers

You will experience Halong Bay in true style eating on board with delicious foods, the quiet ambient, the panoramic view. This food will absolutely make you fall in love with Halong Bay, so you must be sure that you will try them at least once. Join in a Halong Bay Cruise with a local foodie and try the best tasting on the bay. There are many fun things to do with Halongbaycruise.vn such as sharing your first feeling when you eat Cha Muc at the first time, telling many funny stories,... Eating delicious foods, meeting awesome people, visiting one of world heritage sites and sharing memorable moments with your beloved, how could it be more incredible!



8. Morning Taichi

Tai Chi is known as an exercise which enhances health, releases stress and relaxes the mind and body. Taking part in short Tai Chi exercises on your cruise’s sundeck while surrounded by Halong’s limestone karsts and fresh air is a special way to start a new day.



9. Cooking Class

A fun and useful way to learn about Vietnamese culture is by cooking Vietnamese cuisine. Join in the cruise cooking class with your friends and savor dishes you make with your own hands. The class will also teach you how to decorate a dish with vegetables in order to create a beautiful presentation.


10. Yoga Practice

What better way to start a day than a blissfully relaxing morning yoga session on-board a luxurious Lan Ha Bay cruise ship? The class are complimentary and accompanied by a fresh sea breeze and spectacular views over the wonderful seascape. Our dear dedicated yogis, don't give up your healthy dose of Om while on holiday. Indeed, a refreshing yoga session on beach will be such a pleasure that you don't want miss out!



11. Kayak Between Karst Limestone Outcrops

With instructions from trained and attentive tour guides on how to paddle and remain in a safe area, you can take your kayak and explore the breathtaking beauty of Halong Bay, visiting caves, hidden lagoons and floating villages along the way.


12. Spa and gym

Spa area is located on the top deck of the Halong Bay Cruise. No matter how strong the wind is blowing, it is always relaxing and calming inside the spa. The best part out of the worst weather is staying in the steam room and enjoy stormy sea, besides, we also offer body treatments, skincare, facials and foot massages, performed by well-trained staff.


13. Enjoy a cocktail

Now, you completely enjoy cocktails at Halong Bay on your cruises as well, when the weather is not favorable, etc… We need to think of some really nice cocktail to keep our throats wet and spirits high. It’s a great time to enjoy the rainy day on sundeck with some cocktails and music.


14. Watch TV

On the luxury cruise, we offer TV with multiple channels from sport to movie, from fashion to music, all will keep you updated to the newest trends. While some body thinks it is waste of time, others would see it as a good way to relax and enjoy the sea by your own way. With the large window view, you still have a full joy of see the sea.



15. Pearl Farm

The ideal way to get a closer look at part of Halong’s culture. Guests will observe the lives of locals on a floating pearl farm village while contemplating the sparkling beauty of the pearls. During the visit, guests will learn the process of using pearls to make high-end jewelry, and see the initial step in this process first-hand, all while surrounded by stunning limestone karsts and the bay’s calm water.



16. Take Good Photos

One of the most photogenic corners of this beautiful world, Halong Bay boasts perfect scenery at every turn. During a day, you can catch the beautiful moment of Halong bay anytime on cruise boats, but the most preferable time is sunrise and sunset. It’s advised to book a 2 day or 3 day Halong Bay tour on a cruise boat, it allows you to enjoy the entire beauty of the bay from dawn to when the night falling down.



17. Discover Caves And Grottos

There are hundreds of caves (name and unnamed) that scatter throughout Halong Bay. No one knows the exact number. Many caves have remained untouched where majestic limestone formations are still building up. The caves in Halong Bay is the result of tectonic movement and different types of erosion over millions of years. Let your imagination run wild with giant stalactites and stalagmite found inside the caves.


18. Try Bamboo Boats

The bamboo boat is actually a traditional vehicle of local villagers for hundreds of years. They use the bamboo boat to go from their place to another. Don’t be surprised if you see someone rowing the boat with their feet! Nowadays, when tourism thrives in the area, traditional bamboo boats become a tourist transport service. Each boat can accommodate up to 4 people. The local villager will row the boat for you. Compared to kayaking, this is an effortless way to enjoy the scenery.

