A typical tourist symbol of Halong Bay – Vietnam Trong Mai Islet is an attractive tourist destination for tourists, especially couples who come to capture happy moments and pray for eternal love. Today, let’s find out with Halong Private Car about the tour route, prices, as well as specific notes for your upcoming trip to Trong Mai Islet!
Where is Trong Mai Islet in Halong Bay?
Hon Trong Mai is a cluster of islands about 12m high, located near Dinh Huong Islet, southwest of Halong Bay, about 5km from ports such as Tuan Chau, Bai Chay. From afar, the island looks like two roosters and a hen standing opposite each other in the endless space of the bay, creating a unique symbol of love in the middle of the ocean.
Because of this, Ga Choi Island is always ranked among the top tourist attractions when coming to Halong Bay, and always appears on the homepages of websites or articles of the Vietnam tourism Government.
Why is it called Trong Mai?
According to the locals, the name Trong Mai Islet comes from an ancient legend about a pair of extremely attractive roosters and hens.
During the time of the founding of Vietnam, the people suffered from invasion and looting. Seeing this, the Jade Emperor sent a group of Dragons down to help the people fight off the invaders. After completing their mission, the Dragons never returned to heaven, so the Jade Emperor ordered a pair of chickens to find the dragons.
Coincidentally, it was a pair of roosters and hens. When they arrived in the earthly world, they were fascinated by the natural scenery here and forgot their assigned mission. Just like that, they turned into two rocks facing each other in the middle of the Halong Sea and sky.
From then on, the island has been named Trong Mai until today. In addition to the name Trong Mai Islet, there are other names such as Kissing Rocks, Fighting cocks islet, Ga Choi island.
Trong Mai Islet Itinerary Guide
To transfer to Ga Choi island, you can search for information about the Halong Bay ports itinerary.
From Hanoi or Hai Phong to Halong Bay
Tourists traveling from Hanoi or Hai Phong will have more diverse options on their trip to Halong Bay. These are two neighboring cities of Halong, so you can choose one of the means of transport, such as train, bus, private car, motorbike,…
- Distance from Hanoi to Halong Bay: 173km (2 hours 40 minutes)
- Distance from Hai Phong to Halong Bay: 80km (1 hour 16 minutes)
Using Train
Trains are a public means of transport commonly used by both domestic and foreign tourists to travel from Hanoi to Halong Bay or Kissing Chicken Rocks. The advantages of traveling by train are that the cost is quite affordable, you can enjoy the scenery during the trip, and choose from a variety of train cabins.
Using shuttle bus
Hanoi and Hai Phong are cities with many bus stations to other provinces, including Halong Bay. Shuttle bus is an option for tourists who want a cheap means of transportation, do not require high privacy, and other personal services.
Using motor
For customers who love independent travel, especially backpacking, motorbikes are definitely the right choice for you. The routes from Hanoi or Hai Phong to Halong Bay are covered with beautiful mountain and sea views. Driving while taking souvenir photos is a very interesting experience.
When using a motorbike is important to carefully check the quality of the vehicle, and fill the tank with gas for a smooth trip.
Using private car
A safe, convenient, and personalized solution is to use a private car service. This is a suitable choice for families and friends who want to enjoy personal privileges and flexibility in their schedules.
When using a private car service, customers will enjoy a series of privileges such as: choosing the type of car that suits their needs, freely arranging their travel schedule, requesting to stop at any time to rest, sightsee, and having a driver who can communicate in English and is ready to support customers. All services are personalized to ensure you receive the best service.
Refer to some private car routes from Halong Bay to other provinces below:
- Halong Bay To Pu Luong Luxury Car
- Halong Bay To Moc Chau Luxury Car
- Halong Bay To Hanoi Private Car
- Halong Bay To Hai Phong Private Car
- Halong Bay To Cat Bi Airport Private Car
From Southern provinces to Halong Bay
From further provinces to Halong Bay, the best means of transport you should use is by plane. It only takes 1 to 2 hours to get to one of two airports, Noi Bai or Van Don. In case you land at Noi Bai airport, you can continue to choose the shuttle service if you have booked a Halong tour, or use passenger vans, buses, or private cars to get to the seaports in Halong Bay.
In Halong Bay, there are two main seaports: Tuan Chau port, about 12km from Halong city, and Halong International Passenger Port located right in the city center.
Cruise routes to Ga Choi Island
There are many ways to visit Trong Mai Islet, the most popular of which is to buy a day tour of the islands, including Ga Choi Island. With this option, tourists will take a cruise tour to each area as in the available itinerary within 3-4 hours and then return to the departure port.
