About this guide and how we check it

The pages are researched and written by the I Love Halong editors, named as the author on every page. The guide is written for first-time visitors: people who know the name Ha Long Bay, have perhaps seen a photograph of Ti Top, and want to understand the choices before they commit to one.

The guide covers seven subjects: the differences between the three bays; the caves, islands and villages; kayaking, swimming and beaches; Ha Long city on shore; getting there from Hanoi; weather and storms; and how to choose between a day trip and an overnight trip. Anything outside that, such as Co To, Quan Lan or Yen Tu in depth, is mentioned only where it helps explain access.

We use sources in this order of preference:

1. Official bodies: the Ha Long Bay Management Board, Quang Ninh and Hai Phong provincial resolutions and notices, the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, and UNESCO's World Heritage Centre.
2. Travel advice from foreign ministries, especially the UK Foreign Office, which dates its own updates.
3. National news agencies and newspapers reporting official decisions, such as storm closures and fee changes.
4. Independent guides, booking sites and pages published by attractions or boat companies, labelled as such in the source line, and used only when nothing official answers the question.

When two sources disagree, for example on a ferry fare, the page gives both or a range. When we cannot confirm something, such as the current kayaking rules in Lan Ha Bay, the page says so instead of guessing.

The site may carry advertising to pay for its upkeep. Advertising spaces are labelled Advertisement and kept visually separate from the editorial text. Advertisers do not see pages before publication, cannot buy a mention or a position in the text, and do not influence what we write about boats, routes or places.

Advertising enquiries can be sent through the contact page. We decline advertising for products we consider unsafe, such as unregistered boat services.

If a page is wrong, out of date or unclear, tell us through the contact page. The most useful reports say which page and sentence, what you found instead, when, and how you know: a link to an official notice, a ticket you were sold, or what happened at a pier on a particular date.

An editor reads every report. Where a correction is confirmed, we change the page, update its last-reviewed date and the last-checked date of the block concerned, and note significant changes in the log below.

Corrections log

First edition published on 25 October 2026. No corrections recorded yet.