Things Should Know About Bai Tu Long Bay, Cruises and Tours

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A beautiful landscape of Bai Tu Long Bay

1. About Bai Tu Long Bay

Bai Tu Long bay located in the Gulf of Tonkin in the Northeast region of Vietnam. Bai Tu Long Bay includes a sea area of Cam Pha city and Van Don island district. It borders Ha Long Bay to the southwest, the sea to the East, the mainland to Cam Pha city to the west, and Co To island district to the northeast. Bai Tu Long Bay includes hundreds of large and small islands, many of which are large and inhabited.

According to the legend, In the past, the country of Viet people was invaded by foreign invaders. Jade of emperor sent the mother dragon and her baby dragons down to earth to help the Vietnamese to fight the enemy.
When the enemy ships came from the sea, the Dragons sprayed countless pearls and suddenly turned into thousands of rocky islands in the sea, creating a solid wall to block the enemy.

The enemy ships, which were rushing fast, were suddenly blocked and crashed into rocky islands or smashed into each other. After the war was over, the mother dragon and baby dragon did not return to heaven, but stayed in the lower world, where the battle had just taken place. The position of the mother dragon descending is Ha Long Bay, the baby dragon descending is Bai Tu Long. The tail of the dragons is Long Vi with fine sand and more than ten kilometers long.

Bai Tu Long Bay together with Ha Long Bay become one of the natural wonders of the world. This place is still imprinted with Ha Long culture from thousands of years ago and also preserves quite intact the pristine features of an archipelago. With beautiful islands and long white sand beaches, Bai Tu Long Bay is increasingly attracting foreign tourists to visit. Bai Tu Long National Park was selected as one of the representative areas for marine conservation in Vietnam.

Bai Tu Long Bay of Vietnam was on the "top 5" of the most wonderful tourist destinations in Southeast Asia. The islands in Bai Tu Long have the form of limestone islands and schist islands, which are ancient images of terrain with geological tectonic age of about 300 million years, due to the process of lifting and lowering many times from the mainland.

The process of Karst erosion and weathering creates a special shape like ink painting pictures created from the sea and islands. On the rocky islands of the bay, there are also karst caves that people used as a shelter for ships in the past during rough seas.
Bai Tu Long Bay is home to a high concentration of biodiversity with typical ecosystems such as mangrove ecosystems, coral reef ecosystems, aquilegia ecosystems, and tropical forest ecosystems.

2. How is the weather in Bai Tu Long Bay?

The weather in Bai Tu Long Bay is very mild and pleasant, the average temperature only ranges from 15°C to 25°C. Like Ha Long Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay has 4 seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter

Spring from February to April: It is pleasant, the average temperature is from 18 to 23 degrees, the beginning of Spring, it can have a little drizzle, but from March to April, the sky will be clear and blue.

Summer from May to August: It is sunny, humid and hot, the average temperature is over 35 degrees, August is the monsoon, sometimes there will be a storm and the overnight cruise in Bai Tu Long Bay will be suspended. However, this is a good season for sea activities and promotion from cruise companies.

Autumn from September to October, it is the most beautiful of the year in Bai Tu Long Bay. The sky is high and clear, good temperature, no hot, no cold. So beautiful to enjoy Bai Tu Long Bay cruise in this season. However, this is also the peak season for foreign tourists.    

Winter from November to January:  It is the coldest season, the temperature is around 10 – 15 degrees and it is dry. This is also the festival season with some important occasions such as Christmas, New year and Lunar New Year. Tourists could choose this period for the holiday in Bai Tu Long Bay with some extra charges for gala dinners on cruise.

A beautiful scenery in Bai Tu Long Bay

3. Best time to visit Bai Tu Long Bay?

Each season of the year brings its own beauty to Bai Tu Long Bay along with different attractive activities.

• In Spring, it is still quite cold but warmer, the sky is clear and sunny. It is really short time before it is going to be hot in Summer. Many tourists choose this season for holiday.
• Summer is a very good time for beach activities because the weather is hot. At the same time, in the summer, tourists often offer promotions to cruise ships on Bai Tu Long Bay.
• Autumn is very beautiful for a trip to visit Bai Tu Long Bay overnight on cruise. However, this is high season, with more tourists and higher costs.
• Winter is cold and foggy, but it is a holiday season, so many tourists choose this season for family holidays on Christmas or New Year's Eve.

Based on the above information, tourists can choose for themselves the best time to visit Bai Tu Long Bay by overnight cruise.

