halongbaycruise.infoIndependent cruise guide, Vietnam

map of the three bays

Halong Bay map: the three bays, their ports and official routes

This Halong Bay map draws the three bays where cruises sail in north-east Vietnam: Halong Bay (Vịnh Hạ Long) off Halong City in Quang Ninh province, Lan Ha Bay to the south off Cat Ba Island in Hai Phong, and Bai Tu Long Bay to the east towards Van Don. Halong Bay day routes leave from Tuan Chau International Marina or Ha Long International Cruise Port, about 7.6 km (4.7 mi) in a straight line. Switch the layers to see each official route with its ports, caves, villages and overnight areas.

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On the Halong Bay map below, tap a chip to show or hide a layer, use "Fly to" to frame one bay, and tap any route, port or cave for its card. Without JavaScript you see the same layers as a drawing.

Fly to
Halong Bay storm stops logged: Storm Yagi, began before 7 September 2024, ended 20 September 2024; Storm Wutip, 13 June 2025, end not published; Storm Wipha, 20 July 2025, end not published; Tropical depression, 18 August 2025, end not published; Storm Bualoi, 27 September 2025 to 29 September 2025; Storm Matmo, 5 October 2025 to 6 October 2025; Storm No. 1, 3 July 2026 to 5 July 2026; Tropical depression, 22 August 2026 to 26 August 2026 VHL3, Halong Bay route 3: may continue into Lan Ha BayVHL4, Halong Bay route 4: may continue into Lan Ha BayVHL5, Halong Bay route 5: may continue into Lan Ha Bay LH1, Lan Ha Bay route 1, schematicLH2, Lan Ha Bay route 2, schematicBTL1, Bai Tu Long Bay route 1, schematicBTL2, Bai Tu Long Bay route 2, schematicBTL8, Bai Tu Long Bay route 8, schematicBTL9, Bai Tu Long Bay route 9, schematicK1, Halong to Bai Tu Long connecting route 1, schematicK2, Halong to Bai Tu Long connecting route 2, schematicK3, Halong to Bai Tu Long connecting route 3, schematicVHL1, Halong Bay route 1, schematicVHL2, Halong Bay route 2, schematicVHL3, Halong Bay route 3, schematicVHL4, Halong Bay route 4, schematicVHL5, Halong Bay route 5, schematicVHL7, Halong Bay route 7, schematicVHL8, Halong Bay coastal route 8, schematic Cong Do island: overnight area, VHL4Ti Top Island: overnight area, VHL2Tien Ong Cave: overnight area, VHL3Trinh Nu Cave: overnight area, VHL2 Cua Van floating villageVung Vieng fishing villageCai BeoViet Hai villageQuan LanMinh ChauThang LoiBan SenSung Sot CaveThien Cung CaveDau Go CaveLuon CaveMe Cung CaveBo Nau CaveTrinh Nu CaveTien Ong CaveHoa Cuong CaveTrung Trang CaveTuan Chau International MarinaTuan Chau ferry terminalHalong International Cruise PortBen Beo pierGia Luan pierCai Rong portAo Tien portDong Bai ferry pierCai Vieng ferry pierPhu Long cable car stationQuan Lan pier Halong BayLan Ha BayBai Tu Long Bay Cat Ba Island
Base map: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), tiles by Protomaps; land cover © ESA WorldCover project, contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2021) processed by the ESA WorldCover consortium (CC BY 4.0). Labels: Noto Sans (SIL Open Font License 1.1). Icons: tangrams/icons (MIT). Route lines are schematic, not surveyed.
Places on this map

Ports and piers

  • Ao Tien port
  • Ben Beo pier
  • Cai Rong port
  • Cai Vieng ferry pier
  • Dong Bai ferry pier
  • Gia Luan pier
  • Halong International Cruise Port
  • Phu Long cable car station
  • Quan Lan pier
  • Tuan Chau ferry terminal
  • Tuan Chau International Marina

Caves

  • Bo Nau Cave
  • Dau Go Cave
  • Hoa Cuong Cave
  • Luon Cave
  • Me Cung Cave
  • Sung Sot Cave
  • Thien Cung Cave
  • Tien Ong Cave
  • Trinh Nu Cave
  • Trung Trang Cave

Villages

  • Ban Sen
  • Cai Beo
  • Cua Van floating village
  • Minh Chau
  • Quan Lan
  • Thang Loi
  • Viet Hai village
  • Vung Vieng fishing village

Overnight areas

  • Cong Do island
  • Ti Top Island
  • Tien Ong Cave
  • Trinh Nu Cave
  • Halong Bay routes VHL1 to VHL8 Ha Long Bay Management Board route list
  • Bai Tu Long Bay routes and the three links from Halong Bay Decision 2119/QD-UBND
  • Lan Ha Bay routes of 2020 replaced in January 2026, no newer list published
  • Halong routes that may continue into Lan Ha Bay overnight connecting itineraries since 20 April 2026
  • Overnight areas named in the route lists
  • Storm stops the area the Halong Bay stop log covers
  • Ports and piers, caves, villages in that order of color

Route lines join the stops OpenStreetMap locates, in the order the route lists give them: a schematic, not a surveyed sailing track. Stops without coordinates are named in the route table, not drawn.

