Islands and islets in Halong bay

Halong bay boasts thousands of islands and islets of weird shapes and sizes, below are some of them.

Dinh Huong Islet
Dinh Huong Islet (Incense Burner Islet) is so-called Lu Huong Islet. It's located in the southwest of Dau Go Island (about 6 kilometers from Bai Chay Tourist Wharf, Halong)
Dinh Huong Islet comprises only one huge stone. When the tide is low, tourists can see its four pins underneath. The islet is in the shape of an incense burner in the middle of the sea. In the majestic setting of sea and islands, Dinh Huong Islet seems like a holy symbol dedicated to national heroes who died to protect the country.
Dinh Huong Islet is an outstanding site of Halong bay that draws the attraction of several tourists coming to Halong. Nowadays, it’s easy to find the image of Dinh Huong Islet on the 200.000 VND bill.

Mat Quy Islet
Mat Quy Islet (Monster Head Islet) is situated in the territory of Bai Tu Long Bay, near Am Islet (Kettle Islet). Mat Quy Islet is about 30-35 meters above the sea level.
Mat Quy Islet is about 30-35 meters above the sea level. It’s considered as a sculptural masterpiece of the Creator in the vast expanse of water. Looking from a far, it’s easy to imagine the islet is a fossilized head of a monster. The monster head has a big nose on a distorted face.
This horrible islet is interested by tourists visiting Halong bay. Some local inhabitants believe that the islet is head of the monster which was killed by Kim Quy (the Golden Turtoise) as its criminal against man.

Thien Nga Islet
Thien Nga Islet (Swan Islet) is a stone island situated on Bai Tu Long Bay, right next to Cong Tay Island. Thien Nga Islet is about 15 meters high above the sea level.
The islet comprises three stones piling on each others. The largest block forms a swan body and the two left shapes a head and neck of the swan. The perfect combination of blocks creates a great sculpture sharing the shape with a swan. Gazing from a far distance, the islet resembles a beautiful swan swimming on the sea and losing its herd.
Thien Nga Islet is a wonderful sculpture of nature that impresses many tourists on the cruise on Halong bay.

Am islet
On the route to Quan Lan – Ngoc Vung islands; Am Rock or Kettle Islet is situated in Bai Tu Long Bay. An island jutting out of the seawaters, the teapot of the Jade Emperor, who accidentally dropped it into H? Long so, its handle was broken.







But Islet
Some 30-minute boating away from the Con Coc Islet, on the way to the Ba Trai Dao (Three Peaches) Island, visitors see a pen bobbing (But Islet) in the seawaters. This constitutes a monument of knowledge Mother Dragon wanted to pass down to the present-day generations. Lying adjacent to the Pen Islet is a small attractive beach. Tourists can anchor there to take a bath.



Tuan Chau Island
Tuan Chau Island is a newly established tourism center of Ha Long City, which is only 8 kilometers away from downtown Ha Long. The whole area of this island is about 2.2 square kilometers, which consists of multiple sloping hills.
Today, Tuan Chau is really the most attractive site of Ha Long with numerous constructions for the sake of pleasing tourist. From the entrance of this tourism complex, tourists can see a chain of international standard villas. Going deeper into the island, streets of foods courts and five luxury restaurants designed with the ancient royal architecture are able to serve up to 1,000 customers.
Tuan Chau Beach is artificial, stretching over 2 kilometers long with white smooth sand and yellow sunshine the whole summer. Visiting Tuan Chau, you would never have to worry about your accommodation with more than 400 rooms of international standard at your service: private villa, luxury resort, or high-end hotel.
In Tuan Chau, tourists might also enjoy a variety of exciting activities like Jet Ski, canoes parachute, sea fishing, kayaking, mountain climbing, camping, or lavish services and entertainment such as dolphin show, seal show, circus, and martial art show 6 days a week (except Monday). Come to Tuan Chau Island, come to the heaven on Earth.

Bo Hon Island
When speaking of the beautiful islands of Ha Long Bay, one must speak of B? Hòn Island or Soap-Berry Tree Island, not only because of its splendid scenery, but also as it is one of the largest in the area. There are many grottoes located here, such as the Surprise, Lu?n, Virgin and Male grottoes. There is also a concentration of high mountains with vertical cliffs like citadel wall; mountains follow closely make a huge beautiful watercolour picture on the sea.

Trong Mai Islet
Trong Mai (Fighting cocks) Islet is situated on the south-west side of Ha Long Bay, 5 km from the tourist wharf near to Dinh Huong Islet. In a somewhat large expanse of open sea, the island seems to grow up from the bottom of the deep emerald waters. At sunset, the island with the height of over 10 m is bright red and in a somewhat tottery position.