4. What to do in Bai Tu Long Bay?
 

4.1. Overnight cruise in Bai Tu Long Bay

Visitors exploring Bai Tu Long Bay will find that the landscape resembles Ha Long Bay. It is like an extension of Ha Long Bay to the East. Throughout Bai Tu Long Bay are giant limestone mountains on peaceful blue water. However, visitors will notice that the limestone karst mountains in Bai Tu Long will be higher and the density is more than in Ha Long Bay. Bai Tu Long Bay is less touristy attractions, which creates a wonderful feeling as if they are discovering somewhere that has never been seen before.

Bai Tu Long Bay overnight cruises

The best way to explore Bai Tu Long Bay is by overnight cruises. These are like mobile floating hotels, which will take visitors to discover the beauties and combine activities to maximize the experience for an overnight cruise on Bai Tu Long Bay.

4.2. Visit fishing villages

Cong Dam fishing village: This is one of the tourist attractions of Bai Tu Long Bay that is very attractive to tourists, you will have great experiences following the life of Northern fishermen, learn about traditional culture, listen to fascinating legends about the sea... Here, visitors also have the opportunity to fish with fishermen, talk to fishing villagers or sit on lovely bamboo boats to explore beautiful small houses or soaring mountain ranges.

Cong Dam fishing village

Vung Vieng fishing village: Located in Bai Tu Long Bay, about 20km from Tuan Chau pier to the East – North. This place is still quite wild, so the space is extremely peaceful and airy. People living here all year round are busy with fishing and catching seafood. Coming to Vung Vieng fishing village, you can always feel the fun sounds of life with bustling laughter and positive spirit. Vung Vieng is considered the most beautiful fishing village in the world and a tourist destination in Quang Ninh that attracts a large number of tourists.

4.3. Relax at Ban Chan beach (In English meaning Foot Beach)

It is one of the wild beach which is untouched by human intervention.  With the fine white sand and clear blue water of Ban Chan beach surrounded by steep cliff of karst limestone mountains is like the paradise.
An ideal beach to relax and immerse into the wild and nature in Bai Tu Long Bay

4.4. Explore Thien Canh Son cave

The cave complex on Bai Tu Long Bay is no less abundant than Ha Long Bay. There are still many caves here that still retain many wild features.
Thien Canh Son cave in Bai Tu Long bay is the most beautiful one that could not be missed. This is an unspoiled cave belonging to Cong Do reserve.

Thien Canh Son cave in Bai Tu Long Bay

To get to the cave, you have to climb over nearly 100 stone steps, before entering and standing from the cave entrance, you can also see a corner of Bai Tu Long Bay. Inside the cave are countless stalactites formed over thousands of years forming strange shapes, evoking the imagination of people such as lotuses, stone elephants, seals, chandeliers...

4.5. Enjoy kayaking activity in Bai Tu Long Bay

Kayaking in Bai Tu Long Bay is an attractive activity for tourists to get closer to nature. The overnight cruises cannot go near the rocky mountains, but with Kayak, visitors can go close to the cliffs to admire the beauty of nature, which sea water and time are eroding and forming grooves around the foot of the stone mountains.

4.6. Night squid fishing in Bai Tu Long Bay

An interesting activity that tourists should try when visiting Bai Tu Long Bay. Most overnight cruises offer this activity in the package for visitors after dinner. Visitors can fish for squid from the cruises with assistance from the staffs with fishing rods, bait and fishing lights. From April to August is the ideal time to for squid fishing in Bai Tu Long Bay.

Squid fishing in Bai Tu Long Bay

5. How to get to Bai Tu Long Bay?

To get to Bai Tu Long Bay, visitors can choose to shuttle bus of cruise. This is the most convenient way for visitors.
Most of cruises in Bai Tu Long Bay embarking from Hon Gai pier which is connected Halong city by Bai Chay bridge. So to travel to Bai Tu Long, tourists could go to Halong then from Halong crossing the bridge to Hon Gai pier to check in the cruise.

>> Read more: How to get from Hanoi to Halong Bay?

6. Best Bai Tu Long Bay Cruises

There are many choices of overnight cruises in Bai Tu Long Bay for visitors. From 3 stars superior to 5 stars luxury cruise or for privacy, charter cruise is a good option. Cruises are packages with full board, all entrance fees, activities on cruise or in the bay as well as the tourist guide on board.