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location

Where is Halong Bay on a map of Vietnam

On a Halong Bay map of Vietnam, the bay sits in the Gulf of Tonkin, in the far north-east of the country, off Halong City. OpenStreetMap places the name of the bay at 20.908438, 107.068278 (latitude, longitude). UNESCO gives the reference point of the World Heritage property "Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago" at 20.832778, 107.161111, and a buffer zone of 34,140 hectares around it.

Three bays share that stretch of sea, and they are run by different authorities. Halong Bay belongs to Quang Ninh province and the Ha Long Bay Management Board. Lan Ha Bay is the name for the bays of the Cat Ba Archipelago, run by Hai Phong; the middle of it on the map lies about 18 km (11 mi) in a straight line from the middle of Halong Bay. Bai Tu Long Bay is Quang Ninh's second bay, about 20 km (12 mi) in a straight line from the middle of Halong Bay, with Van Don to the north-east of Halong Bay. The guides to Halong Bay, Lan Ha Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay cover each one.

Lan Ha Bay seascape
Aerial view of turquoise water between forested limestone islands in Lan Ha Bay.Photo: Preparetavalise.com / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

distances

How far apart the three bays are

Bays have no single center, so the first three rows measure between the points OpenStreetMap uses to place each bay's name; the rest measure between piers. All are straight lines on the map. A boat follows the channels between the islands, so the distance it sails is longer, and how long it takes depends on the boat and the route.

Distances between the bays and the main piersin a straight line, from OpenStreetMap coordinates
FromToDirectionDistance
Halong BayLan Ha Baysouthabout 18 km (11 mi) in a straight line
Halong BayBai Tu Long Bayeastabout 20 km (12 mi) in a straight line
Lan Ha BayBai Tu Long Baynorth-eastabout 25 km (16 mi) in a straight line
Tuan Chau International MarinaHa Long International Cruise Portnorth-eastabout 7.6 km (4.7 mi) in a straight line
Tuan Chau International MarinaBen Beo piersouthabout 22 km (14 mi) in a straight line
Tuan Chau International MarinaGia Luan piersouthabout 7.1 km (4.4 mi) in a straight line
Tuan Chau International MarinaAo Tien porteastabout 52 km (32 mi) in a straight line
Ha Long International Cruise PortCat Ba townsouthabout 26 km (16 mi) in a straight line
Hon Gai
Rooftops of Hon Gai and the Ha Long waterfront seen from above.Photo: Jakub Hałun / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

ports and piers

Which port your cruise leaves from

The Ha Long Bay Management Board states that Halong Bay day routes depart from Tuan Chau International Marina or Ha Long International Cruise Port. Tuan Chau International Marina is on Tuan Chau Island at the west end of the bay. Ha Long International Cruise Port is in Bai Chay; Sun Group, which runs it, states its domestic terminal has 4 berths for cruise and sightseeing boats, and its international terminal for ocean cruise ships is 462 m long. A third passenger port, Nam Cau Trang in Hon Gai, is the end of the coastal route VHL8.

Lan Ha Bay boats leave from Ben Beo pier near Cat Ba town and from Gia Luan pier in the north of Cat Ba Island, where Halong route VHL5 ends. The 2020 Lan Ha Bay list also started a route at Got port, which lies on Cat Hai, not on Cat Ba. On Bai Tu Long Bay, Decision 2119/QD-UBND starts routes 1 to 6 at Ao Tien port in Van Don and routes 7 to 10 at Cam Pha port. Each pier, with how to reach it, is on the ports and piers page; Cat Ba Island has its own guide.

official routes

What the route lines show

Every line on the map is an official sightseeing route, not an operator's itinerary. The Ha Long Bay Management Board lists 8 routes on Halong Bay, VHL1 to VHL8, and prices overnight stays only on routes 2, 3 and 4. Quang Ninh's Decision 2119/QD-UBND of 19 July 2024 lists 8 / 10 / 3 routes for Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay and the links between them; its sights may be used only once they are recognised as meeting operating conditions by the competent authority.

