Halong Bay Things To See & Do

Sun World Halong Bay – Modern Cable Car over an Ancient Sea

[incredible_toc]1. What is the Sun World Halong Cable Car?Not content with merely being one of the 7 New Wonders of the World and twice designated special status by UNESCO, Halong Bay is looking to stretch its influence even further. To this end, the Vietnamese mega-company Sun Group offers the Sun World Halong cable car, providing a beautiful aerial view of the magnificent karst seascape next to which it sits. Until its construction in 2016, the only ways to get a view of Halong Bay from above were from a private helicopter or seaplane; now at a fraction of their price, the Halong Bay cable car takes visitors high above the ocean and the city below it.Enjoy a cable car trip with family in Sun World Halong BayThe cable crosses the 2 halves of Halong City, separated by the mouth of water that joins Cua Luc Bay to the Gulf of Tonkin. The cable runs roughly parallel to Bai Chay Bridge, which connects the two halves by land, comprising one of the best things to do in Halong City if waiting to embark on the next day’s cruise around Halong Bay. The cable system is a great way to enjoy any Vietnam family tour that stops off in Halong before a cruise around the bay.The ‘Queen Cable’, as it is named, is part of the Sun World Halong Complex, a rather bizarre amusement park that opens for just four hours per day. As of late 2018, the park is still in construction, but its iconic Ferris wheel stands completed at 215m above sea level and acts as the terminal point for the Sun World Halong Bay cable car. Sun World Halong Overview2. Information for Halong Bay’s Cable Car• The Halong Bay Sun World cable car system features just two actual cars, but the ambitious capacity of each (230 people max) has seen it granted a Guinness World Record for the highest cable car capacity in the world.• The system’s other claim to fame is the height of its two towers that support the cable, the biggest of which stands at a world record height of 189m.Queen Cable Car in Sun World Halong Bay• The total length of the system is 2,165 meters, running from the ground of the western half of the city to the top of Ba Deo Mountain in the eastern half.• The system is capable of carrying 2000 people every hour but currently carries far fewer than this due to the park being unfinished and attraction limited to the cable car’s views.Sun World Halong Quang Ninh• If you’re looking for how to buy Halong Bay cable car tickets, then be updated to Sun World Halong Tickets 2024 and prepared to spend a bit of cash. At 360,000 VND (USD 14) for adults and 260,000 VND (USD 10) for kids below 1.3m in height, the cable car remains a little on the expensive side for Vietnam, even though most visitors would not think twice about paying that amount in Europe or North America. Tickets are available from the Sun or Ocean stations that act as the system’s terminals.Sun World Halong Cable Car3. How to get to the Sun World Halong Bay Cable CarThere are only 2 major ways to get to Halong City to utilize its cable cars and harbors offering access to Halong Bay. 3.1. By busTraveling by bus is probably the cheapest way to see the Halong City cable car, but bear in mind that the attraction lies about 6km from the bus station, meaning a taxi will be required for the transfer. Similarly, if coming from Hanoi, buses must be caught from Gia Lam or My Dinh stations, which are about 7km and 10km from the city’s central Old Quarter respectively. If coming from Hai Phong’s Niem Nghia station, you will need a taxi for the 3.3km journey from the city’s center.- Price from Hanoi: 170,000 - 260,000 VND (7-10 USD)- Price from Hai Phong: 100,000 VND (USD 4)3.2. By private carSun World Halong Bay sceneryIn a private car, you will have the added luxury of a direct transfer, with drivers able to deliver you from your hotel in Hanoi or Hai Phong straight to the cable’s departure terminal. With a smooth highway connecting Hanoi and Hai Phong to the bay, a private car is certainly the most convenient way to get to Halong’s cable cars, if not the priciest.- Price from Hanoi: Around 2,500,000 VND (USD 100) for a 4-seater- Price from Hai Phong: 1,400,000 VND (USD 60) for a 4-seater4. Other attractions around the Sun World Halong Cable CarThough Halong City is growing in appeal, it is still more commonly seen as not much more than a jumping-off point for Halong Bay. There are always a growing number of land-based things to do in Halong City, all of which make the location a great stop on a Northern Vietnam tour.4.1. Halong BayThe undeniable main attraction of Halong City, and probably of Vietnam overall, Halong Bay draws millions of domestic and foreign tourists every year to its outstandingly beautiful seascape. From a simple day trip from Hanoi to a conclusive 3-day, 2-night cruise around the feet of gorgeous limestone mountains, Halong Bay has something to offer everyone.Halong Bay cruiseDepending on the tour that you select, activities around Halong Bay and its neighboring Bai Tu Long Bay, also accessible from Halong City, can get visitors close to the fascinating geological features of the World Heritage Site. Kayaking, swimming, and visits to impressive caves, secluded islands, and quaint fishing villages comprise much of the excitement to be felt on a Halong Bay Cruise.You can do a day trip or you can do a