6.1. Best Bai Tu Long Bay superior cruise 3 star

Swan Deluxe cruise – 18 cabins – price from 146 USD/person
Victory cruise – 21 cabins – price from 140 USD/person
Renea cruise – 11 cabins – price from 142 USD/person
Bai Tho Deluxe cruise – 18 cabins – price from 120 USD/person

>> Read more: 3 star cruises in Bai Tu Long Bay with good price

6.2 Best Bai Tu Long Bay deluxe cruises 4 star

Victory Star cruise – 24 cabins – price from 189 USD/person
Signature cruise – 12 cabins – price from 232 USD/person
Signature Royal cruise – 16 cabins – price from 172 USD/person
Prince cruise – 4 cabins – price from 266 USD/person

>> Read more:4 star cruises in Bai Tu Long Bay with real time price

6.3 Best Bai Tu Long Bay luxury cruises 5 star

Athena cruise – 21 cabins – price from 185 USD/person
Dragon Legend cruise – 24 cabins – price from 211 USD/person

>> Read more:Luxury 5 star cruises in Bai Tu Long Bay

6.4 Best Bai Tu Long Bay charter cruises

L'Amour cruise – 1 cabin – price from 358 USD/person
Prince 4 cruise – 4 cabins – price from 223 USD/person
Bhaya Legend cruise – 3 cabins – price from 211 USD/person
Bhaya Legend cruise – 2 cabins – price from 256 USD/person

>> Read more: Charter cruises in Bai Tu Long Bay

A cruise in Bai Tu Long bay

7. Bai Tu Long Bay cruise itinerary.
 

7.1. Bai Tu Long Bay cruise 2 days 1 night

Day 1: Hon Gai pier – Bai Tu Long Bay

At 12.00, embark the cruise for a trip in Bai Tu Long, warmest welcome drink and check in your cabin.
Enjoy delicious lunch while cruising on the bay.

Discover Cap La island and enjoy kayaking through the karst limestone mountain, swimming and relaxing
In the afternoon, enjoy the sunset time or some cruises will offer the cooking class.

Sumptuous dinner on cruise and free time to relaxing or try your luck with squid fishing.

Hon Gai Pier by the city

Day 2: Bai Tu Long Bay – Thien Canh Son cave – Hon Gai pier

In the morning, fresh up with Tai Chi. Breakfast will be served on cruise.
Explore Thien Canh Son cave. One of the most beautiful caves in Bai Tu Long Bay.

Keep continue the cruising and prepare to check out before lunch.

At noon, Disembark in Hon Gai pier
Tourists could use private car service or shuttle bus of cruise to return to Hanoi. The Bai Tu Long cruise trip ends,

7.2. Bai Tu Long Bay cruise 3 days 2 nights

For 3 day 2-night cruise trip in Bai Tu Long Bay, the first day and the last day will be the same as the program 2 days 1 night.

Day 1: Embarking the cruise - the same as 2 day 1 night program

Day 2: Bai Tu Long Cruising and discovery

In the morning, take part in Tai Chi lesson and enjoy breakfast then transfer to a day boat for a full day exploring the beauty of Bai Tu Long Bay.
Do more kayaking to discover deeply the bay. After lunch on boat, keep cruising to Vung Vieng fishing village to explore the local life and how pearls grown.

In the late afternoon, return to the “mother cruise” for sunset time with tea, coffee and fresh fruit.
Dinner and overnight on cruise.

Day 3: Bai Tu Long – Thien Canh Son cave – Hon Gai pier.

The same as 2 day 1 night program
Depending on each cruise, the itinerary or time schedule for Bai Tu Long cruises may be little bit different. However, it will be some main activities as we mentioned above.

Bai Tu Long Bay cruise trip map

8. Bai Tu Long Bay or Ha Long Bay for the cruise trip?

Basically, the natural landscape of Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay is very similar, there is not too much difference.
The overnight cruises are equally good in 2 bays. However, Halong Bay was exploited for tourism earlier, tourists mainly know about Halong Bay. Many limestone islands in Halong Bay have strange shapes named and associated with legends.

In addition, in Halong Bay there are many large and beautiful caves with many beautiful stalactites. That is why Halong Bay is always chosen by many tourists to visit.

Bai Tu Long Bay is more pristine because there are fewer tourists, there are no big caves like in Halong Bay, but it has its own charm, very peaceful and non-touristy. More and more tourists know about Bai Tu Long Bay.

Based on above information, tourists will have the good decision, choosing the Bai Tu Long Bay cruises or Halong Bay cruises for their vacation and relaxation.

>> Contact us to book your favourite Bai Tu Long Bay cruise