The best things to do in Halong Bay are an overnight cruise among its limestone islands, exploring Sung Sot and Thien Cung caves, kayaking through hidden lagoons, climbing Ti Top Island for the view, and visiting the floating fishing villages. Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in northern Vietnam with about 1,600 limestone islands and islets, and it is 2.5 hours from Hanoi on the expressway, which makes it the most popular trip from the capital for Indian tourists.
In this article, Vietnamtour.in shares the 9 best things to do in Halong Bay for Indian tourists, based on what our guests enjoy most, with costs, timings and tips for vegetarian travellers. The table below gives a quick overview of these Halong Bay tourist attractions and activities.
| Activity | Where | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Overnight or day cruise | Halong Bay, Lan Ha Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay | Everyone, especially families |
| Exploring caves | Sung Sot, Thien Cung, Dau Go | First-time visitors |
| Kayaking | Luon Cave, Vung Vieng, Lan Ha Bay | Couples, active travellers |
| Ti Top Island viewpoint and beach | Central Halong Bay | Photos, short swim |
| Floating fishing villages | Vung Vieng, Cua Van | Culture, slow travel |
| Dinner in Dragon Pearl Cave | Inside a cave in the bay | Honeymooners, special occasions |
| Swimming and snorkelling | Ti Top, Soi Sim, Ba Trai Dao beaches | Families, May to October |
| Night market and Bai Chay | Ha Long city | Evening shopping |
| Cai Bau Pagoda | Van Don, about 50 km from Bai Chay | Spiritual visitors |
Going on a cruise
A cruise is the number one thing to do in Halong Bay: a two-day, one-night cruise usually costs USD 90 to 250 per person, including meals, cave visits, kayaking and the bay entrance fees. It is also the simplest way to cover Halong Bay sightseeing in one trip. Day cruises of 4 to 6 hours are cheaper, but an overnight trip lets you see sunset and sunrise over the karsts and reach quieter areas.
What to expect: You will enjoy panoramic views of the bay, visit famous sights such as Sung Sot Cave and Ti Top Island, and eat on board. Many cruises serve Indian and vegetarian dishes on request, so mention your diet when booking. A cruise also suits big families, as you can book several connecting cabins or even a private boat.
Recommendation: Compare boats, routes and prices in our guide to the best Halong Bay cruise options. If you want fewer boats around you, choose a cruise to lan ha bay or bai tu long bay, which have the same scenery with far fewer vessels. Most cruises depart from Tuan Chau harbour on tuan chau island, linked to the mainland by a 2 km causeway.
Average cost: USD 90 – 250 per person for a two-day, one-night cruise, depending on the boat and services included.
Exploring caves
Exploring the caves is one of the most fascinating things to do in Halong Bay, and Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave, the largest cave in the bay, is included on almost every cruise. The caves were formed by erosion over millions of years, and their stalactites and stalagmites create shapes that guides compare to animals, people and legends.
What to expect: Concrete paths and lighting make the main caves easy to walk, but there are steps, so wear comfortable shoes. A cave visit usually takes 45 minutes to an hour.
Recommendation:
- Sung Sot Cave is on Bo Hon Island and is the largest and most impressive cave in Halong Bay, with two huge chambers.
- Thien Cung Cave is on Dau Go Island and is known for its colourful lighting and legends.
- Dau Go Cave is also on Dau Go Island and is linked to General Tran Hung Dao’s victory over the Mongols in 1288, when wooden stakes were hidden here.
- Luon Cave on Bo Hon Island is a water cave that leads into an enclosed lagoon and can only be reached by kayak or bamboo boat.
Kayaking
Kayaking is the best way to reach hidden lagoons and tunnels in Halong Bay that large boats cannot enter, and it is included free on most overnight cruises. It is also a wonderful way to bond with your family and see the karsts up close in halong bay.
What to expect: Two-person kayaks paddle into coves, lagoons and low tunnels, with time to watch monkeys on the cliffs and take photos. Life jackets are provided, and a guide leads the group.
Recommendation: The best kayaking areas are Luon Cave, Vung Vieng Fishing Village and Cua Van in Halong Bay, and the quieter lagoons of Lan Ha Bay. If you do not want to paddle, a local rower can take you through the same areas in a bamboo boat for a small extra fee.
Climbing Ti Top Island
Ti Top Island has the best viewpoint in central Halong Bay: about 400 steps lead to a summit pavilion with a 360-degree view, and a small sandy beach at the foot is good for a swim. The island is named after the Soviet cosmonaut Gherman Titov, who visited with Ho Chi Minh in 1962, and it is included on most day and overnight cruises.
Go early or late in the day, as the steps are steep and the summit gets crowded at midday. Carry water and wear shoes with grip.
Visiting fishing villages
Visiting a floating fishing village shows the local side of Halong Bay, and Vung Vieng in Bai Tu Long Bay is the best one to see on a cruise. If you are wondering about Halong Bay what to do beyond the caves, this is the most authentic experience.
What to expect: Families still live in floating houses and earn their living from fishing and pearl farming. A local rower takes you through the village by bamboo boat, and some villages have a small pearl farm where you can see how pearls are cultured.