Currently, Halong Bay is offering 5 island tours, including 2 tours including Trong Mai Islet, see detailed information below:
Route 1
| Departure time | 08:00 – 12:00 / 12:00 – 16:00 |
| Port | Tuan Chau/Halong International Port |
| Duration | 3,5-4 hours morning or afternoon |
| Itinerary | Tuan Chau Port – Thien Cung Cave – Dau Go Cave – Cho Da Islet – Ba Hang Islet – Dinh Huong Islet – Trong Mai Islet |
Route 1 includes:
- Cruise fee: 150,000VNĐ
- Sight-seeing ticket: 310,000VNĐ (include entrance fee: 60,000VNĐ)
- Lunch fee: 170,000VNĐ
- Kayak (canoe) fee: 50,000VNĐ
Total: 680,000VNĐ
Route 5
| Departure time | 08:00 -18:00 |
| Port | Tuan Chau/Halong International Port |
| Duration | 6-8 hours |
| Itinerary | Tuan Chau port – Thien Cung Cave – Thay Cave – Dau Go Cave – Cho Da Cave – Ba Hang Village – Dinh Huong Cave – Trong Mai Islet – Gia Luan port |
Route 5 includes:
- Cruise fee: 150,000VNĐ
- Sight-seeing ticket: 310,000VNĐ (include entrance fee: 60,000VNĐ)
- Lunch fee: 170,000VNĐ
- Kayak (canoe) fee: 50,000VNĐ
Total: 680,000VNĐ
Choose the type of Halong Bay cruise
Currently, for the Halong Bay day tour, there are 4 types of sightseeing cruises you can choose from: 48-passenger cruise, 72-passenger cruise, 99-passenger cruise, and 200-500-passenger cruise.
| Cruise type | Main features |
| 48 passengers | There are 2 types: wooden and iron ships, including 2 floors |
| 72 passengers | Ships with iron and steel frames, from 1 to 3 floors |
| 99 passengers | Serving tours, 7,8 hours, many diverse services |
| 200 – 500 passengers | The most luxurious cruise ship, including 5 floors, provides full services of food, accommodation, and entertainment |
To choose the right type of ship and calculate the budget Halong Bay cruise, you will consider criteria including the number of people traveling, ship class, shipping company, travel time (with or without accommodation), service needs, and financial capacity. You can read reviews from travelers who have traveled to have a more objective assessment.
Other Transportation to Trong Mai Islet
In addition to the sightseeing cruise service, there are many other transportation options to Choi Island Station that tourists can refer to.
Night cruise
Budget: 2.500.000 – 6.000.000VNĐ
Accommodation ships are a more upscale means of sightseeing than day cruises. This type of ship is often provided by private companies with modern equipment, enough to accommodate large groups of guests.
On board, there are full services such as bars, restaurants, spas and accompanying activities such as kayaking or fishing, depending on the type of ship tourists choose.
Accommodation ships usually have a stay and sightseeing time on board of 2 days, 1 night.
Seaplane
Budget: 2.500.000 – 4.000.000VNĐ
In addition to using the cruise, tourists can also rent a seaplane to experience a new feeling when visiting Trong Mai islet with a view from above.
A seaplane flight includes departing from the apron, moving through famous islands, including Choi Island Station, and returning to the apron.
Notice about Ga Choi Island Itinerary
To have a convenient trip to visit Trong Mai islet, you should refer to some of the following things in advance:
Calculate the costs carefully: determine the costs in advance, including private cruise rental fee, sightseeing fee, on-board services, number of visitors, type of cruise, and cruise time.
Book a tour in advance: In case of a large number of guests, you should contact and book a tour in advance to choose a cruise with suitable capacity and cost
Buy on a reputable website: Carefully research websites that provide Halong Bay cruise services, and avoid websites that sell tours at too cheap or too high prices.
Arrive at the port 30 minutes in advance: Tourists must arrive 30 minutes before departure time to check in information prepare necessary items before boarding the cruise.
The cruise does not dock on the island: When using the sightseeing cruise service, you can only see Trong Mai islet from the cruise. Therefore, you can choose locations such as the bow of the cruise to have the best view.
Children and the elderly: Short cruise tours are often suitable for groups with children and the elderly to ensure health
Bring necessary personal items: You should bring sunscreen, hats, motion sickness medicine, drinking water, cameras, filming equipment, and spare batteries to take memorable photos
Comply with the regulations on the ship: Do not stand on the railing, on the bow of the ship, do not touch the stalactites in the cave, and maintain general hygiene
The attractive destinations besides Trong Mai Islet
On the route to explore Halong Bay to Trong Mai Islet, what are the attractive destinations? Let’s explore below:
Cho Da Islet
Belonging to tourist routes 1 and 5, Dog Islet has the symbol of a dog turning its back to the sea, about 8m away, located 10 minutes away from Thien Cung cave. This is considered one of the most uniquely shaped islands in Halong Bay, next to the Ga Choi Islet symbol.
Ba Hang Village
Belonging to tourist routes 1 and 5, Ba Hang fishing village is a peaceful small village, close to Dau Go Cave. The word “Ba Hang,” which means “three caves,” comes from the phenomenon of low tide, where will appear 3 mysterious caves appear.
When coming to Ba Hang Village, you can observe the daily fishing and farming life of about 50 households that have been living here.
Dinh Huong Islet
Located to the west of Dau Go Cave, Dinh Huong Islet is a beautiful island that you can explore when traveling on tourist routes 1 and 5. The island has the shape of an incense burner – an object used for worshiping ancestors in Vietnamese families. This is also a symbol printed on the 200,000 VND bill.
Thay Cave
Thay Cave is a 150m deep, 3m high cave, about 20km from the ports, on tourist route 5.
This is a cave with a mysterious and attractive space. In the middle of the cave is a large lake with water flowing down from the top of the mountain day and night. Exploring the cave space, you will be attracted by thousands of stalactites with hanging shapes and shimmering colors.
Above is all the information related to the Trong Mai Islet Halong Bay tour route, with the latest price list. Hopefully, the article has provided you with the most necessary information for a convenient trip. Halong Private Car hopes you will have relaxing and memorable moments on your upcoming trip to Trong Mai islet.