Bai Tu Long Bay, a hidden gem nestled in Quang Ninh province, possesses a pristine and pure beauty that is completely different from the bustling atmosphere of its neighbor, Ha Long Bay. This place not only captivates visitors with its majestic natural landscapes but also with the slow, peaceful rhythm of life in the coastal fishing villages. If you are looking for a tranquil destination to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and immerse yourself in nature, traveling to Bai Tu Long Bay is the perfect choice.
Where is Bai Tu Long Bay and What Makes it Special?
Bai Tu Long Bay is part of the Gulf of Tonkin, located in northeastern Vietnam, in Quang Ninh province. The bay stretches across the administrative boundaries of 3 district-level units, including Cam Pha city, Van Don district, and Co To district. Compared to the world-famous Ha Long Bay, Bai Tu Long still retains its untouched beauty, largely unaffected by mass tourism. Therefore, it is likened to a “sleeping princess” waiting to be discovered.
Bai Tu Long Bay boasts hundreds of islands, large and small, rising from the blue sea, creating a picturesque landscape. The islands here are mainly limestone and schist islands, with unique and strange shapes due to the erosion of time and sea waves. Not only possessing stunning natural scenery, Bai Tu Long Bay is also home to many rare species of flora and fauna, especially Bai Tu Long National Park with its diverse and rich ecosystem.
Bai Tu Long Bay landscape with limestone karsts and blue water
The special feature of traveling to Bai Tu Long Bay is the harmonious combination of natural beauty and traditional cultural values. Visitors here not only admire the stunning scenery but also have the opportunity to learn about the life of local people, experience unique cultural activities, and enjoy fresh, delicious seafood.
History and Legend of Bai Tu Long Bay
The name “Bai Tu Long” carries a meaningful legend, associated with the history of building and defending the country of Vietnam. According to legend, in ancient times, when the country was threatened by foreign invaders, the Jade Emperor sent the Mother Dragon and her Dragon Children to the lower realm to help the people fight the enemy.
The dragons spewed out countless pearls and jewels, which turned into thousands of rocky islands in the sea, forming a solid wall to block the enemy’s advance. After the enemy was defeated, the Mother Dragon and her Dragon Children did not return to heaven but decided to stay in the lower realm to protect the people. The place where the Mother Dragon descended was called Ha Long Bay, and the place where the Dragon Children descended was Bai Tu Long Bay, meaning “worshiping the dragon children.”
This legend not only explains the origin of the bay’s name but also expresses the deep gratitude of the people for the great contributions of the dragon clan. At the same time, it also contributes to creating a mysterious and sacred beauty for Bai Tu Long Bay, attracting tourists to explore and learn.
Unmissable Experiences When Traveling to Bai Tu Long Bay
Traveling to Bai Tu Long Bay offers visitors countless exciting experiences, from exploring majestic nature to immersing themselves in local cultural life. Here are some activities and destinations not to be missed when coming to Bai Tu Long Bay:
Cruising on Bai Tu Long Bay
Cruising is one of the best ways to explore the beauty of Bai Tu Long Bay. Visitors can choose day cruise tours or overnight cruises on the bay to have more time to enjoy the scenery and participate in interesting activities. Cruises are usually fully equipped with amenities, bringing visitors comfortable and memorable experiences.
During the cruise, visitors will admire hundreds of limestone islands with unique shapes, explore magnificent caves such as Thien Canh Son cave, Ba Trai Dao cave, or relax on pristine, beautiful beaches.
Kayaking to Explore the Bay
Kayaking is an adventurous but extremely interesting activity, helping visitors explore Bai Tu Long Bay in a unique way. Paddling through the rocky islands, exploring small, mysterious caves, or getting a close-up view of the life of fishing villagers are unforgettable experiences when traveling to Bai Tu Long Bay.
Scenic view of Bai Tu Long Bay with islands and boats
Swimming and Relaxing at Pristine Beaches
Bai Tu Long Bay owns many beautiful, pristine beaches with clear blue water and smooth white sand. Some famous beaches such as Minh Chau beach, Quan Lan beach, and Son Hao beach are ideal destinations for visitors to swim, relax, and enjoy the fresh air of the sea.
In particular, Minh Chau beach is known as one of the most beautiful beaches in Northern Vietnam with its pristine, peaceful beauty and emerald blue sea water. Coming here, visitors can freely swim, participate in water sports, or simply lie on the beach, admiring the vast ocean and sky.
Visiting Islands and Fishing Villages
Bai Tu Long Bay has many islands, large and small, with their own unique characteristics. Quan Lan Island is one of the largest and most famous islands in Bai Tu Long Bay. Quan Lan Island attracts visitors with its pristine, peaceful beauty with long beaches, ancient melaleuca forests, and ancient historical and cultural relics.
In addition, visitors can also visit Ngoc Vung Island, Cap Ky Nhay Island, Monkey Island, or Vung Vieng fishing village to explore the simple life of local people and learn about unique traditional cultural features. Vung Vieng fishing village is one of the most famous fishing villages in Ha Long and Bai Tu Long Bay. Coming here, visitors will experience life on the sea, learn about aquaculture and fishing, as well as enjoy fresh and delicious seafood specialties.