Recommendation:
- Vung Vieng Fishing Village – in Bai Tu Long Bay, about 25 km from the mainland.
- Cua Van Fishing Village – in Halong Bay, about 20 km from Bai Chay, with a small floating cultural centre.
- Cong Dam Fishing Village – in Bai Tu Long Bay, further from the mainland and less visited.
Dine in the Dragon Pearl Cave
Dinner inside the Dragon Pearl Cave is the most unique evening activity in Halong Bay: a 2.5-hour experience launched in May 2025 that combines a set dinner with a 45-minute 3D-mapping show, “The Quest for the Dragon Pearl”, for about USD 120 to 180 per person. It is operated by Asia Premier Cruises and booked through its Ambassador Cruise line.
What to expect: Guests are taken by boat into the cave in the early evening, around 5:30 PM, where tables are set among limestone formations under artistic lighting. The menu includes Asian and European dishes, fresh seafood and a separate vegetarian menu.
During the show, projection mapping turns the cave walls and stalactites into a moving backdrop for music and dance, telling the legend of the Mother Dragon who protected the bay, a story linked to the name “Ha Long”, meaning “descending dragon”.
Recommendation: The experience is ideal for couples, honeymooners and special occasions. Book the dinner together with an Ambassador cruise so transfers to the cave are included.
Estimated cost: USD 120 – 180 per person, depending on the menu and services included.
Diving or snorkeling
Swimming is easy in Halong Bay from May to October, but serious diving is limited, because the water is often cloudy and coral is sparse; snorkelling is better in the outer islands of Bai Tu Long and Lan Ha Bay. Most cruises stop at a beach such as Ti Top, Soi Sim or Ba Trai Dao for a swim.
What to expect: Calm, warm water, small fish around the rocks and simple beaches with changing rooms. For clearer water and real snorkelling, the islands of co to island and cat ba island are better choices.
Note: Swim only at marked beaches or where your cruise crew allows it, and only if you are comfortable in open water.
Shopping at Halong Night Market
The Halong Night Market in Bai Chay is the best evening activity on land, open from about 6 PM to late, with stalls selling pearls, souvenirs and local snacks. It is a good way to enjoy Halong nightlife if you stay in a hotel in the city before or after your cruise.
What to expect: You can buy pearl jewellery, brocade fabrics, silver jewellery and pottery, and order seafood at the food stalls. Halong pearls, cultured in the bay, are among the special things in vietnam to take home; buy from shops that give a certificate.
Location: Bai Chay tourist area, Ha Long city.
Visiting Cai Bau Pagoda
Cai Bau Pagoda, a Truc Lam Zen monastery on Cai Bau Island in Van Don, about 50 km from Bai Chay, is the most peaceful Buddhist site near Halong Bay, with free entry and views over Bai Tu Long Bay. It suits Indian travellers interested in spirituality and Buddhism.
The monastery was built in 2007 on the site of the older Phuc Linh Pagoda, which dates back to the time of the Mongol invasions. It belongs to the Truc Lam Zen school, the only native school of Buddhism in Vietnam.
What to expect: A calm complex of halls and gardens with the sound of bells and chanting and a sweeping view of the bay. Dress modestly and keep your voice low.
Opening hours: 06:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Best Time To Visit Halong Bay
The best time to visit Halong Bay is from March to May and September to November, when the weather is mild and the sky is usually clear; June to August is hot with occasional storms, and December to February is cool and misty. Our guide on the best time to visit halong bay covers each month.
If you travel around Diwali, check the temperature in vietnam in october and our vietnam november guide: both are good months for Halong Bay, with dry days and around 20 to 28°C.
How To Get To Halong Bay
Halong Bay is about 170 km from Hanoi, or 2.5 hours by car or shuttle bus on the expressway, and most cruises include a return transfer from the Hanoi Old Quarter. A private car suits families, while limousine vans are the budget option. For the return trip and connections, see our guide on halong bay to hanoi.
FAQs About Things To Do In Halong Bay
How many days are enough for Halong Bay?
A two-day, one-night cruise is enough for the main things to do in Halong Bay, including caves, kayaking and Ti Top Island; a day trip covers only one or two stops.
Is Halong Bay good for Indian vegetarian travellers?
Yes. Most mid-range and luxury cruises prepare vegetarian and Jain meals if you tell them when booking, and some offer Indian dishes on board.
What are the best places to visit in Halong Bay?
The best places to visit in Halong Bay are Sung Sot Cave, Ti Top Island, Luon Cave, Vung Vieng fishing village and Thien Cung Cave, with Lan Ha Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay as quieter alternatives.
Plan Your Halong Bay Trip
These are the 9 best things to do in Halong Bay for Indian tourists who want to experience the culture and nature of Vietnam. Halong Bay usually takes two days of a northern Vietnam route with Hanoi and Ninh Binh; see our guides on the vietnam 7 day trip cost and the 10 day vietnam trip cost to see where it fits, or compare the best tour packages for vietnam from india.
To add Halong Bay to your Vietnam trip, share your travel dates, group size and departure city in the form below. A Vietnamtour.in expert will suggest the right cruise for your budget, with Hanoi transfers and vegetarian or Jain meals on board arranged in advance.
RELATED ARTICLES
