Ha Long Landmarks, Caves and Hilltop Views
Ha Long’s landmarks are easiest to take in as two lists: the stops you reach by boat and the ones in the city. Use the route code to tell which boat stops a tour includes. Prices here are in Vietnamese dong (VND), about 26,000 to the US dollar.
Boat stops by route
VHL1 (about 5 hours) goes to Thien Cung grotto and Dau Go cave on Dau Go island, the westernmost point of the bay. It then passes Cho Da islet, the Ba Hang caves, Dinh Huong islet and Trong Mai islet. Dau Go carries a tradition that Tran Hung Dao kept stakes there before the battle of 1288, so visit it with respect.
VHL2 visits Ti Top island, Sung Sot cave, Luon cave and the Tung Sau pearl lagoon, among others. Sung Sot sits on Bo Hon island, has a steep path, a freshwater lake in its first chamber and a stalagmite shaped like a Buddha in the last. The Board describes it as the largest cave found in the bay. Nothing is staged inside.
| Cave | Route | Opens |
|---|---|---|
| Thien Cung, Dau Go, Ba Hang | VHL1 | 07:30 |
| Sung Sot, Ti Top, Luon | VHL2 | 07:30 |
Closing time is 17:30 up to 31 October and 17:00 from 1 November to 15 April. See the Board’s timetable page .
Hilltop and viewpoint climbs
On Ti Top island, about 400 steps lead to a view across the bay. Cosmonaut Gherman Titov visited the island with Ho Chi Minh in 1962, and it carries his name. Steps are steep, so avoid sandals. On the city side, the Queen Cable Car rises to Ba Deo hill in Hon Gai, where the view looks back over the strait and Bai Chay. The Guinness entry records its 230 person cabin.
Sights in the city
- Quang Ninh Museum, on Tran Quoc Nghien street, is a black glass building by the architect Salvador Perez Arroyo, opened in 2013. Tickets cost 40,000 VND for adults, 20,000 VND for students and 10,000 VND for children, and hours are 08:00 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 17:00. Find out whether it shuts on Mondays.
- Chua Long Tien is a pagoda from 1941, and next to it stands Den Tran Quoc Nghien, a temple to the eldest son of Tran Hung Dao. Both are active, so dress modestly and take off hats and shoes inside.
- Bai Chay Bridge and the Tran Quoc Nghien seafront cost nothing and give wide views.
Closed or unavailable
Soi Sim beach is closed to visitors, Bai Tho mountain is closed, and no seaplane or helicopter flights operate over the bay.
Read more: Attraction tours in Ha Long shows which boat covers which stop.
Guided sightseeing trips can be searched on Viator .