Bai Tu Long Bay (Vịnh Bái Tử Long) is the north-eastern continuation of Ha Long Bay: the same drowned karst landscape of limestone towers and jungle-covered islands, running from the edge of Ha Long city towards Cam Pha and the Van Don archipelago in Quang Ninh province. The name is usually translated as “the dragon’s children bowing to their mother” — the young dragons of Bai Tu Long paying homage to the dragon who descended at Ha Long.
What makes it worth choosing is not the scenery, which is every bit as good as its famous neighbour, but the traffic. Hundreds of boats a day work central Ha Long Bay; Bai Tu Long sees a small share of them, so evenings at anchor are quiet and the lagoons still feel like a discovery. Part of the area is protected as Bai Tu Long National Park, and the Van Don islands at its outer edge were a royal trading port under the Ly dynasty from 1149.
Top things to do at Bai Tu Long Bay
Spend a night on the water
The overnight cruise is the whole point. You board in Ha Long around midday, sail east as the day-trip boats turn back, kayak in the late afternoon, and wake to mist on the karsts with barely another boat in sight. Two days and one night is the classic; three days lets you reach the far side of the bay.
Row through Vung Vieng
The floating fishing village of Vung Vieng is the human heart of the bay. Villagers row you through the lagoon in small bamboo-and-wood boats, past floating houses and pearl rafts.
Climb into Thien Canh Son cave
Most Bai Tu Long itineraries stop at Thien Canh Son, a stalactite cave reached by a steep flight of steps, with a view over the bay from the entrance.
Kayak the lagoons
Almost every cruise includes an hour or two of kayaking. In Bai Tu Long you are likely to share the water with fishermen rather than fifty other kayaks, which makes it a very different experience from central Ha Long.
How to get to Bai Tu Long Bay
- From Hanoi: about 2.5–3 hours by expressway to Ha Long, where most Bai Tu Long cruises board. Almost all cruises include a shuttle from the Old Quarter — see our Hanoi to Bai Tu Long guide.
- Boarding piers: depending on the boat, the Ha Long International Cruise Port at Bai Chay, Tuan Chau marina, the Hon Gai side of the city or, for a few newer boats, Van Don.
- By air: Van Don International Airport (VDO) is under an hour from Ha Long by expressway and has domestic flights from Ho Chi Minh City and other cities.
Insider tips
- Check the itinerary, not the title. Many “Ha Long” cruises actually sail in Bai Tu Long and vice versa — look for Vung Vieng or Thien Canh Son in the programme.
- Book two to four weeks ahead for October, November and Vietnamese holidays; the best-rated small boats fill first.
- Bring a light jacket from December to March: evenings on deck are cool and damp.
- From July to September, check typhoon forecasts. Cruises are cancelled by the port authority when storms approach and reputable operators refund or rebook.
Best tours & cruises for Bai Tu Long Bay
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to see Bai Tu Long Bay and the bays around it:
Overnight cruise from €118 From Hanoi: 2-Day Ha Long Bay & Bai Tu Long Bay Cruise
The most-booked overnight cruise that actually leaves the crowded Ha Long loop. You board at the international cruise port in Ha Long, sail east into Bai Tu Long, kayak and swim in the afternoon, eat a set dinner on board and wake up to karsts with almost nobody else around.
- Quieter route into Bai Tu Long with fewer boats
- Kayaking, swimming and a hidden cave
- Round-trip transfer from Hanoi’s Old Quarter
Luxury overnight cruise from €110 Hanoi/Ninh Binh: 2-Day Ha Long & Bai Tu Long Bay 5-Star Cruise
A small, well-run five-star boat that spends its time in Bai Tu Long rather than queuing at Ha Long’s famous stops. Cabins are comfortable, the food is a clear step up from mid-range boats and the 4.9 rating over hundreds of reviews is remarkably consistent.
- Small five-star boat, well-reviewed cabins
- Caves, kayaking and a sunset on deck
- Pickup from Hanoi or Ninh Binh
Multi-day cruise from €259 Hanoi: 3-Day Cruise Stay in Ha Long and Bai Tu Long Bay
The version to book if you can give the bay a proper amount of time. The middle day is spent entirely on the water — usually a day boat to the far side of Bai Tu Long for kayaking and a beach — while the day-trippers are still on the expressway.
- Two nights on board, deep in Bai Tu Long
- More kayaking, caves and a beach day
- Unhurried pace with a full middle day
