Halong, Bai Tu Long or Lan Ha? Best Halong Bay Alternatives

Planning a trip to Vietnam and looking for a Halong Bay alternative? This quick comparison of Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay will help you decide which one best suits your travel style and budget.

Cruising around Halong Bay’s iconic karst landscape in a junk boat is a bucket-list experience for many travellers. The first time I visited Vietnam, my 2-night tour on the bay was definitely one of the highlights of my trip.

In recent years, the issue of over-tourism has forced many travellers to reconsider whether Halong Bay is worth it or not. What many people don’t realise is that Halong is just one of many bays off the coast of Northern Vietnam, and that there are alternatives available.

The limestone cliffs and caves that make Halong instantly recognisable actually stretch up and down the coast for miles. There are two other natural bays in the Gulf of Tonkin where you can see a similar landscape. These Halong Bay alternatives are suitable for different types of travellers and depending on when you go, can offer a less-touristy experience.

In this post, I’ll give you a quick comparison between Halong Bay and two popular alternatives, Bai Tu Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay. I’ll consider travel logistics, activity options and the visual differences between the bays to help you make an informed decision about which one you should visit.

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Halong Bay (the popular bay)

Halong Bay is by far the most popular of the three bays mentioned here. Located directly off the coast from Ha Long City, it covers an area of 43,400 hectares and incorporates more than 1,600 individual islands and islets, most of which are uninhabited.

Not only is Halong Bay internationally recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the ‘Bay of the Descending Dragons’ also plays an important role in Vietnamese folklore and spirituality. It’s the country’s most popular attraction for international and domestic tourists alike, and for good reason – the landscape is truly surreal.

Halong Bay has the highest concentration of karst formations and is the most visually spectacular of the three bays. It’s also the easiest to reach from Hanoi.

Because of this, Halong Bay gets very crowded, especially in high season. In 2019, more than 4.4 million tourists visited Halong Bay. The high volume of tour operators that are permitted to be out on the water at any one time means that you’re often sailing in close proximity to other boats.

On the plus side, with so many providers to choose from you can often find a good deal. But at what expense?

Environmental pollution, negative impacts on the communities that live on and around the bay – especially those in traditional fishing villages who draw their livelihoods from the water – plus visitor safety are all serious issues. It’s important to be aware of these problems before you decide to visit Halong Bay.

Getting to Halong Bay

Halong Bay is easy to get to from Hanoi. There are plenty of tour operators that offer transfers to and from the city as part of a package day or overnight tour.

Boats for Halong Bay depart from Tuan Chau Marina, roughly a 2-3 hour drive from Hanoi. You can also find boats for Halong Bay departing from Halong City.

For more details, see my detailed guide on how to get to Halong Bay from Hanoi.

Things to do in & around Halong Bay

Halong Bay holds between 1,600 and 2,000 islets.

The Dinh Huong Islet is the most famous among locals. It’s seen as an icon of Vietnam and Vietnamese culture, and has traditionally been used as the symbol for Halong Bay throughout its development as a tourist destination. You can even see it pictured on the 200K VND note.

Another place worth visiting is Titov Island (also known as Titop or Ti Tốp). It is named after the Russian Cosmonaut who toured Halong Bay with Uncle Ho Chi Minh in 1962. As well as offering spectacular views of the bay, the limestone island has a number of restaurants and cafes plus a secluded beach. Try the local seafood if you can – it’s fresh and very tasty. 

Most Halong Bay tours make a point of showing visitors the local way of life on the bay. Cruises visit the Cua Van and Ba Hang fishing Villages where you can get an insight into the traditional industry of fish farming.

Another popular activity is taking a kayak or row boat for a close-up look at the caves on the bay. The Bo Nau and Dau Go caves are both well-known and easy to explore independently.

Who should visit Halong Bay?

The accessibility from Hanoi and wide range of day and overnight cruise options makes Halong Bay suitable for any type of traveller. Just be aware that it tends to get overcrowded, especially in the high season.

This is the official UNESCO Site so if you want to be able to say you’ve visited ‘the real Halong Bay’, a cruise here is the only option.

It’s worth paying a bit more for a multi-night tour and a reputable company. I also highly recommend choosing an ethical provider that puts environmental and social sustainability measures in place, such as limiting the tour group size, processing waste responsibly, and employing local staff.

Otherwise, it’s worth considering a Halong Bay alternative such as Bai Tu Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay instead.

Halong Bay tours

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Bai Tu Long Bay (the secluded bay)

Bai Tu Long Bay is located north-east of Halong Bay along the coast. The karsts are a bit more sparse, but the formations are similar in size and shape. In fact, the two bays are so similar, it’s very difficult to discern between Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay when you’re looking at photos.

The experience, however, is very different. Bai Tu Long Bay isn’t a UNESCO Site but it falls under a different protection status.

Boats are prohibited from docking here overnight, and this fact alone has helped to curb pollution. Fewer boats are allowed on the water during the day, so you’re much less likely to see other tourists.

Many people think of Bai Tu Long Bay as Halong Bay before mass-tourism arrived. Overall, it’s a more secluded and authentic experience.

Because you can’t overnight here, boats normally cruise around Bai Tu Long during the day then return to Halong for the night. A combination tour is a good way to check both boxes and still technically visit Halong while also spending time in the more pristine Bai Tu Long.

