Halong Bay

Living in the concrete jungles that we do, we rarely get to appreciate how beautiful planet Earth truly is. You will have no such troubles during your holiday in Halong Bay. The Bay is littered with 1,600 limestone islands and islets and covers an area of over 1,500 SQ km. The most popular of these islands is the Cat Ba Island. The island consists of rugged sandy beaches and dense jungles. The island's popularity has led to the construction of many hotels, bars, and restaurants. But one thing that will become very evident during your holiday in Halong Bay is how untouched Cat Ba's rich natural splendor remains. The locals of Cat Ba Island have not let the influx of tourists influence their daily lives. They still do what they have done for thousands of years for their livelihoods, fish. Dau Be Island is a swimmer’s paradise. With three inland lakes and rich corals and deep grottoes which make it perfect for diving, Dau Be Island is favorite of the travelers. The luscious greenery on the islands serve as habitat for a rare and diverse range of animals such as the golden-headed langur monkey. Halong Bay, with its picturesque setting, is undoubtedly a photographers dream.

Dau Be Island is also home to caves which can only be accessed at low tide via rowing boats. Caves can also be found on the Bo Hon Island. Pelican Caves are popular among the tourists on Bo Hon Island. Also on Bo Hon Island is the most famous of all of Halong Bay's caves, the Virgin Cave. The Virgin Cave is a tourist hotspot thanks to the presence of a shrine that legend dictates belonged to a girl who had committed suicide on the island. One of Halong Bay's chief attractions is the floating houses. Locals have been living and fishing off of these floating houses for decades. Tourists can arrange to stay on these houses on the water.

Since it is a Bay consisting of hundreds of islands, there are many boat tours on offer for tourists on a holiday in Halong Bay. Tourists are encouraged to spend at least one night on a boat. This leads to a more special perspective on the magnificence of Halong Bay. You can stop on any particular island in the Bay and go for a swim. Or maybe hone your diving and snorkeling skills. There is something heavenly in being in the water of Halong Bay with rolling hills serving as the background for as far the eye can see. Tourists can go trekking through the forests present on the islands as well. There are various trekking routes available which provide visitors with an up-close and personal look at many of the animals on the islands. You can even take a bicycle trip around the islands and visit traditional villages like the Viet Hai Village. The Cat Ba Island Resort and Spa has a water park which is great fun for the family during their holiday in Halong Bay. It is the only one of its kind in Vietnam.

When you are on a tropical island, you will find fish to be a constant in all the local dishes. Majority of the restaurants in Halong Bay are beach front and serve mostly seafood. You will find your fair share of Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants as well. One of the top restaurants in Halong Bay is the floating restaurant on Cat Ba Island. Enjoy your meal that is freshly caught from the water and cooked in front of you for your satisfaction.  Recently, many international cuisines have become widely available in Halong Bay. Nightlife in Halong Bay is far from being a crazy scene bursting with energy. But, one can easily take in the breathtaking setting of the Bay at night on a boat or sitting in any of the beachside restaurants. All this makes your holiday in Halong Bay all the more interesting.

When you travel to a tropical country like Vietnam, you can expect typical tropical weather everywhere in the country.

And that is exactly what you will get during your holiday in Halong Bay. It rains like cats and dogs in Halong Bay. To the locals here, that is nothing new. Rain rarely prevents a Vietnamese from getting his job done. But, rain can prove to be quite a distraction for the internationals on a holiday in Halong Bay. So, how do you prevent rain from ruining your vacation plans in Halong Bay? Well for starters, you have to know that Halong Bay, just like the rest of Vietnam, has two distinct seasons. These are the wet season and the dry season. Remember though, no matter the season, you will always need to carry an umbrella, sunscreen and a hat during your stay here.

"Better Avoid" Rainy Season

From May to September, the weather here is hot, humid, and windy. Halong Bay is unique as it has two monsoons. As a result, it is very windy and then there is the constant rain. Halong Bay receives an annual 1832mm of rainfall, 85 percent of which is falls during this season. Halong Bay is one of the most humid cities in Vietnam, with humidity going as far up as 90 percent. Despite the incessant rainfall, temperatures in Halong Bay soar up to the mid30s during the rainy season. This time of the year is best avoided. Although, if you are willing to risk it, ticket prices are the cheapest during this period.

"Perfect for a Holiday" Dry Season

If you are looking to get the most out of your holiday in Halong Bay, then the dry season is definitely your best bet. Dry season witnesses the least amount of rainfall in Halong Bay. In fact, the rainfall during the dry season only amounts to 12 percent of the total rainfall that Halong Bay receives in a year. November marks the beginning of the dry season. Though temperatures, for the most part, remain in the mid20s, January is awfully cold as the temperature can go as low as 5 degrees. Of course, the temperature then rises as we approach April of the following year. It is worth noting that Halong Bay's geographical location ensures that there is a very low chance of a tropical thunderstorm hitting this part of the world. As this is the peak season, tickets are a bit on the expensive side. But, once you get to Halong Bay, it is completely worth it.