Dau Nguoi Islet
Dau Nguoi (Man's head) Islet. From a far, you can see a 25-meter islet, which reminds us of a huge Egyptian head with a big nose. Its chin lies close to the sea surface. Many people associate it with the image of the Egyptian Sphinx. The Dau Nguoi Islet in Ha Long Bay, a masterpiece of nature, has its own poetic beauty as it lies amidst seawaters. The islet lies near Lu?n Cave, 13 km away from the tourist wharf.


Ba Trai Dao Islet
Ba Trai Dao Islet (Three Peaches Islet) lays near Cat Ba Island, in the territory of Halong City, Quang Ninh Province. It is 22 kilometers far from Bai Chay Tourist Wharf to the Southeast. By speedboat, it takes about an hour from Bai Chay Tourist Wharf.
The islet is a group of three small mountains which look like three peaches from a far. The average height of three mountains is 23 meters. It’s featured with Ba Trai Dao Beach which is one of the most beautiful beaches on Halong bay. The beach has the shape of a bow embracing the islet. However, tourists just can swim at the beach in about 2 – 3 hours a day because the tide rises and engulfs the beach.
The local residents of Halong Bay now still tell the old story about the origination of Ba Trai Dao Islet. Story has it that the youngest daughter of the God fell in love with a poor fisherman. As she wanted him to be immortal to be with her forever, she stole three peaches in the heaven for him. The God noticed and was very angry. He turned three peaches into three stone mountains on the sea. Therefore, the locals named the islet as “Ba Trai Dao” Islet (Three Peaches Islet).

Xep Islet
Xep Islet or Layer Islet is a huge, multi-layered, square piece of stone which looks like an Egyptian pyramid built in the middle of the Bai Tu Long Bay, Cam Pha District.









Con Coc Islet
Con Coc Islet (Toad Islet) is situated about 12 kilometers from Bai Chay tourist wharf to the Southeast of Halong Bay. It's about 9 meters high above the sea level. Viewing from a far distance, the islet looks like a big toad which is waiting for the rain at the middle of the sea.
According to a story of Vietnamese people, once upon a time, the God forgot making rain and this resulted in continuing serious drought threatening the live of all species. A brave toad led a group of animals to meet the God and asked him for a rain. That toad was honored as the uncle of God. Thereafter, when the toad grinds its teeth together, it’s rain immediately. The grind of the toad has become a sign of rain and helps Vietnamese farmers forecast the weather in agriculture.

Cong Do Island
On the south-east side of Ha Long Bay, about 25 km from Bai Cháy Wharf, Cong Do is in Bái Tu Long Bay in the region which recognised as the World Heritage. It has an area of 23,363 sq. m, and its mountain reaches a peak of 172 m. The island features many lagoons, which are the residence of numerous species of sea-life, such as shrimp, crab, fish, squid and aquatic plants. On the south-west side of the island, there is a wide coral reef displaying a myriad of colours.
Coral reef ecosystem is more than 700 m long and 300 m wide. It is preserved almost undamaged. In the future, there are plans for the development of a zone for scuba-diving. On the south-east side of the island, vestiges of the ancient commercial port of Vân Don were discovered. This confirms beliefs that Cong Do Island once held an important position in terms of foreign trade.

Cho Da Islet
Cho Da Islet – In the itinerary of Thien Cung – Dau Go – Ti Top, after visiting Thien Cung and Dau Go, one needs 10 minutes boating to the Cho Da Islet or Stone Dog Islet.
Some 8m up the islet one can figure out a piece of stone in the shape of a dog sitting with its back to the sea, standing guard for the safety of seagoing boats for millions of years




Cong Tay Island
In the Ngoc Vung - Quan Lan islands itinerary, one will visit Cong Tay Island, which lies at the Bai Tu Long Bay, 40 km away from the Bai Chay Tourist Wharf. From Cam Pha, express boats will take you 30 minutes or 90 minutes by common boats to reach Cong Tay Island.
Cong Tay Island is considered the Cinderella in a legendary tale. The Cam Pha Coal Construction and Port Company built a resort in the island to attract holidaymakers. A system of villas and restaurants lies very close to the beach. Red brick-paved, coconut-lined roads lead from the villas to the beach. Hammocks are available here and there for tourists to relax and view the sea.

Dau Moi Islet
Dau Moi Islet lies in the middle of the route between Am Islet and Dua Islet in Bai Tu Long Bay. The islet resembles the head of a termite, a kind of insect often seen prior to the rainy season. Dau Moi Islet is listed in the diversified “animal collection” of Ha Long Bay.







Dau Be Island
Dau Be Island is 500 m west of Hang Trai Island, and 28 km from the Bai Chay Tourist Wharf, in an archipelago comprised of the Tra Le islands outside the southeast side of Halong Bay (seaport of Lan Ha Bay). It has an area of 22,863 sq. m, and its highest peak reaches 139 m. When speaking of the island, it is impossible not mention to Ba Ham Lake, a famous spot which people had known a long time ago.