Lan Ha Bay is drawn muted. Hai Phong's Decision 26/2020 listed four routes there; Decision 253/2025, in force since 12 January 2026, replaced it and lists none: routes are those announced by the competent authority under current rules, and no newer list has been published. Since 20 April 2026, boats on Halong routes VHL3 to VHL6 may continue into Lan Ha Bay; the Ministry of Construction states these connecting itineraries are all overnight cruises.

Each code, stop list and fee sits in the official routes table, with row links the cruise pages use.

Ti Top Island beach and viewpoint
Aerial view of Ti Top with its crescent beach and the anchorage around it.Photo: Kris Martyn / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

where boats stop

Overnight areas, caves and villages

Overnight boats anchor only in the areas the route lists name. On Halong Bay those are Trong Cave, Trinh Nu Cave, Ho Dong Tien, Hon Lat 690, Ti Top Island 587 on route VHL2, the Tien Ong Cave area on VHL3 and the Cong Do area on VHL4. On Bai Tu Long Bay, Decision 2119/QD-UBND names the Mang Ha overnight anchorage (Điểm neo đậu nghỉ đêm Máng Hà) for routes BTL5 and BTL6. The 2020 Lan Ha Bay list named Ang Vem; Quai To - Tung Gau; Tung Trang for its routes 1, 2 and 4 and Thoi Quyt; Tung Trang for route 3; the map shows them muted, as history.

The cave and village layers mark the stops OpenStreetMap locates; their cards give the opening hours where the board states them. Read more in Halong Bay caves and floating villages. The storm layer shades the area covered by the log of stops the authorities ordered for storms on Halong Bay, each with its dates; the log does not cover Lan Ha Bay. The full log, with who ordered each stop, is on the cruise suspensions page.

questions

Halong Bay map questions

Where is Halong Bay on a map?

Halong Bay is in the Gulf of Tonkin in north-east Vietnam, off Halong City in Quang Ninh province. OpenStreetMap places the bay's name at 20.908438, 107.068278. Lan Ha Bay lies to the south off Cat Ba Island and Bai Tu Long Bay to the east; the map above draws all three with their routes.

Is Lan Ha Bay inside Halong Bay?

No. Lan Ha Bay is the bay of the Cat Ba Archipelago and is run by Hai Phong, while Halong Bay is run by Quang Ninh and the Ha Long Bay Management Board. Together with Cat Ba they form the UNESCO property "Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago". Since 20 April 2026, some overnight cruises cross from one bay to the other.

Which port do Halong Bay cruises leave from?

The Ha Long Bay Management Board states that day routes depart from Tuan Chau International Marina or Ha Long International Cruise Port. The two lie about 7.6 km (4.7 mi) in a straight line. Lan Ha Bay boats use Ben Beo pier or Gia Luan pier on Cat Ba Island, and Bai Tu Long Bay routes start at Ao Tien port or Cam Pha port.

How far is Bai Tu Long Bay from Halong Bay?

The points OpenStreetMap uses for the two bay names lie about 20 km (12 mi) in a straight line apart. Bai Tu Long Bay routes 1 to 6 start at Ao Tien port in Van Don, about 52 km (32 mi) in a straight line from Tuan Chau International Marina. The three connecting routes of Decision 2119/QD-UBND sail on from Halong route VHL4.

Are the lines on the map the exact cruise tracks?

No. Each line joins the stops of an official route in the order the route list gives them, through the stops OpenStreetMap locates. Boats follow the channels between the islands, and an operator may visit the stops in another order. Use the lines to see which part of which bay a route covers, and check the stop list in the official routes table.

Planning the cruise itself? Start from the cruise chooser.