Getting to Bai Tu Long Bay

Bai Tu Long Bay is a little further out than Halong or Lan Ha. Boats depart from the same port, Tuan Chau, but it requires a bit more time on the water to reach the karsts. In my opinion, it’s more than worth it.

Things to do in & around Bai Tu Long Bay

Apart from sailing amongst the islets, Bai Tu Long is home to several noteworthy caves that can be explored on foot. Sung Sot Cave is worth trekking through, and there is a fantastic view of the bay from the foot of Thay Cave. 

Bai Tu Long Bay has its own fishing villages, Vung Vieng and Cong Dam, where you can similarly see fish farming in action and observe daily life on the water. These villages also have restaurants where you can enjoy fresh-caught seafood. 

Visitors can take advantage of the peaceful and picturesque islands around the bay, including Cong Do and Co To. Both have sandy beaches and crystal clear waters to cool down in. 

Who should visit Bai Tu Long Bay?

Bai Tu Long Bay is relatively quiet and untouched. Many islands remain in their natural state and the tourism that has developed here is far more controlled and sustainable.

There’s a premium to pay for this experience of course. Bai Tu Long Bay is best-suited to travellers with more time and more money to spend.

Bai Tu Long Bay tours

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Lan Ha Bay (the budget bay)

The final of the three bays, Lan Ha Bay is located south of Halong. Its karst formations wrap around the eastern side of popular Cat Ba Island, and the bay itself accommodates several other large islands.

Lan Ha Bay has a multitude of white-sand beaches, caves, and one fishing village. You can find a number of accommodations on the smaller islands, ranging from secluded resorts and ecolodges to traditional homestays. Like Bai Tu Long, this area is generally considered less-touristy than nearby Halong – for now at least.

Cat Ba is the bay’s main drawcard. Most people who opt for Lan Ha over Halong Bay are attracted by the alternative off-water activities the area offers, namely hiking and biking in Cat Ba National Park.

Getting to Lan Ha Bay

Lan Ha Bay is located close to Haiphong City and is usually accessed via the GOT port. Just a 2.5-hour drive from Hanoi via one of Vietnam’s best stretches of highway, Lan Ha is very easy to access from the capital.

Cat Ba Island also has a domestic airport. It’s around a 40-minute drive from the airport to the port. 

Cat Ba Island

Cat Ba is an attraction in itself. Not everyone who visits the island tours Lan Ha Bay, but if you join a bay cruise, you’re bound to set foot on the island. The interior of Cat Ba is mountainous jungle terrain, a complete contrast to the shoreline and the karsts.

Trekking and dirt biking are available inside the park. A popular route is to Viet Hai Village, where you’ll find souvenir shops selling local handicrafts and a number of homestays nestled in the forest. 

Another spot to trek to is Trung Trang Cave, a system of 150 caves featuring magnificent stalactites. Hospital Cave, which was used as a hideout during the Vietnam-American War, is also located on Cat Ba Island.

Cat Ba town has a great food scene, with plenty of local and international restaurants and bars around town. Cannon Fort, a former military site on the south-eastern side of the island, offers panoramic views of the bay from the legendary Pub With Cold Beers.

If you’re staying on Cat Ba, half and full-day boat trips around Lan Ha Bay can easily be organised from the post.

Other things to do around Lan Ha Bay

Intrepid travellers shouldn’t miss a visit to the Dark and Bright Caves, so called because some are illuminated by light while other deeper caves require a torch to explore. This is a good place for hiking – just be sure to take a local guide as conditions can be unpredictable.

Who should visit Lan Ha Bay?

Compared to Halong Bay, Lan Ha can be quite peaceful. It is more popular among local tourists than Lan Ha, so it does tend to get busy on weekends and holidays. When I visited Cat Ba is was packed with tourists.

Cat Ba is popular with backpackers and has a lively hostel and bar scene. If you’re a budget traveller, a short trip around Lan Ha Bay on a boat booked from Cat Ba dock is one of the cheapest ways to cruise among the karsts.

Lan Ha is also suitable for adventure and outdoor lovers because of the easy access to Cat Ba National Park and the multitude of hiking opportunities. Anyone who’s interested in war history will find Cat Ba’s military sites compelling.

Lan Ha Bay tours

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Halong, Bai Tu Long or Lan Ha Bay – which one should you choose?

Just because you want to experience the grandeur and magic of Vietnam’s karsts doesn’t mean you have to limit yourself to a Halong Bay cruise. There are Halong alternatives out there catering to different travel styles and budgets.

Overall, Halong Bay is the best day trip option from Hanoi. It is by far the most overcrowded and touristy part of the coast, which is something to be aware of.

Bai Tu Long Bay is more secluded but more expensive as a result. Since can’t overnight on the bay, most tours combine it with Halong.

Lan Ha Bay is great for adventurous travellers and offers more variety with Cat Ba Island and National Park right on its doorstep. Lan Ha is a great Halong Bay alternative for backpackers and budget-conscious travellers as it offers plenty of single-day cruises at low prices.

Each of the three bays has its pros and cons. No matter which one you choose, a relaxing cruise is by far the best way to experience the otherworldliness and sheer beauty of Vietnam’s most popular tourist attraction.

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