19. Relaxing on a white sand beach

Limestones, karsts, islands, floating village, what else Halong Bay can show you? Beaches.  Small and lovely white-sand beaches can be found anywhere around the bay. Although the beach here is small and tiny, its geological is amazing. Nowhere else in the world you can find beaches that are covered by tall and green limestones around, which create a lovely atmosphere that seems a lot like a private beach. When you get to the beach, you will only find your fellow cruise passengers on it, mostly like chartering the beach for your own boat. Stay away from other crowded and busy beaches you may find everywhere, make sure you come to one of those lovely beaches in Halong Bay. Vung Ha beach and Three Peach beach are the perfect 2 options you may look further into. And don’t forget to bring your own swimsuit, sun cream, and sunglasses to enjoy a tropical sunny sunbathing in the middle of nature.



20. Squid Fishing

If you stay overnight on Halong Bay, trying squid fishing is a must. This is a fun late night activity which is very easy that anyone can do. However, how much squid you can catch is another story. The point is you have fun doing it.



21. Visit Floating Villages

Floating village is a interesting feature of the daily life of Halong Bay locals. For most of us, a cruise on the emerald clear green water of Halong Bay is a unique experience, so it might be hard to imagining living everyday life surrounded by the beauty of this well-known bay. However, for a large number of families of the traditional floating fishing villages in Halong Bay, water world is their second hometown. This sounds strange but it does. Rising and falling with the natural tide, these floating villages have been “warm” homes to many generations of fishermen in Halong Bay. These families earn their living from the diversified supply of the marine life. You could understand more about the real life of those fishermen on floating boats by chatting with them. Pay a visit to one of those charming villages, meet playful kids, and meet some grinning fishermen. This way, you are experiencing of the most interesting things to do in Halong Bay.



22. Sunbathe In Halong Bay

One of the most satisfying things to do in Halong Bay is sunbathing or swimming. Having thousands of grottoes and limestone, Halong Bay offers countless places for tourists to enjoy swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling, fishing, or kayaking upon cruising around. For example, if you choose to stop at Halong Bay, there are different famous beaches for you to relax on, such as Soi Sim Beach, Titop beach, Tuan Chau Beach, Halong Beach. According to some experienced tourists, they said that the sunning scenery of mountain cliffs rinsing out of this bay becomes an ideal backdrop for many water-based activities.



23. View Halong Bay From Helicoper

This might be one of the most costly things to do in Halong Bay. Halong Bay is well-known for its wonderful limestone karsts and caves that attract millions of travelers worldwide. Actually, admittedly, there is no better way to witness Halong Bay from the helicopter. Despite cruising can help you view the bay at the horizon, yet the view may not be spectacular and appealing as there are many karsts as well as islands rising in the bay. The helicopter will allow you to reach the height of 300m above the water level, so you will see almost whole famous landscapes of Halong Bay, such as Dau Go Cave, Tuan Chau Island...



24. Dining In The Cave

Coming to Halong Bay, tourists should not miss an interesting activity like dining in a certain cave. A few cruises offer this service on their trips and the members of crews will prepare a delicious and delightful diner in the cave. Some cruises add this activity as one of their included activities while others make it optional activity. Give this activity a try and it will be one of the best dinners that you have ever had. This trip to Halong Bay also stays as an ideal journey in your own memory.



25. Swimming

Halong Bay is blessed with clear and calm sea water. Thus, it is a perfect place for tourists to experience the wild nature of Halong Bay via swimming. Just simply dip in the cool jade-green water of the Bay, you will feel really relaxing and free from hustle and bustle daily life. This is a good opportunity for you to enjoy such charming beauty of Halong Bay’s beaches, including Ti Top Beach, Bai Chay Beach, Tuan Chau, Beach, Ngoc Vung.