Halong overnight trip.For more information on the day trip please click on: Halong Bay's full-day tour from Hanoi.4.2. Tuan Chau BeachKayaking on Halong Bay beachOne of the other attractions viewable from the 630ft crest of Halong Bay’s cable car ride is the stretching white sand of Tuan Chau Beach, a 3km crescent-shaped bay on the island of Tuan Chau, from where Halong Bay tours depart. The sand of the beach has been imported to turn the island into a more attractive waiting area, but that fact takes nothing away from the beauty that its architects have been able to create with palm trees and unfettered views of Halong Bay in front. Alongside Tuan Chau Beach, the island features luxury hotels, food courts, a circus, a martial arts show, and many options for watersports and camping.4.3. Buddhist TemplesFor a welcome injection of Vietnamese culture into your trip to Halong, Tran Quoc Nghien Temple and Long Tien Pagoda offer beautiful Buddhist architecture dating as far back as the 13th century. Both were constructed to celebrate the achievements of the Tran Dynasty, the past emperors of which are widely admired for their courage and resolve in resisting the various invaders who attempted to take Vietnam via Halong Bay.Both temples feature their own monthly ‘festivals’ that occur at a certain time in the lunar calendar. These one-day celebrations honor the Tran Dynasty and Buddha through traditional music, feasts, and a palanquin procession.Long Tien Pagoda4.4. Bai Tho Mountain (Poem Mountain) For picture-perfect travel photos, Bai Tho Mountain has been an attractive stop-off for anyone staying in Halong City. After King Le Thang Tong carved a poem into the rocks in 1468, the mountain gained legendary status and now offers a wonderful stone-step ascension to its peak. From here, a gorgeous spectacle stretches out for miles below, as Halong’s rolling mountain landscape rises and dips to the horizon. On the way up, hikers will pass glorious forests clinging to the rock, where monkeys and goats have made their homes.Views from Bai Tho Mountain4.5. The Sun World Ferris WheelAs the final terminal point of the Halong Bay cable car, the accompanying Ferris wheel offers similar aerial views of Halong Bay’s limestone seascape. The wheel sits atop Ba Deo Mountain and has recently become an iconic landmark within Halong city, as its gigantic frame and elevated position of 215m above sea level give it a very lofty view above the city, as well as a Guinness World Record for being the world’s highest Ferris wheel.The wheel is comprised of 64 cabins with a capacity of six people in each, taking about 20 minutes to complete a full cycle. At night, the wheel lights up in colorful tandem with the Bai Chay Bridge next to it, providing Halong City with yet another beautiful string to its bow.Sun World Halong Ferris WheelIf you have any plans to not only Sun World Halong but also other destinations in Halong Bay, Incredible Asia Journeys offers many premium Halong Bay cruise tours, contact us to get information!

Things to do on Cat Ba Island

There is sometimes the tendency to assume that Cat Ba Island is nothing more than a stop-off point for tourists on the way to Lan Ha Bay. The natural beauty and history that reach most corners of the Gulf of Tonkin’s largest island beg to differ, even enough for UNESCO to declare Cat Ba Island a ‘Man and Biosphere Reserve Area’ for its importance in the lives of humans, animals, and plants throughout its ancient history.[incredible_toc]There is no shortage of things to do on Cat Ba Island, but picking just a handful of activities before heading out to Lan Ha Bay can be tricky if you’re short on time. At Incredible Asia Journeys, we’ve found 5 of Cat Ba Island’s top attractions and present them to you here so that you can make the most of your trip to the stunning archipelago of 367 limestone outcrops.Cat Ba Island1. Cat Ba National ParkThe 161 km2 medley of green foliage and grey rock that makes up the heart of Cat Ba Island is Cat Ba National Park, situated right in the middle of the main island. The area is perfect for trekking and has several different tracks suitable for every ability level between beginner and experienced. There are opportunities for short, easy treks to the peaks of hills offering views over the bumpy sea of verdant greenery, and a tough, 6-hour return trek around 18km of bushland that leads to the shoreline and a picturesque fishing village.The potential for seeing Cat Ba langur monkeys is one of Cat Ba Island’s big attractions, though sightings are very rare because of the tiny numbers of langurs left. Just around 65 individuals remain in the only place in the world where they are found, living under the constant threat of poaching which the Vietnamese government is going to huge lengths to stop in a bid to save the critically endangered population.Hiking in Cat Ba National Park2. How to get to Cat Ba National ParkThe main road connecting the north and the south of Cat Ba Island cut through the national park, making it impossible to miss. You can park your motorbike for cheap or you can opt for the public bus (25,000 VND - $1.20) that runs from Cat Ba Town's harbor at 7 am, 11 am, and 3 pm every day.2.1. Hospital CaveA great stop-off on the way to Cat Ba National Park, Hospital Cave comprises another of the historical things to see on Cat Ba Island. An incredibly cheap 