Introduction
Due to the overwhelming fame of Halong Bay cruises, many tourists may wonder: What to do in Halong Bay besides a cruise? When mentioning Halong, going on a cruise is often the first thing that comes to mind. But what else? Is that the only activity Halong has to offer visitors? Of course not.
Halong Bay cruises are so popular since travelers can admire the quintessence of Halong—the miracles of natural limestone karsts growing from the emerald water. Kayaking, swimming, mountain climbing, or night squid fishing included in a Halong cruise also attract many vacationers.
But what if one is prone to seasickness or simply doesn’t like those activities? Also, a Halong cruise only lasts from one to three days. What if it doesn’t suit your schedules? What if you have done a Halong cruise before?
Is there anything left in Halong for holidaymakers with seasickness, tight/longer schedules, or on a repeat visit? Yes. In this article, Halong Private Car will spotlight land-based or alternative experiences for non-cruise visitors to Halong Bay.
Now, let’s consider the top 10 things to do in Halong Bay besides a cruise.
Top 10 Activities To Do In Halong Bay Instead Of A Cruise
Enjoy Halong’s Largest Amusement Park
First, those who love thrilling and dynamic activities should go on a day trip to Halong’s best theme park—the Sun World Halong Complex.
Significantly invested in by Sun Group, the theme park in Halong is considered one of the biggest entertainment hubs in Vietnam. It promises visitors to Halong an exciting alternative to a Halong cruise.
What will you do and see in Sun World Halong Park?
- Queen Cable Car: Not less than a cruise, this world’s highest cable car can provide tourists with impressive panoramic views of the bay. At a height of 188,88 m, you will fly over crystal-clear water, limestone islets, and toy-size cruise ships. It opens an otherworldly vista for visitors.
- Mysterious Hill: After the cable car ride, you will arrive at a hill full of ancient and vibrant vibes. You will see a Japan-style Zen Garden, puppetry, Kidoland, and Magic Land. Most especially, you can take a ride on the Sun Wheel to admire the bird-eye views of Halong Bay.
- Dragon Park: This is an amazing place for adventurous visitors. You can join over 30 thrilling amusement rides.
- Typhoon Water Park: It has both adventure water slides for those who fancy great excitement and gentle water games for kids.
In short, the Sun World Halong Complex includes adventure rides, an interesting water park, and various other family-friendly attractions. It’s perfect for friend groups, families, those with kids, and even couples.
It costs from $8–30 per person and opens from 9 AM to 8 PM, every day.
Relax At Bai Chay Beach & Seafront
Bai Chay Beach in Halong is an artificial beach with a length of 1000 meters and a width of 100 meters. Despite being a human-made beach, Bai Chay offers tourists stunning viewpoints of natural landscapes in Halong Bay.
Moreover, it’s one of the most vibrant hotspots for Halong entertainment. You can find waterspots, local street food, and beachside cafes at this beach. We recommend the following activities on Bai Chay Beach:
- Rest by the beach by swimming, sunbathing, kayaking, and surfing.
- Visit Bai Chay Ancient Town to enjoy a busy ambiance and various souvenir shops, cafes, and pubs.
- Spend Halong nightlife at Bai Chay Night Market.
- Stroll along the Bai Chay Bridge to admire the sunset or night views.
- Chill out at the seaside cafeterias and bars
Discover Quang Ninh Museum & Library
Don’t misunderstand that Halong only has beach activities. You can discover its culture at the Quang Ninh Museum & Library. The fact that many tourists add this place to their Halong to-do lists proves its charms.
A modern exhibition space will open in front of visitors with striking black glass architecture. Many have been impressed by the exteriors, interiors, and space arrangements of this museum. It will bring tourists a deeper insight into the local culture and history.
Furthermore, it features marine exhibits. Under the clear light system, you can admire giant dolphin and shark bones. Also, learn about the sea and oceanic evolution history via the videos on LED screens.
We suppose this indoor place will be suitable for those looking for a cozy location for rainy days in Halong, nature lovers, or families who want to let their kids embrace helpful information in a joyful environment.
Quang Ninh Museum’s opening time is from 8—11:30 AM and 1:30—5 PM. It costs 40,000 VND per person.
Taste Local Culinary Delights
Cuisine exploration is definitely among what to do in Halong Bay besides a cruise. Located by the sea, Halong has an abundant source of food, especially seafood. Discovering the local culinary art is also an unmissable activity for tourists.
So, what to eat in Halong Bay? We recommend the below best food highlights:
- Grilled seafood
- Squid cakes (or chả mực)
- Seafood hotpot
- Street food in Halong Night Market
- Local coffee
- Beachfront BBQ joints
Explore Cat Ba Island
Travelers on their repeat visit to Halong Bay should turn to Cat Ba Island if they don’t want another cruise. Cat Ba Island is one of the most beautiful islands in Vietnam, with numerous landscapes to admire.
Several activities in Cat Ba Island will keep you busy for a couple of days. For example, you can join a trek in Cat Ba National Park to immerse yourself in lush trails, the pure air of nature, and especially embrace the Ngu Lam Peak views.
Additionally, you can visit Hospital Cave and learn about what happened here in the past. It’s widely known as a historical wartime hideout. Besides, you can relax at Cat Co beaches, which offer scenic coastal chill spots.