26. Cycle in Halong Bay

To deeply experience quiet atmosphere as well as scenic setting on the beaches of Halong Bay, trekking and cycling will become great things to do in Halong Bay for tourists. Upon trekking on the beach, travelers could enjoy cozy white sand and gaze at stunning seascape of the Bay. Trekking and cycling are great for those who want to explore around the wild nature of the sea. You could combine these activities with a BBQ meal on the beach.



27. Scuba Diving

Not only is Halong Bay a spectacular destination for sightseeing in Vietnam, but also is an ideal place for adventurous sports. Tourists coming to this landscape can enjoy not only the boat trip but also scuba diving. Scuba diving has been opened in Halong Bay recently, making it one of interesting things to do in Halong Bay, particularly for those underwater lovers. The most suitable period for scuba diving in this bay is from April to December. The water temperature during this time is about 26-29 degrees. When snorkeling underwater in Halong Bay, you will be supplied with helpful equipment like fins, mask, snorkel, cylinder, compass, exposure suite, regulator… These facilities are checked regularly and adapt the safety standard. Thus, it is not necessary to worry about your own safety whilst scuba diving.



28. Climb Mountain

The last but not less interesting one in this list of things to do in Halong Bay is climbing mountain. In fact, Halong Bay is reckoned as among the most majestic climbing regions of the world. It is estimated that there are more than 3000 limestone islands in Halong Bay area. This area has a few sport climbing routes and has much potential for additional development. Many professional climbers visiting to Halong Bay area admit that this is the paradise of adventurous mountain climbing because it owns countless islands with high lime-stone mountains. Travelers could see a lot of beautiful limestone faces. In order to enjoy this spectacular archipelago of karsts, you could give yourself a chance of climbing the Rock Mountain. If you have not ever climbed Rock Mountain before, have a professional guide to give you some base skills and notes during the process of climbing. From the high mountain, you can observe totally Halong Bay overview. Enjoy Vietnam in a unique way by getting much high over the blue water in Halong Bay.




29. Spot The Birdlife And Wildlife

Inside Halong Bay, there are a number of large islands, and one of the most well-known islands is Cat Ba Island – the largest one and also home to a national park featuring with 30 different mammal species and over 70 species. The National Park provides tourists with fantastic chances for hiking and spotting rare “Cat Ba languor” monkey. This park covers both water and land, and those keen walkers could spot wild boar, giant oriental squirrels, civet cat and deer. There are different bird species in this National Park, including hornbills, hawks, and cuckoos.



30. Shopping In Halong city

If you love shopping or just simply want to bring something symbolizing of Halong city, then think of shopping as your must-do things to do in Halong city. Actually, shopping is a common part for any traveler. Besides, through shopping, travelers could learn more about society and culture of the place that they are visiting and bring home some scenic souvenirs for their family and friends. In Ha long city, there are a few locations for you to shop fresh seafood and excellent souvenirs, yet tourists should be aware of the price while shopping. The most important thing to keep in mind when shopping in Halong Bay is bargaining.





The best time of year to visit Halong Bay is during the spring or autumn, especially from March to April with constant sunshine. Halong Bay attracts visitors year-round with peak season from October to April. November's sunny blue-sky days and lack of crowds make it the best time to make a beeline here. However, January to March is often cool and drizzly, and the ensuing fog can make visibility low, but adds bags of eerie atmosphere. From May to September tropical storms are frequent, and year-round tourist boats sometimes need to alter their itineraries, depending on the weather.

• Peak season cruise: From October to April
• Off-peak season cruise: From May to September

Joining a Halong Bay cruise is a good option for first-timers. You visit HalongBayCruise.vn is the best site to book a cruise with no booking fees and the best price guaranteed. We are one of the leading online cruise travel company in Halong Bay dedicated to providing customers with better deals than any other cruise website and access to great deals on cruise vacations. Offering special rates and savings on cruise bookings with cruise boats in Halong Bay, we are so confident in our cruise packages that each and every deal is backed by a price guarantee. You won't find these prices on other cruise booking sites. Book a Halong Bay cruise today and enjoy the excitement of cruising the Halong Bay with us!

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