Travel Guide Baie d'Along
Classified as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, Along Bay (or Halong Bay) is one of the most visited tourist sites in Southeast Asia. Between land and sea, the karst peaks of the Dragon Bay characterize the Vietnamese landscape and make this magical place one of the most beautiful views in the world. The North Vietnam tourist guide will help you to fully enjoy your stay in these mythical lands. A cruise by junk remains the best way to explore the paradisiacal and fairy bay of Along and to admire its plays of colors and its enchanting mists. Although invaded by tourists, Cat Bà Island is worth a visit for its fishing village, the visit of its national park and the many activities it offers: climbing, hiking and sea kayaking to sail between the mountains emerging from the turquoise waters of the bay. A few kilometers from Along, the site of Yen Tu is home to a magnificent Buddhist sanctuary that includes a dozen pagodas overlooking the mountain. Nothing is less sure than facing this almost fantastic landscape, the wonder will be immediate...
What to visit dans la Baie d'Along?
Suggested addresses de la Baie d'Along
When to go to dans la Baie d'Along?
When to go to Along Bay? Each season will reveal a different facet of Along Bay, between the foggy winter and the turquoise waters of sunny days.
High season (July-August): very popular with tourists during the summer season, Along Bay enjoys warm and sunny weather, although unstable... indeed it is the typhoon season and even if they are rare, it can happen that the authorities suspend navigation in Along Bay.
In spring and autumn, Along Bay is abandoned by its numerous tourists even though it keeps all its climatic attractions (sun, heat, a clear horizon as far as the eye can see...).
In the low season, temperatures are cooler and rains are frequent.
If you are wondering when to go to Along Bay, May-June and September-October are the best periods to go there.
Weather at the moment
The climate in Along Bay is humid subtropical. From November to April, the weather is quite cool: 19°C on average in December-January (minimum 6-7°C) and continuous drizzle in February-March. From May to October, the weather is hot and humid: 30°C on average, with frequent heavy rainfall until September. Then, the weather in Along Bay becomes beautiful, like an Indian summer until November. Between August and November, it is the typhoon season (rare but unpredictable).
Hô Chi Minh-Ville
The cost of living in the Bay of Along, as everywhere in Vietnam, is relatively low compared to other destinations; however, you should pay attention to inflation before going to Vietnam. The currency of Vietnam is the Vietnamese dông (VND). Although the law states otherwise, it is possible to pay with U.S. dollars at many tourist sites. The euro is more rarely accepted.
Since July 2018, French, Swiss, Belgian and Canadian nationals have been exempt from visa requirements for a stay in Along Bay and Vietnam in general, not exceeding two weeks. For a stay of more than 15 days, or for a multiple entry stay (Cambodia, Laos...), a visa application is required. It is done at the Vietnamese Embassy in Paris. The expiry date of the French passport must not be less than 6 months after the end of the validity of the visa or stay in Along Bay. Vietnam does not recognise foreign or international driving licences. Therefore, a foreigner who wants to drive in Vietnam must complete a validation formality for his driving licence. Be careful, the driving is on the right.
It is advisable to check if your health record is up to date (DT Polio, etc.) before going to Along Bay. No vaccine is required, but vaccines against hepatitis A and B, and typhoid fever are recommended. The main health risks in Along Bay, as in the rest of Vietnam, remain cholera, malaria, avian influenza, dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis, especially in rural areas and when travelling with young children during the rainy season.
Practical information
- When to travel?
- Weather forecast
- Budget
- Formalities
- Health
- How to travel by yourself?
- How to get organized?
- Getting around
Media
How to go to dans la Baie d'Along? Our advice & tips
Along Bay is a very popular destination and widely proposed by travel agencies and tour operators in the region. Most of the time, the discovery of Along Bay on land, sometimes also Along Bay on sea is integrated in a tour in Hanoi area or in a tailor-made trip. Choosing a tour package for this destination will make your life easier, but will be financially less advantageous than a solo trip.
From France, a round-trip air ticket to Hanoi costs between 600 and 1,100 €. To get good prices, it is essential to buy your tickets well in advance. Think about buying your tickets six months before your departure! You can then go to Along Bay by car, bus, shuttle or train.
A cruise in the Along Bay is not improvised, it is preferable, even essential, to go through a local agency to enjoy a cruise in full safety. There are cruises at all prices and often the agencies are based in Hanoi and include in the price of the cruise, the round trip Hanoi-Along by shuttle.
