Ha Long Bay
Limestone towers rise from the sea on boat trips out of Bãi Cháy, with caves to explore and floating fishing villages to see.
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Hạ Long Bay is a UNESCO-listed bay in northeastern Vietnam, administered by Quảng Ninh city. Its name means “descending dragon.” The bay holds 1,969 islands and islets, most of them limestone, and steep karst towers rise straight out of the water. Some islands take their names from their shapes, such as Gà Chọi, the fighting cock islet, and Voi, the elephant.
Tour boats usually leave from the Hạ Long tourist port at Bãi Cháy. You can choose day cruises, sunset cruises, or night cruises combined with squid fishing, or paddle a kayak yourself. Sửng Sốt Cave and Thiên Cung Cave are two of the caves you can visit, and some floating fishing villages now offer boat tours and seafood meals. The drier months run from December to February, when rainfall is often under 30 mm, though winter is cool at 16 to 18 °C.
Ha Long Bay in five
- Choose an overnight cruiseDay trips spend most of their time on the road from Hanoi. One night on the bay gets you sunset, kayaking and a quiet morning.
- Consider Lan Ha BayBoats from Cat Ba island visit Lan Ha Bay, with fewer boats and more kayaking than central Ha Long Bay.
- Expect cancellations in bad weatherPort authorities stop cruises when storms approach, most often from June to September. Book with a flexible refund policy.
- Check your visa or exemptionMany passports can enter visa-free for a set stay; others apply for an e-visa online.Vietnam e-visa and exemption
Need to know
- Airport
- Van Don (VDO) nearby, or Noi Bai (HAN) in Hanoi
- Getting there
- About 2.5 hours by expressway from Hanoi
- Getting around
- Cruise boats, kayaks, taxis on land
- Best base
- On a boat; Cat Ba town for Lan Ha Bay
- Time needed
- 2 days, 1 night
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCloudy10 rainy daysHigh19°Low15°Cool, mistyJanuaryCloudy
Good
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 56 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, misty
- FebruaryCloudy9 rainy daysHigh19°Low16°Cool, mistyFebruaryCloudy
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 58 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, misty
- MarchCloudy11 rainy daysHigh22°Low19°MildMarchCloudy
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 61 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
- AprilRain13 rainy daysHigh25°Low21°Mild, clearAprilRain
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 88 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, clear
- MayRain20 rainy daysHigh28°Low25°WarmMayRain
Mixed
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 210 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm
- JuneRain23 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh30°Low27°Hot, stormsJuneRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 333 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, storms
- JulyRain25 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh31°Low27°Storm riskJulyRain
Poor
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 417 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Storm risk
- AugustRain26 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh30°Low27°Storm riskAugustRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 526 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Storm risk
- SeptemberRain21 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°Storm riskSeptemberRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 351 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Storm risk
- OctoberRain12 rainy daysHigh27°Low23°ClearOctoberRain
Good
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 184 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Clear
- NovemberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh24°Low20°ClearNovemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 45 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Clear
- DecemberPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh20°Low16°CoolDecemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 25 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool
Average daily high and low in Ha Long, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Ha Long Bay
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
23
- Feels like
- 26°
- Humidity
- 94%
- Wind
- 7 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 51%
Halong City
08:01 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today29°24°51%Tuesday: Rain. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 51%.
- Wed29°24°46%Wednesday: Rain. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 46%.
- Thu30°25°76%Thursday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 76%.
- Fri29°24°84%Friday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 84%.
- Sat29°23°76%Saturday: Rain. High 29°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 76%.
- Sun30°20°90%Sunday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 90%.
- Mon26°17°71%Monday: Rain. High 26°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 71%.
Updated 03:55 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 25,787 VND
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
Day trips from Ha Long Bay, the full guide- Cat Ba National Parkabout 30 min by road from Cat Ba townForest trails and a lookout tower.Read the guide
- Bai Tu Long Baya separate cruise northeast of Ha LongSmaller karsts and fewer boats on a quieter stretch of the same coast.Read the guide
- Hanoiabout 2.5 hours by roadThe Old Quarter and street food.Read the guide
Before you go to Ha Long Bay
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Rules for Ha Long Bay, checked
- Entry rules depend on your passport. Check whether you need a visa or e-visa for Vietnam on the official portal before you book.Source
- Dial 113 for police, 114 for fire and 115 for an ambulance anywhere in Vietnam.
- Do not touch, break or take stalactites from the caves. Some have been sold, and removing them damages a protected site.
- Single-use plastic products are banned in the bay area. Carry a refillable bottle and check current rules with Quảng Ninh province.
- Some mines from the Vietnam War still threaten shipping routes between the islands, so do not swim away from your boat.
Plan around Ha Long Bay
Entry, seasons, regions and money
Read the guideHanoiThe Old Quarter, 2.5 hours inland
Read the guideHalong CityPiers, Bai Chay and a night before the boat
Read the guideCat Ba IslandLan Ha Bay, trails and beaches
Read the guideBai Tu Long BayA quieter cruise bay northeast of Ha Long
Read the guideBest time to visit VietnamStorm months and the clear seasons
Read the guideVietnam e-visa and exemptionWho needs an eVisa and who is visa-free
Read the guideTravel insuranceCover for storm-cancelled cruises
Read the guideHa Long Bay FAQ
Is a day trip to Ha Long Bay worth it?
Only if you have no other option. You spend about five hours on the road for three or four on the water.
Ha Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay?
Lan Ha Bay is quieter with more kayaking. Ha Long Bay has the famous caves and more boat choice.
When is the best time to visit Ha Long Bay?
March, April, October and November. Winter is cool and misty; summer is hot with storms that can cancel cruises.
How do you get from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay?
About 2.5 hours by expressway, by shuttle bus, private car or a cruise transfer. Many overnight cruises include pickup from the Old Quarter, so compare what the price covers.
How many days do you need for Ha Long Bay?
Two days and one night is the standard cruise. A two-night cruise adds more kayaking and quieter water, but it costs a second day away from Hanoi.