15,000 VND ($0.65 USD) will cover the cost of a private tour of this disused military hospital built right into the limestone mountain. Signs, roads, and a staircase now highlight the existence of the once-hidden hospital, but the infirmary went unnoticed during the American War and was eventually abandoned in 1975 when the Americans had been vanquished. During its 12 years, it treated many wounded Viet Cong fighters, along with providing a safe house for its leaders who enjoyed a somewhat leisurely hiding with the use of a swimming pool and cinema room on the second floor.Discover Hospital CaveHow to get to the Hospital CaveOn the drive to Cat Ba National Park, about 10 km northwest of Cat Ba Town, you will see a green sign indicating the path that leads to the Hospital Cave. It is really only accessible by self-driven motorbike or a motorbike taxi from Cat Ba Town.2.2.Cannon FortOne of the best things to do on Cat Ba for historians and non-historians alike, Cannon Fort stands just outside the main town and has magnificent views over the UNESCO-nominated archipelago. Three cannons were built atop the 177m high hill; pulled up the mountain with no mechanical assistance and sat facing the sea to repel naval invaders. Ironically, it was the invading French who ordered their construction, followed by their sabotage upon fleeing, so that the uprising Vietnamese couldn’t use them. However, the Vietnamese fixed them and used them to great effect during the first and second Indochina wars, and now two remain as a testament to the Vietnamese fighting spirit.While the bunker, small military airport, and groups of mannequin soldiers appeal to those interested in history, those who aren’t can climb the hill for the stunning views over Lan Ha Bay. This is truly the best place to take in the majesty of the rolling karst mountains stretching to the horizon, with hidden beaches sitting in alcoves and solo fishing boats sliding silently through the calm waters below.How to get to Cannon FortJust a 10-minute walk from Cat Ba Town will take you to the entrance gate of Cannon Fort, where you will pay 50,000 VND ($2.20) for entry and proceed an extra 20 minutes up the path to the lookout above. If incline walking isn’t your thing, you can pay an extra 50,000 VND for an electric car service that will take you to the top.Cannon Fort in Cat Ba2.3. Viet Hai VillageThe slow development of Viet Hai Village over its many hundreds of years of history gives it a charming, rustic aura. It was earmarked to become a big tourism project in 2011, and the years in between have seen it develop into one of Cat Ba Island’s top attractions in Halong Bay cruise tour. Residents live in charismatic houses with bamboo frames and thatched roofs, while the streets of the village are shared by pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and farmyard animals like buffaloes and goats. Viet Hai is set in the foreground of a beautiful range of forested hills, which eventually turn into rainforests available for exploration by foot. Here can you find Frog Lake, a small but rich body of water flanked by tree-topped limestone.How to get to Viet Hai Village? This is only easily accessible to Lan Ha Bay cruises, a great selection of which you can see here. It usually comprises the morning of the second day of a 3-day itinerary, so all transport to and around Viet Hai will be arranged for you. You can reach Viet Hai on a long trek through Cat Ba National Park and catch the nearby ferry back to Cat Ba Town, but information on this is scant, so you should ask your accommodation for the details.Cycling in Viet Hai Fishing VillageClick here to get information about the best cruises to discover Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba Island!2.4. Tung Thu BeachThe proximity of the famous Cat Co beaches to Cat Ba Town has eventually become their downfall. Throngs of tourists flock to the beach triangle of Cat Co 1, 2 and 3, connected by a wooden walkway that affords good views of the bay but also the constant push and shove of people determined to get the perfect selfie. Overdevelopment has seen a search for an alternative beach escape amongst visitors, and some, but not many, find it at Tung Thu Beach, on the opposite side of Cat Ba Town from Cat Co.For relaxing, there’s no better thing to do on Cat Ba Island than lying on the golden, and most importantly, untouched sands of Tung Thu Beach. This beach was once the site of much development and was destined for the same fate as the Cat Co beaches, but progress seemed to stall due to meager transportation links, so tourists headed to the more accessible Cat Co instead. What’s left at Tung Thu Beach are the shells of resort buildings and just small groups of locals swimming in the waters and lying on the golden sands of what they refer to as ‘Cat Co 4’.Tung Thu BeachHow to get to Tung Thu BeachUtilizing the services of a motorbike to stop at Tung Thu Beach on the way to the Hospital Cave and Cat Ba National Park will give you a fantastic itinerary for a full-day trip around Cat Ba Island. If it’s an entire day of relaxing you’re after, then you can get a motorbike taxi (xe om) from Cat Ba town, or just walk the 1.2 km northeast until you reach an arch on the road signaling the entrance to the beach.You May Like:Cat Ba Island Cable CarHow Long To Stay On Cat Ba IslandShould You Visit Cat Ba or Phu Quoc