Exploring Bai Tu Long National Park
Bai Tu Long National Park is a large nature reserve, including both sea and island areas. Bai Tu Long National Park has a diverse and rich ecosystem with mangroves, limestone mountain forests, coral reefs, and many rare species of flora and fauna.
Coming to Bai Tu Long National Park, visitors can participate in activities such as hiking in the forest, exploring the mangrove ecosystem, diving to see coral reefs, or learning about rare species of flora and fauna. This is an ideal destination for visitors who love nature and want to explore the biodiversity values of Bai Tu Long Bay.
Bai Tu Long Bay Cuisine: Enjoying the Flavors of the Sea
Cuisine is an indispensable part of every trip. Coming to Bai Tu Long Bay, visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy fresh and delicious specialties, imbued with the flavors of the sea. Seafood in Bai Tu Long is famous for its freshness and diversity, prepared into many attractive dishes such as:
- Cha muc (Grilled Squid Cake): A famous specialty of Quang Ninh, made from fresh squid pounded and minced, fried to a crispy golden color, fragrant and delicious.
- Sa sung (Peanut Worm): A rare and precious seafood, with high nutritional value, often processed into stir-fried, grilled, or porridge dishes.
- Grilled Oysters: Fresh oysters are grilled with scallion oil or cheese, fragrant, delicious, and fatty.
- Be be rang muoi (Mantis Shrimp Roasted with Salt): Fresh mantis shrimp roasted with chili salt, rich, spicy, and an attractive snack.
- Tu hai (Geoduck Clam): A rare sea snail, with sweet, crunchy meat, often processed into salads, grilled or steamed dishes.
Minh Chau beach with white sand and clear blue water
In addition, visitors can also enjoy other specialties of Quang Ninh such as Tien Yen hill chicken, Quang Yen fermented pork roll, banh cuon cha muc (steamed rice rolls with grilled squid cake), sam bien (horseshoe crab)… At restaurants and eateries in the Bai Tu Long Bay area, visitors can easily find and enjoy these attractive dishes.
Getting Around and Accommodation When Traveling to Bai Tu Long Bay
To get to Bai Tu Long Bay, visitors can travel by various means of transport:
- Coach: From Hanoi, there are many coach routes to Quang Ninh, visitors can take a bus at bus stations such as My Dinh, Gia Lam, Yen Nghia… Travel time is about 3-4 hours.
- Limousine car: Limousine cars are a more comfortable and convenient option than coaches, suitable for visitors who want to have a better travel experience.
- Self-driving car: If you want to be proactive about time and itinerary, visitors can drive a car or motorbike from Hanoi to Quang Ninh.
- Train: The Hanoi – Quang Ninh railway line is also an interesting travel option, especially for visitors who want to enjoy the scenery along the way.
After arriving in Quang Ninh, visitors need to move to Hon Gai wharf or Cai Rong wharf (Van Don) to board a boat to Bai Tu Long Bay. At the wharves, there are many different types of boats, from tourist boats, speedboats to traditional wooden boats, visitors can choose the appropriate means of transport according to their needs and preferences.
Regarding accommodation, traveling to Bai Tu Long Bay has many different options, from luxury hotels, high-end resorts to budget-friendly guesthouses, and cozy homestays. On islands such as Quan Lan, Ngoc Vung, Co To, or coastal areas such as Cam Pha and Van Don, visitors can easily find accommodation facilities that suit their budget and desires. In particular, the experience of sleeping overnight on a cruise ship is also a unique and worthwhile option when traveling to Bai Tu Long Bay.
Useful Bai Tu Long Bay Travel Tips
To have a complete and memorable trip to Bai Tu Long Bay, visitors should note some of the following tips:
- Ideal time to visit: The best time to travel to Bai Tu Long Bay is in the summer (from April to June) and autumn (from September to November). During this time, the weather is sunny and dry, with little rain, and the sea is calm, which is very suitable for sightseeing, swimming, and outdoor activities.
- Packing luggage: Visitors should prepare light luggage, bringing comfortable, cool clothes, swimwear, sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, and necessary personal items. If you intend to participate in adventurous sports activities, visitors should prepare more sports shoes and appropriate clothing.
- Book services in advance: To ensure the best accommodation and services, visitors should book hotel rooms, cruise tours, and other services before coming to Bai Tu Long Bay, especially during peak tourist season.
- Find out information: Before traveling, visitors should carefully research information about Bai Tu Long Bay, attractions, recreational activities, cuisine, and other useful travel experiences to have the best preparation.
- Maintain environmental hygiene: Bai Tu Long Bay is an area with precious natural values, visitors should join hands to maintain environmental hygiene, not litter indiscriminately, and protect the landscape and ecosystem of the bay.
Vung Vieng floating fishing village in Bai Tu Long Bay
Conclusion: Bai Tu Long Bay – An Ideal Destination for Nature Lovers
Traveling to Bai Tu Long Bay is a journey to discover the pristine, majestic beauty of nature and unique traditional cultural values. With stunning landscapes, exciting experiences, and distinctive cuisine, Bai Tu Long Bay promises to bring visitors memorable memories and wonderful relaxing moments. If you are a nature lover, wanting to find a peaceful destination to escape the hustle and bustle of urban life, come to Bai Tu Long Bay and feel the magical beauty of this place. Plan your trip to Bai Tu Long Bay today to discover the wonderful things that this beautiful bay has to offer!