Halong Bay

Vietnam

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Young Caucasian blonde woman in a straw hat enjoying the boat ride at Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba island, Vietnam; Shutterstock ID 1466647397; your: ClaireN; gl: 65050; netsuite: Online ed; full: Vietnam with Elsewhere 1466647397

Young Caucasian blonde woman in a straw hat enjoying the boat ride at Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba island, Vietnam; Shutterstock ID 1466647397; your: ClaireN; gl: 65050; netsuite: Online ed; full: Vietnam with Elsewhere 1466647397

Why visit Halong Bay

Towering limestone pillars and tiny islets topped by forest rise from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Designated a World Heritage Site in 1994, Halong Bay's scatter of islands, dotted with wind- and wave-eroded grottoes, is a vision of ethereal beauty and, unsurprisingly, northern Vietnam's number one-tourism hub.

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The Mighty Mekong Delta: Vietnam’s Floating Markets and Historic River Villages

9 days / 8 nights

highlights

  1. 1 Watching a dazzling show at Saigon’s historic Opera House
  2. 2 Biking around Bến Tre and riding a traditional sampan, where canals crisscross with local villages
  3. 3 Sampling street food and fresh fruit from the floating markets of Can Tho
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  • All-Encompassing Vietnam: 12 Days in Quy Nhon, Hạ Long, Hội An, and the Mekong Delta
    Vietnam

    12 days / 11 nights

    All-Encompassing Vietnam: 12 Days in Quy Nhon, Hạ Long, Hội An, and the Mekong Delta

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  • The Best of Vibrant Vietnam: City, Coastal, and Countryside Traditions
    Vietnam

    12 days / 11 nights

    The Best of Vibrant Vietnam: City, Coastal, and Countryside Traditions

    FROM $2,730

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Top places to visit in Halong Bay

Discover the best attractions in Halong Bay from must-see sights to unexpected hidden gems.

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Halong Bay travel tips from Lonely Planet experts

Find practical guidance from our team of contributors around the world who bring their decades of first-hand travel experience to your next trip.

Things to Know

With some 2000 limestone islands rising from jade-green waters, Halong is one of Vietnam's top destinations. Here's how to enjoy a weekend in Halong City.

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Day Trips

Visits to floating villages, pearl farms, mountain pagodas and incense-scented temples reveal a side of Halong Bay that goes beyond a standard cruise.

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Best Road Trips

Visits to floating villages, pearl farms, mountain pagodas and incense-scented temples reveal a side of Halong Bay that goes beyond a standard cruise.

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