Halong Bay

Vietnam

Vietnam Travel Guide

Shop

Get even more with a Lonely Planet guide.

Shop Book
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

© leonov.o / Shutterstock

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.

Lonely planet’s trusted travel insurance provider

Dreaming of Halong Bay? Protect your trip

Travel with confidence. Protect your trip and your wallet.

LEARN MORE

We don’t represent World Nomads, we receive a fee from quotes using this link. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.

Take your Vietnam trip with Lonely Planet Journeys

Pick one of our ready-to-book trips or fully customize your own with help from our local experts.

bookable trip

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

12 days / 11 nights

highlights

  1. 1 Cruising — and sleeping! — on a luxury boat gliding through the magnificent Hạ Long Bay
  2. 2 Delicate hands-on cooking with a local Hội An family to master hand-pulled noodles
  3. 3 Swimming in Quy Nhon’s ethereal turquoise waters on a relaxing boat trip
from $2,224

per person

book this trip see trip details

Explore more trips

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

    9 days / 8 nights

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

    FROM $2,853

    per person

    See Trip Details
  • 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

    per person

    See Trip Details
Want our experts to design a custom trip for you?
start planning

Top places to visit in Halong Bay

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

Explore all

Get a book. Get inspired. Get exploring.

Explore all books

in partnership with getyourguide

Book popular activities in Halong Bay

Halong Bay and beyond

View all