Moreover, if you want to join beach activities such as kayaking, Lan Ha Bay will be the best spot for that. Lan Ha Bay is not as popular as Halong Bay, but its beauty is no less. It offers a quieter alternative to Halong Bay.
Take A Spiritual Trip To Yen Tu Mountain
Yen Tu Mountain is a gigantic mountain range with a height of 711 meters at its peak. Its ambiguous, holy, and serene vibes make this place a perfect getaway for those interested in spiritual tourism and mountain climbing.
What to do in Yen Tu Mountain in Halong Bay? We suggest:
- Visiting an ancient Buddhist pilgrimage site—Yen Tu Pagoda (Dong Pagoda)
- Conquering Yen Tu Peak by overcoming a thousand-step challenge staircase
- Ride a cable car to Yen Tu Peak ($5 per person, from 7 AM to 6 PM)
- Admiring charming landscapes on forest paths
- Enjoying peaceful temples and pagodas, such as Hoa Yen Pagoda, Lan Pagoda, Bi Thuong Pagoda, etc.
- Learning about the local religion features, especially the Truc Lam Yen Tu
Go Caving On Land
Cruises in Halong Bay normally include visits to caves, such as Sung Sot Cave or Luon Cave. But Halong has more caves than that. You can take a cave tour in Halong, often accessible via land or short boat rides, without joining a cruise.
We recommend that vacationers visit Thien Cung Cave (Heavenly Palace Cave), Tien Ong Cave, Trinh Nu Cave, Dau Go Cave, etc. Caves in Halong provide a cool ambiance to admire dramatic rock formations, with the support of good lighting setups.
Visit Native Fishing Villages
If you still don’t know what to do in Halong Bay besides a cruise, welcome to the small villages built by local fishermen. Cua Van and Vung Vieng Village will bring you a new wind of how the local life is actually going on.
The Halong’s simple and heartfelt fishing lifestyle opens with floating villages created by tiny houses intertwined together amidst the bay’s islands. The locals are all fishermen who work on the sea or sell the local products. Visitors can admire their daily pace of life, relaxing and full of peace.
What’s more, you can visit a pearl village, a favorite of travelers who love pearls and pearl jewelry. You can learn about how pearls are produced, visit pearl farms and museums, and buy pearl souvenirs.
Go Shopping In Halong City
Shopping is also an interesting activity to do in Halong Bay apart from a cruise. Many tourists want to spend money on local products, experience the local merchandise, or buy souvenirs. Then, don’t miss out on the best shopping center in Halong Bay: Marine Plaza, also known as Halong Night Market.
Marine Plaza Halong is located on Hoang Quoc Viet Street, Halong City. It’s open from 7 AM to 10 PM every day. It possesses about a hundred stores, ranging from fashion products and daily items to electronics and souvenirs.
Moreover, Halong Plaza can meet your food cravings with various culinary counters and luxurious restaurants with sea views. Finally, entertainment activities, such as cinemas, billiards, bowling, electronic games, and kid zones, are found here.
Bonus: Wellness And Retreat Options
Last but not least, we have a very relaxing option for those with tourism fatigue—a wellness retreat at spas, yoga centers, eco-lodges, or beachfront massage lounges.
Many tourists need wellness care after days of traveling. And Halong is among the good places for health services. Let’s go over several wellness care service establishments in Halong Bay as follows:
Here are some of the best wellness care destinations in Hạ Long Bay, ranging from luxury resorts with spas to wellness retreats and scenic experiences:
- Yoko Onsen Quang Hanh by Sun Group
This is a luxurious Japanese-style hot spring and wellness resort. It offers indoor and outdoor natural onsen baths, Himalayan salt saunas, Japanese herbal baths, traditional Ryokan-style rooms, and wellness cuisine.
- Premier Village Ha Long Bay Resort
You will enjoy a luxury beachfront resort with private villas, with features such as ocean-view spa treatments, in-room massages, fitness, and yoga spaces.
- Vinpearl Resort & Spa Halong
Here is a 5-star island resort on Reu Island with Vincharm Spa offering professional treatments using natural ingredients. Additionally, it provides a secluded beach, yoga by the sea, and detox cuisine options
- Sunrise Yoga at Bai Tho Mountain
If you’re looking for a more natural retreat, you can try a moderate hike and guided yoga overlooking the bay on Bai Tho Mountain. It’s very popular with small groups and solo travelers.
- Local spas in Bai Chay Beach area
If you’re looking for a more affordable pampering in Halong Bay, you can choose one of the spas run by the locals in the Bai Chay Beach area. We suggest the Moonlight Spa, Moc Tra Sauna Massage, Hai Trang Massage, and Herbal Spa Ha Long.
Conclusion
All in all, you can see that Halong Bay is much more than just cruising. Instead, Halong offers a wide variety of activities, ranging from natural landmarks, such as caves, beaches, islands, and mountains, to entertainment hubs, such as theme parks, exhibitions, and shopping malls.
Visiting Halong Bay doesn’t mean you must go on a cruise. If you’re not into it, just embark on an off-the-beaten-path exploration. Or, those who have a longer stay in Halong should combine a cruise with land activities for a full experience.
Halong Private Car hopes that our blog on what to do in Halong Bay besides a cruise has helped our dear travelers find good answers and suggestions for their upcoming visit to Halong Bay, Vietnam. We wish you the best journeys. Thanks for reading.