Halong is the capital city of Quang Ninh Province in the north-east region of Vietnam. Ha Long city was created when the old capital, Hon Gai, was merged with Bai Chay – the main tourist area. Halong city is best known for boat trip, cruise tours, and kayaking. There are fews mountain climbs which can be offered in Halong bay islets, and Yen Tu mountain. If you look for Halong treks, Halong hikes, hiking Halong Vietnam, Halong trekking tours, Halong hiking tours you should better travel further north to Cao Bang, Lang Son, or Ha Giang.
Halong City Map
Being a coastal city, it has unique potentials of tourism and seaport due to its land lies along the shore of Ha Long Bay of 50 km, and is 160 km to the north-east from Ha Noi, 60 km to the west from Hai Phong, 180 km to the east from Mong Cai international border gate, and bounded by the Tonkin Gulf to the south.
Ha Long city is divided into two parts: East Ha Long and West Ha Long. The eastern part (“Hon Gai”), where most of the official buildings and industry are concentrated, is connected by bridge with the western part (“Bai Chay”), considered to be more of a tourism attraction.
Ha Long City is divided into 20 wards including Ha Khanh, Ha Lam, Ha Trung, Ha Phong, Ha tu, Hong Hai, Cao Thang, Cao Xanh, Yet Kieu, Tran Hung Dao, Bach Dang, Hon Gai, Bai Chay, Hong Ha, Ha Khau, Gieng Day, Hung Thang, Tuan Chau, Viet Hung, and Dai Yen.
In the south of the city there is Bai Tho (‘Poem’) Mountain with its almost vertical seaward face, which was widely used by some famous local poets. The limestone peak is rich in bio-diversity and offers attractive views of the bay. There are also such places of interest as Cua Van Fishing Village, Hoang Gia Park, Ha Long Market, Bai Chay Trading Center, Quang Ninh Museum, Vietnam-Japan Cultural House, Children’s Cultural House.
Getting to Halong city
The best way to get to Halong from Hanoi is to rent a car with driver. You will be picked up at your place in Hanoi and brought to Halong city. Those who are on budget can take a public bus. Hanoi Halong bus journey takes about 4 hours on road. Boat teams provide shuttle bus Hanoi – Halong bay – Hanoi for its in-house guests.
Halong weather
Halong’s climate is symbolic of the climate of North Vietnam; featuring all four seasons. In summer, it is hot, humid and rainy, while monsoons flourish. The average annual temperature recorded is 22.9 °C. In winter, it is cold (between 1 and 3 °C), dry, and sees little rainfall (between 150 mm and 400 mm). The average humidity is 82 percent. Annual average rainfall, influenced by north-eastern monsoons, varies between 1,700 mm and 2,400 mm (maximum recorded is 2751 mm), with rainfall concentrated in the summer months for 90 to 170 days, particularly in July and August.
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Halong cruise tours
Sample Halong bay cruise tours, Halong bay tour from Hanoi, Halong boat trips, Halong cruises…
- Vietnam Multi-Activity Holidays
13 Day Vietnam Tour – North, South Viet Nam
Read more13 Day Vietnam Tour North South Viet Nam offers the opportunity to visit Hanoi, Mai Chau, Tam Coc, Sapa, Halong bay, Ho Chi Minh city and Mui Ne beach, Phan Thiet. Enjoy hiking, countryside cycling, trekking, highland market, homestay, boat cruise, sea kayaking…
- Vietnam Multi-Activity Holidays
19 Day Vietnam Itinerary – North to South
Read more19 Day Vietnam Itinerary North to South offers the chance to visit some of Vietnam’s most important travel highlights such as Mai Chau, Sapa, Bac Ha, Halong bay, Hue, Hoian, Mekong Delta. Trekking is the key activity of the tour. The trip begins in Hanoi…
- Vietnam Multi-Activity Holidays
6 Day North Vietnam Itinerary – Hanoi, Sapa, Halong Bay
Read more6 Day North Vietnam Itinerary Hanoi Sapa Halong Bay is arranged in northern Vietnam starting, ending in Hanoi. The 6 day package includes a 3 day trek to Sapa and an overnight cruise to Halong bay. While trekking in Sapa…
- Vietnam Multi-Activity Holidays
6 Days North Vietnam Itinerary – Sapa, Halong Bay
Read more6 Days North Vietnam Itinerary Sapa Halong Bay is a combination of Sapa villages trek and Halong bay cruise tour. You meet up with different ethnic groups as you hike from village to village. Spending the night at local home (homestay) also offers a real life experience.
