Making the most of Halong Bay Cai Lan
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Large cruise ships previously had to anchor offshore and use tenders to ferry passengers to the city’s wharf. As of November 2018 the opening of Halong’s international passenger port changes all that allowing ships to dock at the port adjacent to a brand new Hon Gai International Passenger Terminal.
There is really nothing in the Halong Bay area/port area to see except Halong Bay itself.
Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, Ha Long Bay is considered the most outstanding attraction in Vietnam. Its breathtaking scenery includes caves, huge rock arches, peaceful coves and some 3,000 limestone islets that rise out of the Gulf of Tonkin. Ha Long means "descending dragon". According to legend, it was an enormous beast that cut the fantastic bay from the rocks as it thrashed its way out to the sea. Vietnamese poets traditionally have extolled the beauty of this romantic area, where awesome rock formations are one of the most exotic, natural wonders in the world.