Bai Tu Long Bay is a long string of islands which was created when the entire limestone plateau sank below sea level. It lies up in the north of Vietnam, in Quang Ninh Province.
Bai Tu Long Bay is just north of the beautiful Ha Long Bay region although it is much less touristy but nonetheless stunning. It is thus unpolluted and undeveloped and also comes with little tourism infrastructure, making getting about a bit tougher.
Van Don Island is one of the main highlights of Bai Tu Long Bay as it’s the first island you come to, the most developed, and is connected to the mainland by bridge. Quan Lan Island is also a popular Bai Tu Long Bay attraction, more laidback than Van Don.
Bai Tu Long National Park is a major selling point of the archipelago, a stunning region encompassing many islands that comes with many endangered species of birds and animals, along with dense jungle. You can get there by speedboat or by road from Bai Chay Beach.
Other sights worth seeing in Bai Tu Long Bay are the fishing village at Minh Chau Island, Thong Thien Cave, Phat Co Island, and Cua Ong Temple. Historical and cultural sites abound.
The best way to take advantage of Bai Tu Long Bay is to get on a boat tour from Ha Long Bay, or go from Cai Rong pier on Van Don Island within Bai Tu Long Bay to the more remote islands. A daytrip to Bai Tu is not enough.
Getting There & Away
There are a couple of ways to get to Bai Tu Long Bay, including from Ha Long Bay by high speed hydrofoil, or by bussing it from Hanoi to Cua Ong pier, from where ferries leave for the archipelago. Some buses also run across the bridge and onto Van Don Island.
The trip from Hanoi is straightforward via highway 18 and takes about four hours, while the international airport to the north of the capital at Noi Bai receives flights from all over the region.