Ngoc Vung Island
Ngoc Vung or Gem Island, is a pretty site sitting between the Net Islet and Phuong Hoang (Phoenix) Island, in the Van Don District. From above, Ngoc Vung looks like a beautiful velvet handkerchief with exquisite white edgings; it seems to float on the water surface. On the east side of the island there is a kilometres-beach with pure white sand. At the centre is a luxuriant benjamin fig tree; it was under this tree that Ho Chí Minh stood and conversed with the population in 1962 during a visit.
Formerly, under the feudal dynasties, this island zone contained a great quantity of rare and precious species of mother-of-pearls. At night, fluorescent pearls would light up the whole region. So there are several islands having name “Ngoc” such as Ngoc Vung (dazzling pearl), Minh Chau (Ngoc Chau)...
During the war against the US, the island belonged to a front of outward islands that served as protection for the eastern waterways.
It is also on the beach that many stone artefacts were discovered in 1937, opening a string of excavations and archaeological research aiming at providing some explanations of the mysteries of the ancient Ha Long culture.

Quan Lan Island
Quan Lan Island belongs to Bai Tu Long Bay; part of an island range on the outside of the gulf of Bac Bo. It has an area of 11 sq. km, and features eight populated hamlets. Quan Lan Island stretch toward East – West from the foot of Van Don Range to the Gót Mount with many high mountains to the east barring waves and winds, protect the villages. The island is situated on an important navigation route that connects China, Japan, Thailand and Philippines to Vietnam. Along two sides of the island are tens kilometres of sand beaches. This is the endless resource for glass making which the sea gives to man and it is also the extremely interesting tourism.
Since the 11th century, Quan Lan had been one of the centres of the ancient commercial port of Van Don, which was animated and prosperous at the time. Today, there are still many vestiges linked to the ancient commercial port. This also explains why the island, lying deep in the sea, has the large pagodas and archaeological sites seen today. On the island there is the Quan Lan Communal House built in the 18th century; exceedingly beautiful and almost entirely preserved. Next to it is Quan Lan Pagoda (Linh Quang Tu), which is dedicated to Buddha and God Lieu Hanh. The pagoda also worships the statue of old Hau, a local person who made lots of contributions to the construction of the pagoda. The statue features a gentle and cheerful old woman, which adds an original character to the pagoda. Beside Quan Lan Pagoda lies Nghè Quan Lan (Duc Ông) Shrine, which is dedicated to Pham Công Chính, a local people who participated in the historical Vân Don battle against the Yuan invaders. He was later honored as a god. Quan Lan has many valuable sea products such as octopuses, butterfish, mackerel, holothurian, shrimp, and sái sùng.

The Vang Island
This is one of the eco-tourism site in Bái Tu Long Bay, Cam Pha District, in the itinerary of Bài Tho Mount – Am Islet – Dau Moi Islet – Dua Islet – Monkey Islet – The Vàng Islet – Vân Don. In The Vàng Islet, a resort is under construction to attract holidaymakers during weekends. An artificial beach is also underway. In the future, a system of villas and guesthouses will be built.



Reu Island
Reu Island lies just 500 m from the tourist boats wharf. The Hoàng Gia International Joint Venture is implementing a project to turn the island into a resort complex with many kinds of services. At present, the island has a lot species of animals, including many rare ones. Reu Island is fast changing into an interesting holiday resort.




Ti Top Island
Situated about 7-8 km south-east of Bai Chay lies the small Ti Top Island. It displays a beach shaped like a crescent moon, and sand that has been washed to a snowy white by the tide. On 22 November 1962, this tiny island had the honour of receiving a visit from astronaut Ghermann Ti Top, a hero of the former Soviet Union, accompanied by Ho Chí Minh. To perpetuate the remembrance of their visit, Uncle Ho named the place Ti Top Island. It has now become an attractive beach for tourists and has various of tourist services

Soi Sim Islet
Soi Sim Islet Soi Sim is an soil island 400 m away from Ti Top Island, and 7-8 km from the Bai Chay Tourist Wharf. In the island there are many ancient trees. The Ha Long Bay Management Board is going to build a system of guesthouses equipped with modern facilities. At present, a small beach has been improved and upgraded, adding more charm to the attractive holiday resort.



Yen Ngua Islet
Yen Ngua or Saddle Islet lies in Ha Long Bay, in the centre of the World Heritage Area. Nature has creatively shaped two pieces of stone, one high and one lower, which are linked together to form an imposing rock, looking like a saddle. Boats can go through underneath. The whole rock resembles a sewing machine. How wonderful to have such a magnificent but elegant “saddle”, jutting some 10 m above the sea surface.