- Vietnam Multi-Activity Holidays
Halong Bay 3 Day Tour from Hanoi
Read moreHalong Bay 3 Day Tour from Hanoi offers the chance to discover Halong bay is the best place for planning water sport holidays in Vietnam. The Hanoi Halong Bay 3 Days Itinerary is customized on the sharing tour basis (seat-in-coach transfer, sharing junk), and…
- Vietnam Multi-Activity Holidays
Halong Bay Itinerary 4 Days – Lan Ha, Viet Hai, Cat Ba
Read moreHalong Bay Itinerary 4 Days Lan Ha Viet Hai Cat Ba, provided by Hiking Vietnam team to Halong bay and Cat Ba island in the northern Vietnam includes such activities as boat junk cruise, sea kayaking, jungle trekking, island biking and rock climbing.
Quang Ninh tours
Our collection of best Quang Ninh tours including not only Quang Ninh hiking tours, but also car trips, road trips, caving tours, bike ride, motorcycle tours we at Hiking Vietnam run in this region. Traveling these tours you will discover Quang Ninh province as well as other destinations in north east Vietnam.
- Vietnam Multi-Activity Holidays
13 Day Vietnam Tour – North, South Viet Nam
Read more13 Day Vietnam Tour North South Viet Nam offers the opportunity to visit Hanoi, Mai Chau, Tam Coc, Sapa, Halong bay, Ho Chi Minh city and Mui Ne beach, Phan Thiet. Enjoy hiking, countryside cycling, trekking, highland market, homestay, boat cruise, sea kayaking…
- Vietnam Multi-Activity Holidays
6 Days North Vietnam Itinerary – Sapa, Halong Bay
Read more6 Days North Vietnam Itinerary Sapa Halong Bay is a combination of Sapa villages trek and Halong bay cruise tour. You meet up with different ethnic groups as you hike from village to village. Spending the night at local home (homestay) also offers a real life experience.
- Vietnam Multi-Activity Holidays
Halong Bay 3 Day Tour from Hanoi
Read moreHalong Bay 3 Day Tour from Hanoi offers the chance to discover Halong bay is the best place for planning water sport holidays in Vietnam. The Hanoi Halong Bay 3 Days Itinerary is customized on the sharing tour basis (seat-in-coach transfer, sharing junk), and…
- Vietnam Multi-Activity Holidays
Halong Bay Itinerary 4 Days – Lan Ha, Viet Hai, Cat Ba
Read moreHalong Bay Itinerary 4 Days Lan Ha Viet Hai Cat Ba, provided by Hiking Vietnam team to Halong bay and Cat Ba island in the northern Vietnam includes such activities as boat junk cruise, sea kayaking, jungle trekking, island biking and rock climbing.
- Vietnam Multi-Activity Holidays
Halong Bay Tour 4 Days
Read moreHalong Bay Tour 4 Days is arranged in Halong bay, Lan Ha bay, Cat Ba national park, Cat Ba island in the northern Vietnam. The tour includes such highlights as boat junk cruise, sea kayaking, jungle trekking and rock climbing.
- Vietnam Multi-Activity Holidays
North Vietnam 5 Days Tour
Read moreNorth Vietnam 5 Days Tour, customized for family, small groups, couples and those looking an off-the-beaten path travel itinerary includes such highlights as the Cao Son market, Cao Son villages trek, Halong bay boat junk cruise with sea kayaking tour.
Quang Ninh Travel Places
Halong city – Mong Cai – Uong Bi – Cam Pha – Quang Yen – Ba Che – Binh Lieu – Co To – Dam Ha – Dong Trieu – Hai Ha – Hoanh Bo – Tien Yen – Van Don