Sources

  1. Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee Decision 2119/QĐ-UBND of 19 Jul 2024 announced this many sightseeing routes on Bai Tu Long Bay 10 routes. Lao Dong (state press), 24 Jul 2024, reporting Quang Ninh PPC Decision 2119/QĐ-UBND of 19 Jul 2024, 19 July 2024.
  2. Decision 2119/QĐ-UBND (Quang Ninh PPC, 2024) lists Bai Tu Long Bay route 1 as Ao Tien port - Tay Hoi island - Meo May Man (Meo Luoi) islet - Ban Sen island - Nha Tro Cave. Lao Dong (state press), 24 Jul 2024, reporting Quang Ninh PPC Decision 2119/QĐ-UBND of 19 Jul 2024, 19 July 2024.
  3. Decision 2119/QĐ-UBND (Quang Ninh PPC, 2024) lists Bai Tu Long Bay route 7 as Cam Pha port - Luong Ngoc beach - Vung Duc - Ong Cu island - Reu island - Cua Ong. Lao Dong (state press), 24 Jul 2024, reporting Quang Ninh PPC Decision 2119/QĐ-UBND of 19 Jul 2024, 19 July 2024.
  4. OpenStreetMap places Halong Bay (bay) at (lat, lon) 20.908438, 107.068278 decimal degrees WGS84. OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), queried via Nominatim/Overpass, 14 November 2026.
  5. UNESCO open data (record 672ter) places the reference point of the Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago World Heritage property at (lat, lon) 20.832778, 107.161111 decimal degrees WGS84. OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), queried via Nominatim/Overpass, 14 November 2026.
  6. Hai Phong City People's Committee Decision 26/2020/QĐ-UBND (replaced on 12 January 2026 by Decision 253/2025/QĐ-UBND, which lists no routes or overnight areas) listed day sightseeing route 3 on the bays of the Cat Ba Archipelago (Lan Ha Bay) as Got port - Gia Luan - Tra Bau - Ang Ong Cam - Hang Toi - Hang Sang - Gia Luan - Got port. Hai Phong City People's Committee, Decision 26/2020/QĐ-UBND of 2 Oct 2020 (in force 15 Oct 2020), Regulation on tourism on the bays of the Cat Ba Archipelago, Annex II, 2 October 2020.
  7. Hai Phong Decision 26/2020/QĐ-UBND (replaced on 12 January 2026 by Decision 253/2025/QĐ-UBND, which lists no routes or overnight areas) named the overnight areas for Cat Ba bay routes 1, 2 and 4 as Ang Vem; Quai To - Tung Gau; Tung Trang overnight areas. Hai Phong City People's Committee, Decision 26/2020/QĐ-UBND of 2 Oct 2020 (in force 15 Oct 2020), Regulation on tourism on the bays of the Cat Ba Archipelago, Annex II, 2 October 2020.
  8. Hai Phong Decision 26/2020/QĐ-UBND (replaced on 12 January 2026 by Decision 253/2025/QĐ-UBND, which lists no routes or overnight areas) named the overnight areas for Cat Ba bay route 3 (from Got port) as Thoi Quyt; Tung Trang overnight areas. Hai Phong City People's Committee, Decision 26/2020/QĐ-UBND of 2 Oct 2020 (in force 15 Oct 2020), Regulation on tourism on the bays of the Cat Ba Archipelago, Annex II, 2 October 2020.
  9. The Ha Long Bay Management Board states the number of sightseeing routes (hành trình) on Halong Bay as 8 routes. Ha Long Bay Management Board (halongbay.com.vn), fee page listing the 8 Halong Bay routes, 31 March 2025.
  10. The Ha Long Bay Management Board lists the stops of Halong Bay route VHL5 as port - Thien Cung Cave - Dau Go Cave - Cho Da islet - Ba Hang - Dinh Huong islet - Trong Mai islet - Gia Luan pier (Cat Ba, Hai Phong). Ha Long Bay Management Board (halongbay.com.vn), fee page listing the 8 Halong Bay routes, 31 March 2025.
  11. The Ha Long Bay Management Board lists the stops of Halong Bay route VHL6 as port - Hon Chan Voi - Vung Ba Cua - Tung Lam island - Hon Cap Bai (end point borders Gia Luan, Lan Ha Bay). Ha Long Bay Management Board (halongbay.com.vn), fee page listing the 8 Halong Bay routes, 31 March 2025.
  12. The Ha Long Bay Management Board states that day routes depart from Tuan Chau International Marina or Ha Long International Cruise Port. Ha Long Bay Management Board, route pages 'Ha Long Bay Itinerary 1-5' (halongbay.com.vn/en/tours).
  13. The Ha Long Bay Management Board's fee page prices overnight stays on Halong Bay only for routes 2, 3 and 4. Ha Long Bay Management Board (halongbay.com.vn), 'Mức phí tham quan vịnh Hạ Long', citing Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council Resolutions 62/2017/NQ-HĐND and 51/2025/NQ-HĐND, 31 March 2025.
  14. The Ha Long Bay Management Board names the overnight areas on Halong Bay route 2 as Trong Cave, Trinh Nu Cave, Ho Dong Tien, Hon Lat 690, Ti Top Island 587 overnight areas. Ha Long Bay Management Board (halongbay.com.vn), 'Mức phí tham quan vịnh Hạ Long', citing Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council Resolutions 62/2017/NQ-HĐND and 51/2025/NQ-HĐND, 31 March 2025.
  15. The Ha Long Bay Management Board names the overnight area on Halong Bay route 3 as Tien Ong Cave area. Ha Long Bay Management Board (halongbay.com.vn), 'Mức phí tham quan vịnh Hạ Long', citing Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council Resolutions 62/2017/NQ-HĐND and 51/2025/NQ-HĐND, 31 March 2025.
  16. The Ha Long Bay Management Board names the overnight area on Halong Bay route 4 as Cong Do area. Ha Long Bay Management Board (halongbay.com.vn), 'Mức phí tham quan vịnh Hạ Long', citing Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council Resolutions 62/2017/NQ-HĐND and 51/2025/NQ-HĐND, 31 March 2025.
  17. Quang Ninh PPC Decision 2119/QĐ-UBND of 19 Jul 2024 announced, in force from signing, this many routes (Halong Bay / Bai Tu Long Bay / connecting) 8 / 10 / 3 routes. Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee, Decision 2119/QĐ-UBND (19 Jul 2024) on sightseeing routes on Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay, full text as reproduced by thuvienphapluat.vn, 19 July 2024.
  18. Decision 2119/QĐ-UBND (Quang Ninh PPC, 2024) names as the overnight anchorage on Bai Tu Long Bay routes BTL5 and BTL6 Mang Ha overnight anchorage (Điểm neo đậu nghỉ đêm Máng Hà). Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee, Decision 2119/QĐ-UBND (19 Jul 2024) on sightseeing routes on Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay, full text as reproduced by thuvienphapluat.vn, 19 July 2024.
  19. Decision 2119/QĐ-UBND (Quang Ninh PPC, 2024) states that sights and service points on the announced Halong and Bai Tu Long routes may be used only when recognized as meeting operating conditions by the competent authority. Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee, Decision 2119/QĐ-UBND (19 Jul 2024) on sightseeing routes on Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay, full text as reproduced by thuvienphapluat.vn, 19 July 2024.
  20. Hai Phong Decision 253/2025/QĐ-UBND, which replaced Decision 26/2020/QĐ-UBND as the rulebook for tourism on the Cat Ba bays (Lan Ha Bay), took effect on 12 January 2026. Hai Phong City People's Committee, Decision 253/2025/QĐ-UBND (31 Dec 2025), Regulation on tourism and tourist boats on the Cat Ba bays, full text as reproduced by thuvienphapluat.vn, 31 December 2025.
  21. Hai Phong Decision 253/2025/QĐ-UBND does not itself list Cat Ba bay routes; routes and overnight anchorages are those announced by the competent authority under current rules. Hai Phong City People's Committee, Decision 253/2025/QĐ-UBND (31 Dec 2025), Regulation on tourism and tourist boats on the Cat Ba bays, full text as reproduced by thuvienphapluat.vn, 31 December 2025.
  22. UNESCO gives the buffer zone of the Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago World Heritage property as 34,140 hectares. UNESCO World Heritage Centre, World Heritage List page 672 (dossier 672ter).
  23. Ha Long International Cruise Port in Bai Chay is operated by Sun Group, which states its domestic terminal has four berths handling 200 to 300 Halong Bay cruise and sightseeing boats a day; the berth count is 4 berths. Sun Group, 'Ha Long International Cruise Port - The Gateway to the Heritage Bay for the World', 08/04/2025, 8 April 2025.
  24. Ha Long International Cruise Port's international terminal can take two large ocean cruise ships at once, as Sun Group states; terminal length 462 m. Sun Group, 'Ha Long International Cruise Port - The Gateway to the Heritage Bay for the World', 08/04/2025, 8 April 2025.
  25. The Ha Long Bay Management Board's official routes name Tuan Chau International Marina (Cảng tàu khách quốc tế Tuần Châu), Ha Long International Cruise Port and Nam Cau Trang port (Hon Gai) as passenger ports on route VHL8. Ha Long Bay Management Board website, route list.
  26. Cruise boats began crossing between Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay on four connecting itineraries (VHL3, VHL4, VHL5, VHL6 to Lan Ha Bay); the first two sailings left Tuan Chau International Marina and the Sun Group inland pier at Ha Long International Cruise Port on 20 April 2026. Ha Long Bay Management Board website, post 698 (2026-04-20), 20 April 2026.
  27. Distances in a straight line. Measured on the site from OpenStreetMap coordinates (great circle, 6,371 km earth radius). A straight line between two points, not a sailing or road distance. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Photographs

  1. Hon Gai. Photo: Jakub Hałun / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
  2. Lan Ha Bay seascape. Photo: Preparetavalise.com / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
  3. Ti Top Island beach and viewpoint. Photo: Kris Martyn / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0